//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: More Troubles for your Troubles // Story: Juggernaut // by Captain Flea609 //------------------------------// The young and troubled Pegasus Rainbow Dash lay on her bed staring aimlessly at the ceiling, unable to sleep or even simply think clearly. Her head throbbed and she felt a terrible lack of energy and just felt terrible all around. Despite her extreme lack of energy, she couldn't sleep and had stayed up all night staring at the same spot on her ceiling. Her head had been throbbing like this for the past week, but it didn't really start effecting her until last night. For some reason all she could feel currently was anger. Not frustration, but pure anger. What was she angry at? The lack of sleep? Her constant head ache? Or was it those random awkward moments of emotional confusion that limited her social abilities and just seemed to make everything feel.........well what more can I say just plane awkward. She didn't know and the worst part was that she couldn't really think about it. The only conclusion she came to was the most simple. She was sick. A very rare occasion for her, but still that seemed like the most reasonable solution. The only thing that could swim through her mind was, "Why can't I get some damn sleep?!" She'd also been getting into an unhealthy habit of foul language lately, that was the least of her worries. The only thing she was worried about is if she was ever gonna fall asleep. Orange light began to shine on the spot of the ceiling she was looking at and for the first time in seven hours she looked away to her window where she could see sun rising. Seeing this made her even more angry. Well I guess that answers my question. No sleep for me. Rainbow Dash could already tell this day would be even crappier than she expected, but right now she didn't feel like getting up until she felt like it, which would probably be........a while. Yup, just lay there for half the day and think about what little things she could. Dash wasn't much of a thinker either, she was more of a "do" kind of pony. Except now she was thinking way more than doing. Even if she did manage to pull her ass out of bed she still wouldn't feel like doing much of anything. She sighed heavily and looked back up at her ceiling and the sun continued to rise. The morning continued to fly as Rainbow Dash just lay there to sulk in her misery. At least she was getting and somewhat enjoying the peace and quiet. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* Or not. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* With what little energy she had in her, Rainbow Dash slowly forced herself to climb out of bed. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* Rainbow Dash growled loudly a she flew down to see what impatient asshole was knocking on her door so hard for. As she approached her front door she began her rant, "I swear to Celestia, whoever this is, this better be goddamned important!" As she swung open the door she was greeted by an intimidated creamy yellow pegasus with a long pink mane. "Rainbow Dash I'm really sorry to anger you, but this IS important-" Rainbow Dash rudely cut her off. "Look Fluttershy I am seriously not in the mood to help you look for Angel! Honestly you need to watch him more closely!" Even though Fluttershy was really sensitive, Rainbow Dash did not hold back her anger. Instead of Fluttershy lowering her head and her normal remorse, she responded in a way that was very rare for her. "Rainbow Dash will you just listen to me! It's far more important than that!" Even though Rainbow Dash was still pissed off, she guessed it really was important if Fluttershy was brave enough to raise her soft and delicate voice over it. "What is it then?" Rainbow Dash asked now lowering her voice and temper. Fluttershy's eyes began to tear and was sniffling. "PRINCESS CELESTIA IS DEAD!" She was now bawling out crying. Rainbow Dash thought she heard wrong for a second and it took her brain a while to process what she just heard. It was definitely enough to shut her up and forget about her angry thoughts, but now they were replaced with questions. Hundreds of them. "Wha...how?!" Fluttershy tried to stop herself from crying so she could explain, but there was little success and her eyes continued to flood with tears. Rainbow Dash, while still tired and extremely disoriented, invited her grieving friend inside so she could explain. She felt as if the universe wasn't gonna give her a break. First she got sick, then she missed an entire night's of sleep and now she just found out that the Pony that lead the very peaceful land she lived in, not only that, but swore her everlasting loyalty to, is now dead and there was not a thing she could have done to stop it. Her current condition was bad enough, but this was just the universe pissing on the ashes. When they took a seat on one of the cloud couches in her living room, Fluttershy had finally calmed down a bit and Rainbow Dash wanted some answers. "Ok. Now can you please explain to me what happened to Princess Celestia?" She began sounding a bit impatient. Although Fluttershy was still sniffling, she could still muster an answer. "Well, I heard from Twilight when Spike received a letter from the Princess's executives informing him and Twilight that they found her body at her throne. They didn't say the cause of death." Rainbow Dash immediately began making assumptions as to how she died.......well she tried, but still she was unable to think clearly. The only thing she knew is that the news was probably spreading all over Equestria as they spoke. After a long moment of awkward silence Rainbow Dash finally spoke, "So.......what now?" It was the only question she kept asking herself. What will they do? What about the Elements of Harmony? How will the rest of Equestria react? The only thing she knew for sure was the pony that would take Celestia's throne, that was pretty much a no-brainer. She did have only one sister. "I...I don't know." Rainbow Dash's shy pink headed friend began. "I guess we'll find out when they schedule a funeral." A Royal Funeral. Something that Rainbow Dash would have no choice to attend, but despite her crappy condition, she didn't mind going to it. Fluttershy was still trying to get a hold of herself and Rainbow Dash began to wonder why she did not feel the slightest bit of sadness. She wanted to be sad with her friend and if possible get a good cry out of it, but she couldn't no matter how sad she tried to make herself feel. After a few moments of pure silence that seem to get eerier by the minute, her delicate companion was still a bit far from getting over herself. Rainbow Dash reached over to comfort her friend with a hug, but as she wrapped her arms around her and Fluttershy returned Rainbow Dash's showing of caring with a hug of her own, her head spiked with agonizing pain. She didn't scream for the sake of her friend, but squeezed her tighter and scrunched her eyes shut as they watered from the pain. On the bright side at least it looked like she was crying, but if her head hadn't hurt before she definitely felt it now. It was as if some pony was slowly jabbing her brain with thick needles. Fluttershy left her cyan friend's embrace and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thanks for your time Rainbow Dash." She said moving towards the door. As the door shut behind her and Rainbow Dash again had the satisfaction of being alone, she returned to her bed. Instead of lying on her back, she flopped face first into her pillows sulking in her misery and trying to process what she had just been told. The spike of pain had left her head, still she was trying to make herself sad. What the hell is wrong with you?! You don't care that your Princess is dead?! You don't care that the very pony that taught you everything about friendship and made your life a paradise is now gone forever?! She continued to beat herself down with insults and her always short temper began to rise again. And thus began the cycle that she repeated all through last night. She had given up. She had rarely ever given up on anything, but she gave up. She couldn't make herself cry. I'm a terrible pony. .............................................. Hey guys, Flea again! So yeah I touched up on my grammar and now it's much better. I know this chapter was a bit short like the Prologue, but don't worry the chapters in the future I plan on making longer. This chapter was simply just to get you familiar with Rainbow Dash's inner conflict with herself because it plays a very important role and it's something you'll wanna pay attention to. But enough notes from me. Tell me what you guys think and be sure to leave CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM so that hopefully this story will be in the top rated. I promise you the next chapter is where the REAL story begins.