//------------------------------// // 17. Epilogue // Story: Dash of Humanity // by Kaidan //------------------------------// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dash sat on a large hill, enjoying the sunset with Soarin. The picturesque reds being cast over the horizon were to be expected in Equestria, and I could get used to the mild weather.  It was nice to relax after all of the hard times we had gone through. Thanks to her combined efforts with me, Discord had been re-imprisoned. Now, Equestria would be at peace and the god of chaos would be working on his tan—permanently. “I told you we could do it,” I said. Even though I appeared in most of Dash’s dreams, she didn’t seem to notice—or perhaps she forgot upon awakening. She nodded, and nuzzled into Soarin’s side. “Yeah, things turned out pretty awesome.” “You know I could give you a hell of a massage. Fingers beat hooves anyday.” I laid down and stretched my arms and legs, reveling in the feeling of the warm sun beating down on us. “Well, there’s something different on my mind.” Dash began to kiss Soarin, falling to the ground with him. “God, I’m gonna be sick now. You really ought to dream of something more original.” Dash continued on for a few moments before pulling back from Soarin. “Huh, dreaming?” I smiled, but already the illusion had been shattered. The grassy hill faded from sight as she began to wake up. Soon the dream vanished along with myself. Rainbow woke up with a gasp, restlessly shifting under the bed sheets. She wasn’t one to normally remember her dreams, yet this one had been different. She continued to focus on the image of Don in his human body. It had only been a few days since the battle with Discord, where Don’s sacrifice enabled her to save Equestria. She had refused to give up on him, despite no spell being able to turn up any sign of him. Dash got out of bed, taking a moment to orient herself to the unfamiliar layout of the Canterlot castle. She had been staying here since the big battle, wanting to keep Twilight, Luna, and Celestia close at hoof in case there was some hope of undoing what Dash saw as an injustice: Don’s death. The hallways were empty as she flew towards the top of the spire she had been staying in. Up top was Luna’s observatory, and the place she spent most of her free time in. When Dash got there, she saw the princess looking through a telescope at her night sky. “Luna, I found him!” Dash shouted. She flew over and landed right in front of her, breathing heavily. “Good evening, Rainbow Dash.” She looked down at her, softening her tone. “Who have you found?” “Don! He was in my dream. Quick, cast some fancy spell or something!” Luna smiled, opening a wing and inviting Dash in for a hug. “All those we hold dear appear in our dreams—it is truly a gift. Our magic could not find Don, and though we do not want you to give up hope, the more often we probe your mind with magic the more severe the risks.” Dash continued to stand there, denying Luna’s hug. “Look, you don’t have to go in my mind. Just go in my dream and I’ll prove it! I know I tend to go a bit overboard, once in a while, but this is different.” “Very well, come here and show me what you saw. If there is a chance Don is alive, I will gladly investigate it.” Luna didn’t want to get Dash’s hopes up. The time Dash had spent with Don had been an intimate experience. The two could not hide their thoughts or feelings from each other, like normal ponies could. Dash’s rough-and-tumble tomboy exterior did little to hide her gentler nature from the human. Luna was not surprised at how tough she had taken the loss, and was more than happy to continue searching for Don to ease her pain. “Okay.” Dash walked over and sat next to her side, letting Luna drape a wing over her. When Dash closed her eyes she felt magic washing over her, causing her to yawn and stretch out her legs. She collapsed into a deep sleep moments later. Dash walked down the empty streets of Ponyville, looking for something that seemed just out of reach. She had forgotten why she had come here, why Ponyville was so empty. Luna appeared in front of her, causing her to jump back, startled. “Oh, hey, Luna. What brings you to Ponyville?” Dash asked. “We are in your dream, Dash. Become aware of your surroundings,” Luna ordered. Her horn glowed briefly, causing the veil of sleep to wash away from Dash. “Whoa, I completely forgot I was dreaming,” Dash said. “Most ponies do. Now, you are in control. Summon Don here and we shall investigate.” Dash nodded, then closed her eyes, squinting as she concentrated. After a few moments of causing her blood vessels to bulge out of her neck, she exhaled and relaxed. “Well?” Dash looked around, seeing the streets still empty. “Oh, come on!” “Do not force it; the subconscious mind is vast. What were you doing when he last appeared?” Luna asked. “Uh, having a picnic?” As soon as Dash pictured it in her mind, a picnic blanket appeared along with a large salad. There was a bottle of hard apple cider and an autographed Wonderbolts picture. “Yeah, it was a date with Soarin!” The stunt pony in question appeared, sitting on the blanket and staring off towards a nearby building. “Good, Dash. What else?” “Well, I think he wasn’t too happy when I offered him salad. Kept making wisecracks about it.” Dash looked around for some sign of change. “Hey, Don! Come eat some salad!” The vacant town remained unchanged, and Dash began to frown. “Keep going, Dash.” “Well, I started kissing Soarin, and I, uh. . . Do you want me to make out in front of you?” Dash asked. Luna giggled. “If you knew half of what I’d seen in dreams, you would not be so shy. Go ahead.” She went over and pinned Soarin to the ground, making out with him with no subtlety. The two parted to catch their breath after a couple minutes of kissing. “Come on, come on!” Dash stomped a hoof impatiently. “Relax. What happened next?” “Hmm, well, that was the end, but I was about to—” Dash pawed the ground and blushed, her cheeks turning crimson. “I, uh. . . you know.” Luna nodded, and the very nervous Dash turned around and stretched her forelegs forward. She raised her butt in the air and flicked her tail to the side. A very interested Soarin got up and started to approach her. “Come on, come on!” Dash whispered under her breath. She didn’t really want to bang in front of a princess, but if Luna said it might help, she would. “Mind out of the gutter, or at least let Luna in on the action,” I quipped. “I’ve seen this show before.” Dash turned to face me as I walked down the street towards her. “Don!” She flew straight at me, tackling me to the ground before I could attempt to dodge her. “Oomph!” I hit the ground hard, but it didn’t hurt. I reached up and gave her a noogie. “Hey, glad to see you figured out lucid dreaming. The re-runs were getting old. I mean, I pretty much got non-stop dreams of you and Soarin, or you and Scootaloo.” “Don, it’s only been a few days,” Dash said. “Really? I. . . can’t remember how long I’ve been here.” “Fascinating,” Luna stated. She stood just feet from where I had landed when Dash hugged me with a death grip. “Yo, Moonbutt, what’s up?” I asked. Luna stuttered as she tried to recover from my nickname. “I—you—what?!” “See!” Dash got up and pointed a hoof at me. “I told you he was in my dreams.” “I don’t know what to say, except if that really is you, you will never refer to me with that nickname again!” Luna chuckled softly. “Though I suppose we could start calling Celestia, Sunnybutt.” “So, Dash, what’s going on? Is this another dream?” I asked. “I don’t think so. Luna?” Dash inquired. “I’ve never seen anything like it, Dash. I suppose it is possible that his conscious mind took sanctuary in your subconsciousness. Dreams are the only window into the subconscious mind.” Luna scratched her head behind the left ear with a hoof. “So, let’s get him out of here then!” Dash smiled at Luna, then turned and glared at me. “And you are gonna get kicked in the flank for not telling me you planned to sacrifice yourself!” “That was spur of the moment.” I stuck my hands in the air. “Forgive me.” “We will have to go now, Dash, and make preparations,” Luna explained. “What kind of preparations? What if something happens to him while we’re gone?” Dash walked around, muttering out questions until Luna stopped her. “Dash, we need a place to send him before we proceed.” Dash froze and looked up at Luna, eyes wide in hope. “So you can save him?!” Luna smirked and gave Dash a single confident nod. “Maybe, but we’ll need to go deeper.”