A cold, dreary night was just the thing to put Rainbow Dash on edge. The pegasus awoke with a shock to find herself laying in murky water. As she got to her hooves, she looked around. A swampy area in the dead of night. Dead trees growing out of soft, moist earth, a shallow silty stream. The night sky was clear of clouds, showing the full moon and the twinkling stars.
"Oh, this is bad." She muttered.
"Oh, you don't know half of it." Discord's voice sounded.
"Discord! Where are you!? I'm gonna kick your flank so hard when I get out of this!" Rainbow said, looking around the dark, dead forest.
"Oh, don't be so sure, Rainbow Dash. You're gonna have to go through some... rather difficult feats." Discord chimed.
"No problem! I can take whatever you can through at me!" Rainbow said.
"Very well. Take a look at that tree behind you." Discord said.
Rainbow Dash turned to the decaying tree behind her, and was rather shocked. How did she not notice them before? There were at least seven small black birds on the branches of the tree, and one bigger bird. The small birds had yellow feet and beaks, red eyes, and tufts of feathers that were shaped like hats.
The larger bird was much more intimidating. It also had black feathers and a yellow beak, but it seemed... stronger. It's feet were now black, the hat shaped feathers were more broader and intricate, and the bird had a white puff of feathers, were it boastfully puffed out it's chest.
"That, my little Rainbow Dash is a Honchkrow. They work like bosses over their little friends, the Murkrow." Discord said. "Now, you want to hear something interesting? Over time, the creatures don't just grow, they transform entirely into a new creature. So every one of those little Murkrow will transform into a Honchkrow. Isn't it just wonderful?" Discord said.
The Honchkrow held one of it's wings out to the side, revealing a red streak of feathers underneath. The smaller Murkrow then flew away from the branch, leaving the big bird alone with Rainbow Dash.
"Wait... what am I supposed to do here?" Rainbow Dash stammered, as she couldn't look away from the Honchkrow's eyes. They glared at her, watching her every move.
"You must fight it. And the same rule applies to you and your friends. Kill or be killed." Discord repeated.
"Wait- what?! Discord!" Rainbow replied, breaking her stare from the Honchkrow. That was her first mistake. When Rainbow Dash looked back at the tree branch, the bird was gone.
An ear-piercing screech tore through the air, and Rainbow Dash looked up. Braced against the glowing moon was the silhouette of the Honchkrow, wings spread, and talons drawn. Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash was right in it's path. She felt her face and eyes being torn up in the Honchkrow's claws, and heard her own cries of pain over the wing flaps. She thrashed and bucked, and managed to get the Honchkrow off and regain her stance.
Rainbow Dash quickly took off into the night, but left her colorful trail in the air behind her. Rainbow Dash dodged tree after tree, hoping to get some distance. But the Honchkrow's caw echoed through the air once more. She felt another jolt of pain surge on her back, and the whoosh of wings over head. Even in mid-chase, Rainbow was being assaulted. She rose high above the dead forest, and looked around. She could see the faint outline of a bird approaching her. As the shadow got closer, Rainbow Dash retaliated with a forceful blow of her hind leg. The Honchkrow bounced off her hoof, but easily regained its balance in the sky.
The Honchkrow rushed faster at Rainbow in the air, and a dark, shadowy energy formed at the tips of it's wings. It lunged forward, striking the pegasus with its streaks of darkness. She felt her wings and body give way, and she plummeted down to the ground. As Rainbow hit the soft, muddy earth, her head felt fuzzy. Her eyes flickered, trying to stay open. When all seemed lost, Rainbow Dash heard voices.
"Rainbow Dash! Get up!" A voice yelled.
"Twilight..." Rainbow muttered weakly. "Is that you?"
"Come on, sugarcube! Pull yerself together!"
"You have to, darling! Please!"
"Get up, Rainbow! Don't fall!"
"We're counting on you..."
Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open, and her energy returned, despite being battered and broken. The Honchkrow towered over her, it's talons raised over her face.
In one fluid motion, Rainbow grabbed the Honchkrow by the neck, starling it. She then raised her wings and took off, taking the Honchkrow with it. She plowed through dead tree after dead tree, breaking through the wood using the Honchkrow as a sort of ram. Once Rainbow was done she soared high above the area, and arcing straight down, crashing the Honchkrow into the ground.
Rainbow Dash picked herself up again, breathing hard and angry. "Nothing... nothing messes with my friends." She growled to the Honchkrow, laying motionless on the ground.
"Impressive. Figures the Element of Loyalty would use her friends to finish the fight." Discord said, cackling with amusement.
"I did it?" Rainbow Dash said, her words shaking with surprised rage.
"Yes. I'm sure your friends would be just as proud. Or was it horrified? I can't remember."
"We would they be horrified? I killed the monster you sent after me." Rainbow growled.
"Or did you? Take a look at yourself."
Rainbow Dash turned to a small puddle, which showed her reflection. Her mane was matted, her face was covered in bloody lacerations, and her eyes seething with rage. "You killed the Honchkrow, a creature just like you or me, and yet you feel little remorse or guilt? Does that make you any less of a monster as the Honchkrow? Or the other creatures your friends are facing? Or even... me?"
"Stop it!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Why are you doing this to me?!"
"Because since you imprisoned me in stone for the last few years, I feel like I should make you regret it. Don't worry though... you'll join your friends soon enough." Discord chuckled.
"My friends..." Rainbow Dash muttered. "I only hope their doing better than me."
She picked herself up, and slowly walked through the dark woods, as a wind picked up a few black feathers.