Chapter 22: Recovery and Conquest
For those in the room it would of appeared that time had stopped those few seconds following the flash of light. The intensity of the flash had been great enough to force the eyes closed of all in the room. Rainbow Dash found it strange how despite everything else that had happened in the past few minutes the light itself felt good. She was disoriented but at the same time felt calm.
All of sudden she found that she was able to move her body again, the Professor's grip on her had vanished completely. She brought her hooves to her eyes and rubbed them vigorously as she tried to regain her sight. Finally she managed to look around and immediately noticed that she was on the ground. At some point she had fallen off of the chair onto her back. Rainbow Dash shook her head in an effort to get rid of the slight ringing in her ears.
A faint voice was calling to her but she was unable to make out who it belonged to. Rainbow Dash once again felt herself surrounded by a magic field. At first thought she believed that the Professor was again restraining her but this time felt different. She still had control of her body as she was lifted onto her hooves. Unlike the magic she was held in only a few moments ago which was hard and cold, this field was soft and warming. Her hearing returned to her and she felt the magic field around her body disappear. Rainbow Dash felt a hoof placed on her shoulder, she turned around and her jaw fell open at sight of the lavender colored mare standing next to her.
"Twilight?" It all seemed too unreal. She knew there was no way that Twilight could of been standing there next to her. An illusion, that's what Rainbow Dash concluded it was, nothing more and nothing less. Twilight spoke but Rainbow Dash couldn't make out what she was saying. The alicorn's horn lit up and the world came back to life.
"Rainbow Dash, please answer me! I need to know that you're okay! Rainbow Dash!" Twilight grabbed the pegasus and began shaking her. Rainbow Dash didn't reply, she refused to be tricked by the illusion. That all changed though as she looked around the room and saw that Sheriff Silver Point, Thatcher, and Professor Honey Dew were all looking at Twilight as well. Their facial expressions a mix of surprise, horror, and confusion.
It was at that moment that Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, touching the alicorn's face with a hoof. "You're real..." It was all the stunned pegasus was able to mutter.
Twilight frowned at that. "Well of course I'm real! What, you think that I wasn't going to come here after I got your letter?"
"...but...but..." Rainbow Dash was stammering hard. It was simply too much for her to take in. Never in a thousand years did she believe that her second plan would of actually worked. "Twilight, how did you..."
"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise? Here I was only expecting the Element of Loyalty but I end up getting the Element of Magic as well. I must say Princess Twilight Sparkle, from all the times I've seen you around Canterlot I've never seen you make such a flashy entrance." Professor Honey Dew walked over to the Top Notch who was laying on his side down on the ground. "It seems that I just can't catch a break can I?"
"Professor Honey Dew what are you doing here?" Twilight looked genuinely surprised seeing the Professor stand in front of her. "Why was my friend Rainbow Dash being held by a restraint spell. Exactly what have you been up to?"
The Professor knelt down beside Top Notch placing the stallion up right in the chair again. "You must forgive me Princess, I'm just amazed that you're here right now. Tell me, was that a teleportation spell that you used? I'm in awe at how powerful you've become that you seemingly teleported from Canterlot all the way up here. The level of magic that alicorn's have never ceases to amaze me. To tell you the truth I'm quite jealous."
Twilight knew that the unicorn was trying to change the subject, that much she suspected. What still threw her off was how calm the Professor was. "The letter I received from Rainbow Dash informed me that there were ponies here with evil intentions. I arrive and I see you, a fellow scholar, using your magic to hold my friend against her will. What exactly are you up to?"
"Twilight..." The Princess turned her attention to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus was leaning heavily against her. "This asshole is a bucking lunatic! He wants to rule Equestria and was going to do it by brainwashing you and the other Princesses! He's tried to destroy EverGlade, took that stallion over there hostage to get to me, and he...he..." Rainbow Dash began choking on her words. She fought back the tears forming in her eyes. "He killed another stallion that ran the restaurant in town."
It was unbelievable to the Princess, here was Rainbow Dash telling her all these horrible crimes committed by the Professor. Twilight draped a wing over her friends back in a attempt to comfort her. "It's okay Rainbow Dash, I'm here to help one of my friends." Twilight glared at the Professor who simply smiled back at her. "Honey Dew, is what she said true? Did you really go as far as kill a fellow pony all in the pursuit of this ludicrous plan of yours?"
"Guilty as charged Princess Twilight Sparkle. I see no point in attempting to lie to you. Yes, I did attempt to get rid of that back water town. Yes, I did take this stallion here hostage to get to Rainbow Dash. Yes, I did kill that restaurant owner although that was an accident. At least that stallion can rest easy knowing that his death gained me a bit of research." Twilight's horn began to glow brighter and brighter as the Professor continued to speak. "As a fellow scholar I know you'll understand that sacrifices mus be made for the sake of research."
Twilight had heard enough of the stallion's ramblings. "Don't you dare compare yourself to me or any other well meaning researcher! You crossed the line Honey Dew and now I'll see that you face trial in front of the Celestia Court before all four Princesses for what you have done." To her surprise the Professor didn't seem to be taking anything that she had said seriously. He seemed more preoccupied with Top Notch. "What are you doing to that stallion?"
Professor Honey Dew looked at Twilight in a way that the Princess deemed unsavory. "Me? Oh I'm just getting my mouth mask that I dropped on our friend here." The Professor placed the white mask on himself. "In a way I'm actually glad you're here Princess Twilight Sparkle. Lets me cut out the middle pony and all that." Professor Honey Dew's horn began to glow.
"What are you..." Twilight didn't get a chance to finish. In the next instant she heard something explode next to her. The Professor had used his magic to implode the glass jar containing the dust. Glass was sent flying outward in all directions with a few shards cutting into the pony who had been standing right next to the jar. Blood dripped down Twilight's legs as she wobbled slightly from the pain. Before she had time to react the Professor jumped at her tackling her towards the ground.
"It's no use trying to struggle Princess Twilight, there is no where in this room you can run to without breathing in my dust now. Just make it easy on yourself and take a deep breath will you?" The Professor's horn began to glow as he used his magic to assist himself in pinning the Princess to the ground. Twilight found herself fighting two battles, she was struggling to free herself from the Professor's magic while at the same time struggling to control her own breathing.
Twilight and the Professor knew that given enough time she would eventually lose both struggles. He was the pony in control out of the two. At least he would of been if not for the pegasus mare in the room.
"Get off of her you creep!" Rainbow Dash lunged at the stallion knocking him off of Twilight. They rolled across the room before coming to a stop with Rainbow on top. "Don't you ever put a hoof on my best friend!" She managed to get in two hits before she was pushed off of him by his magic.
Rainbow Dash was flung against one of the walls hard. Her injured wing burned intensely with pain forcing her to close her eyes. She reopened them just in time to see a chair fly towards her. Rolling out of the way just a second before the chair shattered against the wall behind her she once again ran towards the Professor. Another chair was thrown her way, she dodged but was grazed by it causing her to stumble forward. In that instant she felt herself encased in the Professor's magic again as she was lifted into the air.
"You know Rainbow Dash, I'm really starting to get tired of you." Rainbow Dash felt the unicorn's magical grip tighten around her throat. "In fact I've come to the conclusion that I don't really need you anymore now that Princess Twilight Sparkle has delivered herself to me. So before you draw you last breath is there anything that you would like to say to the group?"
Rainbow Dash felt her chest burn as she became more and more light headed. "Yeah...I..I do. Buck...buck you...literally!" The Professor didn't have time to react as Sheriff Silver Point reared up his hind legs bucking the unicorn hard in the side causing the Professor to lose his concentration and drop Rainbow Dash to the ground.
"Didn't forget about me did you?" The Sheriff ran up to Professor Honey with the intent on delivering a knock out punch to the side of the unicorn's head.
Just as Sheriff Silver Point's hoof was inches away from it's target he stopped as he was encased in the Professor's magic. "No I didn't forget about you Sheriff. I had just assumed that you had dropped dead from inhaling too much of the dust. I see that you have not so allow me to speed up the process." Sheriff Silver Point was slammed up and down against the floor and ceiling numerous times before being thrown down on a table breaking it in half. The old pegasus didn't move after that. Satisfied with taking care of one problem Professor Honey Dew turned his attention back to Rainbow Dash in time to see her tackle him against the wall.
Rainbow Dash delivered a swift punch to the Professor's stomach causing him to bend over in pain. "Not so tough when you can't concentrate and use your magic are you?" She felt something pierce her shoulder. Stumbling back in pain she saw there was small gash in her shoulder. Her gaze fell on the Professor who's horn was tinged slightly red. "What the?"
"One of the advantages of being a unicorn is having a weapon attached firmly to your head. It's considered barbaric for unicorns to use their horns in this day and age as weapons but it does get the job done." Professor Honey Dew lit up his horn again grabbing Rainbow Dash with his magic. Just as he horn was tinged red his magics aura also took on red stains. "Now where were we? Ah yes, I was just about to rid this world of one Element of Harmony before bringing another under my control." He slammed Rainbow Dash hard against the ground kocking the wind out of her. "Did you really think that some pegasus would be able to beat me? I am considered a high level unicorn so the chances of you coming out on top in a fight against me was impossible." He increased his grip on Rainbow Dash causing her eyes to redden and tears to form. "A valiant but vain effort, good bye Rainbow Dash."
Just as the Professor was about to squeeze what little breath remained in the pegasus's lungs he was shot backwards onto the ground by a bolt of magical energy. With his grip on her gone Rainbow Dash took several small hasty breaths uncaring for the dust that filled the room. She looked behind her and saw that Twilight was standing with a purple aura encasing her body. With a flick of the alicorn's head soon Rainbow Dash found that she was encased in alicorn's magic as well. "Don't worry Rainbow Dash, you can breath easy now. I casted a spell that is filtering the air around us. Just sit back and rest now, I'll finish this up."
Not even waiting for a response Twilight moved to stand in front of Rainbow Dash shielding her from any further harm. The Princess glared at the Professor who was just then beginning to pick himself off of the ground. "You boast about being considered a high level unicorn but you seem to forget just who you address. Rainbow Dash may not be a unicorn but she is an Element of Harmony. The magic contained inside of her is far beyond your comprehension. As you also said my level of magic is also far greater than yours. Just give up now Professor Honey Dew, you can't hope to win against us."
"Your wrong Princess! I have no need to be more powerful than you or the other Princesses since soon you will all be under by control! With four alicorns behind me there is nothing that I won't be able to accomplish!" He turned his head and looked towards his subordinate laying face down on the floor. "Thatcher get up! I require your assistance this instant!" No response came from the earth pony. "Thatcher get up you useless excuse for a henchpony!" Professor Honey Dew hobbled over to Thatcher and flipped the stallion onto his back. Thatcher was breathing but his eyes were glossy and he stared straight ahead seemingly at nothing.
"It's over you lunatic!" Rainbow Dash got up and stood next Twilight. "Give up or fight us until you beat you to a pulp! I'm not gonna lie, I'm sorta hoping you pick the second option."
"Don't you dare mock me! I will not stand by and be insulted by the likes of you!" The Professor's face was twisted with anger and rage as his horn glowed brighter and brighter. "I'll show you! You think I can't go horn to horn with a weak Princess like her!? She's nothing compared to what I'm capable of!"
Sensing danger, Twilight put up a small shield around her and Rainbow Dash. "You think that little shield is going to protect you? Allow me to show you just how wrong you are! I can rule Equestria with just three Princesses anyway!" The unicorn's horn began glowed a sickening golden mixed with crimson to the point of almost blinding the two friends. "Good bye Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
All of a sudden the bright light and glow faded in an instant. The Professor was thrown backwards ans his spell seemingly imploded on himself and fell to the ground. A large crack ran up the side of his horn. He closed his eyes and passed out from the pain and shock of the experience. In his mind he knew that now he had truly lost. All his plans and dreams would never come to pass now. "What a shame." He drifted off into unconsciousness.
Feeling that they were now relatively safe Twilight lowered her shield and with flick of her horn a purple flash encased the room. Once the flash had faded all of the dust was gone. "It's over." Twilight sat on the ground and began rubbing her injuries.
Rainbow Dash immediately ran towards the one thing that was consuming her thoughts. Top Notch sat still in the chair somehow unmoved by the fighting. He stared at the ground with glossy eyes breathing heavily. Rainbow Dash shook him vigorously trying to snap him out of his daze. "Top's! Come on Top's please say something to me!" She put the stallion in a hug, her tears falling on his coat. "I'm sorry Top's, I'm so, so sorry! Please don't do this to me Top's! I promise I'll forgive you if you just say something, anything!"
Top Notch remained still. Rainbow Dash hugged him tighter refusing to let him slip away from her. She a felt hoof on her shoulder, turned, and saw Twilight standing behind her. A new wave of tears fell down the pegasus's face. "It's okay Rainbow Dash, I promise that everything is going to be alright." Twilight draped a wing over her sobbing friend.
The weeks that followed what Twilight had reported as 'The Frontier Incident' were packed with nonstop work for the young Princess. Regiments of Royal Guards had arrived two days after Twilight and went to work securing EverGlade and it's borders. The town itself began to resemble a military base as the days went by. The streets were patrolled by unicorn and earth pony guards as the skies above the town were watched over by squads of pegasus. Sheriff Silver Point felt uneasy having outsiders protecting the town but he was recovering from the scuffle with the Professor so he allowed it for the time being at least.
One section of the town had been put under heavy protection by Twilight's orders, the medical station. Once Twilight had been treated for her cuts she had gone straight to work on Top Notch doing everything in her power to reverse the effects that the dust had taken on him as well as bring the stallion back to full health. It hadn't helped that a nervous Rainbow Dash had kept watch the whole time Twilight worked on Top Notch.
Rainbow Dash had been inseparable from him during his stay at the medical station. Day and night she never left his side. Top Notch had been fully conscious during most of his recovery and had repeatedly assured Rainbow Dash that he was okay. The pegasus mare would have none of it, she insisted that she had a debt to repay him.
It was around lunch time when Twilight walked into the infirmary room carrying with her the results of Top Notch's latest test results. As always Rainbow Dash was seated right next to his bed. The two ponies appeared to be in deep conversation before Twilight entered. "Oh I'm sorry, I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"Nah me and Top's here were just talking about some minor stuff, nothing big really." Rainbow Dash noticed that Twilight held a clip board. "Whatcha got there Twilight?"
"Hmm? Oh this is just Top Notch's latest blood tests." She levitated the clip board over to the stallion. "Here you go, have a look for yourself."
Top Notch took the clip board in his hooves and glanced up and down it before handing it over to Rainbow Dash. "Um Doc...I mean Twilight...I mean Princess Twilight Sparkle!" The stallion's nervousness brought about a round of laughter from the two mares.
"No need to be nervous around me Top Notch. From what Rainbow Dash has told me that you two are actually really close friends."
"Yeah...real close friends." Rainbow Dash repeated. Both her as well as Top Notch blushed slightly while Twilight seemed oblivious.
A quick cough and Top Notch regained his train of thought. "So anyway...uh Twilight...I was never really any good at reading medical mumble jumbo so could just tell me what my tests say?" He signaled for Rainbow Dash to hand the clip board back to Twilight.
Grabbing the results with her magic Twilight flipped through the pages before shooting them both a warm smile. "Well if these tests results are correct then Top Notch, I'm glad to say that we have finally successfully eliminated the dust from your system! All we would need to do is run a few more tests and then you'll be cleared to leave the medical station."
Rainbow Dash jumped up and put Top Notch in a tight hug after hearing that. She felt a wave of relief wash over her and onto Top Notch. "That's awesome news! Top's can finally go home and stop being cramped up in this room all day! What do you think about that Top's?"
"Well I think it truly is great news. I can finally get back to work on the farm. Last time we were only behind a few days and now I'm behind weeks! Oh I can already feel my hooves killing me from all the extra hours I'm going to have to put in."
"Oh toughen up. It's not like you're going to be doing all that work alone. You're gonna have me there helping you remember?" Rainbow Dash gave the stallion a playful punch in the shoulder. "Heck with Equestrias top athlete I bet you'll catch back up in no time!"
"Yeah...catch back up in no time...with you're help. You know, since you're staying with me here...in EverGlade." Top Notch gave Rainbow Dash a quick smile but then quickly looked away.
A nurse entered the room just as Rainbow Dash was about to ask Top Notch about his weird behavior. The nurse spoke with Twilight, the Princess giving a nod. "Come on Rainbow Dash, the nurse is about to take some final tests from Top Notch. Lets give him some privacy." Twilight left the room while Rainbow Dash was a bit more hesitant to leave the stallion alone.
Top Notch gave her a reassuring look. "It's alright Rainbow, it's not like I'm going anywhere." Before Rainbow Dash had a chance to respond she was quickly ushered out of the room by the nurse. The door closed shut behind her as she found herself standing in the hallway alone with Twilight.
Rainbow Dash figure it was as good a time as any to get a few things off her chest. "Hey uh Twi? I've been meaning to ask something since you showed up and saved my flank. Oh and thanks for saving my flank by the way."
"Go ahead and ask Rainbow, I know I've been sorta busy around here with all that's happened but I'm all ears now. To tell you the truth its actually nice to talk to you again after so long." She gave Rainbow Dash a warm smile and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Go ahead and ask whatever's on your mind."
"Well, I was actually wondering how you managed to find me so fast. I know I sent you a letter and all that but I didn't even know where I was meeting the Professor when I sent you that. So how did you find me? Also is it true what the Professor said about you teleporting all the way from Canterlot to here?"
"Yeah, I guess I could see how you're confused. I really didn't much to work with when I got your letter. All I knew was that you were in some serious trouble. Actually, I think I have the letter you sent me right here." Twilight dug into saddle bag and levitated a letter in front of Rainbow Dash so that her friend could read it.
Twilight get your flank over to EverGlade right now! There's some evil stuff going down and I could really use your help!
P.S. This is Rainbow Dash.
P.S.S Sorry about the not talking to you for over a year thing.
Rainbow Dash blushed slightly from embarrasment. "I really didn't have a lot of time to write that actually since I had to do other stuff in order save Top Notch. You can go ahead and rip that up now if you want."
"No, I think I'll keep it as a memento." She rolled up the letter and put it back in her saddle bag. "Oh and to answer your other question, yes, I really did teleport all the way here from Canterlot. I would of been here sooner but you didn't really tell me where exactly EverGlade was in your letter. I had to look at a map first and then ask Princess Celestia for assistance when it came to the teleport. I actually ended up in the middle of the Mayor's office and boy was he surprised to see me! After apologizing for breaking his desk in half I performed a tracker spell that Princess Celestia had taught me a while ago if I ever needed to to find the Elements of Harmony. The rest is history."
"So wait, you really did teleport all the way from Canterlot and used a new spell to find me? Huh, I didn't know you were learning new spells."
Twilight put both of her front hooves on Rainbow's shoulders giving her wide smile. "That's because we haven't talked IN OVER A BUCKING YEAR!"
...
Twilight blushed little before regaining her composure after her outburst . "Sorry. It's just really good to see you again Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah, same here." An awkward silence fell over the two friends. "I'm actually really sorry about that Twilight. You were right back then to say I wasn't showing my element by being disloyal to you. I guess I just overreacted about you shutting down the WonderBolts. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and figured that I was just unhappy with my life. I was bored of not doing anything and I missed being a hero. You shutting down the WonderBolts was just the icing on the cake. I was being selfish and I shouldn't of just stopped talking to one of my best friends like that."
"You know Rainbow Dash, after you stopped talking to me I stayed up countless nights trying to figure out what drove you to act like that. I knew you would be angry at me for shutting down your heroes but I didn't really care. I guess I just figured that you would get over it eventually. Never did I once consider that you would flat out stop being my friend. It was then that I realized that maybe it was me that was in the wrong. I really should of told you what I was planning instead of you finding out another way. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry for going behind your back like that." Twilight glanced at the door to Top Notch's room. "I guess you found a new friend from all of this so at least something good came out of it."
Rainbow Dash draped a wing around Twilight. "Hey don't go thinking that Top's is replacing you. There ain't another pony in the world who could replace one of my best friends. Besides, there are certain things that I would do with Top's that I wouldn't do with you or the rest of the girls."
Twilight looked at her friend slightly confused. "What would you do with him that you would do with...ohhhhh." She blushed madly at the realization. "You mind if we change the subject?"
Rainbow Dash patted the alicorn on the head. "I was just about to anyway. So is the Professor...you know."
"Just sent off this morning along with Thatcher and that other earth pony back to Canterlot with a regiment of Lunar Marines guarding him. I don't think he'll be escaping anytime soon. Which reminds me, I got to be back in Canterot when that train comes back so I can be at his trial. As the newest Princess it is my duty to be there along with Celestia and the others for Professor Honey Dew's Celestia court hearing. The train comes back in about six days but you're not coming back with me are you?"
A smile on the pegasus's face was all the answer that Twilight needed. "Nope, sorry Twilight but I think I gonna hang around here. But hey, you ever need me just send a letter and I'll be right by your side in no time!"
"I understand, just don't be a stranger Rainbow Dash. The other girls miss you too!" Twilight put Rainbow Dash in a tight hug and the pegasus returned it with interest.
The door to Top Notch's room opened as the nurse stepped out. "I'm finished taking the samples from him Princess Twilight Sparkle. You can see him now but he is wishing to speak with Ms. Rainbow Dash in private first."
Without any hesitation Rainbow Dash made her way into the room and closed the door behind her. Top Notch was looking at her with what was obviously the most fake smile in the world. "Hey there Rainbow Dash. There's something I want to talk to you about."
Rainbow Dash hoped up and sat at the foot of his bed. "What's on your mind Top's?"
Top Notch took a deep breath which was never a good sign to Rainbow Dash. He motioned for her to come closer and grabbed her hood in his own. "Rainbow do you really plan on staying with me here in EverGlade?"
"Well yeah, I mean I don't see why not. You're a pretty awesome stallion to hang around with. Besides you're going to need all the help you can get if your getting to catch up on all your work. I also definitely want to spend more time with you if you catch my drift." She ran her hoof up and down the stallions leg.
Losing his train of thought for a moment from the physical sensation Top Notch put on a straight face. "Rainbow Dash, you're special to me. I mean really special to me. I just want you to know that I have never felt this way about any other pony before the way I feel about you. Not with Clover Leaf and not with any other mare. Rainbow Dash, I love you."
Those words pounded inside Rainbow Dash's head and caused her heart to almost leap out of her mouth. She sat there stunned for a few minutes trying to comprehend those words. "Top's, I love you too."
She leaned in close to him but he held her back. "I love you Rainbow Dash, and its for that reason that I can't let you stay with me here in EverGlade. You have to go back home Rainbow, your friends need you."
Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. Top Notch had confessed his love for her just moments before saying that he didn't want her to stay with him. "But...but...why!?"
"When you came here Rainbow Dash I saw a mare that needed my help. Your eyes back then were full of sadness and confusion. I swore to myself that I would do all I could to help you through whatever problems you were facing. In turn I also discovered there was more to you then I ever would of imagined. You also helped me Rainbow Dash and for that I'm thankful. When I look in your eyes now I don't see any sadness or confusion any more. Instead I see joy and optimism. You don't need to stay here anymore Rainbow Dash. I'm not telling you to not visit me every now and then, far from it actually. If you truly want to make me happy then you'll go back home and live a wonderful life. Show me that you've truly healed."
"But it's not fair!' Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves down on the bed. "I just get my best friend back and now I have to lose the one stallion that I ever fell in love with! Why can't I ever have both!?" Tears began to fall onto the bed sheets.
If there was one thing that Top Notch couldn't stand it was seeing a mare cry. "You'll always be special to me Rainbow Dash and I hope I'll always be special to you. Besides it not like we're never going to see each other again. You'll come visit me and I'll come visit you. Think about all the fun we'll have when that happens."
Rainbow Dash leaned forward and hugged Top Notch as hard as she could. "The farm! I can't leave because then who'll help you on the farm? You'll never be able to catch up without any help!"
"Hey now, I handled myself pretty well before you showed up and I'll be able to handle myself after you leave. Don't you worry about me and the farm, you've got bigger and better things to do than work on a dinky old dairy farm with me. Which reminds me, I still got to pay you for the work you've put into the farm. You're gonna have to give me some time to crunch some..."
A hoof was placed over Top Notch's mouth. Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through his mane and nuzzled him lightly. "Idiot, you've already paid me more than I ever could of wanted."
It was the evening of their departure. Around Top Notch's dairy farm stood guards waiting to escort the Princess and her friend back to Canterlot. A rare gentle breeze blew over the farm bringing with it a coolness that served to help calm the heat of emotions coming from inside the farm house.
Rainbow Dash took one final look at what had been her room for the past months. There had been many occasions where she had wished for a cloud to sleep on but now she couldn't imagine waking up to anything different but the bed in front of her. The room was now once again how she had found it, empty save for the bed and nightstand. Sitting in a box at the door were all the things that had been sent to her as well as a few mementos that she had picked up during her stay in the town. She glanced around the room one final time before closing the door shut. To her side stood a unicorn guard, she nodded her head signaling she was ready. The guard levitated the box and followed her downstairs where the others were waiting.
In the living room sat Top Notch, Twilight, Clover Leaf, and Sheriff Silver Point. They all looked at Rainbow Dash with different expressions as she entered. Twilight motioned for the guard to give the group some privacy and take Rainbow's belongings to the train station.
Once they were alone Clover ran up with tears in her eyes and threw her hooves around Rainbow Dash. The unicorn definitely had strength in that little body of hers as she hugged Rainbow Dash tighter and tighter. "Clover...getting...hard...to...breath!"
Clover Leaf gave her one more squeeze before letting the pegasus out of the hug. "Sorry honey, it's just that I'm going to miss you around here. I can't imagine what I'm going to do once you leave. Promise me that you'll write me some letters or better yet, feel free to visit us whenever you feel like it. Whisky's restaurant is always open to you! Oh shoot I almost forgot."
The unicorn brought out a large paper bag. "I made you a veggie burger with an order of hay fries just like Whisky used to make for your trip back home." She put the food in Rainbow Dash's saddle bag before placing her in a smaller hug. "I really am going to miss you Rainbow Dash. My dad sends you his goodbyes also and says he's sorry he couldn't be here himself. He's swamped with paper work that EverGlade is now an official Equestrian Military outpost."
Rainbow Dash returned the hug and thanked her for the food before Clover Leaf stepped aside for Sheriff Silver Point. He walked up with a stiff expression and looked his fellow pegasus in the eye. "Don't go expecting me to hug you little lady."
"I wouldn't have it any other way Sheriff Silver Point."
"That's Chief Warrant Officer Silver Point now Rainbow Dash thanks to the Princess over there. Can't complain about it though since it only makes sense for me to lead these Royal Guards in keeping EverGlade safe. I understand her logic for wanting to keep a deposit of mind control dust under protection. Enough of me bragging though, I know we didn't exactly see eye to eye at first but you'll alright Rainbow Dash. Definitely proved to me your worth and it's sort of a shame you're leaving. I was considering making you a deputy."
Bring her hoof up to her head Rainbow Dash gave the old pegasus a salute and he gave her one as well. "Don't think I won't pop up every now and then around here Sheriff Silver Point. Do me a favor and go easy on these Royal Guards will you?"
"No promises." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and gave the old pegasus a quick hug.
A Royal Guard entered the room informing Twilight that their train was ready to leave. Rainbow Dash looked at Top Notch with a worried look on her face. "Can we wait a little bit? I didn't get a chance to say good bye to Top's yet."
"Don't worry Rainbow, I'll walk you and the Princess to the station." With that being said Rainbow Dash said her final goodbyes to Clover Leaf and Sheriff Silver point before leaving with the others. She stepped outside the house into the orange glow of the setting sun. The three made their way out of the farm and began walking up the hill. Once at the top Rainbow Dash stopped and looked back at what she had called her home.
Top Notch walked up and stood next to Rainbow Dash as they both looked over the horizon at beauty of the landscape. Sensing that she wasn't needed Twilight decided to leave the two alone and made her way back to the train station along with her guards.
The two ponies stood there for some time basking in the fleeting warmth of the sun and the calming quiet of the land around them. Rainbow Dash began nuzzling the stallions chest wanting to desperately remember how he felt. Top Notch in return nuzzled the top of her head with the same intention. After a few moments Rainbow Dash broke away from the embrace wanting to look the stallion in the eyes. "I promise that'll I'll come back and visit you soon. You think you can survive without my awesomeness for a little while?"
The stallion smiled and ran his hoof through her mane. "Well it'll be hard for sure but I'll always have that bottle of Vaseline in my room to keep me company until you get back."
Rainbow Dash shoved the stallion lightly. "You're such a pervert."
"Hey you feel in love with a pervert so who's more perverted, me or you? Besides you don't have to come back too soon. I'll still be here no mater what. Besides now that all the action is over I doubt you'll find a reason to come visit hmmmf!"
The two melted into the kiss for some time before Rainbow Dash pulled away. "Oh I think there's something that'll make come back and see you soon."
Rainbow Dash looked out over the hill and onto the land below. She looked around seeing the vastness of the frontier illuminated by fleeting light of the sun. She opened and spread her wings out wanting to catch the breeze that was blowing across the land. She had come to this frontier seeking adventure and glory but now she left it with more than she ever could of wished for. A new outlook on her life and high hopes for what lay ahead waited for her back in PonyVille with her friends. She would never forget this place or the ponies she had met, not in a thousand years would she forget. It would be impossible to forget the place where she had found and conquered her frontier.
*~*FIN*~*