//------------------------------//
// Losing Hope 
// Story: Broken Rainbows 
// by AstonMartinLover 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 14: Losing Hope

Scootaloo sat on a cliffside, weeping.

In less than a week, she had burned every bridge she had. Applejack. Twilight Sparkle. Rarity. Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy.

And then, as if to cap it all off, she had burned her last bridge. Rainbow Dash.

The pony that had given her a home. A role model. A shoulder to cry on occasionally.

And now, there was nopony left. She dug her head into the ground and began tearing out bits of her mane.

"I'll...I'll impress them all. They'll see...They'll see that I'm better than this. I'm somepony. I'M SOMEPONY!"

"But you aren't. You're nopony." A voice sneered.

Scootaloo looked around. "What? Who's there?"

She saw a drop fall into a puddle. She hesitantly trotted over to it. She gasped at what she saw.

Herself. Her eyes red and bloodshot. Her body covered in hideous tattoos. Her mane horribly mangled.

"They think you are weak. They think you are a pushover. That you can be shut out, ignored. They do not love you. They never did. Not even Sweetie Belle. Not even Apple Bloom. They were all just playing the game."

Scootaloo shook her head. "No. I just...I let them down. It's my fault..."

"You didn't let anypony down. You have been trotted over for the last time. Now, it is time to take control."

Scootaloo shook her head. "But...what if I hurt them?"

"You owe them pain. Thirteen years worth of pain, for that is how many years they have ignored you. You will dethrone Celestia. And as the slayer of Chrysalis, you will take your rightful place atop Equestria!"

Scootaloo felt an overwhelming urge to rip the element from her neck. To clear herself of all these terrible thoughts it was causing. But she couldn't. It was a part of her now.

And at the same time, she knew she had to resist. She shook her head. "No...I won't."

"You will."

"I-I can't."

"You must."

Scootaloo looked away from the puddle. She stared at the element of loyalty, hanging there, encouraging her.

"I must."


"What was that about?" Shadow asked.

"Nothing." Rainbow said dryly. "We're starting with push ups right?"

The image of Chrysalis flashed in her head. Vengeance she would be unable to have.

"Hold on." Shadow said, stepping in her path. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Rainbow lied. "I need to keep working."

"Aren't you upset at all? You're sister just said all those thing..."

"She's not my sister." Rainbow snapped. "She's just some pony."

"Now I know that's not true." Shadow said. "She must mean a lot to you."

"What makes you think that?" Rainbow demanded.

"You didn't hit her back." Shadow replied calmly.

Rainbow stopped to catch her breath and think of something to fire back. But she had nothing.

"You really love her don't you?"

Rainbow sighed. A tear came to her eye. "We went on a trip together. Opened up about each other's pasts. And they were the same. We were both orphans. So, I took her in. As my little sister. And I taught her as much as I could." She sniffled.

"I gave her that element."


Scootaloo felt the heat rise as she left Equestrian airspace. She was in the Badlands now. Home of the Changelings.

A battalion of soldiers stood at the gates. Scootaloo swallowed, then landed amongst them.

"A pony! Kill it!" One of the changelings shouted.

The changeling charged. Scootaloo roundhouse kicked him, sending him crashing to the ground.

"I am the one who crippled your leader." Scootaloo said bravely.

They knew. Most of these soldiers had been witnesses to it.

An old, battle scarred changeling stepped forth. "We will avenge our leader. Prepare to die pony."

Scootaloo looked at him, and the huddled band of changelings around him.

"Are you soldiers willing to be led by a broken creature? Or are you willing to be led by me?"

The scarred changeling's eyes narrowed. "You cannot lead us. You are a pony."

Scootaloo stepped towards the changeling. Her red eyes frightened him.

"I am. I am also a fierce warrior. A warrior willing to feed to you the love you so desire. I will lead this army."

A soldier stood up. "Where would you be leading us?"

Scootaloo turned to him and smirked. "Cloudsdale."


Rainbow Dash sat down next to the waterfall. She looked down at her own reflection. She wondered if this 'fire' that Shadow spoke of so often could be seen with the naked eye.

"Same old brilliant mane." She whispered. "Same old sleek body. No. I guess it's just me that's the problem."

She sat down again. The legend said that to bathe in the waterfall brought back what one once had. But only after that person had earned it back.

"I haven't earned anything." Rainbow said to herself.

Shadow stood up against the side tree, watching her grovel with curiousity. His stomach growled. They were out of food. He knew he needed to go forage for some.

"Are you alright here?" He asked.

"What?"

"We need food. Unless you wish to hobble down the mountain, I have to go get some."

Rainbow Dash watched him go. "Hold up! What are you just leaving me here?"

Shadow turned. "I will return. Probably." He continued on down the mountainside. Rainbow watched him, eyes still wide from his sudden departure.

She looked around. This mountaintop suddenly felt unnerving. All these trees, even the beautiful waterfall looked suspect. Was this real? Or was this a changeling trap? She could be sure of nothing.

As night came, she had not left her sitting position. This fear was so unlike her. Her eyes darted to everything that moved, everything that seemed suspect. She was petrified. Her legs, so well built again, so muscular, shook as those of a filly would.

The moon began to rise in the distance. Rainbow watched it rise. And she thought she heard something sparking. She looked around, immediately in a defensive position. These changelings were in for a fight.

There was a mighty flapping. Then a creature landed on the moon bathed ground. Her eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. Her mane cascaded at her side.

Rainbow Dash charged at her. The creature grabbed her mid leap and pinned her to the ground.

"Nice to see you too Rainbow Dash." Princess Luna said sarcastically, releasing the pegasus from her grip.

Rainbow rubbed her throat where the princess had gripped her. "Luna? What are you doing here?"

Luna smirked. "I'm your new foalsitter."

There was an awkward silence. The two stared at each other, Rainbow still somewhat in shock at seeing a familiar face for the first time in a long time. Luna was feeling a little weirded out by Rainbow's mood.

Rainbow turned. "I haven't needed a foalsitter in a long time."

"Celestia's orders, not mine. You think I wish to be out here? I have a tub of ice cream with my name on it waiting for me at home. Trust me kiddo, I'd rather be chugging that thing down right now."

Rainbow chuckled. "You better save some for me."

Luna arched an eyebrow. "You seal yourself in your home, hide from the world, never inviting I, your PFF, over, and you want me to save you some of thy royal ice cream?"

Rainbow Dash's ears went back. "I didn't mean to abandon you. Or anypony else. I just...I just gave up on myself, you know? I thought you guys could take care of everything without me."

Luna looked off onto the horizon. "Scootaloo may have gone rogue. A scout spotted her heading for changeling airspace hours ago. She's up to something. You may need to work faster."

Rainbow Dash stayed near the fountain as rain began to pour down on the hilltop. Her mind could not piece together the idea of Scootaloo turning on Equestria. Sure, she was lonely, and she felt unappreciated...

And that's when it hit Rainbow Dash. She looked over at Luna. Only six years earlier, she had been known as Nightmare Moon.

Loneliness. Feeling unappreciated. It had driven her to great, and terrible things. Scootaloo was trotting down the same road.

She looked back at the fountain. It beckoned to her. This fountain would supposedly restore her essence. There was no more time for rebuilding.

"Tell me what you are thinking." Luna's voice called out gently.

Rainbow sighed. "Why can't I just...dive in?"

Luna trotted up next to her. "Lay your hoof upon it. If you wish to."

Rainbow Dash looked up at her. She nodded. Then Rainbow gently extended her hoof. It broke the surface of the fountain.

Her vision became flooded. It flashed from image to image, each more horrible than the last. There was her mother, in the delivery room, dying from an unknown illness. There was Lightning, her father, just out of her reach as he fell to his death. Another flash. She was watching as Chrysalis impaled Thunderspark with her horn. Then Scootaloo, as a filly, cold and alone in the forest, turning to her idol for warmth as the winter took over.

And then finally. Chrysalis. Her black hooves raining down upon her, every hit breaking bone, every kick bringing waves of agony to the proud pegasus. And then the falling. The impact upon the ground. And all feeling leaving her body.

Rainbow Dash recoiled from the fountain. She was panting heavily. She collapsed to the grass shaking.

A grand mistake. She was most certainly not ready for the fountain.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked nervously. Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah. I'm...fine." She tried to get to her hooves. She stumbled. Luna grabbed her midsection before she could tumble.

"Tis a lie. You are a wreck." Luna declared.

Rainbow chuckled weakly. "Yeah. I guess I am."

Luna gently patted Rainbow's back. "What did you see?"

Rainbow shook her head. "Nothing worth talking about."

Luna pulled Rainbow close. Rainbow looked up at the alicorn that had become so much the big sister she needed. But not the one she had ever really needed. Until now.

"Talk to me." Luna prodded.

Rainbow sighed. She really didn't want to go digging up her parents again. But another death had been eating at her in the past month.

"Luna? Did I kill Thunderspark?"

Luna frowned. "Of course not. By all accounts, it seems he killed himself."

Rainbow closed her eyes, letting the rain run down her face. It suddenly stopped. She looked up. A dark blue wing had extended over her, protecting her from the rain. It lay on her back, warming her.

Luna sighed. "Do you know how many ponies I killed Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow's ears perked up. "What?"

"During Nightmare Moon's rise. Do you know how many ponies I killed?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. In all honesty, she did not want to know.

"Eighteen. Eighteen guards. Some of them were my own. They attempted to stop me." She looked down and closed her eyes. "Do you think I am better now?"

Rainbow looked up into her deep blue eyes. She managed a smile. "Of course you are Princess."

Luna returned the smile, though it seemed empty. "I feel I am. And yet...I still think of those eighteen souls every day. The cost of my jealousy. My hatred. The cost of a weak soul." She gently nuzzled Rainbow Dash, warming the crippled pegasus. "You have a strong soul Rainbow Dash. You always have. Much stronger than I."

Rainbow Dash sniffled. "Thank you Princess."

Luna looked away. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have allowed you to touch the water. It is too powerful. And you are clearly not ready. I'm..."

"Stop apologizing." Dash cut in. "Seriously, it's okay. Sometimes you need to see your limitations to push past them."

The darkness consumed the mountaintop.

"So how does the changeling treat you?"

Rainbow shrugged. "He was pretty bad at first but...he's a sensitive dude."

"Sensitive?" Luna asked in disbelief. "A changeling?"

Rainbow Dash felt the day's exhaustion take over. She yawned. "You think the Wonderbolts will let me back in Luna?"

Luna smirked. "You? I'm amazed they let you in in the first place." She said, rubbing Rainbow's mane playfully. "You should see the papers back in Canterlot. Nopony knows where you are. They say the most ridiculous things."

"Like what?" Rainbow asks.

Luna chuckled. "Oh...the obvious. You're dead. Others say you're on you're deathbed in some hospital in Stalliongrad. Still others say you exiled yourself into seclusion."

"Well that one is true." Rainbow said. "I have exiled myself."

"The Wonderbolts are having a funeral ceremony for you tomorrow. I suggest whatever happens, you try to get airborne by then."

Rainbow Dash leaned against the alicorn's side. "Will you still be here tomorrow?"

"Of course." Luna said, smiling at the pegasus. "Sleep well."

She looked down on the pegasus that had already proven so many wrong. They had said she'd never walk. She did. They said she'd never lose her limp. She had. They said she'd never return to her physical prime again.

She had.

And still there was so much left for her to prove. The fact that she wasn't dead, for starters.

Celestia had told her not to hold strong emotional connections with mortal ponies. But this pony had been among the first to accept her. To support her. To call her friend.

And so she pulled the pegasus closer, shielding her from the rain.

"Soon my friend. Soon you will rise."


"He will be returning soon." Luna said. "I can sense him."

Rainbow Dash was still barely awake beneath her wing. "Wha?"

She got up and stretched in the morning sunlight, her cascading mane shimmering under the sun's rays.

"Are you going to be alright on your own?" Luna asked.

"Yup." Rainbow replied.

"You're sure? I could stay..."

"You've done enough for me." Rainbow replied, hoof bumping the alicorn. "More than I deserve. I can handle Shadow."

"We're counting on you Rainbow Dash." Luna said. She stretched her wings and took off.

Shadow arrived moments later. His eyes were bloodshot and tired looking. He carried a basket of berries with him.

"Shadow!" Rainbow cried, running up to him.

"Yes?"

"You alright Shadow?" Rainbow asked, her eyebrow furrowing.

Shadow shook himself. "Yes. Fine. Are we ready to work?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, sure." She began flexing her wings. "Today's the day Shadow. I'm gonna fly."

Shadow chuckled. "I like the attitude. Go."

Rainbow flexed her wings. Shadow had noted the return of that stupid grin she always seemed to wear. That confidence. It was back.

"You ready?"

"Born ready." Rainbow snarled. She spread her wings and kicked off the ground. She glided at first. Then she began flapping. She flew for a whole three seconds. The wind in her face. In her mane. It was a blast of nostalgia for the pegasus.

Then she took account of how high up she was. Her wings sputtered out. She flailed wildly, then came crashing down.

There was a moment of silence. Then a heart crushing moan rose from her lungs. She began pounding her hooves on the ground. She began tearing at the grass, pulling up roots. She began biting at the dirt. Shadow rushed in to calm her down.

All she could see now was the spectacle at the Wonderbolt's performance later today. A ceremony of Rainbow's life. And death. And then a spiritual burial. And Equestria would accept it's champion flyer as another lost soul in the battle against the changelings. It was too much to bear.

"Alright! Take it easy. You did well..."

"No I didn't! It's not getting any better! Can you just admit it? I'll never fly again!"

"I'm not going to admit it because it's not true." Shadow replied. He wondered what had happened while he was gone to destroy Rainbow's spirit.

"Look at me. Look at me. Is that 'fire' in my eyes yet? How long is this going to bucking take?"

She broke a branch in half and threw it aside. "It's all gone. All of it. Everything I was...gone. I'm nothing now. Nothing..."

"You're not nothing. You just have a serious effort problem." The changeling offered.

Rainbow slumped down on the ground. "Go home. You've repaid your debt. Leave me up here. I'll take care of myself."

Shadow sat down next to her. "What are you going to do?"

Rainbow sighed. "Nothing to do. Stay on this mountain. Rot away. Or maybe I'll just jump. End it quickly. Equestria will think I'm dead soon enough anyway."

Shadow looked at her with sadness. "Is this truly what you wish to do?"

"Yes." Rainbow replied.

Shadow frowned. Disappointment flashed across his face. "Had I known, you wished simply to end your life...I would not have wasted my time climbing this mountain with you."

Rainbow Dash pouted. She looked away.

"I don't need any more guilt trips. You're free now. Go home."

Shadow shook his head. "I can't. My debt is not repaid."

"Look, you did your best. Go home. Have a nice life."

Shadow sighed, then got to his hooves.

"If a good changeling fails to repay his debt, his life ends."

Rainbow looked up at him. "What?"

He trotted over to the edge of the mountain.

"Thank you Rainbow Dash. You made these last months of my life quite pleasant. I wish you peace and harmony. Goodbye."

Rainbow Dash got up. Shadow leaned back and plummeted off of the mountaintop.

Rainbow ran towards the edge. She looked down. Shadow was falling fast.

She didn't hesitate this time. She jumped over the edge.

Now they were both in freefall. She was immediately regretting her decision.

The changeling didn't make a sound. She thought of how a changeling could contain his fear in a time like this. Staring death in the face.

But now she blocked all thought from her mind. All she saw was the changeling. And she was determined to catch him.

She angled herself, making her body as long and bullet-like as possible.

The rocks were approaching quickly. Rainbow couldn't afford to air brake her wings. She had to speed up.

She reached out a hoof, desperate to catch the changeling before her rapidly shrinking window closed.

She could feel his soft, scaly skin. She reached down with the other hoof and pulled him into her grasp.

Then she gritted her teeth, and flapped as hard as she could, ready for her rocky demise.

It never came.

Shadow was the first to open his eyes. "Rainbow. Look behind you."

Rainbow turned around. Her wings. They were flapping. She looked down. She was hovering. Above the ground. Shakily. But hovering was hovering.

Rainbow looked at the changeling. "Did you...plan all this?"

"Of course." The changeling smirked.

Rainbow looked back at them again, her eyes widening. "I'm doing it. How am I doing it?"

"Sometimes all you need is a little life or death situation." The changeling replied. "Well come on then. Back to the mountaintop." He commanded with a pointed hoof.

Rainbow pumped her wings and they floated back up the mountain, yelling with joy the whole way.