A mysterious plague has swept through Equestria, turning its population into magical zombies. With magic having suddenly vanished as well, it is up to a group of survivors, including Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, to discover the infection's origin and find a way to put an end to the nightmare.

Rainbow Dash was beautiful, the most beautiful pony to be born in a century — and so her fate was sealed. Beauty must be sacrificed, and so Rainbow Dash must die.

Winner of the 2023 EFNW Iron Author Contest. I think I beat out about 40 other writers, and it was hugely exciting to win. Hope you enjoy the read!

Prompts were: vibrant vestigial, vexing volcano, verdant vegetable. Pretty insane for prompts, but Xepher had to pronounce all the Aztec words in my story so I think we're even.

Scootaloo is pushed to her limits and driven to achieve her goal of flying with Rainbow Dash. Due to the methods that are chosen, Rainbow Dash is left with some emotional scars.

This story was inspired by two videos I saw, which I will credit at the end. It’s also experimental seeing as I know they would work great together, so I’m challenging myself to do just that.

Rarity disappeared years ago. Rainbow never got the full story. No one wanted to talk about it. Painful memories, bits and pieces of half-remembered interactions, none of it told her anything. So she started looking on her own, and at long last, she found Rarity.

On a different continent, under a different name, with a different life.

Rainbow would like to know why.

After hundreds of years, Twilight Sparkle has perfected the technology to bring her last childhood friend out of stasis. She still doesn't know what she should say.

Rainbow Dash drinks a love potion. At first everypony thought it was cute, but soon it becomes a problem.

Twilight has left for Canterlot on short notice while another pony's plans were ready to take place. Now that Twilight is back the plans can commence once again but what news from Canterlot will Twilight bring back with her?

After a dare devil stunt goes horribly wrong, Rainbow Dash starts to loose her memory. She cannot remember how she failed the stunt. All she remembers is how she lost her desire to be a Wonderbolt and how she wishes she never had her wings.

This is the struggle she goes through almost every day of her life.

Ponies get older over time. They slow down. This is a part of life. But Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie can keep pursuing their dreams as they get older. Rainbow Dash can't. This is her last chance to be a Wonderbolt, and despite working her tail off, she's not getting any better. In fact, she's getting slower. She just wants things to be fair. She wants one last chance to achieve her dream.

She wants to be faster.

This is what happens when she gets her wish.

A three part story.

Featured 10/7-10/9/13. Posted to Equestria Daily on 5/2/14.

Now with a sequel.
MEDALS AND RIBBONS:

This story is part of Twilight's Library because of Skeeter the Lurker.

Twilight's Library Ribbon

And

It also won Skeeter the Lurker's medal.

Skeeter the Lurker's medal

Entry for the Writer's Group Contest & the Rainbow Dash Contest.

Winner, 2nd place, Rainbow Dash Contest.

Voted in by Twenty Great Stories on 11/3/13.

Voted in by The Royal Guard, March 2014

Edited by: SpaceCommie, Cola Bubble Gum

Artwork by: 2135D

An earlier draft of this cover art was featured on EQD.

A brief recollection of the series of events which took place before and after Applejack smacked Strawberry Sunrise upside the head with a stool.

SEQUEL: Strawbe-Retract This
READINGS: Get Strawbe-Wrecked | Strawbe-Rematch and Strawbe-Retract This