Rainbow Dash ate like she was never going to eat again. Breakfast included eggs, buttered toast, pancakes, hash browns, grits, and cantaloupe. And that wasn't the end of what was being served. Earlier, Rainbow Dash's Dad decided to take her out to eat. Apparently, there was a little restaurant in the small town of Nightlin. Except, you didn't pay for the food. The way the town worked here was that everypony had a part to play and did their part. They also had group meetings when making important decisions. Every town, village, empire, kingdom, and city was basically a region of its own. Rainbow Dash wanted to know more. She hungered for this knowledge. But when her friends walked into the restaurant, Rainbow Dash held back her questions.
Even though her friends now knew about her friends and family, they still didn't know that the Rainbow Dash they knew wasn't the real Rainbow Dash. The Rainbow Dash they knew wouldn't ask questions that didn't serve a purpose. The Rainbow Dash they knew wouldn't ask question just out of curiosity. Rainbow Dash knew she couldn't keep her true self a secret for long. They were going to find out eventually, but she couldn't tell them to day. She had to wait until the time was right.
However long that might be.
"Wow", a young colt said in awe, observing Twister's wings," You're an actual Wind Pegasus."
Twister, who sat across from her, mirrored Rainbow Dash's reaction. They both held blank stares.
"What's a Wind Pegasus", Twister asked.
"You don't know what a Wind Pegasus is", the colt asked, staring at Twister with a disbelieving look. The young colt was a vanilla kind of white. His black mane was a rugged mess, and a yellow streak for a cutie mark. He also had deep brown eyes that always seemed to be looking at everything. Taking every little fact in like he had a never ending thirst for knowledge. The colt rolled his eyes.
"Well, a Wind Pegasus is a Pegasus who has a huge wingspan", the colt said, pulling out one of Twister's wings. "Wind Pegasus usually live on cliffs or mountains. Most likely, a place where the weather is very windy, hence the name Wind Pegasus." He looked up at Twister and Rainbow Dash. "My name's Raymond."
"That was very interesting", Twilight's voice sounded behind Rainbow Dash. Twilight walked up to Raymond. "Are there any other types of ponies?"
"Yes", Raymond answered," Pegasus are well adapted ponies. There are Wind Pegasus, Desert Pegasus, Snow Pegasus, Rain Pegasus, and Normal Pegasus."
"Normal Pegasus", Twilight asked, raising her eyebrow.
"By 'normal' I mean their wings have no special adaptations", Raymond replied with a shrug," For example, Snow Pegasus have wings with extra feathers to help them survive harsh winters. After winter, they loose most of their feathers to avoid having their wings getting too hot."
Twilight replied with a 'huh' and brought out a notepad. Rainbow Dash stared.
"What's with the notepad, Twi", Rainbow Dash asked.
"Oh, just writing down the things I learn here. Everything is so different and interesting."
"So what's the plan", Flash said, sitting down next to Twister.
"What plan", Rainbow Dash asked confused.
"The plan to get to that secret vault", Flash replied.
"Oh come on", Rainbow Dash groaned," We just got here. I'm still hurt. Can't we wait?"
"No", Flash said shaking his head," We have to leave as soon as possible."
"Not together, you're not", she heard her Mom's voice behind her. Rainbow Dash turned around to get a better look of her.
"Why not", Shining Armor asked standing up from his table.
"Because we can't travel in such a big group! The plan is some are staying and some are going, and that's final", her Mom shouted.
There was a awkward silence across the restaurant. Rainbow Dash watched as everypony started sifting uncomfortably in their seats. Final, her Mom stood up.
"Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Wisp, and Hope will be staying. Twister, I think you should stay behind-"
"No", Twister said," I'm going with Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow Dash quickly tried to hide her blush.
"Alright then", her Mom said," Those who are coming are me, Shining Armor, Flash, Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot, Twister, Thunder Dash, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spark."
"What", Soarin said, sounding very upset," You're going to take that moron!"
"Soarin", Spitfire whispered harshly, elbowing him.
"Well", Spark loudly said. Rainbow Dash watched as he climbed up on the table." At least I have charmingly good looks, and don't look like a moron. Such as yourself."
Soarin looked like he was about to beat the crap out of him, while Spitfire held him back. Rainbow Dash looked at Twister.
"What happened with those two? I thought Spark was just picking on Shining Armor and Flash", Rainbow Dash whispered.
"Well, while you were out, Irina said that Soarin looked stupid", Twister said with a shrug.
"What does that have to do with Spark?"
Twister bit his lip," Spark backed her up... encouraged... maybe."
"Oh", Rainbow Dash said looking away. Mom was already telling them what the should pack.
"We can't we stay in one place for more than a day", Rainbow Dash whispered.
"I love you", Twister whispered suddenly.
"What", Rainbow Dash asked confused.
"For years I loved you and you loved me back, but we never dated", Twister continued to whisper," I love you Dashie. After this is all over, I need you to be my special somepony. Please."
Rainbow Dash sighed. She grabbed his hoof. Rainbow Dash loved him. She knew that one day they needed to be open about how they felt. Rainbow Dash wanted him to know the terrible things she been dealing with. The dreams, the voices. Nightmare Moon. She needed somepony to talk to.
And Twister was perfect.
"Twister. I'm scared. If you are willing to be my special somepony, can I trust you with my secrets? Because I have some I need to share."
Twister smiled," You know you can trust me with anything."
He looked deep into her eyes.
"Anything at all."
***
"You hear voices in your head?"
Rainbow Dash sighed. Twister was the easiest to tell since he wouldn't totally freak out like her Mom, but still a close friend she comfortable telling this to. Maybe he something even more then a close friend. But she could help but think that Twister thought she was crazy. If she was him, she would've thought she was crazy!
"Yes", Rainbow Dash answered," But they're not bad voices. And they're not crazy voices either. They have names. And faces. I seen them in my dreams."
"Do your friends know", Twister asked.
"Twilight and them? No. At least, not all of it. I only told them about them being in my dreams. Telling them that they talk to me inside my head seemed like to much information." Rainbow Dash rested her head on Twister shoulder. "They might even think I'm crazy."
She sat next to Twister on a bench on the balcony, staring off into the distance. She eventually found out that the place she woke up in was a mansion. The only mansion in Nightlin, and everypony there was very proud of it. It belonged to Grimm, Thorn, Thorn's twin sister, Treble, and their younger brother Chip. Apparently, their parents were out of town, and it was up to them to take care of the old mansion. The mansion had been in their family for years, and was inherited. Rainbow Dash would of said it was a hunted mansion if it wasn't for the colorful garden in the front and back of the mansion. It was black and grey, and it's age definitely showed. But it was stable. It had black, iron gates and big stone wall. All it needed was a little sprucing up and it will be good as new. But Thorn and her siblings could never find the time.
Thorn also said that the mansion was converted into a hospital after a terrible illness struck them years ago. Ever since then, the mansion remained a hospital. 102 rooms Thorn said. Not counting the kitchen, the dining room, and the living room. The balcony of the mansion had breathtaking views of the forests and mountains. Rainbow Dash knew that every artist that ever lived would be furious because they would never be able to capture it's beauty. It was just too beautiful.
"I don't", Twister said.
"Hmmm", Rainbow Dash said, turning to him.
"Crazy. I don't think your crazy", Twister said with a sigh," You're not crazy because I know you can think straight. You're not a liar because you wouldn't lie about something like this. The only reasonable answer is that you're telling the truth."
After a long pause Rainbow Dash spoke up.
"Nightmare Moon visited me in my dreams", Rainbow Dash said in a hushed voice. Twister's grip on her tighten. "She wants something from me. I can feel it", Rainbow Dash continued," But I don't know what."
"What... what would you have that she needs", Twister asked slowly.
"I am the element of loyalty. Maybe she needs that... for some reason", Rainbow Dash whisper.
"Maybe", Twister shrugged.
Rainbow Dash nodded.
"Maybe."
***
"Come on Flash! You to Soarin! Get moving", Raindrop, Rainbow Dash's mother, called to the back. Twilight turned around and saw Flash Sentry and Soarin a couple yards behind her, dragging their hooves.
As Twilight's eyes looked upon Flash Sentry, her heart fluttered and her stomach did somersaults. She quickly looked away before Flash could see that she was blushing. Twilight sighed and looked ahead of her, and saw Rainbow Dash and Twister strangely close. It wasn't the friendship close, it was almost like they were something more. Rainbow Dash rested her head on Twister, and Twister wrapped one of his extremely large wings around Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked away from them and found herself staring at Rainbow Dash's father, Thunder Dash. Thunder Dash was born and grew up here. He was in fact, not from Equestria. And Princess Celestia didn't bother to tell anypony. Twilight's eyes finally came upon Rainbow Dash's mother.
Raindrop.
The way Raindrop talks to Princess Celestia... it was if Princess Celestia were an old friend. Twilight looked back at Rainbow Dash. She have learn more about Rainbow Dash more than she did in the last few years. Twilight wasn't handling this very well, although she had been trying to hide it. She wonder how Rainbow Dash was. Twilight quickly ran up to Rainbow Dash and Twister.
"Hey Dash. Are you alright? I know you been through some tough things lately", Twilight asked.
Rainbow Dash looked her in the eyes.
"I'm fine", she whispered.
Twilight nodded, but she knew Rainbow Dash was lying. She didn't need to be Applejack to see it. It was in her eyes. Something was bothering Rainbow Dash.
But what?
***
Rainbow Dash trotted next to Twister, never leaving his side. It wasn't like she was afraid to. She just needed somepony to be there for her. With her every step of the way.
The forest was beautiful. The tall dark trees loomed over their heads, and the plants and flowers gave it a pop of color. But the creepy thing was there was no sound. No squirrels scurrying in the treetops, no birds chirping joyful songs. Just silence except for everypony and the wind. A shiver went down her spine. Rainbow Dash shrank back into Twister's wing. Then she realized why the silence freaked her out so much. It was like her dream. Walking through Canterlot and Ponyville. Everypony gone and not a creature left. Except for her.
"Twilight. Twister", Rainbow Dash whispered," I don't like this."
"What's wrong, Rainbow Dash", Twilight asked very concerned.
"Something's wrong", Rainbow Dash said, nervously glancing around. "Something's off. It's too quiet."
Rainbow Dash watched as Spark slowed his pace to a stop.
"She's right", Spark said," It is too quiet."
Rainbow Dash stopped and looked from side to side. She tried to prepare herself for what was going to happened. Rainbow Dash slowly position herself in fight mode, and-
DUCK!
Following Fractured Light's command, Rainbow Dash grabbed Twister dragged him to the ground.
"Rainbow Dash! What are you-", Twister yelped, but before he could finish a huge wolf leaped out of the forest.
The wolf was grey with black marking on it's back and around it's face. It was much bigger than a Timber Wolf. It's yellow eyes gleamed with hate, and a nasty smile appeared on it's face.
"Shadow Wolf", she heard her Dad whimper.
"Well, well, well", the Shadow Wolf laughed a cruel laugh," Looks like I found myself a buffet."
The Shadow Wolf pounce towards Rainbow Dash and Twister. Rainbow Dash quickly moved out of the way. The wolf swung it's paws at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash jumped backwards, while the wolf's sharp claws only slightly scraped her coat. She tripped backwards, and fell down on the hard ground. Rainbow Dash watched as Soarin and Flash Sentry tried to attack the wolf from behind, but they were quickly taken out by a swing of his tail. Twilight flew into the air, and ready her horn. Rainbow Dash watched in horror as the wolf slammed his paw down on Twilight. Shining Armor screamed Twilight's name, and her Mom was trying to get Soarin and Flash back up. The wolf growled, and sank his claws into Twister. Twister screamed out in agony. The wolf dragged he backwards, and raised his other paw into the air.
"I'll be nice and make it quick", the Shadow Wolf said with a grin.
"NO", Rainbow Dash screamed out, reaching out her hooves.
She felt an electric shock in her hooves, and her body felt as light as air. Everything around her began to glow. Then she felt a force throw her backwards into something hard. Everything hurt. Her back, her neck, her wings. The worse thing was she was on fire. Her chest burn, and then the flames spread to her throat. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. Only strangled cries escaped. Soon, Rainbow Dash's body was being lifted up by somepony. Her Mom and Dad came into view.
"Don't worry Rainbow Dash", her Mom said, fear filling her eyes. "Mommy's here! You're going to be okay!"
Her Dad held Rainbow Dash hoof to his chest. Rainbow Dash heard Spitfire shouting something.
"Did you just see that", Spitfire shouted," What did she do?"
Rainbow Dash started breathing in sharply. Her vision was slowly turning black. Her Dad said something, but no words came out. She was plunged into the darkness, with only one thing on her mind.
What did she do?