//------------------------------//
// Wanted 
// Story: The Rainbow's End 
// by ShootingRainbowStar13 
//------------------------------//


The Rainbow's End


By ShootingRainbowStar13



Wanted






"Twilight, darling? It's Rarity here... Twilight, will you answer me?"

"Give it a rest, sugarcube. She hasn't come out o' there or answered anyone since last night."

"But Applejack - "

"Believe me, Rarity."

Rarity ceased knocking and stepped back from the door. She sighed unhappily.

Behind her stood Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. They all stood silently, unsure of what to do. 

The night before, after Rainbow Dash had flown off, Twilight just stood quietly and watched her vanish into the night. Then she had picked up the fallen goggles and pocketed them. She turned, her face expressionless but her eyes full of pain, and walked back to the library. She didn't say a word to anyone, and didn't come out when her friends asked for her. They had no choice but to go to bed, worried sick.

Rainbow Dash still hadn't returned. What exactly had happened to make her leave was unclear. She wouldn't have just bolted off because Twilight attacked her by mistake. All the others knew was that they had done something wrong. They had hurt her, but didn't know how. They didn't know when she would come back. 

If she would ever come back.

There was a moment of silence as Rarity just stared uncertainly at the door of Golden Oaks Library. Then a wavering cry rose up behind them.

"Oh buck it all!" Fluttershy rushed past them and knocked loudly on the door, calling desperately for Twilight's name.

"Did she just..." stuttered Pinkie Pie, staring at the usually sweet pegasus.

"Fluttershy, don't bother, she won't -" started Applejack.

The door swung open, surprising them all. Twilight walked purposefully out, despite the fact that she looked terrible. Her face was gaunt and her hair was unbrushed, and bags hung under her bloodshot eyes. Spike waddled silently out behind her, looking tired and worried.

"Twiligh'..." said Applejack. 

"Girls..." Twilight swallowed painfully. "Look."

She held something out.

The gold glinted in the morning sunlight, almost as a sick joke that something so beautiful could be so terrible. The once sparkling red lightning bolt was grey and dull, helplessly displayed an ugly crack.

The Element of Loyalty.

The others gaped at it, letting what it meant sink in. Not a single word was spoken. 

That steadfast, speedy and loyal pegasus, the one that would never leave their side...

Twilight's knees gave way. Rarity and Fluttershy surged forward as she tumbled, catching her and carrying her into the library. Applejack held the darkened Element of Loyalty, gingerly setting it down next to the horse statuette. The other two sat Twilight down against a bookcase, unable to carry her further.

Twilight's eyelashes fluttered. She muttered, "All my fault... I hurt her the most..."

"Stop that crazy talk, darling. It wasn't your fault." Rarity carefully smoothed down her messy mane.

Twilight just shook her head. She tried to stand, but she fell back, groaning slightly.

"Twilight, are you okay?" asked Fluttershy.

"Did you even get any sleep last night?" fretted Pinkie Pie.

"I'm... I'm fine." Twilight tried again, and this time struggled to her hooves.

She lifted her weary head and looked at the glass case holding the Elements of Harmony. The other five elements looked normal, but she knew they felt ice cold. The crown held no power at all, just a crown and nothing more.

"We... we have to do something. It's only a matter of time until a force of evil tries to attack. We need Loyalty. We have to find Rainbow Dash." 

"Then we convince her to come back? Maybe we can use your memory spell?" asked Rarity.

Twilight sighed. "The memory spell was used when Discord removed all the things that made us US. All the spell did was bring them back. And Rainbow chose this of her own free will."

A sudden shadow passed the window, blocking the morning sunlight. Fluttershy whimpered and backed away.

"What was that?" Rarity cantered to the window and looked out. But the figure was gone.

Then it was back. This time, as it whipped by the window, it was clear it was a pegasus. A very fast one.

"No pegasus goes that fast except fo' - " A huge lump of ice slid into Applejack's stomach as the realisation struck her. "But she isn't that color! It couldn't be - "

CRAAACK!!!!

A blast of thunder rumbled the building. The air flashed bright white. Fluttershy and Rarity both screamed.

"That's IT!!!" Even level-headed Applejack snapped at this. She charged for the door and thrust it open, disappearing outside, leaving no choice for the others but to follow.

She dashed through the street, already falling behind the shadow even though she was at top speed. She strained to go faster, gritting her teeth and straining. She turned a corner, almost falling over when she slipped slightly in a puddle.

The whole scene seemed strangely familiar.

The figure glanced back, moving her head only slightly. But it was still enough to reveal two magenta eyes, glittering as hard as rubies.

"Applejack, wait!" Rarity was calling after her, unable to keep up. Applejack wanted to stop, to fall back and help her, but she knew she would lose the figure. Flutttershy and Pinkie were already far behind, hampered by Twilight, and gradually even Rarity's cries faded away. Only Applejack was athletic enough to stay in check.

She was alone. Yet she was determined to catch the figure.

Miraculously, Applejack could still follow the pegasus even though she was falling back. She realised it was taunting her, lagging behind enough for her to keep up, just barely. She snarled in anger.

As she ran, she was vaguely aware that the buildings and pavements were being replaced with grass and hills. She was being coaxed away from Ponyville. Yet she raced on stubbornly, refusing to give in.

The figure suddenly changed direction, flying straight up. Applejack faltered in surprise. She didn't realise what was going on until it was too late. Something slammed into her back, sending her flying. She crashed hard to the ground, face first. Her hat went flying. There was a metallic taste in her mouth. 

Then she was turned over, pinned down by the purple and black figure. She was still wearing her Shadowbolt costume. Applejack struggled, glaring past that rainbow mane and into those magenta eyes.

"It IS you. Rainbow Dash."

That mouth curved into a bitter smile. "Yeah, maybe it's me."

"And maybe it ain't." Applejack began to work on the next step. 

But she wasn't doing it solely because it was for the fate of Equestria. It was to save her friend. 

"The Rainbow Ah knew would never leave Ponyville hangin'. She would never leave her friends hangin'. But the pegasus holding me down, talking to me now, has."

Rainbow's grin faltered slightly. "What do you mean?"

"The Element of Loyalty is broken, 'cause the Spirit of Loyalty is broken." She poured all her influence and her Honesty into those words. "You've left us, in flesh an' in spirit."

Rainbow paused. "I... I -"

For a moment, it seemed like she would give in.

Then her smile returned, slowly but surely. It wasn't the leer of a maniac, but it wasn't the cocky grin of Rainbow Dash either. Applejack stiffened up, watching it spread.

"Nice try, Applejack. But you were never a match for me."

Perhaps it was because she had failed. Perhaps it was simply her competitive flair. But just for a moment, her own self-composition collapsed and let her natural instinct of accepting a challenge overcome her. Fury flushed through her veins, and anger boiled in her chest.

She lunged forward, fueled with new energy. She took Rainbow Dash by surprise, making her loosen her grip. Taking the chance, she knocked the slackened hooves from her shoulders and thrust her own as hard as she could into Rainbow's chest.

Dash flew backwards with a cry of shock. She fell hard on her back, tumbling across the dirt. Applejack leapt after her, roaring furiously. Before Rainbow could recover, she grabbed her wings and yanked them back.

Rainbow let out a strangled yell of pain. She twisted her leg around and bucked the orange pony sharply in the stomach. As she doubled over, Rainbow flipped herself free and landed on all four hooves, skidding slightly and sending up a small cloud of dust.

"How... DARE... you." She spat.

The Element of Loyalty, still sitting in the library, rang with dark energy. The grey bolt faded a touch more. The tiny crack grew slightly.

Applejack shook off her pain and swiped viciously at Rainbow, refusing to back down. Rainbow dodged easily. She ducked as Applejack leapt at her head, and gripped her tail in her teeth, causing her to land face-first in the dirt.

"Whoah there, nelly." she said, mocking the expression so often used by the orange earth pony.

Hot tears pricked into Applejack's eyes. She shot to her hooves and leapt at Rainbow, ready to pin her down even by force. 

She slammed into the ground. All that was pinned under her hooves was a single blue feather. Rainbow disappeared into the sunlight, leaving only fading laughter.

"Applejack!! APPLEJACK!!!"

The others broke out of the town and into the meadow, out of breath. They found Applejack sitting on the ground, slumped over slightly. She was staring over the mountains, at the horizon. Her hat lay crumpled and forlorn nearby. 

"Applejack!"

She wouldn't respond as Rarity ran over. She continued to stare vacantly. The blue feather was still tucked under her hooves.

"Applejack, what happened?"

Applejack mumbled something.

"What HAPPENED?"

The orange pony stood. She clopped over to her hat. She picked it up and dusted it off, planting it on her head. She glanced back at her friends. Twilight gasped when she saw the scuffs and scratches on her face.

"I was too slow. I was just too slow."

She staggered silently between them, going back towards Ponyville. They watched her go. Then they followed her, saying nothing. 





Rainbow Dash landed on a cloud. She winced, tucking in her slightly sore wings.

I have to go back.

No. Never go back.

I went back to see my friends!!! It was fine!!

You were seen. Going back means being seen.

What if I wanna be seen?

You can't. They'll be ready this time around.

Rainbow paused, realizing she was arguing with herself. Why was she arguing with herself? It was unnatural, as if she was talking to another Rainbow Dash inside her head.

I need one thing.

What?

Scootaloo.

The other voice went silent. 

If she was going to leave Ponyville, then she at least needed to tell her little filly friend. Or even bring her with her.

Oh Celestia. Leaving Ponyville.

Being Loyalty meant staying by her friends. If Applejack was really telling the truth (what kind of a question was that?) and the Element of Loyalty was broken, then how could she stay with them?

But.... 

Cloudsdale was the place she was born. She had been brought up there, only by her Father. Mother died giving birth to her.

All she could remember happened in Ponyville, in Cloudsdale. Her years of attending Junior Speedsters Academy. Her Sonic Rainboom. Getting her cutie mark. Being a hero.

Meeting her friends. Defeating Nightmare Moon. Defeating Discord. Laughing and playing together.

Storms. Arguing with Applejack. Teased by Pinkie Pie. Stomped on by Fluttershy. Upstaged by Rarity. Insulted by Twilight. Looked down at by everypony.

Written off as a failure by Mare-do-well.

Too many bad things wrecked the good. She would return just once to retrieve things she needed. To see Scootaloo, even for the last time.

Then she would never go back.





Scootaloo stood on the balcony of the CMC clubhouse. She looked out across the meadow. It was cold now, with the trees turning orange and yellow, ready for the Running of the Leaves.

There was a sack of candy on the railing. Scootaloo ignored it. She wasn't in the mood for sweet things.

Rainbow Dash. Where are you?

She closed her eyes for a moment and drifted back to the day before.

***

"Rainbow Dash!!"

Scootaloo galloped through the dark streets, attempting to keep up with the purple figure. "Wait!! Rainbow Dash!!"

She flapped her wings, trying to get off the ground, but it was no use. She fell behind, unable to keep up.

She stopped, panting as she watched Rainbow Dash vanish. Why did she leave? Twilight made a mistake, surely it wasn't all about that...

But she knew with terrible certainty that something was about to change, something for the better or the worse. And Scootaloo needed her hero.

Her bottom lip quivered. She shut her eyes tight, telling herself she wouldn't cry just because of a hunch. She slumped down in the middle of the road, head down.

"Stupid, useless wings."

***

She had heard rumors that Rainbow was seen earlier that day, and that Applejack returned with a bruised rib and multiple small injuries from fighting with her. 

Even if she only came back to hurt her friends, she came back. There was hope, for a moment. But then she left.

Scootaloo finally let a tear run down her cheek. Everyone told her it would be fine, which meant it wasn't. She told herself it was fine, and failed. She just wanted her big sister back.

She hadn't even said goodbye. 

She heard hooves clop on the wooden boards behind her. Applebloom joined her on the balcony. There was only silence for a moment.

"Why ya moping around so much? It's ma sister who's bruised up."

Scootaloo sighed. "It's Rainbow Dash."

"Naw, I'm sure she's fine."

"But she attacked your big sis. The Dash I knew wouldn't do that. And she never said anything to me when she left. Where is she now? What is she doing? Will I see her again?"

"Ah wish Ah knew. Nopony will tell me anything about it."

"Same here."

Applebloom turned to go back inside. "Well, jus' don't spend all day starin' into space, ya hear?" She said as she trotted away.

Scootaloo sighed and looked back into the clouds. She imagined opening her wings and soaring up there, all on her own. To spin and weave, to duck and dive. To burst through clouds, to glide like a bird. She closed her eyes and just imagined it.

Only half considering what she was doing, she slowly let her wings unfold. She stretched them out as far as they could go. She crouched, looking up at the sky, the place she most wanted to be. And she jumped.

She suddenly snapped into focus, reality filling the situation. Her head whipped down, and she saw the ground, so far away, but approaching at an alarming rate. Her wings stopped working, and they were useless as she fell, screaming.

WHOOSH

Scootaloo uncovered her eyes. The ground was no longer rushing up to meet her, it was rapidly disappearing instead. Her wings were still frozen in shock. That was when her mind registered that there were powerful hooves gripping her little body, and the beat of wings overhead. She looked up, and gasped in surprise.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Although she was still wearing the shadowbolt suit, the clear magenta eyes and flapping rainbow mane belonged to Rainbow Dash. But she didn't answer Scootaloo, she didn't even smile. She just stared straight ahead, flying away from the clubhouse and up into the sky.

Scootaloo glanced down. She saw the tiny figure of Applebloom rushing back out onto the clubhouse balcony. She was too far away for Scoot to make out any shouts, but clearly she was alarmed. The last Scoot saw of her was her running away through the trees, going in the direction of her farmhouse.

Then they rose above the cloud layer. All Scootaloo could think of now was how white the clouds were, the flapping of Rainbow's wings and the pounding of her own heart.





Rainbow Dash didn't know why she continued to fly away from Ponyville with Scootaloo. She told herself that she would just say goodbye, but when she saw her fall from the treehouse she just grabbed her and kept on flying on impulse. Maybe it was because she realized Scootaloo would be lost without her hero.

A ray of sunlight penetrated the dense cavern of Rainbow's broken heart. There was someone who would always, always, always be loyal to her after all.

As the mountains passed underneath, she began to consider the consequences of taking Scootaloo with her. Wherever she was going, Scootaloo might slow her down. She might be in danger. But Rainbow was ready to train her more, to teach her to fly properly, so one day she could follow in her hoofsteps. What she was really worried about was what would happen in Ponyville.

She had already hurt somepony who was once her best friend. She didn't know how much she was injured, but if it was serious then it could count as a crime. And now she had stolen a filly without any warning. What would the Mayor think? What would her friends think?

Slowly, Rainbow Dash began to land. There was a huge patch of cloud up ahead, and Rainbow Dash smoothly glided to a stop. She let Scootaloo go, and she turned to look up at her. Her eyes were filled with confusion. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I'm not staying in Ponyville again, Scoot." Rainbow replied. "I can't stay somewhere where I've betrayed everypony I know, and they've betrayed me. And... it's completely your choice..." She fumbled off.

"What is it?" asked Scootaloo.

"Will you come with me?"

Scootaloo stared at her in surprise. For a heart stopping moment, she was silent. And then she nuzzled up to Rainbow, saying, "I'll go wherever you go. You're my family now."





Twilight sat on the floor, head down. Tears dripped onto the parchment poster she held, dampening the paper and smudging the letters.

Her saddlebags sat nearby, packed and ready for the search. The library was clean and tidy, Twilight having assigned Owlicious and Spike to look after it while she was gone. Everything was in great shape.

But now, instead of a quest, a search for Rainbow Dash that would restore harmony... Twilight felt like they were going on a hunt for a wild animal, or a monster. 

All over town, signs were being plastered on the walls, assigned and approved by the Mayor. Ponies stopped and stared at them, unable to believe their eyes. Twilight held one in her hooves now, after tearing it off the side of the town hall.

There was a picture on the front, taken just before the Mare-do-well incident. A lean and athletic pegasus grinned devilishly on the front, posing for the camera. Beneath the picture were these words, smudged by Twilight's tears:

WANTED: RAINBOW DASH