Chapter 17: To The Moon
Rainbow opened her eyes. Before her stood the great expanse.
Grey, cratered rock surface, stretching off as far as she could see.
It had a strange, lonely beauty to it. Above her was a marvel as well.
Space. Endless. Boundless. Her mouth gaped at the sight of it all.
"Beautiful." She muttered. "I really don't see what Nightmare Moon was complaining about. I'd spend a thousand years here, no problem."
This was, of course, a lie. She could see exactly why Nightmare Moon hated it so. Isolation. Nopony anywhere. Just emptiness, stretching off into space.
Rainbow would hate it here. She craved attention. Now that she thought of it, Scootaloo craved attention too.
But this creature was not Scootaloo. Rainbow could not link the two together. Her ambitious, competitive, innocent little sister. And this greedy, violent rage monster. They couldn't be the same pony.
Rainbow spotted a small orange dot on the horizon. She slowly began hovering over to it. She flew over a gaping crevasse in the moon's surface.
Scootaloo lay in the moon dust. She was rubbing the element, laughing like a child. She seemed unable to take her eyes off the red lightning bolt in the center.
"Squirt!" Rainbow shouted.
Scootaloo looked up and glared, her bloodshot eyes actually causing Rainbow Dash to take a step back.
"Squirt. I'm here to take you home..."
"This is my home." Scootaloo said.
Rainbow arched an eyebrow. "Wow. You really are completely freakytown aren't you?"
Scootaloo drew herself up to full height. Which was unimpressive considering she was shorter than Rainbow Dash.
"I am the queen of the moon. I am the next Nightmare Moon..."
"No you're not. You're a kid out way past her bedtime, gone crazy eating too much candy. Take off the armor."
Scootaloo slowly trotted towards her mentor. "And make myself vulnerable? Ha. Try again."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Scootaloo, this is getting old. Now come on home. I want my sister back."
"You don't have a sister." Scootaloo hissed. "You don't have anypony. You're an orphan."
"So are you. We've been through this Scoots. We were sisters. Don't you remember?"
Scootaloo glared at her. "All I remember was living in a shadow. A big, rainbow colored shadow. And then you were broken. And I had a chance to move out of that shadow, and see the sunlight."
Rainbow shook her head. "This isn't you. I want to talk to Scootaloo."
"You are talking to Scootaloo!" The enraged mare shouted. "Don't try pretending you were my sister Rainbow Dash. You never loved me! I was your mascot. Your cheerleader. That was the only relationship we ever had. And that time has passed."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "You're wrong squirt. I did love you. That's why I took you in. That's why I was so glad you went around cheering for me. I wanted to give you somepony to look up to. I wanted to show you some direction."
Scootaloo was silenced by these words. The demon in her head was shouting for her to ignore the pegasi's words. But she was thinking about them.
"I still do love you squirt." Rainbow continued. "I don't care what you did. Or what you planned on doing, I'll always love you. Now give me back my element."
Scootaloo began breathing heavily, her teeth gritting. "You're a LIAR!"
She charged at Rainbow. Rainbow put her head down and head butted the orange mare.
"Nopony ever cared who I was till I put this thing around my neck." Scootaloo ranted. "Without it, I am nothing. I WILL NOT BE NOTHING!!"
Rainbow was still trying to clear her vision. This was another mistake. She had forgotten about Scootaloo's helmet. Her vision became spotty. Everything became dark. She clutched her head in her hooves as agony reverberated through it.
"Nopony ever cared who I was till I put this thing around my neck." Scootaloo ranted. "Without it, I am nothing. I WILL NOT BE NOTHING AGAIN!!"
The painkillers were working their magic though. The pain wore off fast.
Her vision came back in time to see a hoof coming at her face.
She ducked, then punched underneath the helmet, hitting Scootaloo in the jaw.
"Don't make me hurt you kiddo." Rainbow warned.
"Oh please." Scootaloo scoffed. "I'm gonna enjoy killing you."
Rainbow noted the blue armored helmet around her skull, and the horn protruding from it.
"Scootaloo, if you're gonna fight me, fight me fair."
Scootaloo glared at Rainbow, unsure of whether to buy into what she was saying.
Rainbow arched an eyebrow. "Chicken."
Scootaloo snarled, grabbing the helmet and the artificial horn and hurling it aside.
Rainbow smirked. "Alright. Now let's have it out."
Scootaloo charged again. This time Rainbow tried to sidestep. But Scootaloo was fast.
Rainbow managed to jab her in the stomach hard with the right hoof.
Scootaloo grabbed Rainbow by her mane. She lifted the pegasus up, feeding on strength from the armor and the element, then slammed her into the moon rock.
As Rainbow tried getting up, Scootaloo brought her hoof down on her newly rebuilt spine.
Rainbow's back lit up in agony. She let out a roar as every nerve cried out at the unfairness of the move.
She collapsed to the ground. Scootaloo smirked.
"You're so fragile RD. It's kinda pathetic."
Rainbow Dash looked up. Blind rage was taking over. Her screaming nerves demanded justice for the spine hit.
She charged forward and began an assault. She hit the kid hard in the chest, then a hoof under the chin, knocking the younger pegasus back.
Scootaloo seemed to show fear now. She put up her hooves to defend herself. But there was no defense.
Rainbow led with the left hoof, then the right, letting the anger consume her. Every hit brought about a spatter of blood from the young pegasi's muzzle.
Rainbow spun, then kicked. Scootaloo fell back to the ground, coughing up blood.
"If I were you, I'd stay down." Rainbow said, running her hoof along her spine, assessing the damage.
Nothing seemed broken. She breathed a sigh of relief. Scootaloo got to her hooves.
"For that, I will break you again." Scootaloo snarled. She punched with her right hoof. The metal armor on her hoof made contact with Rainbow's cheekbone. There was a crack. More pain.
"C'mon Rainbow Dash. Accept it. You're a has been. You're the past. I'm the future of Equestria. I will unite them under my flag. We'll rule the world with an iron hoof..."
Rainbow cut Scootaloo's legs out from under her with a swipe. Scootaloo was knocked over. She got up quickly.
"You'll pay for that too."
She kicked Rainbow in the chest, knocking the wind out of her lungs. Rainbow was knocked back a few feet.
She looked behind her. Scootaloo was devious. She was leading her closer to the crevasse.
Scootaloo smirked. "A fitting end to a pony the world will quickly forget."
Rainbow tried to fight back, but Scootaloo had the momentum now. Rainbow's only advantage was in size and speed. And neither were of any help now.
Scootaloo punched her in the stomach. Blood dripped from Rainbow's mouth. She was inches from the crevasse now. Scootaloo shoved her.
Rainbow got up on her hind legs, desperate to balance herself. Her eyes pleaded with Scootaloo.
Scootaloo smirked. "Goodbye sis. You will not be missed."
She jumped up and kicked with both hooves. Rainbow was hit square in the chest. She cried out as she was knocked into the crevasse.
Scootaloo's expression softened as the screams faded. She turned away, looking almost remorseful.
The screaming abruptly stopped. Scootaloo edged over to the crevasse to see if she could catch a glimpse of the body.
Nothing. Just darkness. She shrugged, and turned to trot away.
A blue hoof suddenly reached out and grabbed her back leg. She turned and cried out.
Dash pulled, and they both went tumbling into the crevasse.
They rolled down the side, punching and swiping at each other as they did so.
Then, with a crash, they reached the bottom.
Rainbow Dash slowly got to her hooves. How many bones had she broken today? No point in counting now. She looked around, her eyes getting adjusted to the darkness.
Scootaloo's hoof came out of nowhere, striking Rainbow near the temple.
She slammed back into the rock. The whole crevasse began shaking. Rainbow looked up as pieces of rock began raining down on them. She put up her hooves to shield herself.
"Look at you." Scootaloo hissed. "You sell yourself as Rainbow Danger Dash. But you're just another coward like the rest of them. So interested in self preservation."
Rainbow looked into Scootaloo's eyes. A rock came falling down from the surface. Rainbow looked up at it.
"Scootaloo! Look out!"
The rock came down on the orange pegasi's wing. She let out a roar of pain, then began flailing wildly at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow took a couple mad swipes before backing off. Scootaloo was enraged now. The innocence was long gone from her eyes.
"Scootaloo! I want my element back!" Rainbow said.
"You gave it to me!" Scootaloo shouted.
"I let you borrow it until I could come back..."
"You said you weren't coming back!" Scootaloo shouted back. She bucked, hitting Rainbow hard in the shin.
Rainbow had had enough of this. She struck Scootaloo across the face and slammed her head against the rock.
Scootaloo let out a grunt. Her eyes derped.
Rainbow Dash backed away and came to a sad realization. Scootaloo was gone.
"Scootaloo, if you're in there, this crevasse is collapsing. I can save you. But you have to cooperate."
Scootaloo growled in response. Rainbow sighed. Then she spread her wings and began ascending out of the crevasse.
She took one final glance down at Scootaloo. She was staring obsessively at the element. Rainbow shuddered. Tears came to her eyes.
She landed next to the collapsing crevasse.
"Oh Celestia. Oh Celestia, forgive me."
She closed her eyes and buried her head in her hooves. She thought back to the vision she had had in the fountain. The dying mare. Scootaloo's mother. That encounter had never even occurred, yet still Rainbow knew she had failed her.
And it occurred to her. Without the element, she was dead too. They were both doomed to die on the surface of the great space rock.
She looked down into the crevasse again. And she remembered a wise changeling's words.
"Nopony wants to die alone."
She flew back into the crevasse.
Scootaloo was glaring at her as she touched down again.
"The poseur returns. So, are you ready to die?"
Rainbow shook her head. "We're both dead squirt. But I figured you could use some company."
The demon in Scootaloo seemed to calm down for a moment. Her hateful energy seemed to be dissipating.
"I hate you so much. You ruined me." Scootaloo snarled. "You made me your puppet. You were using me..."
"Believe what you want kiddo. I loved ya like a sister." Rainbow said calmly.
Scootaloo stared into Rainbow Dash. "Why won't you just give up already? I don't want to be your sister..."
"I don't care. This is me trying to prove how much I love you."
Scootaloo's eyes remained red. Yet, a tear seemed to trail down her face.
Rainbow sat back in the crevasse and thought of something to say.
"Hey. Remember Baltimare Chainsaw Massacre?"
Scootaloo frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry I made you go watch that kiddo. It really was a...stupid decision."
Scootaloo's frown remained. "Are you...but...that was four years ago..."
"I know. It feels like yesterday. You grew up so fast."
Scootaloo looked away. The crevasse began to shake as more bits of moon rock fell from the surface.
"Do you remember squirt? You didn't want to sleep by yourself. You were too scared."
"You lie..." Scootaloo began.
"I don't. You were terrified. But ya know what? It's okay."
Scootaloo's nodded weakly. "W-We all get scared sometimes."
The words were nearly growled, but it brought a wave of happiness to the rainbow pegasus.
More tears from the red eyed pegasus. Rainbow could see her cold exterior melting away. She nodded.
"Right! See? You remember!"
Scootaloo looked up at her. She still possessed that demonic quality. But something had changed. She looked...broken.
"If I am to die, may I be granted a final wish?" She asked.
Rainbow nodded hesitantly.
She gestured to the element around her neck. "Could you take this thing off of me?"
Rainbow frowned. "Can't you?"
Scootaloo shook her head. "I do not have the strength. I don't think I ever have."
Rainbow reached out and gently pulled the element off of the orange pegasus.
There was a blinding flash. Rainbow looked away.
When she opened her eyes again, two big pink eyes stared back at her.
The armor clanged as it fell off her body.
"R-Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo asked softly.
Rainbow looked at her, and more tears came. "Squirt?"
"Rainbow Dash! I..." She looked at the blood dripping from Rainbow's nose. She pointed a shaking hoof at her. "I did that to you." She began sobbing. "I'm so sorry..."
Rainbow could see now. This creature before her was no demon. No evil corrupted figure. What she saw before her was a child. A scared, horrified child.
"I...I did so many horrible things Rainbow Dash. Did...did I hurt your back?"
Rainbow smirked. "Nah. Just my pride." Of course, her back was in horrible pain, but that was a discussion for a better time.
Scootaloo looked around at the crevasse as it continued to fall down around her.
"I...I did an evil thing..."
Rainbow held up the element of loyalty. "It wasn't you. It was this. I forced it on you. And you weren't ready. This was all my fault."
Scootaloo looked at her pinned wing. "Rainbow? Are we gonna die?"
Rainbow sighed. "I don't know squirt."
Scootaloo slumped down. "Are you mad at me?"
Rainbow Dash managed a smile. The truth was, she was still a bit mad. The hit to her spine was still hurting quite a lot. But that had not been done by Scootaloo.
"Of course I'm not squirt." Rainbow said. She hugged the panicking youngster. "I'm just happy you're not all screwy anymore."
Scootaloo laughed. "You and me both."
Rainbow Dash rubbed Scootaloo's mane. "It's gonna be okay." She said, looking up as the crevasse continued to collapse. "Whatever happens, we're together."
She looked down and noticed the element of loyalty lying on the ground.
How could this thing have caused so much trouble? Such a cornerstone of the elements of harmony. How could it have caused such disharmony?
"I chose a child to be the element of loyalty." Rainbow said aloud.
Scootaloo's ears fell back. "It's okay. I should have been able to handle it..."
"No. It was too heavy a responsibility. You're time will come Scoots. But not yet. I rushed you."
The element of loyalty began glowing. Brighter than ever. Rainbow's ears perked up. She remembered what Princess Celestia had said.
The element was the way home.
She picked it up, and with a slight hesitation, placed it around her neck.
It's glow was almost blinding now. Rainbow felt it's warmth sweeping through her. The pain began fading. She smirked.
"Ready to go home?" She asked the shaking pegasus.
Scootaloo looked at the element and smiled. "Okay Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow's eyes began to glow. She felt the power surrounding her. The rock floor beneath them began collapsing. She grabbed a firm hold of Scootaloo to ensure that they would both transport.
Then, with a flash, they were gone. As if on cue, the crevasse collapsed.