//------------------------------//
// A Successor 
// Story: Broken Rainbows 
// by AstonMartinLover 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 9: A Successor

Rainbow lay in her bed, motionless. She could feel every bone slowly rebuilding. It was a strange feeling. And a painful one.

But her mind was focused on other things. Her memories from that cloudy day were finally returning. Her headaches had put a damper on trying to remember anything. But as they subsided, her memories had fallen back into place like puzzle pieces.

Her fight with Chrysalis. Her beat down at the hooves of Chrysalis. She had lost. No. She hadn't simply lost.

She had been destroyed. Physically. Emotionally. Her hooves still shook as she thought of it. Those great hooves beating down on her, breaking bones with every hit. Even the pain now didn't begin to match that.

She let out a slight whimper. She continued whimpering. She suddenly wished her friends were here.

Her doctor had insisted they not see her during this period of recovery. Recovery. That's the word they used. As if this was something that could be fixed. Her mind was already thinking of the best case scenario. And it ended with her needing a walker to get around. Forget about flying.

She thought about talking to Granny Smith. Asking her for tips on how to find the most awesome walker available. The idea made her laugh. It was the first laugh in a long time for her. And it was short lived.

She felt a panic rise in her chest. This was unnatural. She had been fearless once. But that time had passed. She was like a terrified filly again. Her wings were her life. Thinking broader, her mobility was her life. Without it, she was nothing.

She let out another whimper. She was afraid. Not of death. Of living without her special skills. Her talents. She put her head in her hooves and wept.

"Oh could you please keep it down!" A voice shouted, ripping down the dividing curtain in the wing.

Rainbow looked up and yelled.

"CHANGELING!"

"Oh yes. We all know I'm a bloody changeling." He said irritably. "Now could you please keep it down?"

Rainbow Dash tried catching her breath. A nurse trotted by. Rainbow reached out towards her.

"Why...why is there a changeling next to me?"

"Oh him? He got some minor infection from donating his blood. To you."

Rainbow Dash's mouth gaped. "W-bta-wha?"

The changeling rolled his eyes.

"I HAVE CHANGELING IN ME?"


Scootaloo paced nervously outside of the hospital. "When are they gonna let us in?"

"I don't know Scoots. Rainbow Dash hasn't fully recovered yet. It could be weeks. You should go home." Twilight reasoned.

"Are you going home?" Scootaloo demanded.

"Well...no but..."

"Then why the buck should I?" Scootaloo snapped.

Applejack slapped her on the back of the head. "Language young lady! Twilight's right. You should go home. You're wound up tight enough to snap."

"I don't have a home!" Scootaloo shouted. "It's been two years since I've had a home! And it was right there!" She pointed up at Rainbow's cloud home, hovering in the distance.

"And then they made me leave. They said I couldn't stay there anymore. Why Applejack? WHY?"

Applejack sighed. "Sweetie, they was just looking out for your best interests..."

"My best interests? My best interests are to see my big sister! The only pony who ever gave me a real home!"

Applejack looked at her, slightly hurt by her words. Scootaloo sighed.

"I didn't mean all that AJ. You...you gave me a place to stay..." She looked at the four other ponies, her ears back. "All of you guys gave me a home at one time or another. But...I don't know. It was a dream come true. Getting to live with my hero. Getting to call her sister. And...I miss her so much."

Applejack spread her forehooves. "Come here...squirt."

Scootaloo sniffled, then accepted the hug. She sobbed into her chest.

"We all miss her sugar cube. But we're gonna see her soon enough."


Rainbow Dash lay on her side, trying to ignore the changeling sleeping on the bed next to her.

The changeling looked at her curiously. "You don't appear to like me very much."

Rainbow Dash ignored him.

"It's too bad. I don't much mind you. Other than all that whining."

Rainbow Dash bit her lower lip. She would not answer him.

"I mean seriously. You are probably the loudest paraplegic I've ever been across from..."

Rainbow Dash grimaced as she shifted position to fire back.

"Okay you know what? You can't judge me! You don't know me! I'm a pony. I belong here. Unlike you."

Shadow shook his head. "I disagree. I don't think anyone..." He paused as Rainbow shot him a glare. "Forgive me. I don't think anyPONY belongs here."

"Why are you here then?" Dash asked. "Why did you give me your blood?"

Shadow shrugged. "They were planning on taking you off of life support. I figured you deserved a say in it."

Rainbow pouted. "If I'd had had a say in it, they'd have buried me already."

The changeling frowned. "Now that's just not true. You're not ready."

Rainbow glared. "Who are you to tell me if I'm ready to die or not?"

"Nopony gets 'ready' to die. It just happens. Everypony generally wants to live."

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "What kind of moron sold you that one?"

Shadow chuckled heartily. Rainbow's glare returned.

"What?" She snapped.

"It was you. You're the moron who sold it to me. When you lifted a tree off my throat." He rolled over laughing.

Rainbow frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Shadow stopped laughing. "You don't remember? You saved me. I was scouting ahead for the queen. You dropped a tree on me. And then, despite my best efforts, you saved my life."

Rainbow Dash's mouth gaped. "I...I remember some of that. That was you?"

The changeling nodded. "Yes. It was. And since I never really said it...thank you."

Rainbow nodded, mouth still agape. "No problem."

"Anyway, a good changeling repays his debts. You saved me, so I saved you."

Rainbow Dash stammered a bit, her ears going back. She had initially thought this changeling had been forced to give up his blood. To hear he had done so willingly shocked her. And now she remembered that stubborn changeling that wished to die beneath a tree. But she had saved him. And he had returned the favor. Unusual behavior for a changeling.

"T-Thank you." She turned and rolled over on her side.

"Though I see now...my debt is not yet repaid."

Rainbow's ears perked up again. "What do you mean?"

"When I first met you...you had a fire in your eyes." The changeling explained. "I see now that fire is gone. You have been truly broken."

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes. She was hurt by the truth in his words. Everything in her life had changed. All that agility. That finesse. It had died when Chrysalis pitched her off that cloud.

Seeing her so saddened, the changeling felt uneasy. He had not meant to hurt the pegasus further. He sought to rectify his statement.

"However...I know that the broken can heal."

Rainbow looked up at him. She felt suddenly very young and inexperienced. "You...you think so?"

"I've lived it. It will take time. And patience. But you can be what you once were."

Rainbow nodded through newly forming tears.

The changeling smiled. "You know, I keep hearing stories from the others of how tough you are. But from where I'm sitting, you're a bit of a softie."

Rainbow's initial response was anger. But she could see that he was kidding. She chuckled. "I guess so. I'm sorry...I don't know your name."

"My name is Shadow. You can call me...well...Shadow." He finished awkwardly. "And...honestly...I still don't know your name."

"Rainbow Dash." She said proudly. "The one and only."


They finally began letting the other ponies visit after about a week.

Shadow had been returned to his cell in Cloudsdale Penitentiary. He went quietly, still rather wary of how long it would be before his execution at the hooves of his pony captors.

Rainbow sighed. The changeling seemed pleasant. But changelings, by nature, were deceptive creatures. She could not trust him. Even if she wanted to.

And the fact that the two species were at war didn't help things either.

There was a knock at the door. Rainbow looked up.

Scootaloo pushed the door open and trotted in. She looked nervous. She was unsure what reaction she would get from the bedridden Dash.

"Hey squirt." Rainbow said, yawning. They stared at each other awkwardly for a moment. Then Scootaloo leaned down and gingerly gave her idol a hug, making sure not to touch anywhere near her spine.

"I missed you Rainbow." Scootaloo said, holding in the tears. Rainbow hated seeing her cry.

"I missed you too Scoots. It feels like it's been...years."

Scootaloo nodded. She sat down next to the bed. "You're not mad at me are you?"

Rainbow frowned. "About what?"

"I left your side. If I'd been there..."

"Oh yeah. What happened Scoots? You doze off or something? Leave me to face Chrysalis on my own?"

Scootaloo's defenses faltered. Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow jabbed her in the ribs. "Hey. I'm kidding, lighten up. Look squirt, if you'd gone with me, you'd have been killed. And I'd have never been able to forgive myself."

Scootaloo looked down at the floor. "But you wouldn't have gotten hurt..."

"Scoots shut up. The truth is..." She was prepared to admit a painful fact. "I didn't really think before going up there. And I was too tired NOT to get my flank kicked in that fight." She scowled. "Just didn't know it would end up this bad."

Scootaloo leaned down to her. "Is...is it going to heal? Are you gonna be okay?"

"Scoots I don't know." Rainbow snapped. "How am I supposed to know? All I know is that I can't get out of this bed! And I'm pumped full of changeling blood and painkillers! And I'm BORED!"

Her voice made everypony in the hall outside turn and stare. She smiled, turning slightly red, and waved at them. Scootaloo arched an eyebrow.

"You really do need to get out of here. You're freaking me out a bit."

Rainbow Dash sat back in bed. "Squirt, there's something I need to talk to you about. Sit."

Scootaloo sat down. "What's up Dash?"

Rainbow looked up at her, a look of thinly veiled conflict on her face.

"I have this here. Don't know who left it." She picked up the element of loyalty. "This isn't mine anymore."

"What? Of course it is. You're the most loyal pony I know..."

Rainbow shook her head. "That doesn't matter. I can't defend Equestria. The changelings are coming. And a cripple can't be responsible for the element of loyalty. Equestria needs a new hero."

Scootaloo shook her head. "No it doesn't. You can come back. You have to come back."

"I'm not coming back squirt. It's just...too much work to do all over again. It's your turn now."

Scootaloo looked at her, stunned. She couldn't believe it. Rainbow Dash. The element of loyalty.

And Scootaloo, that insignificant loser, had been called upon to take up her mantle.

"I can't accept that Rainbow."

"You can. You gotta. Like I said. Equestria needs a new hero. And it's you squirt. It was always gonna be you."

Scootaloo reached out a shaking hoof and gently grabbed the element of loyalty. It felt warm to the touch. She sat down again, unable to steady herself.

"I...I'm not ready."

"You are. You're a great flyer squirt. And you represent friendship better than I ever did."

Scootaloo stammered a bit. "N-N-No..."

"You've always wanted to be me squirt. Here's your chance. My wings are officially hung up."

Scootaloo continued staring into the red lightning bolt. Her heart felt like it was going to explode. She looked into Rainbow's cheerful eyes. All that training. All those flying lessons. All those filly flops. It all led up to this moment. When she became a member of the elements of harmony.

"I don't know what to say..."

"Don't say anything. Just make me proud kid."

Scootaloo placed the element around her neck. It began to glow. Rainbow smiled, though pain streaked across her face. The pain of knowing her time was over. Time to hand it off to the future.

"Just make me proud."