//------------------------------//
// Claire and Skyflare's Storytime- "Letting Go Can Be Hard" 
// Story: What the Future May Hold 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 734 of the Book of Rainbow Dash- The Rainbow Seen 'Round the World

Rainbow Dash was laying on a cloud falling asleep. She had been forbidden from flying, by command of Commander Spitfire. She thought back to the conversation earlier:
Spitfire had approached her on the runway and said calmly, "we need to talk."
"But -", Dash began before being sharply cut off.
"MY OFFICE NOW!" roared Spitfire in her no-nonsense-you-will-listen-or-else voice. She then lifted her hoof to point to the building on her right. Rainbow Dash had been a Squadron Captain for over 30 years, she had known Spitfire for much, much longer. She lowered her head in defeat and with a squeaky submissive "yes, ma'am", she trotted into the building. She knew full well that arguing would only make it worse. She sat down in the chair in front of Spitfire's desk and waited, as she had hundreds of times before.
Spitfire didn't keep her waiting long and soon trotted through the door, closing it swiftly behind her. Slowly turning towards Dash, she spoke uncharacteristically softly to her longtime pegasus wingmate, "Rainbow Dash, you have gotten sloppy. Your actions lately have been out of sync and one pony ended up in the hospital due to your being distracted.Dash what's going on? I know you, and this isn't like you."
She looked at her friend in great concern. Dash's eyes were hooded with very pronounced dark circles around them. Her mane was frayed all throughout. What caught her eye most was the fact that Rainbow's fur color itself seemed to have dulled from its usual bright cyan to a more opaque turquoise. Rainbow Dash lifted her head let out a low energy chuckle saying, "It's nothing, Spit, I'm just so tired."
Spitfire ignored the informal use of her name, she was more than used to it after so many years flying alongside Rainbow. She trotted over to a nearby machine and started it crushing some beans gotten from Zecora. She then sat down in her chair and said, "why aren't you sleeping? I would have thought out of all the lazy flanks under my command your rainbowed one would be able to grab some zs with ease."
Through her slightly blurred vision, Rainbow saw the rogueish wink Spitfire had given as she said: "lazy flanks" and this made Rainbow grin widely before slumping back as if trying to recline while sitting."You know me far too well, Spit! The reason though is Scootaloo's girl. The little squirt cries and whines quite a bit."
The machine began to beep, indicating the beans had been liquefied. Spitfire stood up and walked over to the device. Smelling the bitter brown liquid with a satisfied look, she turned and looked over at the depleted form of her friend. She spoke softly, "bless that friend of yours Dashie. Ever since Princess Twilight created this portable device. I've developed a fondness for this homemade clarity potion. It really makes the workday bearable."
Taking great care picking up the bubbling pot full of liquid using her hooves, she poured them both a steaming mug of the rather aromatic beverage. She walked over and handed one of the mugs to Rainbow Dash, who graciously accepted. She then sat down and took a nice long slow slurp, before continuing: "that's what foals do, after all, Dash."
Rainbow Dash did not for a second miss the sad tone in her voice and started, "Spit...I..."
Spitfire raised an eyebrow, "this isn't about her Rainbow...my daughter was a Wonderbolt, she knew the risks. This is about you and your lack of sleep. I know your sister has asked you to watch after her daughter while she attends Bootcamp, and I respect your resolve. However, you need sleep so I am going to make this simple for you. I, Commander Spitfire hereby forbid you to fly for the next week. Go home and get some rest."
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to protest, but before a single word was uttered Spitfire said simply, "we need you back in top shape ASAP, we will be limited without our best flyer. You look about to drop Dash...do this for me, please. I can't lose you too. You are the closest thing I have to true family. Please go get some rest."
She smiled when she heard Dash respond with a proud salute "Yes ma'am, sorry for worrying you." After a warm hug, Rainbow whispered, "thank you, mom." 
Now she was here, grounded by her commander and snoring rather happily. She really did need the rest, anymore exertion could very well spell her end. She was out of energy and so she lay there lost in peaceful slumber. Sadly that was not to last. She opened her eyes slowly when she heard a loud pop next to her.
A scroll lay beside the curled up Rainbow. She slowly grabbed it and as the words came into focus, she read them. Without hesitation or thought of anything else, she stood up and leapt from the cloud flourishing her wings. She flapped them once, twice as she took off towards griffnstone, one thought on her mind; I must help them.
As she flew, she felt no exhaustion only the pain of pushing past her limits. I must help them. I have to go faster! The letter in her mind: Rainbow we need you. Party went wrong. Dragons. Gilda is angry. Help! the letter had been hastily scrawled, with no grammatical or punctuational awareness, which meant only one thing: Twilight was frantic. They need me now! I have to go faster...or I won't make it!
Rainbow dug deep, she had zero energy but strong resolve. She would make it; she would save them. As these thoughts coursed through her mind, Rainbow Dash's speed increased. Slowly at first but more and even more still. Her body was wracked by agony as she went past her own record, going faster still. Her body felt ready to rip at the joints, yet faster she went. A huge spectrum of color gathered around her as across the sky she flew racing to save her...
Teardrops stained the page as Luna who had been reading began to cry. She whispered almost silently, "I can't do this anymore."
Claire saw the emotional princess's breakdown and ran to her side in an attempt to console her saying, "Princess Luna, are you alright?"
Skyflare rushed up and gave her a hug saying, "it's okay, we know how much she means to you, you don't have to read this if you don't..."
Luna shook her head violently, "that isn't what I meant!" she turned to look at Rainbow Dash and said, "I...you were willing to risk everything for those you cared about, no matter the cost...yet all I have done is be selfish towards you, demanding you stay by my side like that will help. Some friend I have been. Besmirching your memory with my tears."
Rainbow Dash gave her a warm smile and said, "it's fine, enough with all the mushy stuff, I don't mind staying here with you."
Luna looked Rainbow in the eye and stated firmly, "no, it isn't fine" She then lowered her voice and said with a misty-eyed smile,"do you remember that night, Rainbow? How we confided in each other our deepest of thoughts."
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened, "oh you mean the poems we wrote?"
The astral mare grinned and nodded, "I have a prose, just for you."
Rainbow said with a smile, "do tell, mare of the night."
Luna smirked and said in a sorrowful yet resolute voice:

I tread the dark,
The truth before my eyes,
Yet here I stand blinded,
By my all self-told lies,

I tell myself you are here,
Though I know you aren't,
A night mare though I am,
I still fear the dark.

That day you were laid to rest,
Before my very sight,
Your wings torn to shreds,
Just to protect me in that fight.

You gave your all,
To protect everyone,
And even though you're gone,
I remain in anguish,
I simply can't move on.

I now am reading your tale of awesomeness,
To a young pegasus who bears a resemblance,
To a spry upstart, I used to know so true,
The tears are in my eyes,
The pain, it burns when I think of you.

You were the fearless guard,
Who protected me that night,
Your squadron's bodies lying still,
You told me we'd survive.

You said you would protect me,
That together home we'd fly,
I wanted desperately to believe you,
But sadly it was a lie.

That blow was meant for me,
But you shoved me to the side,
Your loyalty was endless,
But because of me, you died.

As I watched in horror,
Your wings fell on the ground,
You then fell beside them,
My screams echoed all around.

Even though you lost your wings,
In my mind, you still soar,
With that goofy smile,
And confidence galore.
Yet here I am,
Seeing you once more.

I know that this isn't right,
And even knowing that,
I won't let you take flight.

I know you left long ago,
This is just delusion,
And honestly, the time has come,
To face true resolution.

You need to go,
I understand this now,

There is one thing left to say,
And though it kills me so,
If I don't do this now,
I fear I never will.

Believe me, when I say this,
Your memory will always be in my heart,
Giving you some life,
Though time keeps us apart

If only for this moon,
You were back by my side,
For you an amazing pegasus,
My friend, the time has come to say goodbye.

The tears flowed down her muzzle as she smiled at her long lost friend. Rainbow hovered there for a moment as she listened to the words of her friend's heart. She then was silent for a moment before responding in a poem of her own:

 I know you never got to say goodbye,
But the sad truth of the matter is neither did I,

You see, I loved you princess.

No not in physical ways or romance,
But as my sister in arms,
As against the blades,we danced.

The ground was red,
The outlook bleak,
And so we all sat down.

In that circle round that fire,
Writing our thoughts down.
But you and I,
Preferred our prose to such boring letters.

And so we did converse,
Not by simple word of mouth,
But poetry and verse.

A single word was never said,
And yet the paper showed,
The bond we shared it was true,
The result we both had known.

The ambush came in the night,
The firelight it glowed,
And there simply was no choice,
I knew you had to make it home.

I did my best to soothe your nerves,
That loud and frightful night.

I have no regrets,
You were worth giving up my life,
I would gladly do it again,
I would willingly pay that price.

To serve a princess with a heart so true,
For what you have done this night, 
I am truly proud of you.

You were my friend, your majesty,
Also something more.
That bond we shared as sisters,
Shall blaze forevermore.

I may be gone,
But never forget this one, simple truth.
If you carry me in your heart,
I am always with you.


Before Luna's eyes after these soft, caring words had been spoken Rainbow's form vanished and her vision cleared. Before her, stood both Claire and Skyflare, she reached up and brushed away the last of her tears before smiling with genuine joy. She spoke to them both while looking at Claire, "thank you for being here, who knew even after all these years...there was still something I could learn about loyalty."
Claire smiled and Luna saw her echo her ancestor, "no pony ever gets left behind, sometimes all a pony needs is support from another. Letting go can be hard."
Luna laughed and Skyflare said softly, "what was she like?"
Luna, instead of showing sadness, grinned and said, "she was awesome! Why don't we finish that story now?"
"Oh yes, please!" Skyflare and Claire both shouted. With that statement and a new light in her heart, Luna continued the tale of the one the only, awesome Commander Rainbow Danger Dash, as the stars twinkled overhead. 
As the sun slowly rose, Princess Luna closed the treasured volume, having spent all night reading it. She bid farewell to the two pegasi after escorting them home to explain what happened to their mother, who had been worrying. 
"Forgive me, ma'am they were with me...they were helping me with a rather important endeavor." She said with a wink to the other two. As she turned away she saw a rainbow glint in the sky but only for a moment. She smiled. You will be with me forever Rainbow, she thought as she began her flight home, no longer grieving over her lost friend.