//------------------------------// // Dashie's Back // Story: Shadow Dash // by lordcurly972 //------------------------------// "Rainbow Dash, don't do it!" Scootaloo shouted, "I know you wouldn't want to hurt your friends, and I know you're still in there, the real you, not this monster you've become." Scootaloo stepped forward even more; she didn't seem to be swayed by how apposing I was. Too bad I would have to break her little heart by showing her the old Rainbow Dash wasn't coming back. "Kid, I'd hate to break it to ya but the old Rainbow Dash is dead, I was weak then," I told her, "always worrying about 'friendship' and 'love'. Now I'm free to do what I please." I still had Twilight by the throat. She had a death grip on my leg and her breathing was growing more and more panicked. "Oh, calm down!" I shouted at her, "You might not feel anything." "Couldn't you just let me go and forgive and forget?" Twilight pleaded. "No, if I let you go then that will make me look weak in front of the other ponies," I instructed her, "I can't have them thinking they may have a chance." I was just about to attempt to drop Twilight again when Scootaloo shouted at me to stop again. "Come on squirt, give it up," I sighed, "you're just delaying Twilight's death. It would've been over several minutes ago. But no! Now she's hyperventilating and looks as if she may have a heart attack." "Please Rainbow Dash, stop this!" Scootaloo exclaimed crying now, "remember what friendship used to mean to you. Remember what I used to mean to you. You took me under your wing; I idolized you, you were the coolest pony and bravest pony I've ever met and yet you put time aside to treat me like your little sister, and to show me what it was like to have a big sister. So, no! I will not let you become this! I know the real is you is there somewhere, you just need to let her back out. And I know just the way to bring her back." She crouched down and began to flap her wings furiously. The poor little things were flapping ninety miles an hour, but couldn't even lift her off the ground. "Look kid, you're going to hurt yourself," I said. But she continued flapping. She began to pick up speed, giving it all she had. Sweat began to pour down her face, drenching her mane. "Seriously, stop," I instructed her, "you're embarrassing..." My sentence was cut short as I watched in awe while she began to float off the ground. She floated higher until she was eye level with me. Though she was in the air, it was taking all she had to stay afloat. "How about this," she panted, "pretty cool huh?" My heart began to grow heavy with pride. I couldn't believe it, Scootaloo was flying. I felt tears streak down my face. She was really flying! Barely, but she was doing it. I got so caught up in the moment I forgot for I was supposed to be evil. I shook off the joy off the joy I felt and returned to my previous attitude. "Pfff," I scoffed, "you think that just because you showed me you could 'fly' that it would bring the old Rainbow back, then you're denser than I thought." "Oh, me flying wasn't the plan," she replied with a fearful smirk, still struggling to keep her current elevation, "this is just the start." She snapped her wings to her side and closed her eyes. I turned my head away as she began to fall to the earth. I looked back as she picked up speed. "She won't do it," I thought, "She will open her wings before she hits the ground." I continued watching, growing more and more worried, as she grew closer and closer to the ground. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight screamed, "Do something!" "Fluttershy catch!" I shouted releasing Twilight and taking off like a rocket towards Scootaloo. "Oh my," Fluttershy exclaimed as she flew up and caught Twilight in the air. I flew as fast as I could towards Scootaloo, but no matter how fast I flew I wouldn't be able to catch up to her in time. I had waited too long. I watched in horror as Scootaloo made contact with the ground. "No!" I screamed, tears rushing down my face. I picked up speed and zoomed towards the impact zone. A crowd had already gathered around Scootaloo. They stepped back as I floated down next her. She lay in a divot in the ground, most likely created by the force of her impact. I got down on my knees and lifted her limp body towards me. I sobbed as I held her next to me. "What have I done!" I wailed, "Scootaloo, I'm so sorry!" I continued to cry as I clutched Scootaloo tightly over my shoulder and began to rock back and forth. "I'm so sorry," I repeated as Twilight and the rest of the girls walked over to me, "I'm so sorry to all of you." "It's okay Rainbow Dash, it wasn't your fault," Twilight said, "you were possessed." "But I gave into the urges, I could have resisted," I replied still clutching Scootaloo tightly against me. I sat there on my knees for I don't know how long. Just crying and rocking Scootaloo in my arms. But a faint breathing caused my ears to twitch. I stopped rocking and pressed my ear to Scootaloo's chest. I could hear faint breathing and a troubled heartbeat. "She's alive!" I shouted, "But we need to get her to a hospital a fast!" I took off into the air towards the hospital but was soon stopped by Twilight, "You destroyed the hospital in Ponyville remember." My heart sank; it was all my fault. I was going to lose the closest pony I ever had to a little sister and it was all my fault. I hung my head and began rocking Scootaloo again when I recalled Canterlot had a hospital. I jerked my head up and lifted my spirits, there was still a chance to save Scootaloo. "How long do you think she has? I asked Twilight excitedly. She was a bit surprised by my sudden excited disposition. She walked over to me and began to lightly press her hoof against Scootaloo's chest and then bent over to listen to hear heartbeat. "Her heartbeat is sporadic, and she has several broken ribs, it also appears one of her ribs may have punctured one of her lungs. She may be suffering from serious internal bleeding," Twilight exclaimed. "I didn't ask for a full diagnostic!" I snapped at Twilight, " I just want to know how long I have to get her help." "She may only have forty five minutes to live," Twilight said somberly, "what are you planning?" "I'm going to fly her to the Canterlot hospital, I refuse to let my actions be the death of the only pony that truly looked up to me," I responded. No pony said anything else, Twilight just nodded in approval I clutched Scootaloo tightly to my chest and took off as fast as I've ever flown towards Canterlot. I was flying so fast I caused a sonic rainboom in half the time it normally took me. I looked back at the rainboom and was shocked. It was back to normal. Not only that, it was the brightest rainboom I had ever seen. It streaked across the dark sky, completely wiping the grey clouds away and letting the sun shine through. As I admired the beauty of the bright colors spreading out across the land I noticed the color returning to my coat and mane. I was back, I turned back towards my heading and zoomed forward's. It felt good to be back. I burst through the doors of the Canterlot hospital within thirty minutes of me leaving Ponyville. "I have somepony who needs medical attention!" I shouted for anypony to hear me. A nurse hurried over to me and put a stethoscope to her chest. She listened for a couple of seconds then jerked her head upright and called for the doctor and a gurney. A doctor came out of the nearest doorway wheeling a gurney and came over to Scootaloo and me. The nurse whispered something in the doctors ear and the doctor took Scootaloo from me and place her on the gurney. "We need to get this filly to an operating room stat!" the doctor shouted as they begn to wheel her away. "Wait, what's wrong!" I shouted after them. I cringed at the thought of Scootaloo being operated on. I began to run after them when somepony grabbed my sholder and stopped me. "Rainbow Dash?" he asked. "Yeah," I answered, "What's it to ya?" He moved my forelegs behind my back and cuffed them there. "You're under arrest for the destruction of Ponyville." "Please wait," I cried out, "I need to be here for her!" As he began to read me my rights I thought of all the wrong I had done. All of the heartache I had caused to the citizens of Ponyville and to myself as well. I deserved to go to jail for however long Celestia thought was best. But I needed Scootaloo to know I tried to be there for her and that I was sorry. As the officer began to walk me out the door I turned to him, "Could you do something for me?" "What is it you need ma'am," he asked pausing in the doorway. "There is a filly at this hospital named Scootaloo, I need her to know that I'm sorry for all the pain I caused her and that I'm sorry she risked her life to return me to my normal self, I know it may sound crazy to you, but I really need her to know this," I explained, "do you think you could tell her for me? It would mean a lot to me." The officer stared at me and must have noticed the sincerity on my face, he let a smile cross his face, "Sure thing, no problem." He walked me out the door towards the police car. Everyone in the hospital stared shockingly at me as I climbed in the back of the police car. I stared out the window at the hospital and wished Scootaloo well one last time for who knows how long.