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// Alternative end 
// Story: Element of Loyalty 
// by AirDasher 
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Rainbow Dash tried to open her eyes, but shut them fast again at the intruding light. She laid still and listened to the sound of the room. A steady beep…..beep…..beep was all she heard, the  annoyed her already. She tried to open her eyes once again but was forced to close them once again. She opened her eyes but narrowed them so the light wasn’t so strong. “Hey girls, Ah think she’s wakin’ up” Rainbow knew that voice! It was Applejacks. Dash moved her head a little to the right but a bolt of pain shoot through her left ribcage. She winced in pain and felt every muscle in her body tense before it was over had it forced her stomach to empty. She was surprised to feel four hoofs that held her over a bucked on such a short notice. She were carefully put back in bed, her vision still unfocused she looked over to the color dots that were all around her. Her eyes focused she blinked a couple of times before she opened her mouth, not a sound left her. She suddenly felt how dry and soar her throat was. It looked like the nurse could read her mind as a coup of water was placed in front of her mouth. It didn’t take her long to empty the cup of water. She looked over to her friends, her eyes had just focused enough to see that all her friends had tear in their eyelids she blinked and moved her gaze to the machine that made the annoying sound. She then looked at her wings, they were bandaged, and she tried to move them and winced in pain as she barely moved them. She literally threw the cover down to her hind legs and looked at her body as her chest and ribcage were all bandaged up to her neck. She had a few bruises here and there but it was cleaned and patched.   Her whole body was in pain but she did little to show it. She looked back at her friends and tried again, her voice harsh “W….what..h-happened?” 

The group looked at each other before Twilight cleared her throat and began the story the general had told them. Dash closed her eyes as the memory started to flow, everything seemed so clear now, how she had kept flying from the crater and back. She opened her eyes and looked down on the duvet. Her friends were all silent. Dash looked up at the group in front of her “Sorry I broke the promiss..” small tears forming in her eyes, not only because of the emotions but due to the pain as well.  Applejack looked at her a bit surprised “Ah don’t recon you breakin’ anythin’ Rainbow?” Rainbow lowered her gaze again “I told you guys I would come home alive and without a scratch, but I still ended up in the hospital, almost killed…” Twilight spoke up “Your still alive Rainbow dash, and we are happy your safe here. Together with us, we also saw a clip from Spears memory. At what you did, It was amazing”  Twilght suddenly remembered the box and leaned down to get pick it up. She used her magic to move it to the Night stand next to her. “The general told me to give you this. And say that the 1’st salute you and thanks you” Rainbows eyes widened as streams of tears flowed down her cheeks. Rainbow stretched in the direction of the night stand but a bolt of pain stoped her in her tracks. Applejack walked over to the night stand and handed the box to Rainbow “Thanks Applejack” Rainbow looked at the box before she shot her hooves out around Applejacks neck and hugged her tight. She pushed her face into her mane “I’ve missed you guys so much..” The group shared a few hugs before pinkie bounced over to Rainbows side “What’s in the box Dashie?” she said while bouncing beside the bed smiling as always. Rainbow looked at the box and opened it slowly. She picked up on medal, it was a silver circle with two Pegasus wings implanted in the middle so it made an X. Rainbow smiled as the other looked at her confused. Pinkie pie looked from the medal to Dash “What does it mean?” Rainbow snapped out of it and looked at her friends before she let out a loud sigh “ It is a medal that indicated expert flying, and that I am wonderbolt material. Each pony from the wonderbolt have one, I am the first to receive it outside the wonderbolts” Rainbow moved her hoof down in the box again and picked up another medal, this was a golden circle but it had a crown in the center and in a circle around it was pegasi wings “I have no clue what this is though…” Twilght gasped “You don’t know what THATH medal is?!” Rainbow was taken aback by the sudden loud outburst from her friend “N-no? should i?” Twilight moved closer “It means Princess celestia thank you for your effort in the war and this is a honor medal that means you have just as high rank in chanterlot as a noble!” Rainbow looked confused at the medal in her hoof. “I still don’t get what is so special about it…”  Twilght shocked her head “It means you have the only one in all of Equestria” Rainbow looked from the medal and to Twilight “I’m not planing on leaving ponyvill anytime soon”

Another week past. Rainbow knew hart warming eve was closing in, and so was her release date.  The nurse had said she would be released 2 days before hearth's warming eve. She had no clue where she would be going, but since it was hearth's warming eve. She wanted to spend it with her friends. The door to her room opened and 2 familiar mares entered the room. One with an orange coat and a Stetson on her head, her golden mane was impossible to miss. The other had a lavender coat, with a pink strip in her dark mane. Rainbow smiled “Hey guys, What’s up?” Applejack couldn’t help but smile as the Pegasus had never been so calm and patient before, she wondered just how much trouble she had went through in the army. Twillight smiled back to the recovering Pegasus “Hi there Rainbow, how are you doing today?” Rainbow looked out the window “Well ,It’s beautiful weather and I can’t wait to fly again… Except for that, I’m all good actually. Just thinking of where to go and what to do on hearth's warming eve” Applejack spoke up before anyone else could “You do know yer invited to celebrate hearth's warmin’ eve together with us in the barn* sugarcube?” Rainbow looked back to them “Yeah I know. It’s just I thought I would have the time to get you some presents this year” Twilight sat down beside her bed “Rainbow, your presence on hearth's warming eve is enough for us. Let us be thinking about the presents. I’m only happy to have you with us again” she said with a smile. Applejack walked next her “Yeah, ah need some better competition’ here around” Twilight looked annoyed at Applejack “It’s not my fault, I got a little excited and suddenly the tree jumped into my path!” Applejack laughed at the thought.

Applejack had let Twilight get in front to see if she was able to push her a little further, Twilight had looked over her shoulder at Applejack and just seconds had passed before she had trailed off the road and into a tree. Rainbow laughed at the explanation while Twilight blushed more and more. When it all had calmed down did Twilight speak up “Anyway, It’s good to have you back Rainbow” Rainbow wiped away a tear from all her laughter “Yeah, It’s good to be back and don’t worry about a bomb exploding in your head while you sleep” Applejack and Twiligth giggled. Applejack looked at Rainbow “Ah hope you’ll heal up soon sugercube” Rainbow closed her eyes for a second before the door opened again. When she opened her eyes was it no longer two guest in her room, but five. All her friends had come. Pinkie came bouncing in the door followed by Fluttershy and Rarity. Rarity stopped in front of her bed “Rainbow darling, it’s only 1 day left!” Rainbow smiled even wider “I know! I can’t wait to get out of here!” Fluttershy put on a smile “I hope you don’t mind but we have already started decorate the barn” Rainbow looked from Rarity to Fluttershy “It’s okay Fluttershy, It’s not like I could be of any use at the moment anyway..” Fluttershy looked down to the floor “Ohhh, no, you would be of great use. You could have helped with the decoration that wans’t so far up” Rainbow smile weakened. Pinkie pie bounced up beside her “ I can’t wait to see you at the barn! It’s going to be super-duper Amazing!” she shouted “Yeah, I can see that” Nurse Red heart stood in the doorway “I’m sorry girls, but visit hours is almost up.” The group looked back at the nurse. They all said their goodbye to Rainbow and trotted out the room. Rainbow watched as her friends disappeared in the doorway. The nurse sent her a final smile and turned off the light and closed the door. Rainbow Dash still looked at the door as her only source of light was the lamp on her night stand. Thought started to drift in her head as she finally was able to tear her eyes away from the door.

Rainbow Dash looked out the window as the moon started to rise in the horizon and the stars started to shine brighter in the dark of night. She walked over to the window to get a better look at the beauty of the night. She looked up at the stars as she saw a falling star. Her eyes drifted down to the ground, she saw her shadow in the light on the ground. Her though drifted to on of the new recruits that had been in the line of fire as a magical burst had hit right behind him and sent dirt and rock splints in the air. She had found him later in the surgery hall, his wings had been amputated and he was bound to live the rest of his life as an earth pony.   A single tear left her eyes as her though started to shift toward all the bad that happened in the war. Rainbow looked down at her shadow again before she flared her wings open just to confirm she still had them. “Wonder how spear is doing” she asked no pony in particular. She found her way to the bed and slipped under the cover as the sweet grip of sleep got to her.

Rainbow Dash opened one eye and stared in the direction of the door, it sounded like it was someone coming her way. She sat up in the bed and looked out of the window a split second before the door burst open, Rainbow looked wide-eyed into the dark corridor, she suddenly felt herself being pushed down in bed, she looked down her body fast and saw her hoofs being pushed down in the mattress, “So this is what have happened to the famous Spectrum” Rainbows gaze fell to the door again as she started to cold sweat. Out of the door came a large griffin with a dagger in his hand, “You’ll pay for all the problems you’ve caused us” Rainbow Dash couldn’t think of anything she struggled against the force holding her down. The griffin came closer as the dagger glistened in the moonlight, the griffin made his way over to the left side of her bed, Rainbow struggled even harder to get loose, suddenly the force holding her left hoof disappeared and she kicked the griffin in the chest as hard as she could. The griffin stumbled back a few feet before he flung at her with the dagger, Rainbow tried to kick him again but he was prepared for it this time and doges it easily. The cold metal made contact with her soft chest, an exploding pain in the chest that sent waves of pain to her shoulder and doubled the effect once it got back to the dagger, Rainbow Dash let out a pained scream, she was breathing heavily as the area around the dagger had gone numb, Rainbow looked down at her chest as her Cyan coat were now a crimson red , it covered her chest fully and had started it’s journey down her chest to her stomach. The area where the dagger was suddenly flared up and she bolted up from the bed as the pain had become even worse.

Rainbow bolted up from the bed covered in sweat, she found herself being pushed down again, when she opened her eyes she saw all her friends holding her down, Twilight was the first to notice she was awake “Hey girls! She’s awake!” the group looked up from what they were holding to see Rainbows pale face and covered in sweat. The group loosened their grip and Dash sat up in the bed. Holding her head in her hooves, the group looked uneasy to each other before someone spoke up, “Umm…Rainbow?...D-did you have a nightmare?” the soft voice of a yellow pegasus filled her ears. Rainbow looked at her “Yeah, a bad one too” Rainbows gaze switched to her friends, her eyes stopped on Applejack who had blood coming from her nose. “Uhhhh, Aj?” Rainbow gestured with a hoof to her nose and Applejack knew what she meant “Yeh have a good kick in yeh Rainbow” She felt something tighten in her chest as a pang of guilt filled her. Rainbow broke the eye contact “Sorry, Aj” Applejack waved a hoof in front of her “Don’t think much of it sugarcube” Rainbow looked at her friend and back to the floor. Guilt still had a good grip in her chest. “Yeh didn’t know what yeah were doin’” Applejack walked over to get some paper from the nearby sink and dried away the blood. Fluttershy looked from Applejack to Rainbow Dash “What did you dream of? If you want to tell us..” Rainbow looked up from her hooves again, “Well, Gehhhh, I dreamed it was a griffin that broke the door and came in with a dagger, it was dark, I could see the dagger glister in the moonlight from the window, he came closer and something, some force held me down, when I was able to break free from the grip with my left hind leg I kicked as hard as I could” “Ah could feel that” came Applejacks voice from the sink Rainbow sent a sorrow full glance at her “Then he came a second time and I tried to kick him again, he dogged and I felt the dagger pierce my chest and the pain that followed is indescribable”

Nurse redhead opened the door and found all of Rainbow Dash friends in a group hug with Rainbow Dash herself “Excuse me,” This got the attention of the group as they walked each way, “Thank  you, Miss Dash. You're ready to leave” Rainbow let out a giggle “Finally! Uhh, don’t misunderstand it was nice of you to look after me” The nurse smiled “Well, It is my job to take care of you miss Dash, And I intend to do it as best I can” Rainbow smiled “You did a good job than” The nurse let out a small giggle herself “Your very kind miss Dash”
Rainbow jumped out of bed and walked for the door.  She filled the last bit of information needed at the hospital reception and left.

Rainbow Dash was back in ponyville, everypony congratulated her, Rainbow couldn’t help but smile as the whole city seemed to care for her. But a voice in the back of her mind told her it was only because of the war. Rainbow Dash turned to her friends “Do you mind if I just go home for a quick moment?” the group looked at each other “Ah don’t recon you the one to ask somethin’ like that Raibnow?” Rainbow rolled her eyes “See you later than!” she shoot skywards but stopped as Twilight yelled her name “Meet us at the barn in a couple of hours okay?” Rainbow looked down at her friends on the ground “Sure things wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Rainbow then flew to her cloud home, she landed on the edge. A lot of emotion built up inside of her to see her house again, she walked slowly to the door taking her time to enjoy everything from the rainbow fountain to the house formation. She opened the door slowly, Rainbow walked into the house as more and more emotions built up. “Rainbow Dash!” Dash snapped out of her emotional state. “Are you there Rainbow?” Rainbow flew out the door and looked every direction to find the source of the sound. “Down here!” Rainbow looked down and saw Shining armor, in a purple armor? Rainbow landed right in front of him “What’s up Spear?” Shining armor had a new glow in his eyes rainbow hadn’t seen before “I’ve been promoted to Captain of the royal guard!” Rainbow had a hard time showing her excitement for her friend “That great spear!” Shining armor smiled “What do you think of my new armor?” he walked in a quick circle around her.

Rainbow got a sly smile on her face “well, your blue mane doesn’t exactly fit in with all the purple together with the golden details on your armor” Shining armor stopped in shock for a moment before Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. Shining armor let out a chuckle himself “This is payback for the comment in the castle yard before the march isn’t it?” Rainbow held her stomach rolling on the ground unable to reply. Rainbow dried away the tears with her hoof “ We are even” she gave him a quick hug “Hope it turns out well for you spear” Shining armor smiled wider “please, call me Shining armor” Rainbow nodded “Sure things, you should probably get back to you’re duties, I guess it is quiet a lot now” Shining armor node “Yeah, that’s true. Tell Twilight I said hi” Rainbow smiled at the though of Twilights face once she told her that her brother had ben promoted and talked to her. A sly smile crept on her muzzle “Sure things”

Rainbow Dash flew in the direction of sweet apple acres. The rows of rows of apple trees were unmistakable. There in the distance was the well knows barn she had helped bring down only to be rebuild. A sudden light on the ground caught her eye and she slowed to a halt, Dash slowly lowered herself to ground level. What she saw made her eyes went wide. She was standing in the middle of the dirt road and watched as the part to the barn were light up by candles handing from the trees all the way up to the barn. Rainbow Dash was never one for looking at the scenery but this amazed her. She trotted up to the barn and opened the door slowly. The barn was dark, she walked further in. the door slammed shit making her jump, the light suddenly filled the room. She closed her eyes and opened them slowly. Once again her eyes widened in with the sight in front of her. “SURPRISE!” all her friends were there, together with most of ponyville. Rainbow Dash was in loss of words “I….I…I CAN’T BELICE IT!” she shouted out of happiness. All her friends were beside her together with most of the town. “Ah told yeh, this here is somethin’ yeh don’t wane miss” Rainbow couldn’t agree more. “Thanks guys” She hugged the two ponies who were closest to her, which were Applejack and Fluttershy, the rest of the group soon followed lead and the whole group were in a group hug.

The night was long with festivities, all from games to dancing to just eating and talking. Twilight jumped up on a hey ball “Excuse me everypony!” all the sound of ponies talking sank in volume before it was silence “Thanks everypony, I want to hold a speech for our very close friend Rainbow Dash” The audience started to clap their hooves, once the sound died down again did Twilight talk “I still remember the night when I got the letter from the princes, how we all talked it through in the library, how we went through each and everyone of us. But you, you volunteered to go, Instead of sending one of your friends into war, you took that task upon yourself. The General said in the hospital while we were waiting for you to wake up. Magic, generosity, kindness, Laughter, Honesty, None of those belong in a war. I’ve done a lot of thinking, and I can’t come up with anyone even close to be as loyal as you are Dash.  And word can’t describe how happy we are to have you home safe and sound. No one can ever replace you Rainbow Dash. It is only one of you in all of Equestria and we couldn’t be happier to be considered as your friends.” Twilight jumped down and hugged Rainbow as she had made her way to the front of the row of ponies. This time it was Rainbow Dash who jumped up on the hay ball “Thanks Twilight, I can’t describe how GREAT it is to be home, together with familiar faces” A cheer from the crowd “With friends” she sent a smile to the group of friends that stood in the front row. “And to know that the war is finally over, that everything is back to normal in Equestria. One though that kept me fighting harder each day was the though of ponyville. How the war would leave all of Equstria if the griffin won. I couldn’t bear the though of my friends, and the town enslaved, in ruin. So I pushed harder each day to make sure it didn’t happen. To lose was never an option; I hope you all will use your freedom fully. Because I know I will live each day as if it was my last!” The cheers from the crowd were defining. Rainbow smiled at the response of the crowd, Rainbow looked at Twilight “Oh, and Twilight” Twilight smiled up at her friend “Shining armor say Hi” Twilight’s face changed to one of confussion before it turned out to a frown and a annoyed glance told Rainbow everything she needed to know. She burst out laughing. Everything was truly as it should be, Rainbow Dash was with her friends once again, the war was over, the horror of the war was over. New bond had been formed, and she was one steep closer to join the wonderbolts.