If there was one pony that was read for this job it was Rainbow Dash. If there was one pony who could take on all of her fears and still look like a champ it was Rainbow Dash. If there was one pony that you could always trust to be loyal you better be damned sure it was Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow was ready. This was her time to shine, show them her stuff, and make part of the team. She would not let her friends or herself down. No matter how hard this trial would be. It was now or never.
Strapped up to the massive machine that once harboured Rainbow’s friends, she waited. The constant humming sounds that it made and all of the wires hooked up to her really didn’t make sense to her. But she was no Twilight, but whatever this machine would do, or put her through she would come over top of it.
“10 seconds Rainbow Dash!” Luna warned her. Rainbow wished she had something to ease the tension, like putting on a pair of flight goggles. But no such luck.
The ten seconds came like an eternity, each second lasting longer than the last, it felt like eons to her but then Luna had saved the day. “NOW” She yelled in her Royal sister’s voice. Everything was black.
To Rainbow's surprise when she woke up, she was not in any kind of peril. No danger was about, no burning forests surrounded her, nothing that seemed life threatening at all in fact.
Sitting up She found she was in a baby blue bed with stuffed toys all around her and Wonderbolts posters adorning her walls.
Seriously confused Rainbow got out of bed and double checked what was before her. “This can’t be right” she whispered to herself. But there was no doubt about it. Rainbow was home.
“Pff as if!” Rainbow exclaimed to seemingly nopony. “This can’t be my training! Where is all of the scary fire and D-“Before Rainbow could finish Pinkie pie bounded past her door.
“Don’t spoil the secret!” She chimed. Rainbow looked up to find the author with a stupid grin on his face.
“Right It’s a dream, and… Pinkie Pie, nothing out of the ordinary” She tried to tell herself, but it would need more than that. Opening her room’s window she looked outside, things seemed right, Cloudsdale was as busy as ever, ponies moving along doing their things, mostly associated with weather. In fact it she had just spotted her childhood friend Cloud Kicker. Being a good enough distraction as any Rainbow went after her friend.
“Cloud!” She called racing over to her childhood friend. Rainbow zoomed over to see her friend. “Hey Cloud! How’s it hangin’?” Rainbow asked. But there was no reply. “Hey what’s goin’ on? She asked moving to face her friend.
As she faced her friend Rainbow was appalled, this was Cloud Kicker… Once. The Cloud Kicker she once knew and loved was no longer. As Dash got a better look at her friend, she knew something was wrong. When Cloud Kickers eyes made contact with Dashes her body started to deteriorate. Her skin falling off in large chunks revealing a rotting corpse below the once convincing façade. Her body was now mangled and twisted. Her limbs in positions no pony could ever endure. Cloud Kicker's eyes were soulless, but yet her body was still alive. Her body neck made many cracking, and sickly slurping sounds as she raised her head.
“Hey Dash!” Cloud Kicker’s body choked out.
Before she knew it Rainbow’s world was sucked from under her.
Rainbow’s world was sucked before her very eyes, what was one before her was no longer. Cloudsdale had been sucked right before her, and now there was nothing but darkness.
It took a moment for Rainbow to figure out she was falling, there was no wind in the void, or anything to get a start at. Unfortunately Rainbow wasn’t able to catch her bearings fast enough and hit the black, cold ground.
Rainbow screamed in agony as she smacked to the ground. As if that was bad enough it felt like something over 1000 pounds had come and crushed her wing shortly after. There was a large crunching sound when whatever it was made impact with her left side. It was too dark to see, but Rainbow could feel it, or better yet she couldn’t feel it. Her left wing was GONE. She could feel the blood of where her wing should be, trickle down her side. This is her training?
Rainbows body would have none of it, her mind was focused as it could be after a fall like that but her body screamed for rest, it was an overload of pain. Rainbow passed out. Smacking the floor once again with her head there was a silence.
As Rainbow woke up there was darkness. Nothing but darkness. Rainbow had fallen into a cave of some sort. This was all she could really guess. The ground was made of rock and it tasted like salt.
Sitting up slightly her head started pounding and her left side burned and ached like her wing was ripped off… “My wing!” She exclaimed in panic. Reaching to her left side to check the condition of her wing, she found the horrible truth. It was gone. Almost. She finally had managed to find that her wing was being held by the skin and muscles in her wing, pinned between a rock and the ground.
Rainbow tried to get a better feel of how bad it was but a shot of massive pain throughout her entire side and wing stopped her from moving any further. It had been enough time that Rainbow’s eyes had finally adjusted and her eyes only confirmed her fear further.
Pegasus wings do grow back, but not when the old one is still there. Rainbow needed to fix this. It was now or never and although the never part seemed appealing Rainbow needed her wings, in a sense she was her wings.
Thoughts were racing throughout Rainbows head but were put on sabbatical when she thought she heard something. A stirring of some kind.
“H-Hello? Is anypony out there?” came a timid and slightly posh voice, that could only belong to Rarity. “I-I can’t move… And there is something sticking in my stomach” she said ever so carefully. “I-I don’t think Im going to make it…”
“Rarity!” Rainbow screamed with all of her might. “Rarity where are you?!”
Rarity let out a weak whimper and called out once more. “Dash? Im over here!” She said using all of her strength. “H-Help me Dash, I-I can’t feel anything… I don’t think im g-going to make it…”
“Hold on Rar’!” Rainbow yelled. She needed to save her friend, this was her friend Rarity, one of her best friends and Elements. Looking to her left she saw her wing pinned, knowing that it was her wing or Rarity, the decision was made easy.
“This is going to suck” Rainbow said to herself. Lying on her side, Rainbow got in the best position she could. Placing her right forehoof onto her wing she knew what she had to do. Finish the job. “On 3” She panted. “1… 2… 3!” putting all of her strength and will power she turned right and pushed as hard as she could with her right hoof.
Rainbow could slowly feel the skin and muscle starting to tear, screaming in agony. “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!” She yelled. That seemed to do it as she flew sideways feeling her wing no longer.
Rainbow was incapacitated. Her body in shock, looking to the right she could see a faint outline of what her wing used to be, It would take 2 weeks for her wing to grow back, but this was a dreamscape, there was no telling how fast or slow it would regrow. She didn’t want to know, all she wanted to do was finish this and get to her friend.
“Rar’? Rar’ where are you?” Rainbow called. “You alright? Where are you?”
“Over here Dash” Rarity called weakly.
Rainbow spotted her friend who looked like she wasn’t even supposed to be alive. There was a large stalagmite that had impaled her, and blood wasn’t afraid to show its face. She wasn’t really sure how to react, so Rarity was the first one to break the ice.
“You look terrible darling” Rarity commented, not after to be rewarded with a coughing fit. “Do be a dear and give this mare a hoof.”
Rainbow circled around her friend to see that she wasn’t deeply impaled but still had taken quiet the blow. The layer of skin protecting vital organs was certainly broken but Rainbow couldn’t see much past that. ‘Too risky to inspect further’ she thought to herself.
Changing the subject Rainbow walked over to her friend who lay there silently. Rainbow thought maybe humour would help and at the same time get information. “Rarity… How did you get here? This is Loyalty training, not the Generosity department.”
Rarity looked up at her friend “The joke really didn’t work dear, but I appreciate the gesture. As for how I came to this dreadful place isn’t a joke however. I was walking and having a conversation with Luna discussing none other than you and your training, when…” Rarity stopped dead in her verbal tracks.
“What? What happened?” Rainbow Demanded.
“Well you know how Twilight has her erm… moments?” Rarity asked her voice trembling.
“Yeah like the time she set her own mane on fire, or the time she mesmerised more than half of Ponyville with a single spell, or the time she made the library fly 50 feet in the air, or the ti-“
“Yes like those moments dear.” Rarity interrupted her. “Anyways as I was saying this time it was slightly… Erm different.” Rainbow cocked one eyebrow up as Rarity continued. “Twilight was in a fit of rage, and sorrow. Her eyes were glowing white, and tears flowing freely, I could feel it within her, and it certainly showed."
"Everything she or her magic came into either broke or was pulverised. She first looked at Luna and sent her flying out of the castle. When she met my eyes I was blast backwards, and then I woke up here.”
“Well…”Rainbow was at a loss for words. What could she say? Twilight went bad-shit crazy and that’s why Rarity was now here? Not like she was really complaining, she could really use the company.
“Let’s get you out of here” Rainbow stated. “It doesn’t look like being here much longer will help your health.” As if on cue Rarity sunk just a little lower into the stalagmite.
“AAAHHHH!” She screamed. Panting heavily Rarity agreed with a simple nod.
Rainbow sat there for a moment and thought about what to do, obviously she couldn’t buck her loose, that would cause more damage. She could always use her magic, her combat specialty was augmentations and enchantments. It seemed like that was the only route to go.
“Rarity?” Rainbow asked unsure of her own plan. “This is going to suck but I need you to trust me on this one. Ok?” Rarity looked to her friend contemplated her words for a few moments and then nodded. “Ok so we are going to need to get you off this thing obviously, and the only way to do that is up. Since it looks like it is half way through you, you should be able to get off of this without bleeding out. After you finish that you need to enchant your entire torso area so that you can at least move... And not bleed to death”
Rarity whipped her head over to her friend with wide eyes. Was she insane?!? She could… No that wouldn’t work, or she… No not that either. Seeing that this was the only option Rarity agreed, tears in her eyes.
“Right let’s get this over with” She stated. Placing her forehooves under Rarity, she looked over to her friend to see that she had done her part and had placed her hooves to the ground and was ready.
Just before the two were about to free Rarity a voice stopped them. It wasn’t a physical voice but both Rarity and Rainbow heard it.
“Rainbow… Rarity How wonderful to see you. One of you does not know me but I certainly know the two of you and what you represent.” Rainbow knew exactly who this was.
“Deception! Show yourself!” Rainbow shouted in vain.
“Oh but on the contrary Rainbow dear. I don’t believe you truly know who I am. I am Deception the master of deceit and one of the Elements of Discord. I take no form and yet I take every form. I am everywhere and yet nowhere. That is why I cannot simply show myself. No instead I like to play games”
Rainbow looked into the darkness with a confused look on her face. “What kind of games?”
“Patients there Rainbow, you will see.”
Rainbow growled as he continued. “You see Loyalty was always known as a physically strong and capable pony, but always hard headed, brash and gullible. I Deception being your polar opposite take no original form, nor am I gullible such as yourself. But this one time I will spare you from myself but at a price. Just this once I will guarantee the honest truth. Or will I? Let us begin!”
“Here lies Rarity the so called Element of Generosity. Wrists are severed, the deepest cuts are traced in red. So beautiful, the separation of her flesh from the razor. Feeling a pain she's never known. Like broken glass, draining the blood that is now running cold. She tasted power, it's kiss like a last goodbye, eyes held open, the bitter taste of blood and sweat the emptiness that suffocates a final breath. Endless silence that dulls the pain beneath her skin. Her vacant eyes watching the blood that's running thin. She tasted power. It's kiss like a last goodbye.”
Rainbow just looked at Rarity confused. Rarity was mesmerised by such poetry and didn’t seem to notice Rainbow staring.
“I ask you this Rainbow Dash, do you think she truly wants to be saved, or is she just using you. You are only a scapegoat for her suffering. You aren’t loyal you are just being used. The same goes for all of your other friends. They just use you and you making you think you are important.”
Rainbow looked to the floor as Rarity’s eyes were trained onto Rainbow. ‘She knew that wasn’t true… Right?’ Rarity asked herself. It was useless to try and say otherwise this was Rainbows time to decide, just like Rarity had her chance to prove herself, this was Rainbow’s time.
“You are trapped behind a curtain of insanity, time will tell when you realise it. The world has come to an end, and so has your so called friendship. You have nothing left, and you are forced to collapse.”
Rainbow just looked infuriated by this not believing a minute of it. “Don’t believe me?” He laughed. “Well then let’s direct our attention to the time where you’re “Friend” Twilight Sparkle had the tickets to the Gala, all of you wanted those tickets, and yet none of them would even consider you or your dreams.”
Rainbow wasn’t sure what to think about that, he was right in a sense.
“Now as I was saying, you are abandoned broken and bleeding, a feast for their eyes, a spectacle. A martyr of their friendship, and yet a scapegoat for their suffering. They will burn you alive. I feel the hatred behind their eyes. But do you? They will gather in eager circles to watch you die. As silence falls through the masses. You will be the cruelest display of sacrifice, a scapegoat for their suffering. They will burn you.”
Rainbow was now fully pissed. “ENOUGH!” She shouted in rage. “You can try and bash me and my friends but that doesn’t make it right or true! I am loyal to my friends and they don’t use me! I love them just as much as they love me!”
Silence… There was only silence.
Rainbow once again positioned herself to assist Rarity out of her current situation. Then came the voice of Deception once more.
“Well since you may choose to ignore my words you cannot ignore my powers. I may not be able to have my own physical form, but I sure as hell can interfere with the physical world! Each step you take to freeing your friend is a step closer to the loss of your other wing. I will ask you one more time, are you a foal that will be taken for granted or will you be greater than any other and be respected and awed by all? And with that I leave you.”
“Buck him Rarity, let’s get you out of here.”
The two of them got ready for the third time. “Ready? They asked in unison. That just about did it. The two started lifting and a very farmiliar sensation started in Rainbows right wing. It was a ripping feeling.
Rarity noticed this and stopped. “Rainbow dear, leave me. I will be fine you find a way out of here.”
“No.” Rainbow stated “I am not leaving you here even if it costs me my wings, you are my friend and you are more important than my wings.”
This was more than enough to bring tears of sorrow and joy to her friend’s eyes. “Ok if this is what you want.”
They started again. Rainbow could feel the pain searing through her joints and her skin. Every strip of muscle ripped was another fire lighten beneath her. But yet it was just a reminder that her friend was just that much further to freedom.
With a final push Rainbow sent her friend flying off of the stalagmite and onto the floor. They both screamed in agony, Rainbows other wing was gone. She was now a wingless Pegasus.
With a white flash of light Rainbow was engulfed in a floating white orb. Rarity was blinded by the light. But when she could see once more she was shocked. Rainbow was now rebuilt. Her mane lighten in flames, her wings fully regrown and more regal than before, and her element attached to her. She had done it. She proved herself.
Every inch of Rainbow felt like it was on fire, never before had she experienced so much agony. Collapsing down beside Rarity she held her friend in a tight embrace. “You did it” Rarity Whispered.
“Yep, but I think it’s time we go home.” The two nodded but never left each other’s embrace. Rainbow contemplated whether this was all worth it or not. To be the most powerful asset of all Equestria? To go on even more wacky and dangerous adventures with her friends? Hay yeah it was worth it. And for once in the entire time in her training Rainbow felt at peace, wingless or not. And she once again passed out. But this time it was by a friend.