//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 - Truths and Truths // Story: Life Between Death // by cierragp //------------------------------// As she watched the last rays of sunset disappear from the horizon, Rainbow wondered what it would be like if the war had never happened. She felt the silent tears pool in her eyes as the thought of Scootaloo came back to her. Scootaloo. It was all her fault. If she hadn’t wanted so badly to see her daughter, she wouldn’t have put her in such danger. It was all her fault now that Scootaloo was gone. “Rainbow?” It was Soarin. She turned around, not bothering to hide the tears in her eyes, and met the same green eyes that she had seen so often. They were filled with concern and worry….and something that she could not place a name to. “Yes?” She answered back. “I was just wondering about you. Are you okay?” “I guess.” Rainbow muttered. Soarin narrowed his eyes. “I know you’re not.” He began, softly but firmly. “I’ve seen it in your eyes.” “You don’t have to care about me.” Rainbow snapped. She didn’t know what she was doing. “Why not?” Soarin said. “Because no ones cares about me.” Rainbow shot back, and turned her back to him. “I do.” Soarin said, stepping forward. “I always did.” “What?” The tears in Rainbow’s eyes glittered under the moonlight. “You don’t believe me?” Soarin raised his eyebrows. Rainbow stayed silent. Soarin stepped forward, so that he were side by side with Rainbow. He wrapped a wing around Rainbow’s trembling body, and sat there in silence. Rainbow felt a silent warmth envelop her. Behind them, an angry, almost insane figure stepped out. ~~~ Scootaloo didn’t know where she was. The walls were silent, the roof was silent, and when she pressed her ears against the walls it was all silence. Where could she have been? It didn’t seem like anything that she had ever seen or heard of. She wished that she could see. If only she knew what she was facing. Everything was unlike what she usually saw. She yelled as loud as she could, but she found her throat giving away and the yells bouncing back at her. Desperate, she curled up and tried to figure out what everything was. She was Scootaloo, sister, no daughter to Sergeant Rainbow Dash, and a soldier… The room was spinning, and she fell with a loud thump, the fall opening wounds on her battered body… ~~~ Two ponies had burst into the room. Scootaloo found herself surrounded by the duo of ninja-like ponies. They spoke softly, one after another, “What do you remember?” “…. I think…my sister is Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo murmured. “Soarin is with her?” “I guess you should’ve known.” One of the ninjas shook her head, and commanded. “Follow us.” “Why?” “Because we’ll take you to somewhere safe. You’ll be captured soon if you don’t go.” Feeling that she didn’t have anything to lose, Scootaloo followed. ~~~ “And the genetic material obviously doesn’t belong to Scootaloo.” The doctor finished. Rainbow sat there, dumbfounded. It wasn’t her sister. It was a monster all along. And she had been a fool. She thought it was her sister. She didn’t trust her senses. She had a lot to learn. She thought she had it. She thought she could do it. But it went all wrong. She had been fooled all along. “Thank you, Doctor.” She replied curtly, and promptly left. She had hurt her daughter more than she thought. Rainbow wanted to protect Scootaloo, but it ended up her being the culprit. Why? What had she done to deserve such a fate? ~~~ “Give it up, Rainbow.” Soarin said. “If you want her back, then you have to find her. Not mope here and sound plain pathetic.” He knew he was being very harsh on her, but he had to provoke her to do it. “Fine. Get lost with your stupid idioms.” Rainbow muttered, standing up and staring Soarin in the eye. “I will find her, and the next who says I can’t will die. Will be dead. Dead like Sombra when Celestia is gonna be through with him.” Soarin was secretly happy, but he didn’t show it. His face showed no emotion. “What?” Rainbow asked. “Do you want to be the first to die with your stinky attitude?” “No.” Soarin said, emotionless as ever. “Then you get your sorry flank somewhere, and do something useful!” Soarin wanted to smile then. At least the old Rainbow, who ordered people around and never stopped without finishing, was back. It was better than seeing her mope around and it broke his heart to see her so. What was that feeling though? The pangs of sadness and hurt and the joy he felt when he was around her? He felt it, and he knew what they were. Yet he also knew the risk he was taking. He may as well as have taken a knife and prepared to stab her over and over, until she was a mess on both the outside and the inside. The consequences of love in war were severe, and there were many examples for him to watch. He couldn’t let Rainbow end up as another. He had to protect her, even if it meant sacrificing his happiness and life. With a newfound determination, he went back to his office. He would end this, and then he could love without risking death and injury. ~~~ “Commander, may I speak with you for a minute?” The voice of a loud mare rang through. “Yes.” Soarin answered, not bothering to look up from his plan to demolish the Crystal Army. “CITIZEN OF EQUESTRIA!” Luna boomed, stepping in, throwing off her hood, and announced. “FOR I HAVE NEWS TO DELIVER!” Soarin had to refrain from placing his hooves in his ears to lessen the pain. “IT IS WITH SADNESS THAT I ANNOUNCE THAT MY BELOVED - ” Luna clenched her teeth during the word beloved, and continued “ - SISTER HAS BEEN PLANNING AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT.” “I don’t believe you.” Soarin answered flatly. “You’re just an imposter. Please refrain from violating the laws of this nation.” “TONIGHT, YOU WILL RECEIVE A VISIT FROM THE FAMED CELESTIA!” Luna continued, not bothering to answer Soarin. “I SHALT SAY, SHE WILL ASK TO ATTACK ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE, WHERE THE CRYSTAL TOWER IS. BUT YOU WILL BE MET WITH GUARDS, HUNDREDS OF THEM, THOUSANDS EVEN. THEY WILL DEMOLISH AT LEAST HALF THE ARMY, AND WILL BURN THE CAMP. THE CRYSTAL TOWER IS A PLACE WHERE NO ONE REALLY UNDERSTANDS, BUT I HAVE BEEN THERE. I KNOW.” “So?” Soarin decided to play along. “What’s next?” He asked sarcastically “I DARESAY THAT YOU WILL NEED A REVOLUTION.” Luna continued. “TO FREE YOURSELVES, FROM HER TYRANNY. I WILL LEAD IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHO SHE IS. I WILL LEAD YOU TO VICTORY. IF YOU LOSE, YOU CAN DEAL WITH ME ANY WAY YOU WISH.” As she finished, she turned and left.