//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13: Self Control 
// Story: Bounty Hunters 2: Awakening 
// by Jasper77W 
//------------------------------//

Without a second thought, Rainbow let go of Scootaloo and swung a hoof at Daring Do. 
Daring moved to the side, slapping the back of Rainbow's hoof and diverting the strike elsewhere. Rainbow's momentum carried her forward, and the alcohol in her body tripped her up. 
Despite this, she still had a pretty focused mind. She tucked into a ball and rolled, then lashed out with her back hooves at Daring's face. 
Daring Do stopped her kick dead in the air, blocking it with her arm. Two combat veterans in a bar fight? This'll can't end well. 
Daring swiped Rainbow's front hooves out, and she fell on her stomach onto the floor. Rainbow flicked up a chair with a hoof, then swung it across at Daring. Daring slammed a hoof into the worn wood, shattering it into several pieces.
Rainbow leaped up from the mist of shattered wooden shards, a hoof already heading for Daring's face.
Daring met it head on, slamming a hoof into Rainbow's. The shock traveled down their arms, and they both stumbled back.
Daring back away, flicking out a whip from behind her back. With a light flick, it lost its rope-like quality and turned into what looked like an ion pole.
"Back off, Daring." Rainbow warned, snarling and bringing the cleaver capsule out of her pocket. With a loud metallic cling, the capsule sprung into the full-sized broad blade. The Element of Loyalty crystal was a dull faded red, and wasn't glowing. Rainbow ignored the signs- she wasn't about to stop the fight because of that. Loyalty-Shmuoyalty. She just wanted to beat up anypony that makes her angry right now.
Daring threw the pole into the air, then caught it in the middle. Air whooshed as she spun it, her hooves a blur.
"Maybe after you put down the sword." she brought the pole into an offensive position.
"Not a chance." Rainbow snarled, tightening her grip around the pole.
"Uh... Girls... Maybe ditch the weapons?" Scootaloo was wary of the sharp edges and solid smacks those weapons could make.
Both Daring and Rainbow ignored her, and charged at each other.
Daring slid the pole along her hooves, gripping it at one end and swinging the entire length around at Rainbow's waist. 
Rainbow knocked it into the air with the cleaver, then swung it back down. Daring kicked off a table, knocking over some beers. She flipped over Rainbow, the lethal blade of the cleaver passing her side by mere millimeters. She was used to doing stuff like that though.
Rainbow swirled around, the cleaver a blur of motion. Daring caught her pole, blocking the strike firm. The hollow clang the weapons made echoed around the bar.
The cleaver was a heavy weapon that should be slow, however extremely fast in Rainbow's hooves. But then there's the pole- which was much lighter, and easier to use. It all comes down to their fluency with the weapons.
Daring gripped the pole in the center, this way she could attack with either side, swinging left and right.
Rainbow's cleaver flashed here and there, blocking the strikes. The two were a blur of motion, weapons gleaming and whipping through the air.
Rainbow brought the cleaver up, ready to block the pole. At the last second it turned into a whip, lashing her across the face.
She stumbled back, a large red mark down her cheek. She glared at Daring, her eyes practically on fire. She swung the heavy blade, Daring stepping aside to avoid the lethal edge. She turned to look at Rainbow, who surprised her by ditching the cleaver completely. 
Rainbow's hoof connected with Daring's jaw, knocking her down and sending her skidding on the floor; knocking over several chairs. Her pole slid out of reach, clattering under a table. Rainbow stormed towards her, hooves clenched.
Daring kicked a chair at Rainbow, who caught it by the leg and swung it back around. Daring rolled to the side as the chair shattered on the ground where she was earlier.
The bartender didn't make an attempt to stop the two from wrecking his bar- he was too concerned about keeping his own life right now. 
Daring barely recovered when Rainbow hit her across the jaw again, sending her sprawling onto the floor. She spat out a droplet of blood.
Blind rage had consumed the rainbow maned pegasus as she took heavy steps towards her fallen opponent. She could feel her back burning again, the demon threatening to burst out. For whatever reason now, she couldn't stop herself.
She grabbed Daring Do by the collar, then slammed her down onto a table. Daring gasped as a cup shattered and the glass shards dug into her back. Rainbow was about to swing a hoof down when Scootaloo tackled her from the side, both of them tumbling across the bar.   
"You're not thinking straight goddamnit!" Scootaloo yelled, restraining Rainbow, keeping her arms behind her back.
"Get off me! LEAVE ME THE BUCK ALONE!" Rainbow yelled, trying to shake Scootaloo off.
"Damnit Rainbow! Just calm dow- Gah!" Scootaloo gasped as Rainbow leaped back, using her back and slamming Scootaloo onto the ground. The air left her lungs, and she let go of Rainbow.
Rainbow swung back, raising a hoof and ready to cave Scootaloo's skull in. She heard a gentle tinkling, and looked down to find her necklace dangling loosely by a broken chain. 
Shuck, what the hell am I doing? Rainbow was ripped between her rage and her normal self, her hoof shaking as her mind attempted to make a decision.
She slammed the hoof down straight at Scootaloo's head, but her other hoof dragged the orange pegasus away and her strike slammed into the concrete; fueled by rage. It shattered the concrete floor, sending a micro shockwave through the ground.
"Goddamnit!" Rainbow shoved Scootaloo away, then stumbled against the wall; breathing hard.
Daring Do and Scootaloo both eyed her cautiously.
Rainbow turned away, picked up her cleaver and stumbled towards the door. 
"Don't... Come after me." Rainbow growled, shoving the door open and exiting the trashed bar. 

*

It was times like these that Octavia wished she was still alive. Right now, she watched Rainbow sobbing quietly in a corner on a roof top, keeping the necklace close to her chest.
Octavia sat down opposite her, even though Rainbow couldn't see her. All she wanted right now was to comfort her friend, but she couldn't even do that. 
A tear caught the glint of moonlight as it slid down Rainbow's face. She curled up in the corner, wrapping her tail around herself and wiping away the drop of water.
The moon peered through the dark clouds, the stars twinkling gently in the infinite darkness. It was a dark shade of purple, the moon with a hint of violet. 
Rainbow looked up, staring into the white sphere. She whimpered, burying her face back into her own arms.
"What have I done..." she whimpered. "I'm such an idiot.... Why..."
It ripped Octavia's heart to watch Rainbow like this, and she couldn't help but wonder what could have possibly torn the often strong and determined pegasus apart into a small filly.
Of all the tragedies that unfold in the world... This was one that Octavia truly felt for. She too couldn't help but have a tear slide down her cheek, frustrated and somewhat angry that she couldn't do anything to stop Rainbow from breaking herself apart.   
There was a gentle tap as the drop of water fell onto the cold and unforgiving floor. 
Rainbow thought she heard something, and looked up. 
They stared into each other's eyes, and Octavia wasn't sure whether or not Rainbow could see her. And then Rainbow lowered her eyes, staring at the ground tiredly. 
"I wish you could be here, Octavia." she whispered after a period of silence.
"I do too." Octavia said, even though Rainbow couldn't hear her. 
Rainbow gently tapped a hoof on the concrete floor, her chin buried between her knees. 
The taps echoed off the silence in the night- not even the city seemed to be alive.
She brought out the broken necklace- the chain had broke, now a small crumpled pile of metal parts in her hooves, laying on top of it all was the colored piece of metal. She stared at her own cutie mark, the colors darkened in the night. The edge of the metal gleamed in the moon light, shifting as Rainbow gently shook it around. Her birthday present, from one filly she tried to look after- now, she'll either destroy her when she gets out of control, or let the science faction destroy her. 
Pressing the metal plate against her heart, she let out a long and painful sob.
"Sorry Dainty.... I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything..." she cried, streams of tears running down her face and glimmering in the light. She buried her face in her arms. "I'm so useless... What was I thinking... I tried to kill my friends...."
A single sad tear slid down Octavia's face, and caught the moonlight.
Rainbow looked back up at the moon, but caught something in her sight as she did so. She looked down, just in time to see a small droplet of water fall from Octavia's cheek. They stared at each other, and this time Octavia was sure Rainbow could see her.
"Damnit!" Rainbow looked away, squinting her eyes shut. "Seeing this buck again!"
Octavia didn't say anything. She couldn't help but smile with tears still in her eyes- maybe she could really talk to Rainbow now!
"Rainbow..." Octavia shuffled closer, reaching out to touch her shoulder.
"Go away damnit!" Rainbow screamed like a little filly, batting her hooves around. 
Octavia's hoof retracted. "Please- Rainbow.... I'm real. I'm here." she smiled.
Rainbow slowly opened her eyes, looking up and meeting Octavia's smile. Soon she had a smile on her face too, and hugged her tightly.
"Am I dead?" Rainbow asked, crying and laughing into Octavia's shoulder at the same time.
"No idea." Octavia was glad they could have some time together- however fast this time may pass later on.
"How...?" Rainbow backed away, however still having both hooves on Octavia's shoulders in the fear that she might leave her.
"No idea." Octavia said again, grinning with tears in her eyes.
And then Rainbow's smile dropped, and she slumped onto the ground. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you... I-"
Octavia shushed her before she could continue. "You couldn't have done more. I know you've been thinking I was mad at you- but I never was, and never will be." 
Rainbow nodded, a relieved expression on her face as she lowered her head.
"I still can't believe I'm talking to you." she chuckled, turning her necklace around in her hooves. "Then I guess you saw what I did in the bar eh..."
"That wasn't you. This is you right now, and yet not completely." Octavia laid a reassuring hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "You would never do something like that- well, you might..." 
Rainbow chuckled, which grew into a quiet laugh as they both reviewed her earlier bar fight against the bullies in their heads.
"I don't know where I'm at now. I don't know where to go." Rainbow looked down as the laughter faded. "I have no idea where Dainty is- or whether or not I will be able to control that demon thing." she pointed at herself.
"You can. I know it."  Octavia said, sitting down opposite the blue pegasus.
"But how..." Rainbow sighed frustratedly.
"You don't have to know how." Octavia smiled. "The Rainbow I know never knows how. She just can. The Rainbow I know also never gives up, whether or not it kills her."
That made Rainbow's mind click. 
"You've fell, Rainbow. Tripped." Octavia continued. "You're just lying there and waiting something to happen now. But I tell you what- the Rainbow I knew would be up and running again right now. Maybe even before she trips." she smiled.
Rainbow grinned back- she knew what Octavia meant.
"Come on, Rainbow..." Octavia patted her on the back. "If you don't know where to start- let's just start anywhere. Because the Rainbow Dash I know would always get the job done without failure."
Rainbow nodded, much more confident.
"I'm sorry. I just lost sight of what is important and what I have to do." she said.
"Now-" Octavia rubbed her hooves together. "You might still have a chance of tracking Dainty. Remember her magical outburst? That was her first- she's bound to have another. Get the signature of the outburst from the prison you were in- and then with that, you should be able to match the signatures if Dainty has another outburst."
Rainbow thought about it. "Heh. Never thought of that before." she said. "I really miss having you as my partner, Octavia." 
"I do too- now, you should probably get started. I need to go." Octavia said.
"What? Where!?" Rainbow stood up.
"The dead stay dead, Rainbow. I can feel myself fading." Octavia sighed, looking down at her hooves, which were becoming translucent to Rainbow.
"I wish we had more time." Rainbow slumped back down.
"Me too. And I can't guarantee another meeting, since I don't even know what caused this. But there really is so much to talk about- is there not?"
"Yeah." Rainbow said, lowering her head. When she looked up again, Octavia wasn't there anymore. 
Her voice still lingered though: 'You know what to do.' it said.
"Yeah. I do." Rainbow smiled sadly. "And thank you, Octavia."

*

Scootaloo was nursing her bruised back when she heard a gentle tap on the window. She stopped, waiting for another tap. There was another gentle knock on the window. She couldn't see outside, since she had the curtains drawn. Curious, she moved the curtains aside. 
She yelped when she saw a scaly creature outside, which crawled in and roared at her.
"What the buck..?" She snatched a book off her table and threw it at the creature. 
The book bounced harmlessly off the creature's head, clattering to the floor. 
Scootaloo slowly backed away from it, her legs almost unable to move as her body was locked in fright.
And then the creature fell sideways, laughing and kicking at the air.
Scootaloo raised an eyebrow, but still didn't dare get near it.
Then the creature began morphing into a smaller shape, and Rainbow was laughing her head off and pounding the floor.
"You should see the look on your face! Hahaha!" she giggled, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Wha...? How...?"
"Long story." Rainbow stopped laughing, sitting up. "About earlier.... I'm really sorry Scoots. I really lost control."
Scootaloo slumped down onto the soft carpeted floor, letting out a sigh of relief. She thought she was going to die a second ago. A grin spread across her face as she eyed her childhood idol, the murderous glint gone from those same purple eyes.
She moved closer and hugged Rainbow, who hugged her back. The same old Rainbow Dash- love pranks, and no matter how odd- she'll take every chance. Same old fun, awesome, and loyal Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo really thought she had lost her back then.
"I'm sorry for what I called you in the bar." she said, now genuinely feeling guilty.
"The me back then deserved every bit of it." Rainbow said, letting go.
"And maybe I deserved a few of those punches too." Scootaloo smiled, although slightly painfully as her back throbbed a little. "Now- let's go find that little filly, eh?"
Rainbow nodded. "I feel like I would like somepony to watch my back this time."

*

Daring Do went to open the door after she heard a knock on it. Her hooves tensed when she saw Rainbow, and then Scootaloo.
Rainbow and Scootaloo both agreed not to play the creature prank on Daring- because what's most likely to happen is that she'll cut Rainbow's head off.
Scootaloo nudged Rainbow.
"Sorry, Daring... About earlier..." Rainbow muttered. "I completely lost it. But now I can control it."
"I'm glad you've come to your senses." Daring smirked. "And you certainly got a lot more powerful since last time." 
"There's always space and time for improvement." Rainbow noted.
"Don't worry. I've learnt living in the past could be lethal long ago." Daring said, opening the door wider as an indicator to welcome the two pegasi in.
Unknown to Rainbow, the capsule in her pocket once again began pulsing its bright red as the Element of Loyalty was re-awakened, burning brighter that it did before.
"Oh- we can't stay, thanks." Rainbow said quickly.
"I hear you're looking for the little girl huh." Daring said, leaning to one side and revealing Blaze and Halcyon standing behind her. "I called them a while back- these guys looking for you?"
Halcyon grinned. "Ready to save the little soul and bring down Val?" 
Rainbow returned the broad smile. "Ready." 
"I'll just go get my whip." Daring said, turning to go inside.
"You're going?" Rainbow was surprised.
"I need my monthly dose of adventure." Daring explained, tapping her cutie mark.
Suddenly the back of Rainbow's head exploded, red liquid splattering over her rainbow colored mane, blue skin, and dark coat.
"Rainbow Dash you gutless mother bucker!" Magnum dropped from the roof, landing lightly on her hooves, pulling the trigger several times more. "Where the buck were you hiding all this time!?"
Rainbow felt her back explode five more times in five different spots, and she screamed.
"Hehe, kidding." Magnum walked up to the group, lowering the rifle. "I got a new paintball gun- you girls like it?"
"Ow." Rainbow managed to say.
"You finally made it." Halcyon said, then turned to Rainbow. "We were going to set out and look for you, just in case, well; you know... You go on a violent rampage or something."
Rainbow growled, then flicked some of the paint off her coat and chucked a blob at Magnum. It splattered over her light blue skin, and she raised an eyebrow.
There were three heavy thuds as Magnum unloaded three paintballs into Rainbow's chest, sending her sprawling onto the floor. They all burst out laughing.
Rainbow wiped a joyful tear from the corner of her eye. She was glad all her friends were here- most of them, anyway. Even when she turned into a complete pain-in-the-ass(some cases literally), they still stood by her and accepted her apology afterwards. She looked around, smiling. Even if she did fall, her friends will be there to help her back up again; like Octavia did. She looked up at the starry skies, the fluffy clouds backlit by star light. Thanks, Octavia.
"Alright. We got a signature. We got a location." Rainbow got up, and looked around at the circle of ponies around her. "Let's GO!"