//------------------------------// // The Offer // Story: Rainbooms and Royalty // by Trinary //------------------------------// & & & Rainbow Dash whirled around but every direction she looked was the same bluish mist that completely hid everything. She couldn’t see her friends, the throne room or hear a thing beyond it: it might as well have been an impenetrable wall. “I wanted to have a moment to talk, just the two of us.” Nightmare Moon explained calmly as if this was a normal occurrence. “Free from any…distractions.” Rainbow flapped her wings, rearing up on her hind legs and boxing at the air in front of her with her forelegs. “All I have to say can be said with THESE, babies!” She threw a quick left-right jab. “So be it.” Nightmare Moon said calmly. “But before you do, tell me, why are we fighting?” A nonplussed expression crossed Rainbow Dash’s face as if to say, you’re kidding, right? “Celestia is dead. Should I somehow be vanquished, what would become of Equestria? Bereft of a Princess and anypony capable of moving the sun or the moon? How will Equestria survive?” The alicorn asked evenly. “I---” Rainbow Dash’s mind came to a screaming halt as she processed this. She had been so focused, so determined on saving her friends and stopping Nightmare Moon that she never stopped to think about what would happen afterwards. Nightmare Moon saw this and pressed on. “Celestia isn’t coming back. There isn’t anything you or I can do about that, regardless of what the outcome is. Despite what she may have told you, I never wanted her dead. I wanted her to see that she was WRONG. She made her own choice and the rest of us have to live with it. Typical Celestia.” “You shut up about Celestia!” Rainbow barked, tensing for a fight. But Nightmare Moon refused to be baited. “I know you…cared for Celestia. But let us look at this rationally: she is using you to fight her battles for you. You, barely out of your fillyhood, were left to face the greatest power Equestria has ever known. Why didn’t she do it herself?” She narrowed her eyes as Rainbow opened her mouth to explain, quickly cutting her off. “I’m sure she gave you some neat and pat explanation…but the truth is: she’s a coward, always using others like chess pieces. “You—no! She…she…” Rainbow Dash wished she was more eloquent. She KNEW Nightmare Moon was wrong but she just couldn’t come up with the words to prove it! The dark alicorn shifted the conversation to another ground while Dash was struggling. “The old world can never be brought back. It is dead and Celestia herself signed its death warrant. Instead of futilely fighting me, why not help me create a new world, a better one?” “A-are you CRAZY? Why would I ever help you?!” Rainbow demanded. “Why would you ever even THINK that?” “We touched minds Rainbow Dash…” Nightmare Moon reminded her. “I saw how alike we really are. Nopony can understand you like I can.” “Yeah right.” Dash turned around, flicking her tail dismissively. Nightmare called after her. “You mean that I can never understand that deep driving thirst for recognition and respect for your accomplishments that propels you forward? The stabbing pain when in spite of all your efforts, that your hard work goes unnoticed and unappreciated, suffering the stings and barbs of disdain from others who are just so small that they resent anypony who isn’t as puny as them?” Rainbow paused, turning around slowly. She tried to swallow the lump of emotions that threatened to choke her. Nightmare Moon nodded. “Oh yes, I understand. Better than you think. But I can help you achieve your dreams where Celestia refused to. A mere word would be enough to get you an audition to the Wonderbolts, your life long dream. You would be a member easily, a captain within a few years on your own merit. If I said the word, you could be their captain now.” Rainbow Dash’s wings twitched. To have her dream offered up on a platter before her. Who wouldn’t be tempted? “I-I...” “Flying through the skies with nothing but the wind in your face and the sky at your back.” Nightmare Moon spun her fantasy, materializing in front of Rainbow. “All your troubles left miles behind you, the doubters and neighsayers left in your wake. Everything you sacrificed… all those ponies who doubted you…it’ll all be a thing of the past.” Her voice was alluring, tempting. “After all the hard work you’ve done, are you any closer to joining them now then you were years ago? And why is that? Because instead of helping you, as Celestia promised she would, she’d been intent on grooming you to be something you’re not: a boring, proper mare learning things nopony cares about all with the goal in mind of making you the perfect weapon, a pony to lead others against me. But we both know that you and I have more in common than you do with the staid, uptight, and shallow ponies of Canterlot, don’t you?” Dash felt her knees starting to shake, with what she didn’t quite know. “Not enough?” The princess of the night asked. “Never fear, I will not forget those you care about. You see, Celestia is not the only one who can be merciful and kind. Your friends will have everything they ever wanted.” She gestured broadly with her wing as images started to swirl in the mist surrounding them. Rainbow Dash saw Applejack beaming proudly as hundreds of new apple trees were planted at Sweet Apple Acres, dozens of hired ponies working the fields while she and her extended family looked on with pride. Next was Rarity, flanked by some of the most important ponies in Canterlot: Fancy Pants, Photo Finish, Sapphire Shores, and Hoity Toity all gushing over her new fashion line as model after model walked down the runway in Rarity’s dresses. The white unicorn squealed with happiness, the others eating out of her hoof. Then came Pinkie Pie, planning parties and decorating all of Canterlot as the entire city was transformed into one great big laughing, dancing celebration that everypony joined in. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes glittered as she twirled around from her place inside the heart of the royal library and archives of Canterlot surrounded by all the knowledge in the world. Fluttershy flitted her wings happily, squeeing softly as she was surrounded by animals great and small in the Canterlot gardens, wearing a white coat with her name denoting her status as royal veterinarian and care giver. And Ditzy Doo…Rainbow bit her lip as she saw her old friend, who struggled with two jobs to support her foal all by herself, hugging her daughter and crying happily as they moved into a large, spacious and well-furnished house. “And lest we forget…” The alicorn said in a hushed tone. Nightmare Moon’s ethereal mane circled around Rainbow Dash, obscuring her peripheral vision. Soon all she could see was Shining Armor, standing before her and looking at her adoringly. “I know Celestia would never have understood.” The Nightmare whispered alluringly. “She was eternal, beyond the common needs of mortal ponies. I am beyond them as well, but I understand them where Celestia did not, could not.” She paused, pushing her muzzle right next to Rainbow’s ear. “We've lived too long, seen too much. To live on, as we have, is to leave behind joy, love, and companionship because we know it to be transitory; of the moment. We know it will turn to ash. Only those whose lives are brief can believe that love, is eternal.” With her wing, she gently nudged Rainbow Dash to Shining Armor. “You should embrace that remarkable illusion. It may be the greatest gift your kind has ever received. And I offer it to you. Freely.” “Shining…the girls…” Rainbow reached out a hoof, only to have the illusion before her be dispelled and dissipate back into the mist. Nightmare Moon walked in front of her. “So Rainbow Dash, the choice is yours: will you fight a pointless, doomed battle where even should you win, you still lose, or will you help me make yours and everypony’s dreams come true?” Looking down, Rainbow Dash tried to marshal her thoughts. Did she have the right to make this decision? What she did could affect everypony she knew…why did she have to make this choice for them? All her dreams and theirs, wrapped up into one bundle…why should she refuse? Nightmare Moon was right, Celestia was gone and by her own volition to boot. What would happen if Nightmare Moon was vanquished? Would Celestia return? Would the sun and moon move on their own? Would they be stuck where they were now? She couldn’t know the answers to those questions, so she settled on the one that she had a chance of answering: why keep fighting a battle for a pony who wasn’t around anymore, who might have indeed—as Nightmare Moon alleged—abandoned her? Because Celestia loved you. The answer was so simple and yet so profound. “Celestia loved me.” She repeated softly. Nightmare Moon frowned. “What nonsense is this?” “It’s what makes her different from you!” Rainbow Dash shot back looking her squarely in the eye. “You just want to rule so you can have things your way, so you can make everypony like you! Celestia loved every single one of her subjects. She would never take a mother away from her filly and turn her into a slave. She would never make Shining Armor like me THAT way if he didn’t really feel it himself, just to win me over. It doesn’t matter if Celestia never gave me my dreams on a silver platter or if she isn’t here anymore. Celestia was always there for us and now it’s my turn to be there for her and what she cared about. I’ll never abandon what Celestia taught me…that’d be like abandoning Celestia herself. And that’s something I’m never gonna do!” The Nightmare snarled, baring her teeth angrily as her eyes glowed with malice. Her facade of kindness fell away like a snake shedding an old skin. “Be careful in your decision...I am offering you a chance to accomplish anything and everything!” “And I’m offering you a chance to kiss my butt!” Dash shot back, snorting. “So be it!” Nightmare wrapped her mane around Rainbow’s throat and hauled her up to eye level. “For a time I considered sparing your wretched little companions…but now you shall bear witness to their destruction!” “Go...t-to Tartarus!” Rainbow Dash croaked out as she struggled. Nightmare Moon chuckled wickedly. “Just where do you think I come from?” She hissed in her ear. “I hope you appreciate, Rainbow Dash everything that happens from this point is on your head. The skies will rain fire, the oceans will writhe, the streets will run red with the blood of your friends. Only then, after your last pitiful hope is extinguished, will I end your life.” Nightmare Moon’s eyes flashed. “Let's go!” & & &