The Letter from Celestia
Dear Rainbow Dash
By sending this letter I have already come to a conclusion that I was wrong in the method in which I went about the situation. I have some bad news and I have to apologize as well. My loyal subject It has been ages since you have been contacted by me and unfortunately that was from my own doing. I am afraid that I have been the reason for your friends not trying to reach you or for your attempts to reach them failing. I did so because I had a plan. My plan was to make you see the errors of your way when you realized your friends meant more than some silly dream. What I didn't expect was how you would deal with the sudden loss of friends. You took to abusing yourself with drugs and alcohol. You forged new friendships made with false pretenses and you gave yourself to woman just to feel something again.
I write to you with a heavy heart as what I shall inform you about is going to keep you from performing today and I understand you are about the dream. I seen the signs and ignored it. You were heading down a path that was not meant to be open to you. I however knew the importance of destiny and chasing dreams. I was proud at first, seeing you do things that no others could do and finally making it. Luna has one of the limited edition Rainbow Dash socks. 20 percent cooler than regular socks. The issue wasn't your success and fame but how you went about it.
You destroyed friendships and hearts just to keep your dream as positive as you can. Ignored the pleas of your friends and even went as far as destroying your emotions. You killed off the spirit of Loyalty that lived inside you. You turned and became this drug induced, inebriated, lust filled being that was above the law. Well you aren't above the law, just no one dared to press charges because of the pedestal you were placed upon. Did you really enjoy your life Rainbow Dash? Was it all you dreamed and more? Or was I right and you felt empty? I hope the rumors are true and you have cleaned up. I need the Rainbow Dash who cares now more than ever. Because if you don't care and refuse to see this letter then the suffering of your friends and many other ponies shall continue.
I am sorry if my letter seems off and random but my mind hasn't been as focused as lately. you see my dearest subjects are all suffering and I can't help them. I wish I could but it seems that only you can fix what your absence has caused. I know it is unfair to place burden on you. But since you left to enjoy stardom you ignored the signs around you. And because of it people have suffered... I guess I shall start with the one who was closest to me.
Twilight Sparkle, she was my dearest student. Was being the key word since she has stopped respecting me and has no longer spoken to me. She was devastated when I initiated my plan. the plan which so foolishly failed. I know where she is but I dare not visit her. I have nothing I could say that could mend her wounded heart. She has left my side and left a hole in my heart. She wanted to see you but I needed her to forget that notion. I forbade her and her friends from reaching out to you with authority behind the demand. When she heard me say that she tossed her crown on my floor and cursed her immortality. She now resides in the Crystal Empire with her brother Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. After you visit me upon reading this letter I will have an important assignment for you regarding the elements of harmony however Twilight isn't the only one who has suffered. She refuses to speak to me and I need her back in my life. I care for her deeply, I am aware it's plain as day, I love her Rainbow Dash as to what capacity that is for me to know and her to figure out. I will not be happy till she has accepted me back into her life. Luna has tried to get me to smile but even her childish antics and increasingly affectionate behavior doesn't bring me the same joy as just one smile from my favorite student. That is now gone. No longer does a chipper voice speak highly of me instead it spreads malicious thoughts and horrible truths. Please bring her back to me Rainbow Dash.
Pinkie Pie, the party pony, She was detained and sent to an insane asylum. She had lost her mind and was believing of the fact she killed you. Her nightmares were vicious and even Luna couldn't help. Pinkie Pie felt you died and she had seen herself kill you. I think your absence had caused her to hallucinate and live in a world in which she killed you in various of ways. One of them involved something to do with cupcakes. Since she has been admitted she has had episodes and sometimes she appears fine while others she starts screaming your name. You would have heard about this but as I didn't want them having contact with you I made sure it didn't make news. Sadly Pinkie's condition hasn't lessened and had to be kept in the Canterlot Insane Asylum to provide maximum assistance with her. She has stopped laughing and smiling. I am afraid this has been going on for a few months. The doctors are unsure if she will ever recover and I know that taking care of her would be a full time job until her sanity were restores. Can you do that? Can you fix her or are you too into your flashy life style to care for such a dear friend? While you injured others emotionally with your actions you don't know how severe you hurt Pinkie Pie. Her love for you while platonic was beyond the spectrum of friendship. She admired you with everything in her because after all you gave her the ability to smile. That smile that spread smiles and now the smiling is gone. She lit the world up with hers and now with it gone the world is dim. Can you save her Rainbow Dash and light the world up with her smile?
Applejack, the farm pony, her farm suffered without the support you were providing. I am surprised you stopped sending bits or even bothered to check on the farm. I was sure my plan would have failed because of your friendship with Applejack but it seemed your friendship wasn't enough. The storm in Ponyville was the last straw for her farm. A terrible storm from the ever free forest had made it's way to Ponyville. The weather team in Ponyville used to be able to handle it. With you gone they had no idea how to properly handle it. The storm wiped out most of the town and emergency support was sent from Canterlot. Lives were lost... including the life of Granny Smith. That really shook the apple clan. Unfortunately they couldn't continue without any financial support and had to move to Appleloosia after the funeral. Applejack and her sister made it fine but Big Mac had sustained some injuries during the fire. He lives but is hardly fit to work in his state. Can you help your friend break out of her funk and restore the apple orchards of Sweet Apple Acres? Can you help your best friend who would do anything for you? Is this too much to ask for? Where in your heart is there any room for these ponies?
Rarity, the fashion pony, was fortunately unharmed and so was her sister thanks to Scootaloo. Rarity lost her Boutique due to the extensive damages and most of her hard work and designs were gone the papers that had the templates and all her treasured items gone, her family was devastated to hear this. Her dream of being a top fashion designer now has taken an ill turn with no materials to work with. She still had her gems but has generously given them out to the towns folk to trade in for food or shelter. After all she is generosity. Though her generous nature became her downfall as now she is poor and desolate and has been forced to move in with her parents. Can you be as generous as Rarity and help her build her life back, will you be able to console the devastated pony who once was destined for greatness as you were?
Scootaloo, the pony you wanted to take under your wing remember her? Well she wanted to be like you... she admired you Rainbow Dash not the celebrity monster you became but the weather pony who also saved people. She risked her life to help others during the storm even with her inability to fly unfortunately she was not that lucky and she sustained injuries. some how that brave pony made it through alive. That is as alive as she could be when she found out her foster parents had died in the storm. They went out looking for her, whether because they truly cared or for other reasons the point is those who took care of her had died. Because of that she had to leave Ponyvile just rubbing salt on the wounds. She is now in the Cloudsdale orphanage in hopes that a pegasus or a pegasi family can adopt her. She is injured and heart broken and I know one pony she would be excited to see again. I think she needs you now more than ever. I know being a parent or guardian is a big task and since you are a Wonderbolt you won't have time. Tell me is your life fulfilled or has something been missing? Can you make the small filly happy or will you continue to disappoint her while she still thinks something of you?
As you noticed my letter mentions nothing of Fluttershy. I can't tell you where she is. I can't even give you any hint of her condition until I feel as if you earned it. A heart my pony.. is something that is precious. You abused it and she has suffered for it. She went from a timid animal loving mare. To a shut in.. she isolated herself from the world. She wasn't in Ponyville during the accident and when I feel you have earned the right to know I shall tell you of where you can find her. Though her keeper might not want you around. It will be up to him and only him if you even deserve a chance at friendship. Even though we need her I feel as if I must test you to see if you can truly be the pony this world needs. Will you be able to put aside your own happiness for other ponies? Will you finally be able to see through the lies you have built to keep you afloat or will your delusion of false joy keep you away from those who truly care about you?
So my little pony are you ready to become Loyalty once again? Are you ready to mend your mistakes or are you going to just ignore this and keep living the dream? I know inside you, some impossible task has kept you from being happy. I know about your father my little pony. You have been wanting his approval, his affection, his appraisal. You want him to be proud. Rainbow Dash have you been as deaf to the world that you couldn't see how proud he would be of you? You made your dream come true. Why didn't you see it? What else did you feel you needed? Everyone was proud of you. Why wasn't that enough? I can't fathom what your mind has been through but I can tell you this. The moment you made that Sonic Rainboom during the best young flier's competition Was the day your father had felt proud. To know you would forsake your own glory just to save a friend... that is why he was proud of you. He was proud of your loyalty. You want to make your father proud then be the daughter he raised. I bet you have questions and want answers. Please my loyal subject come to Canterlot as soon as your done reading this and find me at the throne. We shall be alone.
Your's truly,
Princess Celestia.
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That letter had caused a meeting between an infuriated Rainbow Dash and a unflinching princess to take place. Rainbow Dash was snorting and wings flared while shouting. "You... how dare you... what right do you have to manipulate others.. you are not a princess." She said snorting and stomping her hooves. The guards were already excused because Celestia didn't need them to become the targets of an angry Dash.
"I am sorry Rainbow Dash... you have no idea how ba-" she couldn't finish her statement because a loud stomp cracked the floor and the fuming Rainbow Dash was getting closer, dangerously close.
" Don't you dare tell me you feel bad, you have the power to change things, instead you try to pin this all on me? If I was so damn important why didn't you let me know? Why not say 'hey Rainbow instead of being a Wonderbolt you should know you are this super important bad ass that is keeping your friends afloat and Ponyville safe',..." her words dripping with venom as she got face to face with Celestia muzzle inches apart "I would hit you but that would solve nothing. So take solace in the fact I don't feel as if I want to waste my time beating the tar out of some goddess who would put the lives of her subjects at risk for her own ambitions."
Celestia the usually mighty Princess felt feeble under the gaze of the pegasus. " Please my little pony, give me a chance as that is all I can ask for. Hear me out and if afterwards you feel I don't deserve your help than you are free to go. I will bother you no more." She said shakily, she wasn't afraid of Rainbow Dash but was unnerved by how distraught she was. For some pony who didn't seem to care she was showing signs of giving a buck.
"Fine... spill it I will sit right here like a good mare... until you try to explain your way out of this. If I like your answer then I will help and save my friends from your vicious 'game' and if I don't then consider me the element of not giving a buck as I will just go back to living my life and letting your pawns suffer." She said without even flinching or wincing at her words. Anger coursed through her, hurt, betrayal, and a broad range of other emotions.
Celestia saddened at the thought. Surely Rainbow Dash couldn't mean what she just said. Could she really go back to living that life if it meant her friends suffering? " Alright ... first since you aren't going to cut me off, I must tell you how sorry I am about all this. I just wanted you to be away from your friends so you didn't blame them if they some how pulled you from living your dream. You seemed so far gone that your element might have needed replacing. I urged them to try and make a new loyal friend or at least I was going to but before I could even suggest that they were already gone from my castle. I was just wanting them to ignore you and forget you so they wouldn't feel pain. They thought of you constantly and were missing you terribly. You didn't just leave you abandoned them. You didn't write, and you didn't visit. Your one visit shattered your relationship with two of the ponies who cared about you. I felt I needed to keep my other subjects safe from you. The Elements of Harmony are all that stand in the way of any evil from taking over Equestria. I am powerful.." that earned her a derisive laugh from Rainbow Dash, she ignored it and continued " But I can't do everything that everyone thinks. I can't just make troubles go away, I have to maintain order not just pick and choose who lives and dies. I know you probably don't care about me too much right now, so I won't talk about my mistakes. I will however ask of you to help me. I know it's a tall order but I must beg the question. Do you truly feel happy with your friends missing from your life? If so why is it you turned to drugs? I know you are clean now as you aren't loopy or trying to seduce me. " She tried making a light joke to help ease the tension but Rainbow Dash wasn't having it. "Still you are very angry and I think I know why. I mentioned your father in the letter and you might feel it was out of line. I sincerely do apologize for that. Just I find it hard to believe your father or any father couldn't be proud of what you became before the drugs and sexual escapades. Your dad surely would have been proud and now that you are clean and sober and becoming a pony again... I am sure he has never been more proud in his life. You do understand Rainbow that you can't physically hear him talk to you... but he speaks to you Rainbow... open your ears with your heart and stop hiding from emotions. How long have you had that armor on? The invisible armor that keeps you safe from feeling? Please Rainbow Dash tell me what will you do? The armor will break at one point and with no one there to help you it will destroy you... I don't want to see that. I want you to be happy my little pony I want you to live a good life. You deserve it. You saved the world and caused six destinies with one Sonic Rainboom. You are a hero, you always have been even if you didn't get the appraisal you deserved. You were always loved and you didn't need to be a celebrity to have felt it. You were always admired even if it was just one filly it was someone who admired you. Not your persona. The truth is Rainbow Dash you were already a Wonderbolt before you even joined. You were already living the dream. You had no need for money back then and if you really wanted it you knew you could work more. You were content in Ponyville and you were happy with your friends. So the choice is yours my dear pony. I will say no more besides the following..." She paused for dramatic effect and for Rainbow to catch up with the conversation. "I will give you the choice. Will you stay and be there for those who truly love you? Or will you walk out the door like you did the first time so long ago in the cottage of your friend?"
Rainbow Dash felt like she was sucker punched. "Well played Celestia... well played" She said before the torrent of water was relinquished from her eye sockets. " Fine... you made your bucking point. Now tell me how can I fix things? I want my friends back... more importantly I want Fluttershy back. I want to make things right. I lived my dream and I had my fun. But all dreams are meant to be woken up from. I have felt the joy of being on top and now I realize while it is a blessing, it is also a curse. I can't even pee without some pony wanting a picture of me. I feel empty with all the money but nothing to spend it on. I have no friends besides the one's I used, abused and even hurt. I probably slept with half of Equestria's mares and have never apologized for it. I would give anything to just be happy and truly happy. I also wish to just hear my dad say he loves me again. Though I know he never will since only his memories live inside me. I know he never wanted to say mushy stuff and that is why I have been haunted by emotions. I can't be sappy because I wasn't allowed sappiness. But I had something better than the approval of my father. The love of a mare who wasn't afraid to let me know how much she cared. So Celestia I take your challenge. I will make things right. I will be who I am supposed to be. When I return I want to know where Fluttershy is. When I find out I will take her with me. I am not going to live another moment without her in my life." Her breath short from the massive spew of words. Her body started glowing as her element which died was reborn. "After all I am... Loyalty."
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Spitfire was outside of Canterlot's castle listening in on the conversation. She smiled a bit. She was saddened from the prospect of losing a great Wonderbolt. But she had other ideas of how to keep the star from leaving the show without it impacting her desire to be loyal to her friends. She had to just set things in motion and get some stuff moved around but. She was hoping that maybe just maybe Rainbow Dash can have the best of both worlds. If only ... I guess this means I will be looking for a new member. I will make sure not to ignore warnings and the next candidate I choose must be Rainbow Dash approved. I am not giving up on you Rainbow Dash you are the best Wonderbolt to have lived and I will see to it that you stay that. I need you to be the best because I want the Wonderbolts to mean the best.
While pondering her next move she saw a famous rainbow blur whoosh into the sky as it was going to it's intended target. This gave Spitfire the chance to enter the castle and approach Celestia herself. "Hello Princess Celestia. I know I have come in uninvited and you aren't in the mood for a chat, but I think it's time we did. Things are needing change and I think you can help. Will you listen to me today if it means your subject can be happy and a star?" Her tone somewhat worried that she might suffer for listening in on a private conversation.
Celestia wasn't sure of Spitfire's aim or goal. Still if it meant Rainbow could be happy and still be what she wanted to be since foalhood, It couldn't be that bad right? "Please settle down, relax, and tell me what is it you wish you do with Rainbow Dash," Celestia was intrigued to know what the Captain of the Wonderbolts had in mind and she would soon find out.