//------------------------------// // Part 5 // Story: The Dark Coming // by LordLogan //------------------------------// At the hospital Rainbow Dash waited outside Soarin's room, waiting for any news from the doctors. She was so stressed that one of her favorite idols had been hurt that she started to sniffle but refrained any tears since she had to remain tough. "Are you the one that brought Soarin here? Wait, do I know you?" Rainbow Dash looked up to see the doctor that had taken care of her during her broken wing incident. "Oh yea…hi…I'm Rainbow Dash I broke my wing a few months ago and yes I brought Soarin in." "Ah yes that's right well your friend will be fine no worries about him. Would you like to see him?" "Umm yea that would be cool if it's alright." "Well certainly, you can just go right in." The medical doctor walked to the front counter to chat with a nurse as Rainbow made her way in. She entered slowly as not to startle the injured pegasus that lay in bed. When he was in full sight, she could see that he was staring out the window until he heard her footsteps and looked towards her. Rainbow was the first to speak, "Hey umm…you alright Soarin?" "Why yes actually thanks, umm…" "Rainbow Dash. It's Rainbow Dash we met at the Gala for a time." "That's right you saved my pie! Ha ha I remember now. Oh and you also performed the Sonic Rainboom! Totally awesome." Rainbow blushed a bit, "Yep that's me, savior of pies." They both laughed. Soarin looked away for a moment then looked back at Dash, "Hey can I tell you something kinda urgent?" "Urgent…?" "Yea it's…it's something the Princesses needed to know and it is information that led me to this happening to me. You think you could fly on over after I tell you?" "Well sure if it's really important." --- After Soarin had explained everything from the time after training to escaping the Shadowbolts and falling from the sky, Rainbow Dash's eyes were wide as possible and her jaw dropped. She was confused as to why was Zacora cuffed to a table. And why by Trixie?! What could she want?! And why are the Shadowbolts there?! Are they trying to cheat in the upcoming race?! So many answers and Soarin knew none of them. In Dash's thoughts Soarin grunted in his bed while he bled through his bandage. "Soarin! Are you alright!?" "Ugh my wound…hurts…more…" "DOCTOR! DOCTOR! Dash ran out of the room but the medical doctor already appeared with a nurse, "What is it mame?" "He's bleeding again!" "Let us through! Please give us room!" Dash felt really bad for Soarin but figured it best if she left to get out of the way. An idea along the lines of 'sometimes the best thing we can do is to not do anything at all'. The cyan pegasus sulked as she exited the hospital but heard her friends shouting her name, "Dash! Dash! We have to go!" yelled the lead unicorn. "Go? Go where Twilight?" the pony went from a state of sorrow to utter confusion. "We have to warn the Princess of an uprising evil! The Everfree Forest became consumed in darkness, almost taking Pinkie and Fluttershy with!" "What?! Trixie engulfed the forest in darkness?!" Twilight became puzzled at the name mentioned, "who said anything about Trixie?" "Soarin told me what happened to him as well as other disturbing things. I'll explain on the way to the train station!" The Elements of Harmony trotted off towards the train station as Rainbow Dash shared Soarin's small but epic adventure; including about his wound acting up before she left. She still felt guilty for leaving him like that, what with being the Element of Loyalty and all. --- When they arrived getting on the train, the day was at its sunset and it would be certainly night by the time they made it to Canterlot. They were losing time and although Princess Luna protects the night, they grew worrisome about this whole dark allegiance between Trixie and the Shadowbolts. During the ride Applejack sat next to Rainbow who was looking out the window. She knew she was worrying about Soarin. "Umm, Sugarcube, you alright?" "Huh? Oh umm yea of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" the pegasus tried to play cool as normal. "You seem sulky since the hospital hun." "I…I just feel so guilty. For leaving but…I couldn't think of anything else to do. If I was an egghead like Twilight…I could have been useful…" Dash started gathering tears in her eyes. "Now hush there Rainbow. There is never a time where you weren't useful, heck if it weren't for you, Soarin might be…worse off. You got him there quicker than a baked apple piecoming out of the oven and ya know why?" Applejack placed a hoof under Rainbow's chin and lifted her head to meet her eyes, "Cause there ain't no pony that is faster in all of Equestria than you." Rainbow couldn't help but smile at the compliment, "but your fast too, you could've done it if I weren't in the way." "Sugarcube, Ah may be fast on land but you're fastest in the air and you know that air is faster than land." "Well Fluttershy can fly…" "You really believe Fluttershy can lift Soarin let alone fly fast?" They both had a little giggle at the thought of innocent Fluttershy trying to carry another pony. "In fact, Sugarcube, its more than just good to have you around," the farm pony blushed. "What do you mean AJ?" "Ah mean, even though Ah'm always there for my friends and love em' to death, Ah couldn't connect with em' as much as you. Ah mean, Ah love our times together racing and wrestling and just having a good ol' time getting our hooves dirty." "I can kind of see what you mean. Twilight and Rarity have their magic and always have to be precise, perfect and organized while Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are always good at seeing others point of view and accepting themselves and others. At least more so than others to be honest." "Hee hee, Ah thought Ah was the honest one." Rainbow smiled "hey, you can be pretty loyal sometimes too." They both laughed realizing how much they had in common but didn't realize it before. "And see Sugarcube, your analysis is pretty insightful. Looks like you can be an egghead sometimes when you want. Ah'd say that's pretty special." "You…you think I'm special…?" Rainbow asked with the deep desire for it to be true. "Ah know so Sugarcube." The orange pony said silently before yawning and closing her eyes. "I'll wake you up when we get there." The pegasus smiled. "Ok, thanks Sugarcube. Night." The earth pony drifted to sleep while the pegasus looked back out the window, with a smile, in her thoughts 'Applejack thinks I'm special'.