Returning to the bar, Rainbow yawned loudly. Scootaloo was close behind, her mouth dry from introducing Rainbow to all the new attractions in the city. They both took the same seats from earlier at the bar table, and ordered drinks.
"You really changed a lot." Scootaloo said, eyeing Rainbow carefully. She wasn't the same arrogant show-off pony she knew years ago. Something changed about her, and she felt it the moment Rainbow left Ponyville.
"Maybe." Rainbow said, feeling a little tired- she wasn't sure why, but she felt a little sick too- mentally, not physically- although it was beginning to take its toll on her body.
"Come on, Rainbow. Surely you can tell me what's going on?" Scootaloo was genuinely concerned for Rainbow now.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I want to, I really do- but I can't." Rainbow said. She wasn't going to introduce Scootaloo to the dark Equestria unless absolutely necessary- ever. She really wanted to communicate her thoughts with somepony instead of just keeping them all to herself- it was driving her crazy. But if she did, she would fail herself because she was working to keep the dark Equestria away.
"Oh look who's back- Rainbow Crash!" the annoying voice of a stallion came from behind Rainbow.
Rainbow Dash froze. She knew who they were, and out of all the ponies she was expecting to see- she never thought she'd see THEM. Even though the bar would be a suiting place, she noted to herself.
"What do you two want?" she asked, taking a gulp from her drink without moving her head.
"What happened to Manehatten, Crash? Couldn't make a living there?" a different voice said, ignoring her question- although that did answer it by the littlest.
"Oi! Stop calling her that!" Scootaloo turned around. By now everypony in the bar seemed to have noticed the argument going on.
"Oh, chicken girl? What ya gonna do about it?" the voice taunted, and Rainbow could hear the smirk that came with it.
"Yeah, Crash here can't even stand up for herself. Need a little bodyguard with her eh?"
Rainbow slowly stood up, her eyes hidden under her hat. The childhood bullies couldn't tell what she might do as she didn't turn around. Then it became clear as she asked: "Is that a challenge?"
"Ooohh, Crash's got attitude! Gonna show us, huh?" one of the stallions laughed.
A grin spread across Rainbow's face, but she hid it when she slowly turned around. Her arms dangled by her side, relaxed. Her head was lowered slightly, hiding the excited glint in her eyes.
Scootaloo looked at Rainbow, then back at the bullies, then back again; as if one of them were crazy. Obviously it was Rainbow Dash.
"Oh yes... Me gonna show you good." Rainbow smirked, cracking her hooves loudly. There were some ponies cheering on the fight now, waving their hooves in the air. The bartender looked as if mesmerized by the situation. The two bullies seemed nervous- they couldn't back down now. But then they could get a chance to humiliate Rainbow even further, so they took the chance.
"So, you 'got other plans' again?" One of the stallions snarled, thinking of the last time the group saw her.
"Not this time." Rainbow smirked, and took a bow.
Charging at Rainbow, the first pegasus swung a poorly aimed punch at her face. She spun around, letting him past and slamming a hoof into his back, sending him sprawling onto the bar table and knocking over a dozen drinks.
"You owe me five credits." She stated, looking at her spilt beverage.
The second seemed a lot more wary than the first, but had no choice as the entire bar was watching. He charged forth, swinging a much more well thrown punch.
Still not good enough though. Rainbow blocked it with her arm and pushed, throwing him off-balance. He threw another punch with his other hoof out of desperation, in which Rainbow dodged with ease. He tripped over himself and fell onto the floor, humiliated by the laughter all the other ponies were issuing.
Scootaloo gaped at Rainbow. "How... What?"
"Oi! What's with all the ruckus?" a gang of three ponies entered the room, evidently friends of the bullies. They eyed the two defeated on the floor, and Rainbow standing tall and triumphant.
Rainbow winked, which set them off.
"Get her!" the head yelled, the two got off the floor, and the others ran at her.
Scootaloo gasped as a storm of punches were rained down on the blue pegasus, who managed to deflect them all. It looked really easy for her too.
Rainbow ducked down and dodged a blow, then leaped up just as it passed, grabbing the back of the stallion's hoof. She twisted, thumping him down onto the floor. The others also lashed out at her, and she dodged the blows without taking her hoof away from the stallion on the ground.
She yanked the arm, bringing the stallion to his hooves. Twirling around, she used him as a shield to block a kick. The stallion looked exceptionally gutted when the hoof landed in his stomach. Rainbow threw him into another charging pegasus, knocking them both down.
She picked up a nearby chair, and brought it up as defense. Problem is, it accidentally turned into offense when a charging stallion ran right into one of the legs, the expression of pain instantly taking over his face.
Idiots, Rainbow thought. "I didn't do that. You did." she said to the stallion, and the whole bar laughed.
A stallion grabbed the chair, and was starting to pull it away from Rainbow when he fell over as Rainbow simply let go and got a new one. He fumed, and threw the chair at her. It crashed into the chair she was holding, and got jammed into it. Now Rainbow was holding a mess of chair legs and seats.
The two stallions she knocked down earlier were getting up, and she slammed the mess on them, knocking them back down and sending wooden splints clunking across the floor.
A pegasus grabbed her around the shoulders from behind- another saw the opportunity and came forward, ready to slam a fist into her stomach.
Rainbow kicked the charging stallion right between the legs, a priceless expression flashing across his face as he doubled over in pain. Rainbow kicked again, this time in his face, since he was doubled over and it was within easy reach. He fell backwards, dazed.
The stallion holding her was going to slam forwards with her underneath, but lost his hold when he was falling through the air. Rainbow flipped out from under him, and thumped him on the back before he landed face-first onto the ground. Rainbow flinched at the hollow crack.
Another got off the floor, and lashed out a kick at her. She quickly spun out of the way, grabbing his ankle when the kick missed. Keeping hold of the leg, she used her own to swipe the stallion's remaining one out from underneath him, forcing him into an excruciating looking leg split.
The two knocked down earlier regained their hooves, and picked up the mess of chairs. They threw it at her, but the plan back fired as it also broke their visual contact with Rainbow.
She ducked under the mess of chairs, and swung a punch into the first stallion's chin before he realized Rainbow was even there. He flew back several meters and crashed into a table. The second took the chance and landed the first hit on Rainbow, which made her angry- angry enough to make her rain hell on him. She tripped him up, and her hooves made contact with his back fifty times before he hit the floor, the air knocked out and away from his lungs. A tiny bit of residue rainbow light remained in the air where she had hit him.
She expected another stallion to charge at her, but then she noticed them all groaning and whining at her hooves.
"Don't ever let me see you lot again." Rainbow said, crouching down. "Get out."
They quickly scrambled to their feet, and started running out. One of them was slower and got caught by Rainbow, and she held him nose to nose. It was the one that knocked over her drink- and she wasn't very pleased with that.
"You still owe me five credits." she snarled, staring right into his eyes. He whimpered, and quickly threw a couple of twenties at her face. She gave him a kiss on the forehead, and it achieved the desired effect- the stallion immediately ran off in horror after being released. It didn't really count as running- it was limping, scrambling, and escaping all at the same time. Rainbow let out a triumphant laugh.
"You changed." was all Scootaloo said when Rainbow returned to the bar, buying another drink with a twenty credit note. She kept the extra change. The bar had returned to the normal chatting mode now, oddly enough. Apparently nothing lasts.
"Manehatten is a tough place." Rainbow said simply, patting Scootaloo on the back. "Sorry about the mess." she said, tossing a few notes at the bartender. She didn't want to be banned from the bar, plus if spending a few notes meant the chance to beat up her childhood bullies in public, then it's money well spent.
"Hello." Octavia walked into the bar, taking a seat opposite Scootaloo and next to Rainbow Dash. "Found five quivering boys that kept yelling 'She's coming!' outside. Plus a spy in the area. What's up?" she said, ordering her drink.
"Not much." Rainbow lied, but the mess here spoke for itself. "Oh, Tavi- this is Scootaloo, Scoots, this is Octavia."
The two hoof-shaked, smiling politely.
"Octavia- weren't you in the orchestra at the Grand Galloping Gala? I wanted to hear you perform, but I heard you moved to Manehatten." Scootaloo said fondly.
"Yeah... Was getting a little tough over here." Octavia said, unaware she just contradicted Rainbow who said Manehatten was a harder place to live. "Anyway, we just came here for a little visit. Manehatten's getting boring." she continued.
"Anyway..." Rainbow looked at her watch. "It is getting pretty late."
"It's not even getting dark." Octavia said flatly, and both her and Scootaloo could tell Rainbow has had one too many drinks.
*
Many years ago, Manehatten.
The light green filly with the blonde mane sat obediently at the table, her similarly-colored little sister smiling at her from a higher seat. The day had been going well, it hadn't rained. The two fillies were underage for school, so stayed home all the time with their mother, who was cooking in the kitchen. Their father sat at the table, just home from work, his white robe hanging on a stand near the door. They never really figured out who he worked for, but they knew he was some great scientist, that would make great contributions to the world. Recently they had seen him argue with mum, but they couldn't be sure why, as they didn't understand most of the words. Today he looked glum, generally down. But everytime he saw the siblings looking at him, he would shrug on a smile, which made everything feel better.
The older sister was named Melony, the younger Dainty. They looked almost identical, but for their hair. It was the only thing that set them apart, other than physical size of course. Right now they had their noses pointed excitedly in the air, as they could smell their favorite dish from the kitchen. Mum always made good food, but out of all that they still managed to pick a favorite.
Melony had already learnt to speak, and quite fluently too(all things considered). Dainty also knew how, but was a little less fluent. Mother found fun ways to teach them, and they were happy for that.
There was a knock on the door, and father stood up to open it. The siblings watched their father grow hesitant when he saw the silhouette of the pony outside, then turn and walk towards them. He laid a gentle hoof on the both of them, a stern expression on his face.
"Melony, Dainty... Go upstairs, alright? Go upstairs and stay there. I'll call you when dinner is ready, OK?" he said, and they could hear the worry in his voice. "Don't come downstairs until I tell you to. Alright? Stay upstairs- Melony, look after Dainty, yes? Daddy might be gone for a while, and you have to look after Dainty for me, understood? Stay strong, good girls."
Melony nodded, and Dainty hugged her close. The top of her head only reached her shoulder, and she could only hug Melony's waist. Melony nodded, but wasn't sure what to do after that promise.
"Ok. I love you both. Go upstairs. Actually, hide somewhere. I'll come up and find you~~" Father said, herding them up the stairs as there was another heavy knock on the door, impatient murmuring seeping through the gaps.
"Grace, get ready..." Father whispered to mother, then went to the door.
Melony grabbed Dainty's hoof and they went into their bedroom. They liked hide and seek, but this seemed oddly like something else, though they couldn't quite place a hoof on it. They opened the polished cabinet, and hid behind some clothes. Giggling quietly, they listened to any noise outside.
There was a conversation going on, and they could only make out some words.
"Just sign it, and you'll be fine. The faction is to be kept secret. See the deal? Fifty thousand credits." an unfamiliar voice said impatiently.
"What the science faction is doing is wrong." this was father. "Science is meant to help the ponies of Equestria, not used for what you plan."
"Then what is magic for? They refused us, Mr Austere. We are making the world a better place, our way." the voice said. "Mr Austere, this isn't an offer. We are willing to pay you for you to remain silent about the faction's secrets and leave quietly, or we could silence your voice anyway, nice and easy. But we want to be reasonable, and bargain."
"Bargain? Why do you make it sound like I have a choice? Like WE have a choice?" Father was yelling now.
"Are you going to sign it, or not?" the voice asked calmly, followed by a period of tension filled silence.
Melony hugged Dainty closer. She could feel her shaking, there was an argument going on downstairs- but they were told to stay here.
"No- I will not sign it." there was the loud squealing of wooden chairs sliding across the floor. "GRACE!" father yelled, and they heard a door swing open, hitting the wall with a smash. Only the kitchen door did that.
Then there was a mess of noises, clicking, loud bangs, horrible screams, and shouting. Eventually everything fell silent again.
Dainty let out a small squeal of terror. Melony was very scared too, but she had to make sure her little sister was comforted. It was warm in the cabinet, and the two were cuddled close together. Melony gently stroked Dainty's hair, slowly calming her down.
They waited there in the darkness, waiting for father to call them down to dinner, to their favorite dish. They waited and waited, but there was nothing. A different smell was coming to them now- it smelt horrible, rotten.
The siblings could wait no longer, and they emerged from the cabinet. With a hoof on her little sister's shoulder, Melony walked down the stairs, however slowly and with the lingering fear that father might tell them off for coming down too early. They didn't know what to expect- a surprise, maybe. But little did they know father will never be able to tell them off again, no matter how much they would want him to.
Melony gasped and squeezed her eyes shut, hugging Dainty closer and shielding her from the scene. The smell however, she could've done nothing about.
Eventually she had to open her eyes again, and every bit of the horror seeped into her heart. There was red stuff, liquid and some slime, all over the floors and walls. There were holes in the walls, and mother and father lay in the mess. Father was lying face down, a red hole in his back. There was another pony nearby, his head missing. There were red hoof prints leading out the door, which swung ghostly in the wind, making creaking noises. The siblings recognized the red stuff as blood, and they only see it when they get hurt.
Mother was nearby, red stuff in her side, and more coming out. She lay on her back, unmoving. Her eyes were slightly ajar, wet and glazed with tears, a trickle of the red liquid dripping out of her lips and sliding down her face.
Dainty cried out, almost like a scream. Melony felt empty, not knowing what to do; although she could feel the hot tears streaming down her face. Dainty hugged her sister close, almost suffocating her, but she didn't resist. They heard of the word 'death' before, and was told it was a very bad thing by mother- and what made them cry, was that they could feel every bit of it lingering in this room.
"Mom..." Dainty sobbed. "Dad... They-they're..." she didn't finish, bursting into tears again.
But Melony could still see mother's chest heaving ever so slightly.
She wondered if she was hallucinating, rubbed her eyes, and looked closer.
Yes, mother was still alive.
She shook Dainty, and pointed at mother. For a moment their expressions brightened a bit, but they couldn't help but sob when they saw the amount of pain mother was in- the wound in her side looked really painful.
They quickly ran to her side, and hugged her around the neck, afraid they might touch her wound.
"Mom!" Melony sobbed. "Mom..."
"Melony.... Dainty..." mother whispered, her lips barely moving. "Run, run away... As far... Away... As you can..." her voice was growing weaker by the second.
"Mom!" Dainty screamed, looking at mother's face- but she was already fading. She had been alive for long enough.
"Mom... Please... I said the magic word! Come on! Please, mom; please! Please please please!" Melony yelled.
"Run..." their mother whispered, and they barely detected the 'I love you both' that followed. And just like that, mother faded away right in their hooves, her chest heaving one last time; leaving them with an empty carcass.
Remembering mother's words, Melony forced herself to look away. Run, run away. She grabbed Dainty's arm, and despite her protests; dragged her away from mother. Dainty was screaming and struggling, reaching out for mother's dead body. But Melony was stronger, and by the time they were on the stairs Dainty had given up. She had resorted to hugging Melony, pouring tears onto her back as they slowly walked up the stairs, their hoofsteps heavy.
"Pack your things." Melony said, her voice uneven. She didn't bother wiping her tears away. She'd promised father she'd stay strong and look after Dainty. Now wasn't the time to cry.
Dainty grabbed Mr. Rabbit from her toys' chest, and took nothing more.
Melony looked around, and found her small shoulder bag. It was only a little larger than the average pocket, but she had it since she was three. She packed in it a family photo she found, her heart aching and throbbing as she slid it into her bag. She brought some other stuff too, including a mini teddy soft toy she had years ago. She remembered receiving it from mommy, for her fifth birthday, three years ago. She remembered opening the small box with glee, grinning at the toy and being completely overjoyed. She remembered being happy.
She couldn't, however; find any more traces of happiness in her heart when she slid that into her bag too. She packed a watch- it was out of battery, but daddy gave it to her one day when he came back to work. It reminded her of him more than anything else. Zipping the bag, she slung it over her shoulders. Looking around, she found Dainty had fallen asleep by the bed, cuddling with her favorite soft toy Mr Rabbit. There were still streaks of tears on her face, but she had fallen asleep from tiredness. There was much more to come, Melony knew- but the present already had enough in it to keep them occupied.
She gently scooped Dainty up, groaning with the effort; and carried her on her back. It was quite physically demanding, she admitted- but anything for her sister, and her only family now.
Staggering out the door, trying not to look at the bodies on the floor; she walked out into the open. It was raining again, and there was lightning too. It scared her, made her terrified- but her sister's warm form on her back countered that and comforted her more than it usually would have. Walking away from the cottage, she took one last look back at it. It stood there by the desolate road, a silent witness to everything.
The rain covering her tears, Melony turned away and walked on, mother's words echoing in her head, and Dainty still asleep on her back.