The war between Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia has destroyed Equestria, leaving the few survivors to struggle to survive in a dying world of eternal twilight. Fluttershy, twisted by the war, now ekes out an existence in Everfree forest, but even that life is under threat. Twilight Sparkle is coming, leading the last army of Dawn, and she will let nothing stop her from retrieving the Elements of Harmony and saving the world; not even old friends.

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First Place in the Equestria Daily More Most Dangerous Game contest

With thanks to Luna-tic Scientist, Lord Of Dorkness, Nopony_Important and Monanniverse for their help in bringing this story to completion. Cover art is credit to 5kmoe.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/X4NpPxt.jpg[/img]

Princess Celestia huffed as she flew as fast as she could to the meeting place, located in Cloudsdale, a little ways above and near Ponyville. She held the bundle she was carrying with extreme caution with a face of desperation, determined to get it there on time.

Her small alicorn form landed on the nearest cloud before looking behind her, seeing a small rainbow light coming right behind her, following her trail.

"Shoot," she muttered before running forward again. She huffed loudly as she ran through the dark streets of the mobile city made of condensed water vapor that will never fall. The princess of the Sun looked down at the bundle in her right hoof as it began to move before looking back up again.

Soon, after mixing her trail, she arrived at the meeting place, where two ponies, a stallion and a mare, were waiting patiently.

"She is on my trail," Princess Celestia huffed as she came to a stop in front of them. "You know what you must do." The stallion nodded quickly before she continued. "Same hair color. Make it work for as long as you can, no matter what."

"Of course," he said desperately.

"All you have to do is make sure she is happy," the princess told the mare. "Make sure she lives her life and suspects nothing. I will return when she is ready for the truth of her origin and purpose."

"Yes, your highness," the mare responded. Celestia nodded before hearing the faint roar of her pursuer coming closer. She looked back down and lifted the covers to reveal a small foal asleep, snuggled against the softness of the blanket. She smiled as a tear escaped her eye before she leaned down and kissed the foals forehead, nuzzling her rainbow colored mane.

"I will return, my daughter. My Rainbow Dash."

(Currently in the midst of starting off the series. If I work hard enough, the story will be finished as early as by the end of next month!)

After the events of "The Last Roundup", Rainbow Dash and the others find Pinkie and Rarity injured in the badlands. As they go to get help, Rainbow Dash evaluates the extent of her loyalty to her friends.

Revised August 4, 2014

Accepted into Nonpareil Fiction July 27, 2015

Now with a Dramatic Reading on Youtube

When Fluttershy went to bed, she was a normal mare. When she woke up, she could see numbers floating over everypony's heads. They were timers, each one counting down to some unknown event. Most ponies had timers that wouldn't end for years, some for many decades. But everypony had different numbers.

So why does Rainbow Dash's timer end in three hours?

Editing provided by TheMaskedFerret and SolidFire.
Cover art by HopefulSparks!
Spanish translation by SPANIARD KIWI!

Based on Cupcakes. When something happens that no one can foresee the mane cast will learn just how far fear can affect their group.