Rainbow Dash had her loyalty pulled apart. When Celestia and Luna declared war against each other, Rainbow had been seperated from three of her friends, and many more. While out on a mission, she meets a stallion of great power at her enemy's side.
Princess Celestia was enraged when Princess Luna tried to keep Equestria at night for a day. This matter led to hatred between the two sisters, and they declared war against each other. Celestia took to tearing the Elements of Harmony apart. Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack and Rarity were on her side. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were on Luna's side.
Rainbow Dash's loyalty was pulled apart. She decided not to be loyal to anypony, anymore.
Her element was revived when she was sent on a mission from Luna. Luna wanted her to go to The Plains, a dangerous place, where a certain spell book was believed to be there. Rainbow Dash met an enemy of great power while on her journey.
Rainbow wanted to kill him at once, but when he stated the reason why he wanted to work with her in the meantime, and kill each other later, she agreed. After all, it was better to have a companion when you're in The Plains.
Rainbow Dash and her foe had to face several traps, sandstorms and manticores roaming freely in The Plains - not to mention their growing romantic tension...
After the Journey, Rainbow Dash and her companion sets out to stop the three-year war.
Rainbow Dash stared blankly and the photo she was holding in her hooves. It was a picture of her and her five other friends three years ago-Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. They were all smiling genuinely in the photo. How happy they were then.
So much had happened ever since the photo was taken. That was the last piece of photo taken with Rainbow Dash smiling happily beside her friends. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had declared war not long after. It all began when Princess Luna tried keeping the whole of Equestria at night for a day. She wanted to feel that greatness ruling Equestria herself again. It had been so long since she last thought that way. Princess Celestia was enraged when she knew of this, and was also afraid that her sister would turn into Nightmare Moon, like the last time she tried to rule Equestria herself. The princess was afraid that the Elements of Harmony would not defeat her again.
Their small argument led to hatred within the sisters, and eventually, it caused war. Princess Celestia took to pulling the Elements of Harmony apart. She thought that if she took certain elements, the power combined would be stronger than the six of them combined. Princess Celestia took Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack and Rarity, believing they were the keys to victory. Rainbow did not know why she did that; it was a really foolish decision. Princess Luna had to take the other three of them too, and ended up with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. The princesses split the other citizens of Equestria to either of their sides. Princess Celestia had named her side the Celestians, and Princess Luna's the Lunians. As far as Rainbow knew, Celestia had renamed herself Ruler Celestia of the Celestians, and Luna as Queen Luna of the Lunians. Luna had resided on a mountain in Canterlot, and built a castle on it, naming it her castle. As far as Rainbow knew, Celestia built her fort at Ponyville.
Rainbow Dash's loyalty for every pony was torn away from her. She no longer thought loyalty was needed for this war, since she thought that this war should not have happened. Princess Luna need not rule Equestria herself for a day, and Princess Celestia need not to act so quickly. This was a war she rebelled against.
Now, she was in her chamber, staring at the photo while seated on a chair. Rainbow Dash was a highly ranked general on Luna's side, since she was one of the best fighters and strategists. Both princesses were neck to neck. Neither was winning the war more than the other.
Rainbow had to admit, she missed her three other friends. She had never seen them ever since they were separated. Rainbow Dash could tell Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were not happy with this war, either. Pinkie's mane was as straight as a blade, and Fluttershy was always sulking. Ugh. She should stop calling her Pinkie Pie anymore. Pinkie had gone back to using Pinkamena Diane Pie as her name. She was no longer bubbly and excited about everything.
Rainbow Dash remembered the countless adventures she had with her friends, and how much time she spent with them. She smiled slightly at the memory, later being replaced with one of a emotionless expression again. That was last time. Those were only memories, the past. She couldn't make anymore memories with them anymore. They were separated. No longer the Elements of Harmony.
How about Rainbow's future dreams? Her current life of being a Wonderbolt? The Wonderbolts had gone to Celestia's side, along with her life and dreams of being with them. She could not join the same side, as Luna already selected her as one of hers. Oh, how much she hated this war.
Also, Rainbow's parents had been killed in one of the many battles Celestia and Luna led. Rainbow Dash was too occupied with fighting for her life to notice her parents being cornered with more than twenty Celestians. She only heard the last of the dying screams. Rainbow Dash did not know who killed her parents, how they were killed, or where their bodies were now. She did not even have the chance to see them off for their funerals as there was no body. She did not get to say her final farewells. That was probably the motivation for her to continue fighting for Luna, though she hated the war. To avenge her parents' death. To kill Celestia.
"General Dash, Queen Luna wants your presence in her throne room," Pinkamena's voice penetrated through Rainbow's thoughts. Pinkamena had opened the door to her chamber and was waiting outside.
"Okay," Rainbow sighed. She slid the photograph into her side table and walked out of the room to Pinkamena. Together, they walked to Luna's throne room.
"Are you still missing Twilight, Apple Jack and Rarity?" Pinkamena asked quietly while they were walking towards Luna's throne room.
"To be honest, yes. Do you?" Rainbow Dash glanced at her.
"I do. I wished this war never happened. I miss Sugarcube Corner, the fun, and the freedom," Pinkamena's ears drooped. "I can't believe I was the element of laughter just three years ago. The happiness seems so far away," she sighed.
"I don't even feel loyal to anyone, anymore," Rainbow Dash frowned and bit her lip, "Well, we're here. At the throne room. Return to your post,"
Pinkamena nodded and saluted. It was back to being formal again. Rainbow Dash gave her a curt nod before disappearing behind the thick doors of Luna's throne room.
"Welcome, General Dash,"Luna's booming voice welcomed Rainbow Dash once she shut the door.
The throne room was luxurious. It was much like Luna's formal throne room with Celestia, just that there was only one throne, the room was as dark as night and there was no one ruling alongside Luna.
"Queen Luna, what makes you summon me here?" Rainbow Dash bowed on all four hooves.
"Rise, my general," Luna motioned her to stand. Rainbow obeyed. "I will be needing you to bring me a powerful spell book that I believe will help us to win this war. It is called the Journal of Tirek," Luna explained.
Rainbow faltered slightly at the mention of Tirek, the powerful beast that almost conquered Equestria years ago. The monster that she defeated with her friends, the Elements of Harmony.
"Pardon, my queen. Did you mention 'Tirek'?" Rainbow Dash asked stiffly.
Luna raised an eyebrow. Then she laughed menacingly.
"Oh, you mean the Tirek you defeated with your pathetic friends three years ago? I doubt not. Yes, I wanted you to bring his journal of spells. As you know, he is very powerful-until he was caged by my enemy. I found out that he had written his spells down in a book...and I want it. It is believed to be buried in The Plains. Nopony will accompanying you, as I am informed that nopony returns after going there. I do not want to lose anypony else. I chose you since you are one of my best fighters, strategists and...trustworthy ponies I have left in this castle," Luna stared hard at Rainbow Dash, waiting for her answer.
Rainbow Dash lowered her eyes to the floor and breathed out. It was a risk that would put her life on the line. A risk that would mean losing...what? She had nothing left. Her friends, loyalty, family and meaning to carry on life-besides wanting to avenge her parents' deaths-were all stripped away from her. The Plains was a land full of jungles, wild, crazy animals, traps, clans and lunatic criminals. Pretty much the opposite of its name. Besides, Luna was the queen...and even if she said no, she would be killed by Luna. By her laws in this castle. Nopony escaped her laws. Not even her.
Rainbow sighed, and told the queen what she wanted to hear most, "Queen Luna, it would be most honorable to serve you on this request. I would gladly accept it."
Queen Luna smiled, feeling satisfied.
"Very well, General Dash. I wish you luck upon your journey. I placed a map, compass and a checklist in your chambers. The map tells you where the book is believed to be hidden, the compass would assist you along your journey, and the checklist is to advice you what to bring. I received news that a certain Celestian general would hunt for the book too, so hurry. Since it is evening, the perfect time for travelling, you may begin with your mission, starting now. You are dismissed," Luna waved a hoof to signal that Rainbow could exit the throne room.
Rainbow Dash bowed swiftly and exited the room. After she closed the door, she slowly flew back to her chambers.
As she opened the door, she thought whether she really wanted to do this or not. If she went, her possibilities of survival were really low. Anypony who dared to venture into the The Plains never lived long enough to see the next day's sun rise. She shivered visibly at the thought. But come on, who was she? She was the Rainbow Dash! And Rainbow Dash never passed a challenge! She was going to survive to boast about her journey, no matter what. Anyways, she survived war everyday, what did this small mission count as? It was not going to stop her.
With her confidence restored, she marched into the chamber and sat down on her bed. There they were, the map, compass and checklist were all neatly placed on her bed. She read the checklist.
A dagger, or any other weaponry she needed? That was definitely expected.
Bread, beef jerky and water to last quite a few days? Check.
A portable sleeping bag? All done.
First aid kit? Prepared.
A cloak? Mask to hide her identity? It was placed on the bed.
Well, seems like that was all. Rainbow Dash took out a saddlebag and started filling it with the things stated in the checklist. She hoisted it onto her back and weighed it. It seemed just fine for a journey across a dangerous land. Her gaze swept across the room, checking for anything else she wanted to take along. Rainbow's eyes rested on the side table. She trotted over to it, pulled out the drawer, and took out the picture of her and her friends. Rainbow Dash stared at it as she held it in her hooves. This photo was very precious to her. She slotted it into her saddlebag.
"Rainbow Dash!" Two voices shouted in unison as they slammed open the door of Rainbow's chamber. Rainbow glanced over her shoulder. It was Pinkamena and Fluttershy, standing firmly at the door way.
She turned around to face them, "Hey guys."
"Are you crazy?! Why in the whole of Equestria would you accept the request?" Pinkamena screamed; her voice had a trace of sadness.
"Exactly! I wouldn't even think of it!" Fluttershy exclaimed worriedly as her tears started flowing freely down her cheek.
"Guys, I made up my mind," Rainbow Dash sighed.
Fluttershy and Pinkamena wrapped their arms around Rainbow. They sobbed freely into her shoulders. Rainbow hugged them back.
"How...how do I know you would come back?" Pinkamena sniffled.
Rainbow Dash smiled apologetically. "I don't whether I would come back. But if I don't, Pinkam- no, Pinkie, would you make me a cupcake at my memorial? Fluttershy, would you bring Tank, my pet, to it too?" She asked sadly.
"How can you say that? You won't die! You can't!" Fluttershy protested.
Rainbow Dash could only shake her head. After all, that was most likely going to be her fate. She reluctantly pulled them away from her,
"I need to get going now."
Pinkamena and Fluttershy parted, allowing Rainbow Dash to go to the door way.
"Really, if I never see you guys again, I hope you will tell everyone that I love them, and missed them," Rainbow wiped away tears, "Man, I'm tearing up," she laughed slightly.
Pinkamena and Fluttershy joined in, the three ponies laughing wholeheartedly. That might be the last time she would laugh with her true friends, Rainbow noted solemnly.
Rainbow Dash finally waved a farewell goodbye at her friends, and bitterly forced herself to step out of their sight.
"Wait," a voice stopped Rainbow Dash before she could leave the castle grounds. She was already outside, at the take-off point of the castle. The voice belonged to Luna, whom Rainbow Dash just noticed.
"My queen!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in surprise.
"We do not need to be formal now, Rainbow Dash. I want you to allow me consent to applying a spell on you. The spell would cast a lightning bolt tattoo on your fore-hoof. When you are near the Journal of Tirek, it will glow blue. It will help you locate it. It will also glow blue when it slowly heals any wounds you get, if it isn't too major and life-threatening," Luna said. Rainbow Dash stared at her nervously.
She saw the uncertainty in Rainbow's eyes and assured her, "Don't worry. You'll know what I mean. The tattoo would vanish once it served its purpose."
Rainbow Dash let out a sigh uneasily, "Luna, I allow the spell."
Luna began working her magic. When she first started casting the spell, all the blue magic on her horn gathered at the tip of it. Then it glowed strongly, the blue magic changing into the colour of Rainbow's fur. Rainbow Dash never seen the magic change colour before. Okay, probably with the exception of Trixie, since she had an assistance. The small spurt of magic on Luna's horn shot a straight line to Rainbow's right fore-hoof. There was a tingling, warm sensation when the magic made contact with Rainbow's fur. A flash of bright light followed. It blinded Rainbow's vision.
When the light was gone, there was a lightning bolt tattooed onto Rainbow's fur. It was a slightly darker blue tone than her fur colour, so she could see it. Luna was panting.
"R-Rainbow...Dash, the...magic is...very strong...so usually the tattoo would not be removed by pretty much anything, unless if there is a spell stronger than mine, which is very unlikely to be found in The Plains," Luna's breathing calmed down.
"Okay, but this looks...cool," Rainbow Dash mustered a small smile. Luna did so too.
"I guess I'll be going," Rainbow shrugged as she flung her wings open.
"Rainbow Dash?" Luna asked. Rainbow's attention was turned towards her again.
"Yeah?" Rainbow Dash perked up.
"You are a sincere friend of mine. I hope you do make it back here alive," Luna smiled warmly.
Rainbow Dash gave her a salute, "I won't let you down, Luna!"
Rainbow Dash reached The Plains after a few hours of flying without breaks. It was nighttime already. She was standing inside the jungles of The Plains, where the trees over-hanged so much that she could not see the nightsky. There were thick roots of trees sticking out of the ground, threatening to trip her if she was not careful. The moon today was so bright, probably a favor from Luna to help her on this journey. The moonlight illuminated the jungles of The Plains, eliminating any shadows.
"Thanks a lot, Luna," Rainbow Dash said quietly. She also wondered whether Luna could adjust the brightness of the moon. Maybe.
A growl was heard not too far away. It did not sound pony-like, so Rainbow Dash tensed up, and reached for her spear that she carried along with her. Something rustled the leaves on the ground near her.
"Steady, Rainbow," Rainbow Dash muttered to herself.
A manticore jumped into sight, but it looked nothing like the one Fluttershy had encountered in the first days of their friendship. The bulging muscles, the scorpion-like tail, the shaggy mane, the bat-like wings and the sharp, jagged teeth of the manticore made Rainbow Dash tighten her grip on the spear. She felt intimidated by it. It was fight or flight.
Flight.
That was what her instincts told her.
"Damn, I can't fly," Rainbow Dash muttered.
The overhanging trees of The Plains were too low for her to fly high enough to zoom past the beast, so she galloped as fast as her hooves would take her. The manticore was giving chase behind her. Now she realised why nopony could stay alive in The Plains. Probably, or rather, more likely, this was just the beginning.
Rainbow tried her best to hold in her scream. The gigantic monster was catching up to her fast.
"I need to practice on my galloping," Rainbow Dash muttered as she made a mental note of that when the monster was only inches to eating her in one gulp.
"No!" Rainbow Dash shrieked as she carelessly tripped on a root.
Her hoof was stuck in the root and she could not get it out. Rainbow's heart beat so fast that she thought it might burst out of her ribcage. The manticore was towering over her, jaws opened, ready to chomp her down in one bite.
Quickly reacting to save her tail, Rainbow Dash threw her spear into the beast's mouth. It started coughing and choking. Now it was the time for her to escape. Small, red circles soon decorated the surroundings. The manticore was coughing out blood. Rainbow, who was a tad bit guilty about plunging her spear into its mouth, dashed deep inside the jungle, eager to get as far away as possible from it.
"Horseapples, that was close," Rainbow panted as she wiped beads of sweat from her brow.
She ran into the heart of the jungle, occasionally checking on her tattoo to see whether it glowed or not. It did not.
After finding a safe place, a leafy area, that Rainbow Dash assumed was safe, she laid down against the huge leaves. She took out her bottle of water and gulped down on it. Rainbow took out a piece of beef jerky and chewed on it.
While eating in silence, Rainbow noticed that she could see the night sky from there. It was filled with many stars that shone brightly, like somepony sprinkled glitter in the night sky. Rainbow wondered whether Luna could adjust the number of stars each night. Maybe. She laid out her sleeping bag on the dirt ground. She snuggled inside, carefully placing a dagger near it, in case any danger struck unexpectedly.
A smile spread across her face when a certain thought came to mind.
"I wonder how Rarity would react to this dirty sleeping environment," Rainbow snickered softly as she closed her eyes. She let out a sigh, "oh, well...goodnight, myself."
The sunlight filtered through Rainbow's eyelids, causing her to stir and groan in annoyance.
"What the hay?" She grumbled as she slid out of her sleeping bag. She was still half-awake.
Rainbow Dash tensed up suddenly as she regained full consciousness. Did her bag go missing? Did anything happen while she was sleeping? Thousands of thoughts streamed through her mind. She checked her bag and her surroundings. Nothing was different from last night. Phew.
Rainbow packed up and left the area. It was better not to linger at a certain area for too long in The Plains. She might never know.
"Well, let's see. Where is the Journal of Tirek?" Rainbow huffed as she took out her map and compass, "It's at the northeast side." She studied the map and and compass quickly. Rainbow Dash sighed. "And I'm in the east. Looks like I need to walk for quite some days, since I can't fly in here. Well, let's hope for the best," She said to nopony in particular.
"Gah, I hate this leafy environment...can't fly, can't do anything!" Rainbow Dash complained to herself as she trampled through the jungle, towards the northeast direction.
The sun had reached it's peak, and she assumed that it was noon. She had slept a few more lonely nights since she fought the manticore. Rainbow had encountered many other dangers ever since, but she still managed to stay alive, and that was the motivation for her to keep on finding the book. She had survived long enough to see the next day's sunrise, and proved the legends wrong.
Rainbow Dash approached a cave; the cave was cool, and provided just enough shade for her to rest for a little while. She trotted inside and slumped down on the wall. Rainbow took out her bottle of water and downed the rest of it's content into her body.
"Ugh, no more water. Stupid, empty water bottle," Rainbow Dash muttered sourly, "buck it."
She had gotten used to talking to herself; there was nopony for her to talk to. Rainbow Dash peeled off a slice of bread and ate it slowly. Her eyes scanned the cave, trying to see if anything was in there. Apparently not. She shrugged and looked outside the cave.
There was a small stream running along the trees. The water looked clean. Rainbow slipped on her cloak that covered her body entirely, and her mask that covered her muzzle, leaving only her eyes visible. She hoisted the saddlebag onto her back and started trotting out of the cave, towards the small stream.
As Rainbow stalked closer towards the stream, she could hear the sparkling water sloshing and its rhythmic splashes that were made every time the water hit the bank of the stream. Rainbow Dash uncapped the water bottle's cap and filled it up with the water.
She took off her mask and splashed the water onto her face, blissfully refreshing her.
"Ah..." Rainbow sighed contently.
The bushes nearby rustled. The rustle was too big to be just a hare. It had to be a creature bigger or taller than her. Rainbow groaned.
"Not again!" She stopped drinking water and pulled on her mask. She slotted her water bottle back in her saddlebag. Rainbow Dash took out her small dagger. She placed herself into a fighting stance.
"Whoever you are, come out now, coward!" Rainbow Dash shouted fearlessly. Nothing came out of the bushes.
Rainbow growled. Whoever that was, it was surely a coward. She advanced towards the bush, creeping stealthily. Rainbow Dash held her breath. Then she let out a battle cry and lunged for anything that was behind the bush.
Instead of plunging her dagger into something and seeing the sickly satisfying blood on her blade, Rainbow Dash fell face first into a net. It scooped her up and hung her on a tree. It was the most basic trap. How careless she was.
Rainbow Dash grunted as she tried to cut herself free. She took a glance at her surroundings. There was a group of six tough stallions, with scars on their faces and bodies, standing right below her, pointing spears at her.
"Looks like a group of criminals, a tribe, or something," Rainbow muttered to herself, "I didn't expect ponies in The Plains."
"Who are you? What are you doing in our territory?" One of them asked gruffly. Rainbow Dash assumed he was the leader.
She sawed the rope. It was cut. She expertly landed on one of the spears below, and she balanced herself on it such in a way that she would not get harmed. Rainbow forcefully jumped from it, landing a few meters away in a crouched position.
"Whoever you guys are, you all messed with the wrong pony," Rainbow Dash murmured. She grinned as she gave them a mock salute, sprinting off into the depths of the jungle. Rainbow was enjoying the priceless looks on their faces as they saw her escape their trap so easily. They quickly snapped back into focus, and gave chase after her. The years of training in the battlefields had definitely paid off for Rainbow.
After Rainbow Dash was sure they lost track of her, her sprint slowed down to a trot. She panted hard. Rainbow stopped, leaning on a tree, trying to catch her breath. She pressed her head to the tree trunk.
"That was fun," Rainbow giggled as she reached for her water bottle, "the looks on their faces were pricele-"
Rainbow Dash stopped in mid-sentence. She felt a sharp pain on her throat.
A cool, sharp metal blade was pressed to her throat. She breathed in sharply. It was cutting against her fur, and she could feel her blood trickling. She could not see anything, so her attacker must be attacking her from behind. Smart.
"Are you a Lunian?" A mysterious yet familiar male voice whispered closely to her ear. She could feel his breath against her fur.
"Son of a..." Rainbow spat, and she grabbed the knife, twisting her attacker's...hoof. So this creature was a...stallion? Oh no. Was it the group? Had they tracked her down?
She turned around sharply, glaring at the stallion. He had a cloak and mask on, like her. He was not from the group. That left only his eyes revealed to her. The eyes were a rich emerald green, all too familiar, but her mind still could not piece it all together.
"I did not remember a cloaked stallion in the group..." Rainbow mumbled, voicing her thoughts audibly.
As she twisted his hoof, Rainbow Dash swore she heard a grunt from the attacker, but he did not budge. Instead, he flipped her onto the ground, pinning her fore hooves down with his.
Rainbow Dash squirmed and struggled under his hooves, but she could not get out from his grasp. Boy, this was embarrassing...
"Let me ask you one more time, are you a Lunian? What is your name?" He snarled, and grabbed his knife back.
"I don't know," "I don't have time for nonsense," "I. Don't. Know,"
Rainbow Dash flipped her head to her left, stubbornly keeping her identity a secret. The stallion was about to pull off her hood when a roar sounded right behind them.
It sounded like another manticore. For once, she never felt more relived to hear that sound. Her identity was so close to being revealed. The stallion stiffened, and released his grip on her for a second, startled by the roar.
That one second was all Rainbow Dash needed to push him off her. She pounced onto him, switching positions. He gasped, and quickly pulled out his knife, preparing to strike out at her. Rainbow used a hoof to snatch the knife, and was going to slice his neck.
However, she was about to slice his neck, the manticore came to view.
Rainbow Dash gave out an annoyed growl and turned around to face it. The manticore was about thrice the size of the one she met on her first day. She could not defeat it alone. Rainbow tried anyways.
Still holding the knife in her hooves, she threw herself forcefully at it. The knife and her impact caused a wound in the manticore's side, but it healed quickly, as if the wound was not even there in the first place.
Rainbow Dash gasped at two things. One, the manticore had healed instantly. Second, her attacker was getting the chance to escape. She responded to the stallion first, since she was sure that she could not defeat the manicore. Rainbow was boiling with anger. That coward!
She approached him, and was about to knock him off his hooves, the group of six stallions suddenly appeared, cornering Rainbow Dash and her attacker into a circle. Now the group of six had arrows and bows in their hooves.
The hooded stallion pounded a hoof on the ground. He charged forward so quick, he was a blur. He knocked out one of the group members in a flash. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in surprise. She had never seen somepony move so fast before (without wings).
Then Rainbow snapped to attack mode herself. She targeted at the assumed leader of the group, and tackled him with a swift kick. She and her former attacker defeated the group after a few kicks and punches.
The manticore noticed the fight, and began charging towards them. Rainbow Dash glanced around frantically, looking for a hiding place. She found a rocky cave. The entrance looked too small for the manticore to enter. She dashed as quickly as her hooves would take her, hoping to reach the cave before the manticore had a chance to smash her into pieces.
Rainbow risked a glance back at the manticore, and saw that it was closer to her than she imagined. She opened her wings ever so slightly, and flapped them powerfully to give herself a boost. Rainbow Dash zoomed into the cave, leaning up to the walls of the cave.
Just at the same time, the manticore smashed its head onto the rocky boulder above the cave, and the rocks crumbled down, coming in giant pieces.
Rainbow stared on in horror as the rocky boulders stacked up against the cave's entrance. They completely blocked any chance of escape by that way, and also blocked any source of light. The cave plunged into darkness. She was trapped in the cave.
Rainbow Dash's mouth hang opened as she collasped onto her flank. She stared absentmindedly at the (assumed) rocky boulders.
Rainbow saw a glowing blue light coming from the tattoo Luna gave her. She felt around herself, wincing a bit when her hoof felt something wet and rough on her fur. It was a wound, and the tattoo was healing it slowly as Luna stated. She breathed out a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash froze. "Anypony there?" She tried her best to put on a hard edge to her voice, although a little quiver in her voice could be heard. She heard shuffles from the wall opposite of her (as she thought, since she could not see).
Whatever that was shuffling froze too. "Who's there?" A voice echoed. A male voice that was unmistakable.
"You're...you're my attacker, right? You were the one that asked me whether I was a Lunian?" Rainbow managed to croak out.
A pause was heard, followed by a sharp intake of breath. "Yes. I am. I assume you're the...mare?" The voice asked.
"Maybe. Where are you?" Rainbow Dash stiffened as she took out the knife.
A flashlight flickered on in front of Rainbow a few feet away. She slowly stalked towards the light.
"Don't bother to steal the flashlight. I can see you," "Oh yeah?" "Don't bother to kill me, either,"
The knife was snatched out of Rainbow's hooves. She gasped audibly. A light shined onto her face. Rainbow winced slightly at the light, being used to the dark. And sure enough, she could see the stallion's hooded and masked face, inches from hers. His emerald eyes were narrowed, darting from her glowing blue tattoo and back to her face,
Rainbow Dash glared at the hooded stallion, pulling her hood down. "I'm Luna," She lied, not really convincingly.
"Hay yeah, and I'm Celestia," he rolled his eyes. "And why did you try to escape when I fought the manticore?" She shoved him roughly, "Coward!" "Coward? Excuse me, I was trying to stay alive, stupid,"
"And we're stuck here 'cause you didn't help me defeat it!" Rainbow snatched back the knife and held it close to his throat, "Should've killed you when I got the chance, you useless, son of a..."
A gust of icy-cold wind blew towards them. "Brr..." she shivered. Rainbow could see him shiver slightly too. Her eyes grew wide, filled with new hope.
"Hey-" the stallion started. "I think we are able to escape!" "You-" he grabbed her hoof. "Look. I found a possible escape. I think we can escape here! We can follow the cold wind, find the place it comes from, and we can-" Rainbow rambled on enthusiastically.
The stallion raised an eyebrow. "We?" He sneered, "I'm sorry, if where that cold wind comes is from a threat, I'm not following."
Rainbow shrugged, "If you don't want to escape here, fine. I do things my way, coward,"
She trotted a few feet from him, following where the wind came from. Soon, she found out that she could not even see her own hooves in front of her face.
Rainbow Dash backtracked her hoofsteps to the source of the light, back to the stallion.
Somehow sheepishly and embarrassed, Rainbow asked him, "and...and to do things my way...I need you and that torch...yeah."
The stallion folded his hooves. "Ha. A moment ago, you didn't need me. Now, you're doing the exact opposite," a smirk formed on his muzzle, "how about this, you tell me who you are, then I'll help you. Deal?" The stallion extended a hoof.
Rainbow's face flushed; because of embarrassment and in anger that the stallion was making use of her disadvantage. "F-fine. Deal," she shook his hoof with hers, "I'm a Lunian."
"I need more information. I knew you were a Lunian right from the start. You fighting style says so. Tell me something I don't know. Your former job, maybe?" He pressed on the deal.
Rainbow gritted her teeth, "I was..." she paused. What should she tell him? That she was a Wonderbolt? No, that was too risky. Everypony would know who were the Wonderbolts. "a weather control pony," she finished.
"Typical pegasus?" He questioned as they started to walk in the direction of the cold wind.
"No!" She protested, a little offended. After all those three years, her brashness and ego seemed to be the only things that remained in her. "I pulled off a Sonic Ra-" she caught herself. Surely this stallion knew the only pegasus whom ever pulled off the Sonic Rainboom.
"Hmm?" He asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"N-nothing..." Rainbow's eyes moved away from his, "So...I told you about me, it is only fair that you tell me a little about yourself." "This was not part of the deal," he glanced at her. "Come on!" "Nope,"
Rainbow Dash blew her mane. Her companion suddenly held her back from trotting any further.
"What..." she began.
"Shush," he silenced her with a hoof, placing it on her muzzle, "I hear sounds...and by the way, we're standing at the edge of a..." the stallion directed his flashlight at the drop in front of them. "endless drop," he whispered.
"We gotta find out what's in there!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Wait!" The stallion cried, but he was too late. Rainbow Dash zoomed into the depths of the hole already. He could only follow her.
Rainbow Dash opened her wings and flew down into the hole. She was grateful that the cloak had holes at the side to let her wings flap. What a relieve the fly was, the cool air weaving in and out of her feathers, releasing the humidity that collected inside over the past few days. Pegasi needed to fly freely. Rainbow had no idea how Fluttershy could just spend her life on the ground.
Rainbow Dash watched as the flashlight's light grew dimmer and dimmer as she flew down into the hole. Suddenly, a worried thought hit her. What if what the stallion said was right? What if the cold wind came from a threat?
Wait. Where was the stallion? She glanced up, hovering mid-flight. She could see a light brightening up the hole above her, descending slowly, and a male voice was calling, "Lunian, Lunian! Where are you, you crazy mare?" Hmm. So her companion was a pegasus.
"I'm here, coward!" Rainbow Dash hollered.
The light zoomed towards her voice, and the stallion came hovering beside her.
"I thought we were a team?" He asked, his voice a mixture of confusion, anger, and...worry? "How could you just fly down there without telling me?" The stallion glared at her.
"So what? My body is still in one piece, and you found me, so what's the big deal?" Rainbow Dash shrugged it off casually.
The pegasus' eye twitched, and he rubbed his temples in frustration, "Big deal...huh?" Rainbow guessed she ticked him off real bad. "Ugh, anyway, let's explore this hole...or tunnel further. I don't want to get stuck in this cave forever," he huffed, and signaled her to follow him as he continued to descend into the tunnel.
"Yeah, sure..." Rainbow Dash shrugged once more, and followed him.
After like what it seemed like an eternity to Rainbow, they finally reached the end of the tunnel. It was a huge, gigantic cavern, bigger than the one they had just been into. There were large icicles hanging from the sky-high ceiling, water dripping slowly from the end of their sharp tips. That was not the only sounds to be heard. It was dimly lit, bright enough to see almost every part of the cavern; the stallion off the flashlight. There seemed to be a distant chatter somewhere in the area that they could not see. There was plain dirt ground for the two pegasi to land on.
"Finally, we're here!" Rainbow exclaimed, stretching her wings and hooves. As she talked, mist came out as her breath, "Sure is cold in here."
"Uh...we just took, like, half an hour to reach here...and," he glared at her, whispering-shouting, "don't be so loud! There might be some things in here!"
"C'mon, like if there were anything that would live in this freezing, cold environment!" Rainbow argued, whispering.
The cavern fell silent. All of a sudden, a huge army of changelings landed before them. They bared fangs, and growled in annoyance. They did not look welcoming.
"And I just had to open my mouth," Rainbow groaned, "let's attack!"
Rainbow charged into the army, leaving her male companion no choice, but to only follow her lead. He muttered bitterly,
"Hey! Careful! They're changelings!" The stallion shouted over the noisy battle.
"Got it!" Rainbow Dash gave a quick nod and flew up into the air. Several changelings followed her, and some turned into the stallion, some turned into herself. "Dear Luna, how am I supposed to differ them from the real stallion?" She muttered as more changelings crowded her vision. There were many copies of the stallion and herself.
"Hey!" One copy of the stallion...or the real stallion shouted from behind her. Rainbow whipped around, and asked, "What was my former job?"
The stallion pursed his lips, not answering. It definitely was a copy. Rainbow Dash kicked it immediately, sending it flying across the room.
"There are too many!" Rainbow Dash screamed, "We need to escape!" Hoping the stallion heard her, she flew forcefully towards the other end of the cave, hurling any changeling who dared to block her way.
As she approached the end, she spotted a hole large enough for her and the stallion to squeeze through. Rainbow glanced back. The stallion was nowhere in sight. She wanted to just leave him here, but she did not want to be alone again when the next danger striked. Groaning, she ran into the bustling army of changelings.
"Hey! Where are you?!" Rainbow Dash called desperately, hoping the stallion was not torn into shreds already. More changelings surrounded her, standing a circle around her. She was trapped again. Their horns glowed green all at the same time. Rainbow had a bad feeling for this. She tried lunging out at them, but realised she was frozen into that pose already. She was stuck.
Panic. That was the first thing that came to her mind. Rainbow growled and grunted as she tried to move, but to no avail.
Was she just going to die, by the magic of the changelings?
All of a sudden, a brown and black flash dived towards her from the air and hit one of the changelings surrounding her. The flash attacked rapidly, and a moment later, all the changelings were down. The flash came to a stop and Rainbow Dash realised it was the cloaked stallion. He stretched out a hoof to help her up, and she accepted it gratefully, slowly testing her limbs to check if they could move.
"I found a way out, c'mon!" Rainbow Dash led the way to the hole she found earlier on.
The two reached the hole. "You go ahead, I'll find a way to block the hole so that the changelings won't follow us," he quickly pushed Rainbow towards the hole, and flew off to a part of the cave that she could not see.
"Sure..." Rainbow Dash muttered, and squeezed through the hole. She was greeted by a sight of a huge pond...in another tall cavern? However, this time round, it was different. She could see the cavern clearly as there was a huge hole at the top of the cavern, shining the sweet sunlight into the cave. Great! She could finally escape all these horrible and dangerous caves. There were plants along the pond, fern, moss, algae. The normal environment that Rainbow Dash thought she would have never been so happy to see.
A while later, she heard the familiar sound of...thunder? It was coming from the hole, where it led to the changelings' cave. A huge flash followed. Wait a minute...for thunder to occur, there must be thunderclouds in the area, but Rainbow had not seen any clouds in the cavern, so what was generating the thunder? Curious to what the source was from, she peeked through it.
Rainbow Dash was shocked by what she saw. Utterly shocked.
The stallion was flying through a large thundercloud that she had not noticed that was in the cavern, channeling the lightning and electricity along with him, towards a huge boulder above her hole. Rainbow gasped. Nopony could just channel all of the thundercloud's electricity along with them, much less control the direction of it! Being a weather patrol pony for so long, Rainbow Dash had never seen anypony who knew how to! This stallion was defying the laws of nature! It was impossible! Ugh. So was the Sonic Rainboom.
Wait. If he was channeling the lightning to the boulder above her hole, he was trying to block the hole with the boulder? Great, another exit blocked. However, he had no choice, too.
It took all of her willpower to tear her eyes away from the incredible sight. Rainbow Dash trotted over to the side of the cave, preparing to dodge any large rocks that might manage to get through the hole.
A huge tumble of rocks rained down on the hole, sealing it. The crash and collision of the rocks ground up masses of sand into the air. Rainbow Dash coughed and looked around as the sand begun to settle.
Her eyes grew wide with worry. Where was the stallion? Did he die trying to seal up the hole? Was the lightning too much for him to take? Rainbow Dash ran around the site, shouting to get his attention if he was still alive.
"Hello?" Rainbow Dash removed the small boulders, one by one, trying to uncover the pile. She threw her saddlebag down and started digging.
She found a broken pale blue wing, battered with blood, trapped in between two large rocks. "Come on, please don't be dead..." she pleaded as she gently removed the two large rocks and touched the wing gingerly.
"Hey," she whispered.
No response.
"Hello? Don't play tricks on me now...this isn't funny," she said as she removed more rocks surrounding the wing. Soon, she found a even more bloody body, with bruises lining up his forehead. There was a steady stream of blood running down his forehead.
Okay. Do not panic. Calmly attend to this situation...
Rainbow heaved the rocks surrounding him, careful not to touch him. She moved them away. She felt sweat forming at her brow. She did not know whether it was because she was tired from the battle, or because she was worried about this stallion.
Ugh. What to do? She knew first-aid, but she did not think it was enough to help this stallion. She needed to try anyway.
Rainbow Dash slid off her cloak and mask, since she did not need it; she was alone with this stallion in the cave, besides, he was not waking up anytime soon. It was getting hot and humid anyway.
She flew over to her saddlebag and opened her first-aid kit. Rainbow bought it over to the stallion. She held a hoof to his neck.
There was a pulse. A faint one, but it was paced.
Rainbow Dash sighed. One, she was relieved that he was alive. Two, she was worried. His pulse was so faint! How was she going to heal him?
She pulled his mask off.
Then she bit her lower lip.
Oh no. If she wanted to help him, she would have to reveal his identity to herself. It might make things a bit uncomfortable down the road if it was a pony she was close to from her previous years.
Rainbow Dash pushed it out of her thoughts. Her desperation to save him was overwhelming, for some weird reasons. She had seen ponies die fighting on the battlefield everyday in this war, so why was she so desperate for him to live? She was just with him for a day only!
Without anymore hesitations, she threw his hood off.
Pale blue fur.
Blown back navy blue mane.
Perfect, chiseled jawline.
She also knew that he had emerald green eyes, from her previous experiences with him.
She could tell he flown as much as she did, or not, more; when he was flying down the hole earlier, he had powerful, paced wing flaps. It did not take a pony like Twilight to figure out that about him.
She knew who he was.
"S-Soarin...?" She stammered.
Rainbow stumbled backwards and landed on her flank, shocked from her discovery.
"W-Why?" She whimpered, barely audible.
He was a Celestian, and she vowed to Luna that she would kill any Celestian if she saw one. She could not kill him. He was her former friend. If Rainbow wanted to follow her vow, she would have killed him by now.
But, no. She did not. She could not bear to kill him.
Without thinking much of her vow, Rainbow Dash removed his cloak to check for more injuries and wounds. There was a broken and fractured wing, a gash bleeding profusely at his side, and a cut on his cheek.
Then she saw his cutie mark.
His cutiemark was a lightning bolt striking through a wispy cloud. Of course, that would explain the lightning, and the thunderclouds. It was his speciality! What a unique one; even up to now, she was still as amazed about it like the first time she met him.
She cleaned up the blood and dirt on him. Rainbow Dash then applied ointment on his wounds and bandaged them. She sighed. It was all she could do. It was now up to him to heal and survive.
By the time she was done with treating him, the sky's sun had begun to set, and dusk set in. Rainbow wondered if Luna still rose the moon while cooperating with Celestia. She smirked. Maybe.
Rainbow opened his saddlebag. She found a blanket. She used that to prop his head up like a pillow, and gently put him in her sleeping bag. Rainbow Dash just sat right next to him.
Rainbow Dash realised how peaceful he looked. Soarin's breathing was shallow, yet rhythmic. Oh, how much she wanted him to open his eyes and show her a sign that he was okay. When would he wake up? She wanted to hear that cheerful voice of his again, not the one that he used to speak with her now. The war had changed him so much. The war. She shook her head. Ugh, why was she getting sappy all over him?
As she continued to stare at him, she recalled what he said years ago, even before she became a Wonderbolt.
Wonderbolts look out for each other!
She smiled at the thought of his words.
Rainbow suppressed a yawn. Tomorrow morning, she had to change his bandages again. She could not risk them getting infected. Not in this horrible environment.
Well, tomorrow was tomorrow. Today, she had to get all the rest she could.
Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on his. She smiled. "Goodnight, Soarin," she whispered.
Holding his hoof, she fell asleep.
Without her knowledge, her lightning bolt-shaped tattoo begun glowing, even brighter than it ever did. The blue glow ran from her hoof to his, outlining the two pegasi, connecting them as one.
"D-Dash...?" Soarin stuttered, not believing his eyes. Before him was the cyan mare with rainbow mane, sleeping like a pig. Her soft snores echoed around the cave, bouncing off the walls. Her tattoo was glowing, outlining their bodies. Rainbow was holding his hoof.
He examined his surroundings. It was a tall cave with a hole at the top, filtering sunlight into it. Then he remembered everything that happened before he blacked out. The generation of thunderclouds, the lightning, the boulder...then? How did he end up here? Soarin could not remember.
Soarin glanced around, in search of the cloaked mare that came here with him. She was nowhere in sight. His eyes landed on the mare before him, his suspicions arising.
"Rainbow Dash?" Soarin pulled his hoof away from her slowly, the blue glow disappearing immediately after his hoof lost touch of hers.
"Huh...?" Rainbow murmured as she stirred, "Gah, let me sleep a while more, sunlight." Then she shot straight up. Her eyes met his. "Soarin! How are you feeling? How did you wake up? What happened?!" Rainbow blurted out before she could stop herself.
"I...I...I don't know," Soarin closed his eyes, rubbing his temples, "How did you appear here? Where is the cloaked mare?"
"About t-that..." Rainbow looked away.
Soarin narrowed his eyes at her, then to the mask and cloak beside her. Then his eyes widened in realisation. His suspicions were right.
"You should've just left me alone," Soarin muttered bitterly.
The two pegasi had just flew out of the cave and landed in one of the many jungles in The Plains.
"Then what? Leave you to die?" Rainbow shot a sharp glance at him,"If I did, you wouldn't be here!"
Soarin turned his body to face her, and his gaze softened. Rainbow Dash refused to meet his eyes. "I know," his voice lost its usual edge, "but you're a Lunian, and I'm a Celestian. We aren't supposed to help each other."
Rainbow finally looked back at him in the eye. "Which reminds me, what are you doing here? I'm sure you know this is a dangerous place," she placed a flat tone.
Soarin replied, "I'm here, sent by Ruler Celestia."
"Odd. I'm here for the same reason...what are you here for?" "To find the Journal of Tirek." "Wait a minute..."
Rainbow's eyes flashed from him to his saddlebag. Her eyes widened. "I'm here for the same reason..." she muttered to herself. Why didn't she think of asking him this before? "Then, have you found it?"
"No. I believe you're searching for it too?" Soarin raised an eyebrow. "That's why you're so...interested?"
Rainbow nodded, and closed her eyes.
If she wanted to continue with him to find the book together, they'll have to fight each other to the death to decide who will get the book. If she didn't continue with him and go in their own separate paths, one of them would find the book first. If she grew too close to him and formed a friendship, she would never bear to kill him.
Not to mention that she couldn't even bring herself to kill him now.
If she went with him...she would have back up and company along with her on her journey to find the book...
Rainbow Dash rubbed her temples, feeling very stressed. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him.
"We should get going on our own..." Rainbow sighed. "We shouldn't meet again." She took two steps back, her eyes never leaving his. His eyes were filled with sorrow and regret, reflecting hers.
"Wait...Crash," Soarin flashed a smile, attempting to lighten the situation.
Rainbow didn't know what struck her. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. Her breath was hitched in her throat.
His smile is...breath-taking, all of a sudden.
She shook the thought out of her mind, and blushed.
"Huh...? What?" Rainbow stuttered, struggling to scrap up what self-respect she had left.
Soarin shook his head teasingly. "Remember you asked me how I recovered in a span of a night?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, but there was a glow coming from that weird tattoo of yours. The glow was outlining our bodies."
Rainbow looked at her tattoo, her blush vanishing, and her expression turning into one of confusion. "Huh? But it's only supposed to heal me, not anypony else," she looked at him again.
"I know, but when I let go of your hoof, the glow disappeared immediately," he added.
"Oh," Rainbow looked down.
Soarin took two steps towards to her. He smiled warmly, making her blush slightly again. He gave a mock salute. "Farewell, Crash." Soarin turned away and started walking in the opposite direction.
Rainbow blinked. "Wait!" She grabbed his forehoof.
Soarin stopped in his steps. He turned around. "Yes?"
Rainbow returned the warm smile. "It was nice meeting you, Clipper."
Soarin smirked and winked at her. Her eyes grew wide and she swore there was a huge blush on her face. She quickly let go of his hoof.
Rainbow Dash turned her back to him, walking deeper into the jungle, not turning back.
"Looks like I'm back to being alone again," Rainbow huffed as she took out her map and compass from her saddlebag. "Let's see..." she muttered. "Huh. The compass is going haywire!" Her eyes widened as she saw the needle spinning round and round.
Something rustled in the bush to her left, then her right. The needle followed the rustle's direction. Rainbow tensed. She slowly pulled out her dagger.
A presence stepped in behind her. Rainbow turned in a flash, knocking the creature off its feet. It was a...stallion? She looked up and saw several other stallions crowding her into a circle.
It was the group she faced a day ago. The group that caused her to meet Soarin, since she ran away from them.
As she was distracted by her thoughts, one of the stallions whipped a sack over her. She was scooped into the bag. Rainbow was being ponynapped!
Rainbow thrashed and kicked, but to no avail.
She could feel one of the stallions carry her up and start walking towards a direction. Rainbow needed to flee. But she couldn't.
Rainbow Dash grunted as she was hurled to the floor. Her head hit something sharp and pain shot through her skull. She groaned. A stallion removed her sack. Sunlight poured into Rainbow's vision and she winced at it, squinting her eyes. Where was she?
Her vision adjusted to the light. Rainbow saw the group of stallions standing before her. She turned her body and looked around. She was in some kind of campsite. When since did The Plains have one?
Rainbow Dash scowled as she looked up to the stallions, putting on an aggressive front. She got back onto her hooves and her eyes searched for her saddlebag. It was nowhere in sight.
Luckily she had her cloak and mask on. She didn't want these stallions to start probing about her identity.
"Whoa whoa whoa, sugarcube...settle down!" The leader stepped out of the group, his face bearing a smirk.
Rainbow clenched her teeth at the mention of "sugarcube". The memory of Apple Jack triggered some sort of sensitivity within her. "DON'T call me 'sugarcube'," she warned him with a dangerously low voice.
"Alrighty then, if that's comfortable with ya," the leader grunted. "...just no fightin'." He grinned menacingly, something Rainbow was not paying attention to. Her mind was already planning her escape plan.
"What do you want? Where's my saddlebag?" Rainbow growled, ignoring his statement.
"You invaded our territory, almost let us get eaten by some manticore, and now, you are to receive your fair lesson. Looky here," he swung a metal rod he grabbed from one of his stallions. "Have fun, yea?"
Rainbow Dash smirked. "Very well then. Expect no mercy."
She shot into the air in a flash and snatched the metal rod out of the stallion's hooves. The group backed away, holding up a few rusted shovels and crossbows in defence. Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"You know..." she tossed the rod into her other hoof. "...you shouldn't have messed with me," Rainbow grinned in triumph as she simply broke the metal rod in half as though it was a piece of paper. She threw the metal rods into the earth below her and they stuck there like two poles. "Maybe try picking somepony..." she drew out her dagger that she had hidden in her cloak and gave them a deadly grin. "...your own level."
Rainbow Dash flew rapidly towards the group and got a good grip on her dagger. She slashed at the helpless stallions one by one, her figure a fast blur. She cut them on the cheek, hooves, flank and necks. Blood splatted onto her face everytime she slashed.
Without wasting a single effort, all the stallions were down; except the leader.
She smiled at him, holding her dagger to his throat. "Where is my saddlebag?" Rainbow asked nicely.
"T-There...t-two t-tents t-to y-your r-r-right..." he stuttered, shuddering in fear.
"Good." With that, she slashed his throat. The stallion fell limp onto the ground. Rainbow sheathed her dagger and wiped blood off her hooves and face, as she took off her hood and mask. She stepped over his body without a second glance and headed off to her right.
Rainbow Dash walked over to the tent the stallion pointed out. She unzipped the flap and peeked inside.
She gasped.
"R-Rainbow Dash!" The filly squealed with joy.
"S-Scootaloo...?" Rainbow Dash stood stunned for a moment, and ran forward to give her a hug. She pulled away. "What happened?! I thought you died!" Rainbow looked at her in disbelief. Scootaloo went missing one year ago on a mission for Luna and never came back. Rainbow was heartbroken. Now that she saw this filly well and alive, tears threatened to blur her vision. Scootaloo patted her back ressuringly.
"Don't worry Rainbow Dash...I have been here the whole time. I was ponynapped, and I couldn't escape those stallions. They fed me, though for some reason...they were so scary!" Scootaloo exclaimed. Rainbow just smirked and ruffled her mane.
"If I told you I defeated them all in ten seconds flat, would ya believe me?" Rainbow snorted.
"No way!" Scootaloo scoffed.
"Yes way," Rainbow chuckled. Then she remembered why she was here in the first place. "Oh yeah, did you find any saddlebag in here? Mine's taken," she looked around the tent.
"Uh, no," Scootaloo frowned. "Why are you here anyways?"
"I'll tell you later, squirt. Now follow me," Rainbow led her outside of the tent. "That stupid bastard gave me a bucking lie before he died...I'll make sure he dies a second time in hell," she muttered under her breath.
Rainbow spotted another tent. She squinted and found a shadow of a stallion inside. A pegasus, even. The shadow portrayed a stiff posture. Rainbow grinned as she thought it might be a guard. It would be easy getting the information out of this guard.
Rainbow Dash gestured for Scootaloo to stay put outside as she crept up against the tent, ready for ambush.
She unzipped the tent's flap quickly. A throwing knife flew out. It came short of a few centimeters as Rainbow dodged it. Rainbow Dash dove immediately into the tent, pinning the stallion down. He had a hood and mask on like her. This was a familiar sight.
"Dash?" His deep voice suppressed genuine surprise.
Rainbow's brows furrowed as she tried to put two and two together. Where had she seen this cloak and heard this voice? Something made a click in her mind.
"Soarin? Why are you here?" Rainbow asked as she got off him. Soarin threw off his hood and mask. He got up.
"I was ponynapped," he replied as he reached for something behind his back. "Is this yours?" Soarin held up her saddlebag.
"Yeah!" Rainbow took it gratefully and she looked up at him. "How did you know?"
Soarin held up the photo she took with her friends years ago. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Come on, I check everything I get," Soarin chuckled, "by the way, you looked quite happy in there."
"I was," Rainbow's ears drooped as she took it from his hoof and slotted it inside her saddlebag.
Sensing her sudden change in her mood, Soarin looked outside the tent, hoping to see something to change the topic. "Who's she?" he raised an eyebrow upon seeing the filly.
Rainbow lifted her head. "That's Scootaloo. A filly I took under my wing years ago," she smiled sadly. "Let's go."
Soarin grabbed his saddlebag and and walked outside with Rainbow.
Scootaloo gasped, "S-Soarin?! The Wonderbolts?!"
"Yeah, I met him on the way before meeting you," Rainbow replied. "Oh my Luna!" "Geez squirt. Forgot I was a Wonderbolt?" "Nah, you're different. But still awesome!"
Soarin laughed at the two ponies. "You know you guys look so cute when you're talking like that?" The two ponies turned around to face him. Scootaloo looked like she was about to explode out of gush-iness while Rainbow gave him a "stop-the-cuteness-shit-or-you're-dead" look.
He stopped laughing upon receiving Rainbow's message.
Rainbow turned around swiftly as she was just reminded of what she was supposed to do and to stop fooling around. "Guys, we need to go," she looked at Scootaloo sternly as she was still gushing over Soarin. "Now."
"Right," Soarin sighed. "Bye, Scoots." His sight lingered on Rainbow for a little while more than it should have. "Bye, Dash."
"Now let's go squir-" Rainbow turned around just as the filly shouted. "No!" Scootaloo shrieked. She leaped in front of Rainbow.
The world seemed to shatter around Rainbow, all at once. Tears flooded her eyes. An arrow shot Scootaloo in her head as she fell motionless onto the ground before her.
"Scootaloo! NO!" Rainbow Dash screamed as she scrambled beside the lifeless filly. She cradled Scootaloo's body in her arms as the filly's life drained away. Blood trickled down her forehead.
Soarin rushed towards Rainbow as she shot a murderous glare at the stallion who shot the arrow. It was one of the stallions Rainbow fought just now. Apparently, one of them was not dead and tried to shoot the arrow to kill Rainbow. And Scootaloo protected Rainbow's life. By sacrificing her own.
Scootaloo sacrificed her own life to protect Rainbow's.
Rainbow Dash advanced dangerously towards the stallion that shot the arrow. She unsheathed her dagger and rage flared in her eyes. She screamed whatever curse and swear she knew and plunged the dagger repeatedly into his body until he lay dead. Rainbow flung the dagger away and kneeled on the ground, sobbing.
"Rainbow..." Soarin placed a hoof on her shoulder. When she did not react and continued crying, he pulled her into a warm embrace, comforting her as he stroked a hoof through her mane.
Rainbow Dash cried even harder and sunk into his chest, returning the embrace.
