Twilight's Pov
It was afternoon with the sun shining on a floating cloud house, well more like a mansion. It was the sole cloud building in the area and the target of their search for it’s owner. Luna's chariot hovered to let us all off before landing below. Fluttershy took out a key Rainbow gave her and unlocked the door. We all walk in and for the first time ever, I entered Rainbow's house. It was well furnish and clean enough but me and Luna were drawn to the item hanging on the wall. It was clearly a flag but of a design I have never seen before. It was dominated by alternating red and white stripes numbering thirteen in total. On the left upper corner was a blue square filled with white stars. Checking they number fifty in total. “I have been studying to catch up to the past thousand years but I do not recognize this flag. Do you Twilight Sparkle?” I shook my head.
“I do not princess. There is nothing even close to this in all known nations. Where did she get it?”
“She got it from me.” Rarity stayed. We all look at her. “I owed her a favor and she requested this flag. The darling was good on the details so I made it for her and she loved it. Never told me where she got the design though.” I looked back and frowned. More signs of her past. They split up to look for clues. I found myself in her study. It had a desk and a couple of bookshelves. One was filled with weather regulations, the other had fiction including ….Daring Do? Why didn't she tell me that, I love Daring Do? I looked on and spotted a book on the desk. I looked at it and it had no cover title but was engraved in a beautiful style. I saw a word combination lock. This must be the diary Firefly mentioned. I took it in my magic and spelled out Dash. It didn't open. I tried fire, still nothing. I sat thinking a bit. What would Dash use as a password? I tapped my chin in thought. Wait, we kept hearing the name Ryan. I type it in, still nothing. How? I spelled correct, right? R. I. A. N. I thought again. Wait! Some times a y is used instead of an I. I tried again and it unlocked. I opened it and read the first entry. I was in shocked at what I read. This confirmed our theory. Rainbow Dash was not born a pony and that her original name was Ryan Danver. She called herself a human…and male? That had to be odd for Rainbow. I skipped some early entries and got to where she met me. I skimmed them till I got to one entry. It was after the incident with Zecora. They can NEVER know my past life. Those words were so haunting. That event hurt Rainbow deeply. And I couldn't blame her. Zecora, though a zebra she was still an equine and she was treated that way. What ever a human is it must be way different then us.
“GIRLS!” I yell out. They rushed over asking what was up. “It's right here. The reasons for Rainbow's actions. And we are to blame. She is originally from a race called humans and was a male of that species. And what happen with Zecora made her determined that we not know this. It drove her and thanks to Discord that feeling of being safe vanished.” We all looked down. Then Pinkie perked up.
“Maybe this book would tell us the perfect cake to make for Dashie!” she came over to look in the book. Only for Fluttershy to race over and slam the book and take it from me and glare at Pinkie who wilted.
“No! We learned what we needed. We have no right to read any further. This was for her eyes only.” She then left the room with the book under her wing. We followed curious to what Fluttershy was doing. She grabbed a saddle bag and placed the book in it. Then then grabbed a map and looked over it.
“What are you up to Sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“I know what Dash is doing. She…” Fluttershy choked up. “She believes she won't be accepted here. So she is leaving Equestria to start all over again.”
“Well then we'll go and convinced her that's silly idea. She is one of us.”
“No, I have to do this alone.” Fluttershy stated.
"Why alone darling?” Rarity asked.
“Because she is my first friend and I have known her the longest of any of us. So it has to be me that does it. Princess Luna, could your chariot get me to here?” She points on the map near the Maretonia border. “Easy dear Fluttershy. Let's make haste.”
******
Dash's POV
I had been flying for hours at my cruising speed making my way to Maretonia. It was the closest nation and had a pony population so easy to restart there. But it was lunch time so I scanned and saw a clearing with a river. Perfect. I dive down and took a drink before opening my make shift saddle bag and took out some food I had gathered on my trip. I miss being able to cook but it’s better then starving. As I ate I suddenly heard a familiar voice that was surprisingly loud. “DASHIE!” I look up and saw yellow and pink before being tackled. After being pinned to the ground I look and recognized Flutters hugging me.
“Flutters? What are you doing here?”
“Stopping a friend from making a horrible mistake. We know what you used to be.”
“Then why stop me? I am not one of you and you hate that which is not a pony.”
“Oh Dashie,” She sighed and hugged me again. “We could never hate you. I am sorry that our treatment of Zecora affected you so. We were stupid and foolish. We don't want you to go.” “Why? Why would you want me to stay. You know what I am.”
“Yes I know what you are. You are my first friend, a pony who could have hanged out with the cool foals and the fast fliers like you. But no, you instead hanged out with me, a pegasus that could barely fly. While I am curious about your previous life, to me you have and always will be Dash, my best friend.”
“But what if the others still reject me?”
“Then I will go where ever you go Dash.” she hugged and nuzzled me. I admit a cried and returned it.
“Okay, I will come back.” She smiled at me. I gave a weak smile back.
“And how did you even catch up to me. You have improved on your flying but there is no way you could get here so fast.” Flutters had that shy look again hiding behind her mane.
“Well I had help.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, Luna loaned me her chariot. It's pretty fast. Oh and I have this.” She pulled out my journal. “Sorry but Twilight went through some of it.”
“Thanks Flutters. I am not happy about that but can't be angry. Let's ...let's just go home.” She lead me to the chariot. Once on it, it took off and I leaned against Flutters for support. She gave it eagerly and it was nice and calming as I needed it to face them all again. I prayed that Flutters was right but feared if she was wrong. Soon we were back in Ponyville. And parked next to my house. With a gulp and a reassuring wing stroke from Flutters I opened the door. And I saw my friends there. We looked at each other for a minute then they rushed over and I was tackled hugged again. And I cried, I mean really cried. So much stress released, and we said nothing for minutes, just hugging each other. Finally they broke up the hug.
“Dash, we are so sorry you felt that you would be rejected by us due to your origins.” Rarity started. “You are our friend beyond anything else and we will never reject you for not being a pony from birth. You are one of us and that will never change.” The girls all nodded. And my stress left me and I have a slight smile.
“Thanks girls.” Looking at all of them. Even Luna who was smiling at us.
“You know that this calls for?” Pinkie asked. “A PARTY!” And out came her party canon and soon my place was set up and Pinkie pulled treats out of her mane. It's legit. After a bit with a snack and drink in hoof and flew over to Twilight.
“Hey Twi, surprise Rarity was the one to voice the apology and not you, our group’s leader.”
“Um because I agreed with you on Zecora's treatment so didn't feel that fear you had.” She retorted and I opened my mouth to refute but looked back and yeah she was on my side of that issue.
“AH right, my mistake.”
“But why did you kill Discord?” I looked at her seriously.
“Because we have no guarantee that the prison will hold this time. We barely won Twilight, you know that. If he wasn't so sure that he had us beat he could have stopped us. If he escaped a third time our replacements may fail. You wanna take that risk?” Twilight was silent for a minute in thought.
“Still not thrilled with your action but I do see your point.”
“Twi, your world is very lucky with how innocent it is. My birth world, we have had bad things happen. People dying because we didn't properly deal with threats. Many people suffer and asked why it wasn't taken care of before hand. I wish I didn't have to but considering what Discord could do I had to be extreme. I admit personal reasons were a factor.”
“So what's your plan?” Twi was clearly changing the subject.
“Well I am going to visit my folks soon but Luna told me Celestia wants to see me so we’ll head their tomorrow.”
“Ah, I just noticed, you never call the Princesses, Princesses. Why?”
“My birth home went to war to free ourselves from a tyrant king so it's ingrained in me. I respect both of them but hard for me to use those titles.”
“So how was your country lead?”
“It is a democratic republic. We elected our representatives and our leader which we called The President.'
“Oh! Like the old Chancellor In the Earth pony Government of old.”
“Yup, some times we elected an idiot but it overall worked.”
“So Dash, exactly how old are you overall?”
“What do you mean overall?” “Well your life now and the one you have before?” I gave her a smirk.
“All together, forty five.” Twi had her mouth slightly opened.
“You are as old as my mom!” That got me laughing.
****
They rest of that party was good helped me relaxed. That ALL went away as I looked at the doors in front of me. It wasn't the throne room but a smaller meeting room. The guards stood outside of the door. With a gulp I entered the room and a round table had wait, THREE princesses? There was a PINK princess, did Disney misplace one of theirs?
“Hello Rainbow Dash. Please take a seat.” I walked over an took the seat before them eyeing the pink alicorn.
“This is my niece, Princess Cadance.”
“So Luna who was the dad?” I asked. Said princess blushed.
“I'm adopted Miss Dash.” Said Cadance. She had a nice voice.
“On to the issue of you killing Discord.” Celestia stated.
“You mean me having to do what you should have done.”
“Excuse me!?”
“Come on a guy as dangerous as Discord, where did you even have him?”
“Apparently after we stoned him Celestia put him put him in the garden in the maze. Out in the open.”
“SERIOUSLY!?”I exclaim. “You have easily a basic god imprisoned and you leave him out in the open. That is just asking for this to happen and you are getting mad at me for killing him?”
“He could have been reformed in time.” I eyed her.
“Really, you have over a thousand years to make an attempt. Discord is not your sister Celestia. Not everybody can be reformed. At MINIMUM Discord's statue should have been locked away in a deep dungeon but no you put him OUT IN THE BUCKING OPEN! And leave it for others to fix. How many other threats did you leave around that me and the others have to fix? And how ill trained are we going to be for it? Remember the dragon? I certainly do. You took us, a group of six mares close to their twenties and only two of them can fight in any real degree. Another that can only fly averagely because of my training of her and the one that leads us only started having friends so has little experience directing ponies and Pinkie? Well at times she is oblivious to danger but she seems to follow Cartoon Law. Still not a combat pony in any real way and could cause more problems then solutions. I ask you. What if we died? What if we ended up down his throat? There goes the elements over an issue that can be solved by others.”
“She does have a point sister. Why send them when they don't have the training for it?” Luna interjected.
“For the experience.” Celestia said.
“AGAISNT AN ADULT DRAGON!?” the pink Alicorn asked. “How dare you aunty! Twilight has no training for something like that. She is a librarian for Equestria's sake. What other dangers do you have plan for her and her friends to face ill trained.” The alicorn was glaring at Celestia. I am kinda liking this gal. What was her name? Candy?
“Let's get back to the issue at hoof with Rainbow Dash and her actions against Discord. Why even mention those other incidents?” She looked at me and I glared back.
“I an defending myself from a clear tribunal. I am going to do everything I can to keep what I have left.”
“Tribunal?” Celestia asked.
“The three princesses of Equestria sitting opposite of me in a private room. Yeah full tribunal. I may be young in your eyes but I am far older then I look so don't you dare treat me like an idiot.” I glared back at them.
“Um how old are you?” Pink asked.
“Overall forty five.”
“Overall?”
“Wait did they not tell you about me?'
“Just that you killed Discord, bear the Element of Loyalty, and Twily's friend.” I looked at her in shock then looked at Celestia and glared.
“Okay I am out!” I got up from the table. “If you are going to let somepony ill informed about me judge me then you are not as good of a leader as I thought. I am wasting my time here.” I was already planning what to pack if she took this further.
“YOU WILL STAY PUT RAINBOW DASH!” Celestia yelled out. I looked back.
“Why? I see no reason to stay and clearly be railroaded!”
“Sister Calm!” Luna stated. We all stared at her. “I believe we need a recess and you and I sister need to talk.” Celestia took a breath. “Very well. You Rainbow Dash should stay in the castle.”
“Fine.” And I left. As I looked around. The door opened again and Pink came out.
“May I join you?”
“Why?”
“To know you more. You are friends with my little sister.”
“Huh?”
“Twilight.” “She's royalty!?” “No, she is of noble blood but not royalty. But I foalsat her when she was young so she is like a sister to me.”
“Okay I get that. So do you know a spot we can eat, I am kinda hungry.”
“Yeah we can go to my rooms, I can make us a meal.” I shrugged and followed her. After a few minutes she lead me to a room and. OH GOD THE PINK! IT'S EVERYWHERE! I sat at a small table as she went to a small kitchen.
“So I missed your name.” I said as an ice breaker.
“It's Cadance.”
“Well I was close, I was calling you Candy.” She actually laughed at that.
“I DO look like one of those Heart and Hooves day candy.” She admitted and I chuckled. “Well tell me about yourself since I am lacking in that.” So I told her about my history. All of it with her interrupting with a question here and there. When I was done. She simply asked. “Why kill Discord?” She asked, with a curious tone instead of an accusational one.
“He was too dangerous, barring my desperation to keep my origin a secret a guy like that is way too dangerous. His powers reminded me of a fictional character who could literally do anything with a snap of his fingers. As I said earlier we got lucky he was arrogant. IF he was smart, as soon as we showed back up with the elements he should have killed us there and then. If he ever escaped again he won't make the same mistake again. The next group will have a harder time and we just barely squeezed out the Win. Why take that risk, especially since our way of securing him was keeping him out in the open on display.” “And your desperation added?” I look down at the now empty plate of food. Must have ate it while I told her of my old life.
“I never got to say goodbye to my birth family. One moment I am saving a family from a tornado. The next I am in Cloudsdale as a young pegasus filly with no way to get home. With luck I was adopted by a great couple. I love them as much as my birth parents and I was going to lose them. Then when Twilight pushed I felt I did lose them. Do you know how much that hurts? To lose a family.”
“Yeah, I do. Lost my parents when I was very little. Then my first adopted family by those hoping to use me to gain power when I got this.” She lightly tapped her horn. “So I went through what you feared. It's the reason I go by Cadance not Mi Amore Cadenza.”
“Seriously? That's your name?” I asked.
“Legally yes. And the nobles use it ALL the time. Thank Celestia my current family doesn't. Well aunty Luna calls me Cadenza but that's okay it's not the full headache.”
“Yeah, I prefer Dash over Rainbow myself.” She gave me a smirk before it faded. “So what were you going to do if we didn't take a pause?”
“I would have left. Meet up with Fluttershy and leave the country.”
“Why drag her along?”
“Not dragging she wants to if that has to happen. She's my best friend. And I was her first real friend. She offered to go with me.”
“Just friends?” She eyed me. I glared back.
“Yes just friends jeeze. Honestly not sure where I am at in sexual preference.” “Well had to ask, I am the alicorn of love after all.”
“That's an actual thing!? I got Celestia and Luna doing the sun and moon thing. Weird, but I can see it. But Love?”
“Hey love is a powerful thing!” “But worthy of an avatar?”
“Yes it is.” I just shrugged. Before this could go further a servant interrupted us saying the other Princesses were ready to resume. We got up and headed back. Back at the room and again facing all the princesses. Celestia looked at Cadance.
“Cadance, you spent time with Miss Dash. Your opinion on her in regards to her actions?” “Well...I feel she was pretty justified in her actions.” Celestia had a shocked looked. “Dash felt she was about to lose her family again. Note thanks to her unique origins she had lost one family unable to do anything about it. Manage to find a loving family to adopt her and fear losing that as well because. Aunty, we need to address some racism going on in our ponies. Dash witnessed this first hoof and it shaped her thinking here. She feared her origin being revealed she will lose everything. Anypony would try to end that threat to those they love. You both know how powerful love and fear can be. Aunty Luna, did you find out more about how he got loose?”
“Well going by timing a school tour from Ponyville was in the maze around the time of his release.”
“So likely they did something that trigger his release.” Cadance commented.
“Indeed, any amount of discord and disharmony could have done it.”
“So we fail in securing a dangerous entity. He gets loose and we are forced to rely on young mares to defeat him. And we get mad that she kills him. An entity we know killed our fellow alicorns sister. The ONLY reason we are still alive is because we couldn't beat him. He is more powerful then any two alicorns. If he wasn't so focused on the Element Bearers he would have KILLED our niece.” Luna paused on that note and Celestia's eyes went wide as she missed that little tidbit.
“So considering all of that and the fact the populace would likely be upset by punishing a pony that ended the threat Discord brought to Equestria. I say punishment is NOT an option and I will not support it.” Cadance stated.
“Neither will I sister.” Luna stated.
“However I do believe Dash needs some help.” I looked at Cadance wondering where she is going with that. “She was hurting when she arrived on our world and her adopted family helped a lot as did Twilight and her friends. Discord made the wound worse. She doesn't need to be punished for her act, but needs some help.”
“You are suggesting counseling?” Celestia asked. And Cadance nodded. I was not happy.
“I am NOT going to a shrink! I am fine, it was just a fear. A rational one considering how your ponies react to the strange.” I stated. Cadance looked back at me with a serious expression. “You are not fine Dash. You need help and I want you to have it.”
“And I will pay for it Miss Dash.” Celestia said.
“FUCK ALL OF YOU!” I stomped on the table. Furious I spread my wings to just fly out. “Dash PLEASE!” Luna shouted out. “Please give it a try. If it doesn't work I will end it.” “Sister?” Luna looked at Celestia. “Forcing a pony to do something, even if it would be good for them can nullify that good. Thus I am giving Dash an exit if it doesn't work out.” “I see your point sister.”
“Fine.” I growled out and left. Not wanting to be in their presence anymore. I headed for the one place I need to be. Not among those three.
I headed for my parent's place.