The dragons circled the gray air above Sanctuary, their flaming shrieks reaching a grand cacophony. Rainbow Dash had her back to this as she trotted up to the outer ring of the sunken Silvadelian ruins. Her ears twitched, but she refused to look back. The saddlebags weighed on her heavily, and still she trudged forward.
On the furthest edge of the horizon, the dismal malaise of smog broke. Golden rays of light shimmered Rainbow Dash's way. She could almost touch them.
For some reason, she froze in place. A huge lump formed in her throat, and she started to tremble.
Right then, the sunrise disappeared, like candlelight being snuffed out. She heard a whispering voice.
Her heart racing, Rainbow Dash finally turned around. What she saw sent a heavy gasp through her body.
On a sudden pile of rocks no less than fifty meters away, five pony figures were crucified to crosses of splintery wood. Bloodied and beaten, the centermost mare gazed up, her green eyes thin and swollen.
"Rainbow..." She whimpered as the shadow of dragons passed over her. "It's over. There's nothin' to outrun, darlin'."
Rainbow Dash's lips quivered. She felt something wet on her hooves and looked down.
The green book lay open, and in place of photographs the pages were bubbling forth a fountain of warm blood.
Screams lit the air.
Rainbow Dash looked back up.
The dragons around the five ponies were exhaling bright flame. With pitiful yelps, the mares melted into white ash.
Rainbow's mouth flew open as she drowned in the book's blood.