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// The end of the beginning  
// Story: Equestria: Downfall 
// by Mtdue55 
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Equestria: one year after collapse. following: Dashiell, Rainbow. Ponyville. 


As dark settled in, Dash was ready to begin the night. Quickly, she jumped off of her cloud. Just as she was about to hit the ground, she flapped her wings with enough force to be able to stop her imminent death. She quickly fled to cover behind a nearby cart and cautiously peered over.

Ponyville was completely different than it was a year ago. Buildings were tore apart or completely collapsed in heaps on the ground. Dash quickly rolled on to the door of a nearby, mostly intact building. Rainbow slowly and stealthily opened the door and slid inside. This was a normal procedure, in and out, be quick, be stealthy, and be efficient. 

The cerulean pegasus carefully walked over to some nearby shelves, and started to look at the covers. Rule number 8: food supply. Rainbow quickly salvaged all non-perishable foods and silently slid out. The pegasus quickly and carefully galloped over to the next building. Unfortunately, this was the last building in Ponyville that remained unchecked. Soon she’d have to move on.

Same as the last building, she slid inside and looked around. She’d seen about every damn sight in this cruel world, looting, murder, rape, and everything in-between. Rainbow Dash has killed on several occasions, and has become hardened to nearly every single thing that could possibly happen. 

But as soon as she was about to return to her main base, and there was another set of hoof steps in the house, she drew her knife. Soon thereafter, Dash saw just what was coming, and nothing could have prepared her for that.