//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A True True Friend // by DiscoRobot //------------------------------// Hot sunlight streamed down on the two warriors as steel clashed on steel. Thick fog hung over the ground and caused a myriad of tiny droplets to form on both warriors as they fought with all their strength and skill. The warm steamy environment only worsened with each breath they took. Sweat and tears glistened on their faces. “You’ll pay for what you did, Derpy” Rainbow Dash growled through clenched teeth. The rainbow mane warrior skillfully sidestepped a thrust and countered, swinging a fatal blow aimed at her opponent’s head. But Derpy was no longer there. Ducking the overhead blow, she kicked out with both back hooves and tackled Rainbow Dash to the ground. Both swords skittered off into the darkness. The two mares grappled together, kicking and punching, each trying to gain advantage over the other. Anger and grief overcoming her exhaustion, Dash reared up on both back hooves and struck a full force blow to Derpy’s right flank. While Derpy recoiled in pain, she took the opportunity to grab her sword and regain her balance. Derpy lay panting hard at Dash’s feet. There was no mercy in Dash’s eyes. Cold hatred swirled in the depths of her enraged purple gaze. “Do it then” Derpy rasped. “Make it quick. You’ve made your choice and you won fair and square. But your father was wron-“ “DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT MY FATHER” Dash screamed. Tears of fury streaked her dust caked face and obscured her sight until all she saw was the gray outline of the pony she hated so much, the gray pony that she wanted dead, the gray pony that was responsible for her father’s death. Dash leveled the sword until it was pointed at Derpy’s neck. Her vision turned red. She swung. Two Days Earlier “Hey Rainbow Dash! Do you need help?” Derpy greeted her old friend enthusiastically as she was clearing the clouds above Ponyville. Rainbow Dash didn’t look too excited to see her. “Oh, hi Derpy…..” Dash sighed inwardly. Derpy was one of those ponies who make everything go wrong. Honestly, if Twilight wanted to study an enigma, she had an unsolvable one right here in Ponyville. Still, Derpy was a great friend, and Dash immediately felt ashamed for feeling annoyance towards her when she hadn’t even done anything. Yet. “No, I’m good, thanks for the offer though” she replied with a hesitant smile, hoping that she appeared friendlier than she felt. After Derpy had left, Rainbow Dash allowed herself a moment to think seriously on past events. A letter had arrived just yesterday addressed from her parents urging her to come as soon as possible to Cloudsdale. Dash was puzzled. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen her parents. It had been moons since she had been in touch with them. She didn’t even think they knew her address. In fact, she hadn’t seen them since….Her thoughts drifted to the few childhood memories she did have, and her vision clouded over. “Don’t be so ridiculous Rainbow. Thousands of other Pegasus ponies just like you are trying to become Wonderbolts. You want to pursue flying- you do it as a hobby. Find a more respectable career” her father chided. “I told you, flying is more than just a hobby, it’s what I want to do! I love everything about it: the adrenaline, the competition, the speed, the acceleration” Her eyes sparked with excitement at the thought. “Why can’t you see that?” Dash protested. Her father whirled around with anger in his eyes “I told you NO. You don’t question me. I’m older, wiser, and more experienced than you. I’ve seen a hundred times more than you've seen. Do you know how many ponies I see these days with no job? No home? No money? You need to think about your future Rainbow and forget these stupid dreams you have about reckless ponies and their flying tricks. Now go study, and if I see one more bad report from your school, I’m going to be even more upset than I am now.” He stalked away, his wing feathers ruffled. Rainbow cried. Something in her had changed that night. She swore to herself, that she was never going to open a book again. Even on her hospital bed. That night, she planned to despise books for the rest of her life. “Rainbow? Rainbow, are you okay?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes snapped open. She was on the ground and Twilight Sparkle was looking down on her with concern. “Are you feeling okay Rainbow? You look pale.” Dash shook her head to clear those thoughts from her mind. She felt like she had crash landed. Twilight kept shifting in and out of focus. “Yea, I’m okay Twilight, thanks. How did you find me so quickly? Were you watching me?” Twilight snorted. “No, but I did see you fall from a low cloud. You looked like you were having a seizure. Are you sure you don’t feel like going to the hospital?” Dash shuddered. The hospital. She’d rather run the Running of the Leaves a second time with her wings tied behind her back. The thought made her think back to when she first ran away from home. What did she write in that note that she had left on her bed the night she left? She couldn’t remember. She wasn’t angry. She was tired. Tired of it all, she wanted to escape. No longer did she want her opinions and dreams tossed like leaves to the wind. No longer did she want to be molded into some pony she didn’t want to be. Hastily picking up a quill in her mouth, she scribbled a letter to her parents. After tucking half of it under her sheets, she examined her bedroom window. Ironically, orange rust covered the frame but the glass was as clear to appear invisible. Clearly it had not been opened in ages. Hesitantly, not wanting to wake her parents with the sound of the creaky hinges, she pushed it open cautiously. Cool night air rushed in. It smelled of freedom. Without making a sound, and without looking back, she flew off under the soft moonlight.