//------------------------------// // Retribution // Story: Raising Rainbows // by DGGames //------------------------------// “You disappoint me, Chrysalis.” The booming voice echoed throughout the massive cavern, shaking it’s walls. “I gave you one simple task and you utterly fail it.” The enormous dragon head scolded, rising up from the vast abyss in front of the changeling queen. “I swear, give me one more chance, I can do better!” Chrysalis begged the dragon, the once intimidating queen now groveling like a scared filly. “I don’t see why I should, you are a failure of a creation.” He snarled, his burning eyes dripping magma, illuminating the cavern. “Please. Please!” she cried. “I think it is time I find someone else to lead my changelings.” He declared, opening his mouth, starting to drain the queen of her strength and age. “NOOO!” Crysalis screams, as she begins to shrink, her crown falling off of her head with a clang. “Egghead?” Rainbow Dash asks. “Dashie? Are you alright?” Twilight runs into the kitchen, worried. “W-what's going on?” Dash asked, looking around, rather confused. Why the hay was everything so big? “Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asks. “Twi? Why are you so big?” She asked tilting her head. “Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy walks up behind Twilight. “Will somepony tell me what’s going on!?” Dash asked, flying up to look her friends in the eyes. “Dashie!” Fluttershy cried as she hugged her friend tightly. “You’re back!” tears started forming in her eyes. “What is going on!?” Dash demanded, getting annoyed. Twilight hesitated, rubbing her left hoof with her right hoof. “I’m not going to ask again.” Dash said, pulling out of Fluttershy’s grasp, hovering in front of Twilight’s face. “You had an accident about two weeks ago. Your brain was damaged.” Twilight said, shyly. “I what?” She asked blinking. “My brain is just fine thank you!” “It seems now it is, but for the past two weeks, you've been acting like a small filly. Celestia decided for your own safety to physically regress you. You looked like you were never going to come back. I’m sorry.” “She did what!” Dash asked, her eyes going wide with horror. She stared down at herself, her jaw dropping. “This isn’t real!” She said shaking her head. “It is, and there’s no way to reverse it. I-I’m so sorry.” Twilight said. “This is just a dream.” Dash said dropping to the ground, shaking her head vigorously. Twilight goes over and pinches Rainbow Dash with her magic, to prove it’s not a dream. She cried out, breaking down into sobs, curling up into a tight ball. “Shh Rainbow.” Twilight says, picking her up and rocking her back and forth. ‘It will be alright.” “No it won’t! My life is ruined!” She shouted, burying her face in Twilight’s fur. “No It’s not Dashie. The only difference now is that you're a filly. You’re still the awesome Rainbow Dash we all know and love.” Twilight said, trying to comfort Rainbow. “Don’t call me Dashie!” Dash shouted, glaring up at her. “But Dashie!” Twilight calls. “I said don’t call me that!” She screamed, bursting from Twilight’s grasp, flying through the open window, disappearing into the clouds. “What did I do wrong, Fluttershy?” Twilight asks. “Oh um..she doesn’t like it when other ponies call her Dashie, only I can.” Fluttershy said, looking out the window with a frown. "Not that... I mean, she probably hates me, she blames me for turning her into a filly, and I don't blame her. I didn't try and stop Celestia." Twilight sulked falling to the floor, her legs no longer wanting to hold her. "I'm a terrible mother. What do I do?" “You should go find her.” Fluttershy said, nudging her. “She shouldn’t be alone right now.” "But what if she doesn't want to be around me?" Twilight said, trying not to freak out, but failing miserably. “Twilight Sparkle!” Fluttershy said, getting firm. “ Did you or did you not become a princess?” "I did." Twilight sniffled. “Then you can do this. “ She said pulling Twilight to her hooves. “Now go find that filly, she needs you right now before she does something rash.” She said, pointing to the window, a serious look on her face. "You're right, Rainbow Dash needs me." Twilight said. "Thanks Fluttershy, I needed that." she said, before running out of the cottage. After about twenty minutes of search, she heard a sobbing coming from near Rainbow Dash's old home. Twilight flew up to investigate, to find a filly Rainbow Dash weeping on a cloud, attached to the house. "Rainbow, I'm sorry." Twilight said. "No you're not!” Dash said, glaring at her. Twilight lands next to Rainbow and lays on the cloud next to her. "I should have stopped Celestia from turning you into a filly. I should have stopped you from hurting yourself. I could have prevented everything, but I didn't. I pinkie promise, I am completely sorry. If you want to stop being my friend, that's alright. But before you do, ask the others what I did for you. You won't hear it out of my mouth. Since you're not going to listen to much more. You know where to find me." Twilight said, slowly getting up, yet not wanting to. She flapped down to the library and walked in. She jumped onto her bed to think. Rainbow Dash trotted up to Fluttershy’s cottage, her eyes locked on the ground in front of her. Twilight had given her a lot to think about but she wanted to talk to the others first. She hovered up to the door, knocking on it. Fluttershy opened the door, to a filly dash sitting on her doorstep. "Hey Dashie. Come on in." Fluttershy said. "That is... If you want to." “Thanks Flutters.” She said flying in. “So uh..Twi said she did some stuff for me.” She said looking around. "Huh? What do you mean stuff?" Fluttershy asked. “She didn’t tell me.” Dash said, shrugging. "I assume she wants you to know what she did for you while you had your brain damage?" Fluttershy asked curiously. “I guess.” She said rubbing her head at the mention of brain damage. Fluttershy hugged Rainbow Dash, as she began to retell the events of the past two weeks. The main points being Twilight prevented Rainbow from entering a mental hospital, TWICE, once having to use her princess status, which Rainbow knew she hated to do. Then she took care of her, feeding her, dealing with her toddler tantrums. “Wow..s-she did all that for me?” "Yeah, I don't think I'd ever seen her so focused on one task. And you know Twilight. She would never let you go. She's your friend." Fluttershy stated. “And all I did was yell at her..” Dash said, looking down in shame. "Do you know where she is now?" “She’s at the library.” Dash said, looking up at her. "Then go get her! She needs you and you need her more than ever. Be the loyal friend I know you are." Fluttershy cheered. “Thanks Flutters.” She said with a grin. She hovered over to her, giving her a hug. A second later she zipped out the window, heading to the library. "I need to make things right."