//------------------------------// // Crimson // Story: Way Past Equestria // by Onomonopia //------------------------------// "And that is the story of how I saved us all," Rainbow Dash finished proudly. Tails looked at Rainbow with awe filled eyes while Twilight and Sonic humored her and applauded slightly. She was laying in a hospital bed next to where they were keeping Silver for the time being until he woke up, with Big Mac and Shining Armor in the room across the hall. She had some concerning burns and quite possibly a concussion, but if either were bothering her she didn't show it. "So you actually managed to outrace a point blank explosion after it had gone off? That's amazing!" Tails exclaimed. "Come on Tails, I've done that before too," Sonic pointed out. "Numerous times in fact." "Yeah, but you never did it to save someone from blowing up," Tails replied. Then he smiled at Sonic. "But don't worry, I still think you're cool." "Oh good, I was worried for a second that you now preferred Rainbow Dash over me." "Well now that you mention it, Rainbow can actually take me flying..." "Take you flying? Heck, I can take you to a city made of clouds. You wanna give that a try?" Rainbow asked. The squeal Tails made answered for him and Rainbow chuckled, raising her eyebrows at Sonic. He smirked back before Twilight stepped forward. "Thanks for coming to visit me guys, I was getting bored. What's everypony else up to?" "Antoine, Bunnie, and Fluttershy are currently with Discord as he tries to sense another emerald. Rarity is getting some rest with Pinkie watching over her. She got roughed up bad in that fight. Not as bad as you, though." "I would hope not. I took a bomb to the face." Sally...has been off by herself while Rotor is with Amy trying to track down Nicole. However, it seems that Eggman and Sombra either know now how we tracked her or are too far away for Amy's powers to work. Either way, we've lost the trail for the time being." "I see. And what about Applejack?" "She and her family have been with Big Mac the entire time. Thanks to Bunnie and Sonic's advice, I managed to bring back a bit of his personality. He can only answer with yups or nopes, but at least he can talk." "That's good. I'd hate to think what it would do to her if he was still trying to hurt her," Rainbow sighed with relief. "How about Shining? Any luck?" "He's...there...but I don't know if he's in control of if I've just suppressed Eggman's programming. But it's better than having him trying to kill me." "Been there. The only thing worse than having to fight the ones you love is knowing that they're in there yet unable to stop themselves," Sonic bitterly said. Then he glanced over at Silver. "Speaking of allies who are struggling, has Silver changed?" "No. I'm not sure why he hasn't woken up," Twilight muttered. "We managed to wake up Amy, so why can't we awaken him?" "Well, Amy and I are...close. Maybe we need someone close to him to wake him up?" Sonic suggested. "And the only person I know who is really close to him is Blaze...which means we need to rescue her next." "Won't she be in a similar state as him, though?" "Maybe. Blaze and I are pretty close too. Not as close as her and Silver, but close. Maybe I'll be able to wake her up. Or maybe her hatred for you will snap her out of it?" Sonic said with a smirk to Twilight. "Either way works for me," Twilight replied. The door to the room opened and all eyes turned towards the entrance to see Applejack standing there. "Applejack, glad to see you. How's Big Mac?" "He's doing well. He...looks different, but we can tell it's still him. He's home," Applejack said with tears welling up in her eyes. Then she looked at Rainbow Dash with a soft smile. "Do the two of ya mind if ah talk to Rainbow in private for a moment?" Twilight, Tails, and Sonic nodded with smiles and left the room, leaving Applejack alone with Dash and the comatose Silver. AJ walked over beside Rainbow's bed and sat down, letting out a sigh before looking Dash in the eyes and smiling. "Ah'm glad to see yer alright. Ya took on heck of a fall." "Eh, I've had worse. How are you doing? How's your family?" "They're doing well. Much better now that Big Mac's back," Applejack said. "I can't image what they were going through...what you were going through," Rainbow Dash said softly. Applejack smiled in gratitude before smirking and looking at the floor. "Ah haven't seen Applebloom and Granny this relieved in...in a long time. The thought of losing Big Mac was tearing them apart...it was tearing me apart as well. The thought of him being in Sombra's clutches, no idea what was happening to him...and now he's home safe. All thanks to you." "Well, it wasn't entirely on me. Sonic, Rotor and Fluttershy did help a bit," Rainbow pointed out, before smiling. "It was just mostly me." "Trying to be humble? Maybe ya did hit yer head harder than ah thought," Applejack said as she placed a hoof on Dash's forehead. "But ah'm being serious. What ya did fer mah family...ya risked yer life to save mah brother. After...after losing ma and pa...if we lost Big Mac...Ah owe ya a debt ah can never repay..." "And you'll never have to," Rainbow cut her off. AJ looked up at Dash with a confused look and Dash gave her a kind smile. "You've already lost enough. I...I couldn't imagine losing my parents, especially as a foal. And after that, if I was to lose a brother as well...I couldn't let you go through that. Even if I had to risk being blown up to stop it. Somepony as amazing and kind as you shouldn't have to suffer like that. And as long as I've got fight in me, I'll make sure you never have to." Applejack just stared at Rainbow Dash for a long time, long enough that Dash started to look awkwardly around the room. Then Applejack let out a giggle. "Ya sounded a bit like Antoine there when he talks about Bunnie. Always saying how amazing she is or how it's his duty as her knight to always keep her safe. Does that make ya mah knight, then? If it does, yer missing yer sword and cape." "Um...well..." "But thank you, Rainbow Dash. Ah appreciate it," Applejack said, before she leaned in and kissed Rainbow Dash on the cheek. Rainbow's face erupted in a red color as her brain finally gave out, leaving Applejack to giggle as she saw the stunned look on Rainbow's face. "Ah'll leave ya to yer rest now. Ya look like ya need it." Applejack got up and walked to the door, before stopping and looking back at Dash one last time. "And thank ya again Rainbow Dash...fer everything." Applejack left after saying this, leaving Rainbow to stare dumbfounded at the wall. It wasn't until she heard rustling next to her that she slowly turned her head to see that Silver was starting to move about, holding a hand to his head. "Oh...hey there Silver...you're awake," Dash managed to get out. "Yes, I am. I've been using what little of my telekinetic and psychic powers I could to try to break myself free, but it wasn't until I felt what seemed like a brain going nuclear that I was finally able to snap out of it," Silver grunted. He sat up in the bed and looked over at Rainbow Dash. "I've been out of it, but I've managed to pick up bits and pieces. I sensed Sonic and Tails in here, but I still haven't gotten your names down yet. You're...Crimson Dash, right?" "Actually, no, it's Rainbow Dash." "Really? You're face says otherwise. Did I miss something?" ||==O O==|| Sally stood alone on one of the balcony's of Canterlot castle, staring up at the night sky as Luna worked her magic. With Twilight as busy as she was saving the world, Celestia and Luna had resumed their old duties along with sensing the Elements. Equestria was such a fascinating world to Sally, but at the moment she held no spark of joy in her at all. Only bitter loathing and hatred for herself. She had nearly cost them everything. She had dove into what now was clear to be an obvious trap and her friends had nearly paid the price. Had Sonic and the others not shown up when they did, the Freedom Fighters and the Ambassadors would have lost half their number...and numerous kind and brilliant lives would be gone forever. All because she had been desperate to get Nicole back. Too desperate. And Eggman had taken advantage of that. Maybe she should just leave the leading to Twilight now. It was clear that princess was far better at leading her friends and fighting evil that she was. After all, Equestria had never fallen while she had been unable to free her home for years. Maybe this was the wake up call she finally needed to- "It's a lovely night, isn't it?" Sally looked over her shoulder to see Fluttershy flying onto the balcony, landing beside her and looking up at the sky. "I don't know how Luna manages to keep the night looking so splendid, but she does. It must be her cutie mark." "Hey Fluttershy. Nice to see you, but I really just want to be alone right now, so if you don't mind..." "You're beating yourself up over what happened, aren't you?" Fluttershy asked. When Sally didn't answer, Fluttershy continued. "I figured as much. Things did go pretty badly, didn't they?" "I nearly got all of you killed. That's far worse than pretty badly," Sally pointed out. "True. I'd say that's a very bad then," Fluttershy replied. Sally gave her a look. "Sorry, just trying to be funny." "Why are you here? Are you here to talk to me, to tell me to not give up and to keep leading, despite my failures? That it was only a mistake and that I'll do better next time? That Eggman and Sombra are just that cunning and that it's not my fault?!" Sally half yelled at Fluttershy. "No. I'm just here because it seems like you could use a friend," Fluttershy replied kindly. Sally felt her anger fade at that and she looked at Fluttershy with shock. "I'm not very good with speeches or pep talks or all that. But what I can do is listen to you, hear your pain and comfort you as best I can. So if you need an ear to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, I can at least do that." "Oh...thank you..." Sally replied. "Of course. That's what friends do." "We're friends now?" "You've risked your life to save us from a nasty and evil man that has tried to destroy us and take over our world. That makes us friends in my book," Fluttershy replied. "And even if you feel like you messed up yesterday, you still went out there and tried to help your friend. Yeah, you messed up, but you did it because you cared. That shows you're more than a leader. You're a true friend." "I...guess...but still. I led us into a trap. What happens if I lead us into another one next time?" "I don't know. But what I do know is that I'll be there with you to find out." Sally looked at Fluttershy with shock as she said this. "You're brave, you're smart, but above all else, you truly care for those you fight with. Those are the same qualities that Twilight has and are the reasons I follow her. And they're the reasons I follow you, even if it is into a trap. Because even though I've only known you for a short time, I trust you with my life. All of my friends do." "So know that we'll be there for you. Whether it's trying to stop Eggman or Sombra, whether it's trying to get out of a bad spot...or whether it's just helping you feel better when you're blue, know that you can count on us. You can count on me. I may not be much of a fighter, but I will stand by your side. That's a promise." "Thanks, Fluttershy. I...I needed that," Sally said. Then a smile crossed her face and she gave Fluttershy a look. "So what was that you were saying earlier about not being good at pep talks?" "Well, I have my moments." "Heh, you sure do...what the heck's wrong with me? I'm sitting around feeling sorry for myself when there's work to be done and world's to be saved," Sally realized. She spun and started to head back, stopping only to smile back at Fluttershy. "I need to find those emeralds and Elements and figure out where Sombra and Eggman have gone. Care to help?" "Of course. What are friends for?" ||==O O==|| "What did I tell you? Our plan was flawless and Sonic showed up to ruin it. Just like he always does," Robotnik bitterly said as he collapsed into a chair. "You think that I would be used to it at this point, but it still hurts." "You are right, though. He is chaos. The way he just...completely manages to undermine everything we come up with...it's honestly amazing," Sombra muttered. A smile then crossed his face and Robotnik took notice. "I know that look. You're up to something that's completely crazy and will probably backfire in your face," Robotnik said. "Well out with it, I want to hear this." Sombra spent a few minutes explaining to Robotnik what his plan was, getting the doctor to raise an eyebrow at the dark king. "I know we have our whole grand plan going on and that's most likely what's going to be what does these annoyances in once and for all and that this will most likely fail, but...the evil monster in me just has to try this plan. Just to say I tried, you know?" Sombra asked. "I mean, can I call it a complete victory if I didn't try to win by doing what I do best?" Robotnik thought about it long and hard for a moment, before he placed a hand on Sombra's shoulder. "Sombra...go for it. Be that villain that you were meant to be," Robotnik replied. "And even if this plan fails, at least you can say that you went for it." "Thanks Robotnik. You always know what to say."