The air in Ponyville was dull and lifeless. Without Rainbow Dash every day life was boring and gray. She would normally be the one to clear clouds on a daily basis. Pinkie Pie tried to keep her promise and keep the citizens happy. It was useless, she couldn't bring the sun out every morning, and with her friend missing, it was impossible to feel joy herself. Alphion was gone.... but nothing was better, they were worse than before...
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Sonic Spark and Blitz spread word of Rainbow Dash's disappearance. Most of these spirit ponies either didn't care, or didn't try to do anything about it. There was no leader or ruler of the spirit world they could go to. At least, there was no known ruler.
"What are we supposed to do Blitz, no one will even believe us! Remember Alphion is still unknown to everyone here, he is only known to the living ponies of Equestria and us..."
"I have no idea Sparkie, but if we give up now, Rainbow Dash is going to suffer for eternity. We live forever here, we can't just give up after a few days."
Blitz and Sonic Spark walked out of town and went to the spot where they used to hang out with Dash. They both laid down and thought about what they could do next.
Then... a dark swirling vortex appeared in the distance. It moved closer to the two Pegasi. It stopped in front of them... under it was the shadow... of a pony, and alicorn to be exact.
"Hello Blitz.... Sonic Spark."
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"Fluttershy!"
"Y...yes master Alphion."
"Where's Rainbow Dash, there's something I want her to see."
"Ok...."
Fluttershy's illusion faded away.
"Rainbow Dash...."
The cyan Pegasus spun around and saw Fluttershy's illusion walking toward her. She backed away from the deranged Pegasus.
"Relax Dashie.... I'm not here to hurt you, Alphion has requested I bring you to him."
"Get out of here, I'm not helping him in whatever the hell he wants."
Fluttershy didn't answer, instead she grabbed Rainbow Dash and they both faded into the ground.
"Hello Rainbow Dash...."
"What do you want from me now...."
She cursed under her breath.
"Come over here... I wish to show you something."
The rainbow maned Pegasus didn't move.
"Oh come on, now you're just being a pest."
Alphion used his powers and pulled her toward him.
Alphion raised both his palms and closed his eyes.
"Aghh." Rainbow Dash felt a sudden headache come on.
She was beginning to see illusions. No... it was a vision, of Blitz? and Sonic Spark? Wait, there was one more pony, it was white and had a black mane. It's horn was broken in half and it had long wings, wings Rainbow Dash had never seen before. Who was this mysterious white alicorn?
"Who... who is that?" Rainbow Dash said.
"Well... I was preparing to persuade your friend Fluttershy into helping me," Alphion laughed under his breath.
"But then... I saw this pony, scouring the Everfree forest. His name is Black Flare, he is one of the few alicorns that live in Equestria. But no pony knew who he was, I offered him a chance to stand by me, and rule the very people who neglected him. His powers have elevated beyond any other alicorns, and the darkness has overpowered his souls, making his eyes completely black."
"Why.... why is there with Blitz, and Sparkie?"
"You'll see..."
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"Wh...who are you?" Blitz asked.
"My name, is Black Flare."
"Why are you here! Give us answers!" Sonic Spark said.
"I'm here to deliver a message, from Alphion!"
Black Flare rose into the air, and a dark pulse shot out from his body. The air turned quiet and dark, and the wind stopped blowing. The grass turned a dark gray color, the dark alicorn landed.
"Like what you see?"
His eyes were practically emanating shadows. He took a step closer to Blitz. Blitz and Sonic Spark both backed away.
Black Flare shook his head lightly. He faded away.
"Wh..what?"
He reappeared in front of the two Pegasi. He lifted his to front hooves and two dark beams shot out striking both of them.
"Stop your search for Alphion.." He said as he turned around.
"Or you'll see me again later."
He faded away into the dead air of the spirit world.
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"Hahahaha."
Alphion laughed as he walked away from Dash.
"Oh... Rainbow Dash I forgot to tell you something."
The cyan Pegasus raised her head.
"Since... my power is still recovering after your feeble attempt to stop me, you won't be returning to the nightmare at least not now. I'd rather have you healthy when you see Equestria devoured by darkness...."
He faded away and Fluttershy's illusion was standing behind him.
"Follow me...."
The cyan Pegasus followed, willing to do anything if it meant not returning to that nightmare.
They entered a small dark room...
"You're staying here until Master Alphion says otherwise."
Rainbow Dash walked in and was knocked to the ground by Fluttershy.
"Have fun..." She giggled as she walked out.
The cyan Pegasus looked around, there was nothing in this room. It was just like a black box she was trapped inside of. She laid down, trying to at least get some sleep.
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"Errrgh, Blitz? Are you ok?"
"Yea... I'm fine."
The two Pegasi stood up. They looked up at the sky, it had turned black and the ground was an ash gray color. All of the flowers and trees had disappeared. They looked behind them, the town was the same but every pony didn't look to happy about the changes.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Sonic Spark asked.
"I don't know.... We've done everything we could and we got no positive results."
"We need to think of something..."
"I know I know... Let's just... call it a day, I'll see you tomorrow."
Blitz and Sonic Spark tried for weeks to find a way to save their friend. After 3 weeks Sonic Spark had given up. Blitz continued for 2 months trying to do something. Eventually she just collapsed from exhaustion.
"It's over Blitz.... we can't do anything else.... Dash is gone."
Blitz started to cry... It couldn't end, not like this. She couldn't lose Dash after all she went through to find her. She imagined the cyan Pegasus being tortured back in Alphion's nightmare with no hope of escaping.
"But... maybe we could..."
"NO BLITZ! I hate this too, but there is nothing we can do. No pony will believe us, no pony will help us, there's no access to him from here, it's over. Get up and go get some sleep, you're a wreck."
Blitz ran off crying. That reminded Sonic Spark of something. Although she was technically a fake pony, she still had all of Rainbow Dash's memories... she saw everything. As she clicked through images in her mind, she saw something... Something that could save Rainbow Dash....
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The cyan Pegasus was completely destroyed. She hadn't been allowed out of this room for years, no maybe it wasn't years, maybe months or weeks or just a few days. She couldn't tell the difference. All she did was sleep, when she woke up she attempted to go back to sleep. Until images in her mind began to run and she couldn't stop crying. Thinking about her friends and the life she used to have before all this. At this point, she would be happy to be in the nightmare, because this was torture on its own.
"Oh Rainbow Dash... it's time."
The rainbow maned Pegasus didn't move. The door opened and Alphion entered.
"My powers have returned to their maximum strength, come."
Rainbow Dash stood up and followed Alphion.
They entered the main chamber of his lair, not that it looked much different, all the walls, the floor and the ceiling was black.
He waved his arm and an image appeared on one of the walls, it was Ponyville.
"Prepare Rainbow Dash, for every pony you one knew and loved is about to befall the same fate as you."
Alphion raised his arms and they began to glow purple. Then black clouds formed over Ponyville, same as before and black shadows rained down and began dragging ponies down with them.
"And after Equestria has been dealt with, the ponies of the spirit world will join us here as well. So no pony, dead or alive is safe from me!"
It was over.... Rainbow Dash had failed to do anything. The Elements Harmony failed...
The only hope for anything, was whatever Sonic Spark's crazy idea is. It's the only shred of light that is still shining on the existence of ponies. If whatever it is doesn't work... all is lost forever.