The group of three calmly strode out of a dark corner in Pencil Sketch's grand mansion foyer, stepping into the middle. Scootaloo was a little worried. She's never seen Rainbow Dash that angry before. Let alone threaten to erase a pony's mind. And those black tendrils crawling all over her were like... She couldn't even describe it. And neither could Buff, the stallion whose back she was riding on. Scootaloo was about to cry. It had scared her so bad.
"Buff?" Pencil called behind her. "Show Scootaloo towards the study."
"Rainbow?" Scootaloo called. Rainbow stopped and turned around. Scootaloo jumped off of Buff's back and up to Rainbow Dash. Then placed a hoof on top of hers, staring up into Rainbow's eyes with her kind pleading ones, wet with tears that were threatening to fall. "Don't hurt them. Please," she requested almost silently. She was overcome with emotion. Nearly breaking Rainbow's heart. She was trembling.
Rainbow sat down and took off her necklace. Then reached down and pulled Scootaloo into a hug. Scootaloo nuzzled her tears into her coat, whispering among the tears that began to pour, "Don't hurt them momma, don't hurt them—"
"I'm not going to hurt them, Scoots," Rainbow whispered back, steeling herself for letting her anger get the best of her in front of her.... Daughter. Her daughter. Scootaloo. Rainbow sighed and nuzzled the top of her head. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt them," she whispered. "Only if they try to force their hoof will mine touch theirs."
Scootaloo pulled back and sniffled, wiping her eyes. But the tears continued to fall and Scootaloo continued to shake. "P-P-Promise?" She stuttered.
Rainbow smiled and pulled her back in. Then kissed her forehead. "On my undeniable love for you, I promise," she whispered back. Scootaloo hugged Rainbow tighter, crying into her neck. Rainbow sighed and glanced up at Buff, who was staring at her in pity. She blinked at him, then rubbed Scootaloo's back. "Are you okay, squirt?"
Scootaloo shifted then pulled back to look up into Rainbow Dash's eyes with her red ones. She sniffled and wiped her eye. "I... I-I don't know," she replied. Then honestly said, "I'm scared, Rainbow. I'm scared."
"Shhhh." Rainbow pulled Scootaloo back in. Then grabbed her and lightly placed her underneath her body. "I'll always protect you Scoots. Buff, could you bring out one of the bean bags from my office?" He nodded and scampered off to complete the task. Rainbow looked down at Scootaloo's scared expression and lightly nuzzled her hair again. A moment later, she gasped then sighed in realization, mentally cursing herself. "Don't worry, Scootaloo," she whispered. "I'll protect you from those who want to hurt you, my enemies, and...from the monster that I've become."
"You're not a monster, Rainbow," Scootaloo whispered. She wrapped her hooves around one of Rainbow Dash's, staring up into Dash's eyes. "You're just lost... You have to find yourself again."
Buff walked in with a bright red bean bag and set it down in front of her. Rainbow lifted her hoof while Scootaloo still had a firm grip and walked up to it. Then settled down with Scootaloo who bounced off her hoof and decided to cradle against her side. Rainbow lifted her wing so she could get closer then draped it over her back. "...I know Scootaloo," she whispered.
"You have to choose who you are," Scootaloo whispered. "Are you Pencil Sketch that barely knows me? Or are you Rainbow Dash, my idol and beloved pony from Ponyville?"
"I'm Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo."
"Then why does everypony call you Pencil Sketch?" Rainbow bit her lip. Then shut her eyes and looked away. She realized what Scootaloo was trying to say. She was turning into somepony different. She never considered how much it was hurting those she actually cared about. And what would happen in the future from the start. "Don't change, Rainbow. Please don't change."
"I will never change, Scootaloo." She kissed and nuzzled Scootaloo once more. "Never. I'm just... Angry."
"Then talk about it. It's okay to talk about it."
Applejack groaned and rubbed her face inside the Golden Oak Library with the other Elements, all a little tired from what had transpired earlier. They could all see Rainbow Dash's angry face. Even after she had left five minutes ago. After a moment, Rarity sighed and concluded, "Twilight has an addiction to books."
Everyone voiced their agreements. Fluttershy asked, "What if she's actively telling Celestia about the tome and that it was Starswirl the Bearded's?"
"Then that's going to cause trouble for everypony," Pinkie answered. "Starswirl is a highly established pony that has a very noticeable place in Equestrian history, and was also the teachers of Celestia and Luna. Hearing that he has created a book that centers around safe dark magic and holds possibly over a thousand safe spells that can possibly be used by any kind of pony will be a Gold Mine for anypony! That book would be taken from Rainbow's hooves and placed in a museum!!"
"And she'll become even more angry," Rarity added. "We mustn't let Twilight—"
"Too late." They all turned towards the voice. Spike was sitting on the stairwell with his head leaning into a claw. He had a tired look in his eye, a nonchalant expression on his face. "Twilight's already there by now. She doesn't waste time to try and get what she wants. Question is, what happens next? Pain? Or frustration?"
Celestia and Luna sat atop their thrones, looking at documents and forms that needed attention. Oh how Luna loathed all the paperwork. She cursed herself for actually falling for a work day like Celestia wanted. Plotting to place a whoopie cushion underneath her chair when she holds another meeting. Celestia was more neutral about it. Evident by the fact that she was blazing through the forms, anxious to complete them. A snap and crack in the middle of the room startled them so much, they nearly teleported. Instead chose to look over their work at Twilight, who was holding a massive grin.
Celestia and Luna shared a glance. Then focused back on her. Luna raised a hoof and asked, "...can I help—"
"IT'S STARSWIRL THE BEARDED~!" Twilight sang proudly. Then trotted over, explaining her finds. "Pencil stopped by Ponyville. I don't know why, but we saw her in Sugarcube Corner buying treats with Scootaloo. I just ignored her at first and then we left." Twilight then recalled the tale of everything that had happened in Ponyville. All the way up to this very moment.
Celestia stared at her blandly when she finished. Then said sternly, "Twilight? I am sure I asked you not to go through Pencil's things."
Twilight shyly rubbed her other hoof and avoided Celestia's disapproving glare. "I know, I know! But I couldn't help myself! It's a good thing too! That tome belongs to Starswirl the Bearded!! It holds so much information and knowledge that the magic community has never seen before! We have to do something about this! The worth of that tome is priceless! Not only does it hold information on magic, but the secret on how to safely utilize dark magic!! We have to do something!!"
"Okay, one? I am closing your library and sending you back to your parents for a month," Celestia responded. "Because your obsession with books and knowledge has progressed into an addiction. It's scaring me. And two? That is an interesting find. On one hoof, it belongs to Starswirl the Bearded and holds many magical secrets like you said. On the other, our little friend found it and has kept it in her possession for many years. The only options for this would be taking her to court which I am telling you now to not do. Or asking her, which I am also begging you not to do."
"What?! Why not?!"
"Well Pencil is definitely upset with you for even going over her book without her permission. Now imagine her reaction when she learns you tried to take it away forcefully. We're trying to win her back, not drive her away."
"Yes, but—"
Celestia raised her hoof. "No, Twilight. That book is now Pencil Sketch's. Because let's just say you're right and the book gets into Equestria's possession. What becomes of Rainbow?" Twilight didn't have an answer. "Let me tell you. She will either become incredibly angry and become our enemy, or incredibly sad and we actually end up burying her. She was already bullied and traumatized because of what you and the other Elements have done, along with other ponies. Imagine what would happen if you take away her things."
Twilight sighed and looked away. Celestia was right. Like always. She needed to calm her need for knowledge. "I know it's hard Twilight," Luna inputted. "But unless she uses that book for an evil deed, then we cannot take that book. I suggest you apologize to her. As soon as possible."
"....I understand," Twilight whispered reluctantly.
Celestia nodded. "Good. Now Twilight? I'm a little disappointed in you." Twilight gasped. "I trust you to think before you let impulse take over. Knowledge is good. But if left unchecked, it can be dangerous. You must limit yourself. So for the next two weeks, no spell books. And your library is closed for thirty one days. You and Spike are going back to Twilight Velvet and Night Light until further notice."
Twilight's eyes went wide and she gasped in despair as deep as she could. "B-B-But Celestia—!"
"No buts. I am also entrusting you to collaborate with PS. I will be bringing you to her in a few minutes to apologize. GUARD!" The doors opened as a Royal Guard stallion walked in. He stood beside Twilight and saluted. "Ready my chariot. We're going out for awhile."
After Scootaloo's emotional moment with Rainbow Dash, Buff was told to go and take the rest of the day off. Which he chose to stick around and help out in the best way he could. So Rainbow asked him to take Scootaloo to his place while she thought about a few things. He agreed and allowed her to have her space. So after a kiss from Buff and a huggle and nuzzle from Scootaloo, the front door of the mansion shut. Leaving Rainbow alone in the foyer staring at it.
"It was a wake up call," Pencil said in her mind. Rainbow sighed and settled back down on her bean bag.
"It was," Rainbow replied. "I forget that I'm hurting those that do care about me with my reluctance. I'm just...fed up!" She banged her hoof on the floor in front of her. "Nopony understands what I've been through. I'm angry and I use my skills in art to compress my feelings. But it's still not enough!"
"So what are you going to do?"
Rainbow waved her hoof towards the ceiling. "Well I'm not setting down my paintbrush. Especially during this time. My friends already know who I am. I mean... I really don't know what to do!"
"There is one thing."
"Enlighten me."
"Take off the Shadow Persona." Rainbow's eyes were like coffee saucers. "It's time to stop hiding, Rainbow Dash. It's time to stop being Pencil Sketch and face your fears head on. As Rainbow Dash. To not be the lonely dull painter. But to go back to being the strong, boastful, lively, and fast-flying Equestrian that can use every part of her body to create the most enjoyed of masterpieces that have inspired a nation and created a movement that is over seventy-thousand strong.”
"Are you nuts?!" Rainbow exasperated.
"No. I'm you."
Rainbow huffed and shook her head. "Pencil, if I reveal myself they'll know I use Dark Magic. Then they'll think I use them on my paintings, which'll then be rendered in false value because they're not hoof-made. Imagine the many lawsuits!"
"Then hire a validator. You know you can afford it. Heck even ask Celestia. She'd be happy to do it."
"Maybe."
"So what are you waiting for?"
Rainbow scoffed and stood up in agitation. "I....I...." Rainbow pulled in her lips.
"Rainbow....."
Rainbow sighed. She may as well tell the truth. "It's just... I'm afraid everything is going to fall. Every single thing I have accomplished. Including my hidden past." She turned around and began to make her way to her study, explaining all the while. "I've come really far Pencil. Like really far. I've accomplished my dream. Well, one of them. The Wonderbolt thing is pretty much a bust now. I've pushed past the ponies who put me down. Created an empire of inspiration. Now i'm building schools across the nation. I made it. I've completed something I've always wanted to do. But.... then again, the way I got to this point was after those ponies betrayed me and used me. I had to take up a fake persona just to get what I wanted all along. I was held back by them. By this.... 'Friendship'. Oh please." She stalked into her study and headed for her desk, littered with mail. Then jumped into her chair. "Friendship broke my heart time and time again. It's only a matter of time before it happens again. All those ponies out there? The ones you want me to talk to? Imagine the library incident all over again. But this time from over thousands upon thousands of ponies. That I can never run away from."
"Then tell them everything. Explain to them why you did what you did. They'll most certainly understand. Then apologize in case. You did in fact cause minor pain for the ponies that did care for you."
Rainbow sighed and folded her hooves on her desk. She gazed at all the paintings strode around the room, littering the walls. Dresser. Desks. The artwork. Newspaper clippings of her with different ponies as Pencil Sketch. "Are you not fond of taking photos with friends? Or even Buff?" A loud bell rang around the mansion. The doorbell. Rainbow sighed and reached under her desk to click a button, opening the gates. Then closed her eyes, using her magic to see who it was.
"Celestia, Twilight, and Luna. My three favorite ponies," she muttered sarcastically. Then jumped out of her chair with the bag containing her tome around her neck. "I need to place this in the vault. Then spell said vault to be impenetrable."
Twilight stared fearfully at the large white mansion behind the gate, intimidated merely by its presence. Celestia, Luna, and four guards—just in case—accompanied her. The guards didn't know about Pencil Sketch's actual identity. Only a select few actually knew. Behind her, two guards stayed with the chariot while two more stuck with her. The bright sunlight bounced off the Royal Guard's armor as one strode towards a button on the wall. Like always, there was a crowd of ponies there taking photos. Much more now that Royalty was paying a visit.
A loud buzz pierced the air once the Guard pressed it. Then trotted back over to stand next to the others. Luna glanced at Celestia who also glanced back with a hidden message. Be prepared and on your hooves. The two had spotted the insane amount of runes all over the brick wall protecting the mansion. As well as its gates. Rainbow knew they were here.
The magically locked gates pushed wide open, allowing them entry. The group of five walked in while two guards stayed out. Once past the gates, they automatically closed and locked once more. The group calmly trotted up to the door while admiring the well kept lawn and fountains. Celestia wondered what was actually inside. Nopony here had actually taken a tour of the whole giant mansion. Looks like they were about to find out.
The doors to the mansion opened up automatically, allowing them permission inside. Twilight took a deep breath and walked in first, followed by Celestia, Luna, then the guards who looked around in amazement upon entry. Especially at the large crest on the floor that had—
The doors suddenly slammed shut behind them, catching them all off guard. Even the guards. They looked behind them at the door, then around the foyer. "Give me a moment," Pencil's voice resonated around the building. A loud groan and a low hum followed along. Celestia and Luna glanced around tensely.
"It's her vault," Twilight said. "Pencil has a vault."
"Oh," Luna whispered. They calmed down and listened to the motions of the famous painter before the vault was closed. Then hoofsteps down the hallway by the kitchen. They followed the sound of hoofsteps and waited. Looking at the entrance to the hall tensely. Pencil finally stepped into view, wearing what she had worn earlier that day.
"Hello, Celestia. Luna," she greeted casually. "I've been expecting you. Into my study, please." She walked across the foyer and over to the adjacent hall, followed by the curious onlookers. The pool was at the end, along with a connected hall that led out to what looked like a garden. They soon arrived at the luxurious study, where Celestia ordered the guards to wait outside. The four filed in. Then the door was shut and locked.
Pencil waited by the door and watched them while they all took a seat on the couch and bags. Then changed into Rainbow Dash while making her way to her desk. She hopped into her chair, became comfortable, then kindly stared at them with her hooves folded on top like a businessmare. "So," she said, breaking the silence. "I guess you've heard about the altercation in Ponyville."
"Yes," Luna responded. The two diarchs turned to Twilight. "Twilight has something she'd like to say."
Twilight sighed and stood up, approaching the desk timidly. "Rainbow? I greatly apologize for the way I've been acting. I never meant any harm. I just.... I just wanted to know."
Rainbow smiled. Then leaned back and kicked her hooves on the top of her desk. "I know, Twilight. And I forgive you. You've always been... Interested in my stuff. Sorry, I have a boyfriend." Twilight blushed and looked away. Rainbow's smile slowly died away, replaced with a more despondent one "I'm joking, of course. But now... I want to ask you something. It's important." Celestia took note of Rainbow's tone. It sounded desperate. Luna picked up on it too.
Twilight nodded. "What do you need, Rainbow?"
Rainbow sighed and stroked her mane in front of her eye. "After I got home, I asked Buff to take Scootaloo to my study. But... She cried. Then ran up to me with tears in her eyes. And said.... 'Don't hurt them. Don't hurt them, momma.'"
"Are you wanting to adopt Scootaloo?" Luna asked in surprise.
"Well... Yes, but—"
Celestia smiled and said, "I think you should. You can obviously support her."
"That's not the point!" Rainbow yelled. She banged her hoof on her desk, shocking and silencing them. Sighing she closed her eyes and lowered her head. "That was the point. What I just did. Tell me, Twilight. When, out of all the time you have known me, have I ever done that? Yelled in anger?"
Twilight stared at her for a moment from between Celestia and Luna. Then shook her head slowly with her eyes still trained on Rainbow. "I....I don't remember you ever doing that."
Rainbow withdrew her hoof. "Exactly. When Scoots said that... It made me realize who I am. Who I've become. I've become... A perpetrator."
"You're not exactly a perpetrator per se," Celestia countered. "More like..." She waved her hoof around, trying to find the word.
"Scootaloo said I'm lost."
Luna nodded. "Yes. You've lost your way. I understand what she means. Let me guess. You're afraid you've become a pony you don't want to be."
Rainbow nodded. "Yes. After Scootaloo said that, she asked me a question. 'Who am I? Pencil Sketch? Or Rainbow Dash?' To be honest, I... I don't even know anymore." Rainbow stood up and grabbed one of the wines behind the chair, pouring herself a cup.
"You've become the lost one," Celestia clarified.
"Yeah," Twilight agreed. "The pony who can't decide her path." Rainbow set down the bottle and walked back to her chair, the cup levitating behind her in a black aura.
Rainbow sighed and said, "The thing is I love being a painter. It's my dream, but... I made it under a different persona." She took a sip of her wine and set it down on the desk in front of her. "Pencil gave me an alternative. Practically suggesting that if I come out to every single pony in Equestria, and the lands beyond it about who I really am, then I would finally realize where I want to be. All of my anger would extinguish, then I'll finally be happy. But... I'm afraid that everything will fall if I choose that option."
"So you're asking us for advice?" Celestia inquired. Rainbow nodded her head. "Well... I have to admit, this is quite the conundrum. Many ponies who have risen to your place in Equestrian status hold secrets. Even Hoity Toity, who was found sleeping with another mare. Coco Pommel, you know that one, you were there. And many others. However, none have such a big influence on Equestria as you do. Not even close."
"I know," Rainbow deadpanned. "That's why I need advice. Many ponies look to me for information and advice. The whole Sketch Movement was created because somepony simply looked at one of my paintings. There's so many, I don't know which one. But it inspired thousands of ponies to innovate."
Twilight chuckled and added, "Even Pinkie Pie. She's trying to start sewing."
"You're bucking kidding me," Rainbow muttered. "But imagine how all of those ponies would feel if I tell them that I pretty much lied about who I am. Well....not lied, but disguised myself."
"To be honest.. I think you should," Luna suggested. "Life is not worth living if you can't be yourself while living it. Living behind a mask is no way to live, Rainbow. Pencil Sketch may be the most known pony in Equestria. But behind all of the gray, intelligence, and artistic skill, it's Rainbow Dash. A pony who is believed to be dead, but still managed to inspire all the ponies in Equestria. Pencil Sketch is just an exact copy that dealt with your problems."
Rainbow sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But... How would I pull it off?"
Celestia raised her hoof and waved at her. "Easy. You tease them. But something is telling me you have already prepared for a situation such as this." Rainbow smiled and nodded.
"While I was in the hospital in Cloudsdale, I—"
"Wait, when did you go to the hospital?" Twilight asked in worry. "Were you admitted?"
"Yes. It was when I first revealed who I was. Outside of Pencil Sketch. To my parents. I had miscalculated how much time I could spend under the Shadow Persona spell. The one where I switch out with Pencil Sketch. I had spent a lot of time in the form. And during that time, I wasn't eating or moving. Pencil was. So....I sort of... became malnourished on one side of my mind. Now back to the plan, While I was in the hospital, I had created a painting that only my parents and Clear Skies have seen. It is kept under many locks and keys inside my vault, which is reinforced with many and indecipherable runes that will even have Twilight dizzy just staring at them."
"Don't make me test that," Twilight playfully responded.
Rainbow chuckled and got out of her chair. "Before I make a decision, I want Buff's opinion and my parents'. I have a feeling that one of them, or rather I'd say two of them, would agree with this. The other three I don't know." Twilight looked at her hoof, then back at Rainbow Dash in confusion.
"Wait, but I thought you were asking only three ponies," she reminded her. "Buff and your parents. You said five."
Rainbow smirked and said, "I know. But Buffy is mommy and daddy's big baby."
Fire Speed and Navy Sword stared down at the filly in front of them hiding underneath their son's barrel. Scootaloo peeked out and then glanced up at Buff, who was giving his parents a nervous smile. Fire Speed hummed and then glanced up at Buff nervously. "So... Pencil has a daughter?" She asked.
"No," Buff responded quickly. "Although I have a feeling that may change."
Navy Sword reached over and wrapped a hoof around his son's neck, sporting a cocky grin. "Already thinkin' about havin' foals huh? Let me warn you now. Pencil seems to be the more rowdy and in charge one. Try not to let her break your pen—"
"Dad, foal right here!" Buff interrupted. He motioned towards Scootaloo's confused face.
She looked up at Buff, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Break your....pen?"
"Yep! Uhhh... Pencil likes to snap pens!" Buff responded casually. He shot his father an upset glare then scooped Scootaloo back on his back. "Pencil is handling some things right now. So I volunteered to take Scootaloo here to relax and get to know each other."
Fire Speed gasped in excitement. Then sang proudly, "Definitely a father figure~!" Buff sighed and rolled his eyes. Fire Speed gasped again and added, "You didn't deny it! Are you really thinking about adopting a foal?! I'm so proud of you!!" She zipped forward and pulled her son into a crushing hug.
"Mom!" The front door of the house suddenly opened, taking everyone off guard. Pencil casually strode in with her flanks uncovered, revealing her sketched cutie mark that she totally forgot about.
"Buff, I need your advice!" She announced before spotting the parents. They all froze and once again made the moment more awkward than it already was. Scootaloo looked between them and sighed, shaking her head. Pencil grinned and waved kindly. "Uhhh... Hello, everypony."
"Hello.... Ms. Sketch," Fire Speed responded, eyes glued to her flanks. "Your...cutie mark is a lightning bolt?" Pencil gasped and looked down at her flanks. Just now noticing her cutie marks were on full display.
"Ah, jeez, I forgot to cover them," she whispered. Turning her head back to the parents she waved her hoofs and said, "Do not tell anypony about my marks. Seriously."
"We won't tell a word, Ms. Sketch," Fire Speed reassured. "I give you my promise. Right, Navy Sword?" He didn't answer. Too entranced at Pencil's cutie mark. He raised a hoof and rubbed his chin. Where has he seen that before?
"I've seen that cutie mark before somewhere," he thought aloud. "But I can't remember where. And it wasn't black and white like that. It was full of color." Scootaloo, Buff, Pencil, and the Rainbow Dash inside froze immediately. "Don't move Ms. Sketch." he walked around his wife and towards Pencil, eyes still glued to her flank. Pencil watched him, brow wet with a slight sweat. Rainbow Dash was inside shaking. After a moment he stood up and pointed at the flank. "Ah, yes. I remember talking to captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts a few weeks ago. She was going through a bad time. A pony she had admired for a long time had gone missing and was declared deceased by Princess Celestia. It broke her heart. She showed me a picture of that pony. Rainbow.... something." He waved a hoof around. "Rainbow Dash! That's what it was. Element of Loyalty and the only pony who could complete the Sonic Rainboom. It inspired Spitfire so much. She said one day Rainbow was there at her home. The next she had disappeared without a trace. A search was started and nopony knew anything. Spitfire fell into a depression after that and we talked about it. She had gotten better quickly after a few weeks and was back to being captain, but... Nopony ever...." He looked up at Rainbow Dash with his mouth partly opened and eyes slightly narrowed. "...found the mare."
He got back up onto his hooves and stared Pencil in the eyes. Then glanced over at Buff and Scootaloo, the filly once again hiding underneath Buff's stomach. He glanced over at Fire Speed who met his curious gaze with her own. Then they both turned to Pencil. Fire Speed trotted over while Buff stood to the side. Then whispered to her, "Are you..... Are you Rainbow Dash, Ms. Sketch?"
Pencil lost her nervous look and stared at them boldly. She could feel Buff and Scootaloo's nervous stare. But she could also feel Rainbow Dash's worry at being so easily found out. "What do we do, Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash sighed and stood up from her cloud inside Pencil's mind, prepared to take over. "I'm going in," she whispered. The silence reigned on until Pencil's coat seemed to flip. Starting from her hooves and moving upwards into a more cerulean blue. Her cutie mark outline gained color once more, creating the spectrum and rainbow colored rainbolt that had matched her necklace. Then it moved up to her eyes, which changed from their lifeless gray into a bright and magnificent Magenta. Then finally her mane and tail. The colors immediately matched her Cutie Mark.
The change stopped, revealing to the stallion that his hunch was correct. Fire Speed and Navy Sword backed up a little out of surprise and looked her over. Fire Speed looked her up and down while Navy Sword looked in her eyes. Rainbow Dash sighed and said in her normal voice, "Yes."