The Price of Loyalty

The Price of Loyalty.

As the cyan pegasus with a rainbow colored mane named Rainbow Dash tossed and turned in her fluffy white cloud bed, she dreamt of flying with her life long heroes The Wonder-bolts. As she finished her usual routine with the Wonderbolts’ captain, Spitfire, she got the strangest sensation that some pony was watching her from afar. She figured it was another adoring fan begging for her autograph. Her curiosity lead her behind the grand stands. Then she saw him, a navy blue pegasus stallion with a white mane and piercing red eyes and a bright white flame surrounding a red lightning bolt as a cutie mark. As she drew closer she realized that the stallion had may scars streaked across his well built body. As the strange stallion glared at her for what seemed like an eternity he finally broke the silence.

“Tell me child, what is your name?” asked the stallion looking her over with a judgmental look in his eye.
“The name is Rainbow dash!” said the mare with a condescending tone. “You’re a very good flyer Miss Dash, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age.” the stallion said this time with more respect in his voice. “Oh really? How so?” Rainbow asked with a quizzical look. “Well, for starters, I was arrogant, rash and very fast.” he said with a kind smile. “I particularly like the part of your performance with the sonic rain-boom, it’s rare to see such a mare with your talent now a days.” he said with a grin on his face.

“Ya It took me quite a while to learn that trick.” she said with a slight blush from the polite comment. “So... do you want my autograph or something? Because I’m going to be late for the after party, and I don’t want to miss Vinyl’s music.” She said now looking around the room trying to avoid the awkward stare the mysterious stallion was now giving her.

“In a rush are we?” said the blue stallion with a slight chuckle in his voice. “Alright then, I’ll keep this brief I am visiting you this fine evening because I desire one thing from you.” He said smiling to himself.

“OK” rainbow said with a little relief “What is it?”

“I need you to answer a question for me.” He said with a serious tone.

“Alright I’ll try my best to do that.” Rainbow said with nervousness in her voice.

“Alright then, heres my question; What is the price of loyalty?” He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“What they hey kind of question is that?” Rainbow blurted out in surprise.

“Just answer it!” The stallion bellowed.

“Ok, calm down dude.” The mare said with a calm voice trying to defuse the situation. “heres my answer; I would go to the ends of the universe for my friends! I’m 100% loyal to them, there is nothing in Equestria that will change that.” she exclaimed with a proud look in her eye.

“Even if it meant hurting another friend in the process?” the stranger asked in a strong tone. As Rainbow dash stood there contemplating what this stranger had said only now did she begin to realize that a particular scar stood out from among the rest, a scar in the shape of a lighting bolt burned in the middle of his chest.

“Uhhhhhh, I really don’t know how to answer that, sorry can’t help you there on that one.” She said as she began to turn and walk away. “That’s to bad.” said the stallion with sarcasm in his voice. “I thought that the element of loyalty would know the answer to such a question.”

That last comment made Rainbow stop in her tracks. “How does this guy know about the elements of harmony?” she thought to herself. as she turned around to face the stranger with anger in her eyes, she yelled

“How do you know about the elements?” she asked in a quizzical voice.

“I know enough to tell you that loyalty is an illusion.” He said whit a cold expression on his face.

“WHAT?” she exclaimed at the top of her lungs. “How can any pony say that? I mean what would you know about it anyway?” She said with daggers in her eyes.

“Oh trust me, I know all about loyalty. I was betrayed by the only friends I ever had.” He said as he was about to turn and walk away from the young pegasus. Rainbow dash now completely confused, charged at the stallion not planning on letting him go without answering a few question of her own.

“Hang on a second.” she yelled as she took flight. Before she even knew it the stallion had jumped over her charge and slammed his two front hooves down on her back in mid air. As she laid there trying to regain the wind that had been knocked out of her she noticed a piece of jewelry the stranger wore a shield shaped pendant and a lightning bolt in the center. The stranger then put his front hoof underneath her chin to make eye contact.

“Sorry Miss Dash but I have to go now and I’ll be waiting for when you have a real answer for me.” he said as he slammed her face to the ground and left in calm manor. As he did, Rainbow looked up and saw him vanish as she began to yell. She then woke up screaming in a cold sweat. She then checked the time it was almost nine o’ clock, realizing that she had overslept and was going to be late for her lunch plan with her friends at Canterlot as she got up brushed her teeth, the strangers question still stuck in her mind “What is the price of loyalty?” she thought to herself. As she finished brushing her teeth she looked in the mirror for a full minute lost in thought.

“Ugh snap out of it Rainbow, it was just a dream, that’s it a bad dream.” She said to herself with a little bit of false confidence. She then flew out of her home headed towards Ponyville.

As she flew to the Ponyville train station, questions filled her head, “who the hey was that guy? And how did he know about the elements?and what did he mean by I’ll be waiting for when I have areal answer?” Before she could think of anything else she collided with the Ponyville train station sign, causing her to loose control and fly into the ground. When she got up she saw Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie all looking at her with concern.

“Are ya alright there RD?” Applejack asked with concern in he voice.

“Ya, ya I’m fine ladies, just a lot on my mind right now thats all.” she said with a grin

“Are you sure darling?” Rarity asked as she helped her cyan friend to her hooves.

“Ya I’m fine really, I’ve taken WAY worse hits than from some dumb old sign.” Rainbow dash said while regaining her composure.

“Well okay if you’re sure.” Twilight said with a quizzical tone.

“Oh relax she’s fine.” Pinkie pie blurted out. “She’s probably just super duper excited about our lunch date with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” Her pink friend said with a reassuring pat on the back.

“Yup thats it, you caught me.” Said rainbow with a fake smile she threw across her face. “Now come on guys our train is about to leave.” Rainbow dash said as she stepped inside the train car. The five ponies stood and glared at each other for a second, sensing that something was wrong with their favorite number one flyer, but dismissed the thought and hurried along inside with their cyan colored friend.