Rain without Rainbows

by Leoshi

Bonus: Deleted Scenes

Guys, this entry here is the exact opposite of a proper chapter. Consider this my ‘cutting room floor,’ where various scenes and tidbits were cut out of the story for various reasons. As a reward to the people who stuck around all this time, and a hearty ‘thank-you’ to everyone who has left me a kind word, I’m releasing all of these chopped-up scenes for the enjoyment of all.

This is just like the Special Features section on DVD movies - and just like those sections, you don’t have to read any of these. They are just for the sake of enjoyment, and do not take anything away from the story at large. You can even move to a different page on the internet right now and not miss out on anything. I won’t feel bad, promise.

Still here? Alright, then. Each chapter will be properly labeled, with their appropriate scenes included. Not all chapters had scenes cut from them, but the ones that follow were all changed in big ways. Hope you enjoy them!

~Leo

Chapter five: Assault

When I first began writing this chapter, I had the idea of showing Spike spending time with Snips and Snails in a sort-of homage to the Three Stooges in scene two. They would be doing some mundane activity that degraded into physical comedy. I cut it out for two reasons. One, because the idea of comedy felt very out of place with the part of the story at the time. And two, because I had no other intentions for Snips and Snails for the entire story. I didn’t want to bring in characters if they were not going to affect the story, so I decided to take a different approach and follow Alucard’s magic instead.

Spike tapped his claw against his forearm to a beat he didn’t measure. He couldn’t spare the thought - he was too busy measuring how much time had passed since Snails insisted on going inside ahead of them. The two-minute mark had long since been passed, which made Snails’ promise to them worthless. But without anything else to do, Spike just kept waiting with Snips at his side.

“This is gonna be so much fun!” Snips proclaimed for the fifth time that day. His dragon friend spared him a glance, then went back to his claw-tapping.

The ‘fun’ that the three youngsters were planning involved not telling Spike what it involved at all. It was, in their words, a surprise for him to make up for how poorly last week’s event had gone. Spike was having a hard time reserving judgement, despite being friends with the two colts. While he was eager to have amends made to him from a week earlier, he was skeptical that he would benefit from whatever they were about to do.

He let out a quick sigh. Last week’s fiasco had left his tail bald in a few spots. He still had episodes of agonizing itchiness, too. Not exactly a fond memory.

Spike stood outside the front door to Ponyville’s stationery shop, where quills, scrolls, ink wells, and other such supplies were sold. Being the assistant Twilight Sparkle, Spike was a frequent customer of the shop. That fact caused him to worry... If Snails did anything to ruin his good reputation, he might lose the secret discounts he had been enjoying for the last couple years. Of course, Twilight didn’t know about them, and his extra trips to Sugarcube Corner were best left a secret as well.

Chapter sixteen: Harmony

These two drafts were the second and third tries at an opening scene for Harmony. In both of them, Cyros noted how they fall into my bad habit of re-stating known facts instead of actually telling something new. They really seem to act like climactic introductions to an action sequel, where reminding the viewers of key facts is a need. In the end, he and agreed to go with the first version (more dialogue-heavy and a bigger focus on the characters instead of the world).

VERSION TWO:
Her name was Rainbow Dash. She was a pegasus mare with a light blue coat, gifted with a mane and tail of many colors that matched her name. Her greatest joy in life was racing, and she enjoyed anything as long as it was in competition. She had lived in the town of Ponyville, working as a local weather mare, while at the same time training for a long-held dream of being a Wonderbolt.

That was four years ago. It felt like a lifetime.

Now, she was very different. Her name and colors had remained the same, but her mindset and priorities were of a completely different sort. Instead of racing, her friends were her greatest joy, and they were more a gift than a triumph. She still had a home with them, but that home was threatened. Her old routines of working the weather and training for the Wonderbolts had died off years ago, and lately she had been treading carefully around the sensitive subjects of her past.

She had lost so much in the years, yet there were things that she had gained - or, more accurately, regained. On a day stolen and darkened, she stood as the Bearer of Loyalty, one of six ponies who wielded the Elements. She was more attuned to the power than ever before, and it was that power that fed her resolve.

Many things had been leading up to that particular day. Seven days before, two of her friends had been assaulted by dangerous magic which had nearly killed one of them. Two days after that, Rainbow was found a pitiful mess in a remote cave, but had taken a chance to return home. Three days later, it was discovered that Rainbow had lied to her friends in a final attempt to end her own life. It was on the same day that a pony from her past had re-entered his own scheme, and two more days later, he would enact his promised storm.

Four years ago, he had planned every step. The stallion who saw everything had worked with a profound vigilance to reach this day, and there was only one thing he did not foresee. The return of Rainbow Dash.

Autumn had begun.

It was early in the evening.

VERSION THREE:
The sound around her went unnoticed. She would not deny the constant dull bangs behind her or the muffled shouts of her name barely reaching her ears, but she did not notice them. The existence of sound was not among her concerns, at least not those of others. What she did notice was that her own words were far more frail than she had expected them to be, and it took a brief moment to clear her throat.

In the time between her first words and her second attempt at them, she also cursed the existence of sight. She blatantly ignored the gifts that sight provided, choosing instead to hate it for what she was seeing at that moment. The figure before her could not be described as anything short of horrifying, and each new detail she was forced to notice also forced more instinctual fear into her system.

She fought that fear. She fought it with every fiber of will she knew she had. She hated it - she hated where she was, she hated what this stallion before her had done, what he was doing, what he was planning to do...she hated it all. But what she hated the most was the knowledge that she had indirectly helped to cause all this. Even if her contribution had simply been her own abscence. Inaction, it seemed, was worse than action.

The fear held her back. It held her, there over the clouds, trapped in a magical dome that kept her alive, with her five friends desperately trying to reach her with words and force, while the stallion in front of her merely smiled. In that instant, she changed her mind - that smile was what she hated the most.

It was early in the evening.

Chapter seventeen: Kindred Spirits

In this part of Kindred Spirits, Rainbow and company have just come across the rows of dead bodies held inside the throne room. In the original draft of the chapter, the victim of Alucard (seen as his “secret” in Harmony) was always intended to be met and introduced. He would go on to explain himself and reveal what little he knew about Alucard. However, this idea presented a lot of big problems, such as the need to introduce an important character so late in the story. Of course, there was also the issue of him being difficult to write for, since I had nothing to use for him (a similar problem I had for Scootaloo). As a result, the entire idea of having him there was removed from the storyline, and subsequent scenes were adapted to match. It was a wise choice, I think.

Another thing to note is the change in Luna’s behavior between this scene and the final version. In this one, I wrote her as being far more friendly toward Rainbow that usual. Of course, this felt uncomfortable for the story given everything that had happened, and felt at-odds with Luna herself. The version of her here also dropped her Nightmare Moon reference far too soon, so the impact it held was considerably weaker.

Her friends had all joined her, emulating her silence as they too paid their respects. Twilight slowly wrapped Spike in her foreleg, drawing him close. Rarity and Applejack mimicked the action, respectively embracing Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Rainbow slowly became aware that a new presence had joined her side, and she looked up to see the turquoise eyes of Princess Luna. The alicorn offered a gentle smile, to which Rainbow instantly averted her gaze.

“Do not blame yourself, Rainbow Dash,” Luna began. “Were it not for your efforts alongside your friends, we would all be joining these few who are now free from pain.”

Rainbow drew in a shaky breath. “How many?” she asked.

It was a few tense seconds before Luna replied. “Nineteen.” Rainbow released a harsh sob while the princess continued. “Eight were from Canterlot, these five here hail from Ponyville, and those six-” she nodded toward the sets of royal armor, “-were members of our palace guard.”

‘Nineteen were killed today...no, yesterday,’ Rainbow Dash thought. ‘And Spitfire’s team...that’s twenty-three. I just, I can’t...’

“I-I’m sorry, princess,” she muttered. She knew that words couldn’t make this better, but felt compelled to try regardless. “I allowed this t-to happen...if I had only stayed...”

In a flash, Luna bent to her haunches and wrapped her uninjured wing around Rainbow. She pulled the saddened pegasus close in a hug that would normally only be shared with her sister. “Be strong, young one. You’ve done more than any of us have. The pain will heal.”

The pegasus’ eyes lifted once more, and a desperate glint shone behind them. “How can I possibly get over this?” she asked.

“I have faith that you will, Rainbow Dash. You are not the first to have lived in darkness, been swallowed by regret, and then granted a chance to return to the light.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened slightly. She knew that Luna was referring to her time as Nightmare Moon, and the sins she had earned during her frightful reign. Closing her eyes, Rainbow leaned into the embrace, understanding washing over her like a blanket against the cold.

“Come,” Luna said a moment later. “There is somepony you need to meet.”

The princess stood in one smooth motion, and Rainbow followed her ascent a second later. Their group now numbered ten, and they all followed the alicorn as she turned and walked slowly away from the covered bodies. The air instantly felt clearer with every step they took.

As they walked, Twilight spied the raised dais at the end of the room. A pile of golden rubble was resting on the platform, covered in patches of crimson fabric. It was the remains of the actual throne, collected from the town square after the sky had cleared.

It wasn’t long before they came upon another row of palace guards, much like those blocking the halls toward the throne room. Luna recognized them as Celestia’s personal guard, forming a close-knit circle facing outward. They all seemed tense - it was clear that the loss of some of their own had affected them, but now they also seemed angry. Without a word, the circle opened and allowed the group to pass. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle earned a few stares from the closest guards, and they hurried along nervously.

Behind them, the guards re-formed their protective circle. Luna stepped aside, allowing Rainbow and her friends an unobstructed view of what awaited them. Celestia stood nearby, still clearly weakened from her battle the previous day. Her mane barely moved, and she constantly shifted her weight from hoof to hoof. Yet her gaze had recovered its stern, piercing glare - but when that glare met the eyes of the mares, it instantly softened.

“My friends,” Celestia sighed in relief. “My brave, strong champions. I cannot express how happy I am to see you all well.”

Applejack couldn’t resist a quip. “Ah’ve had better, to be honest.”

“Yes, I had heard about you injury,” the princess replied with only a slight hesitation. “How are you coping?”

“Can Ah tell you after the drugs have worn off?” To underscore her question, Applejack swayed in her spot. Her little sister rushed forward to catch her, but thankfully Applejack regained her footing before such a save was needed.

“Fair point. Now then, I’m sorry to get right to business, but there are some truths that still need to be heard. Rainbow Dash, since you’ve been affected by this the longest, I want you to see him first.”

Rainbow blinked, feeling a wave of apprehension wash over her. “Him? You mean...”

Celestia and Luna both shook their heads, dispelling her fear. “Our pegasi have been sweeping the city for hours,” Luna informed. “We have not seen any trace of Alucard since the storm broke up.”

Relieved, Rainbow swallowed her apprehension like a piece of dry wood. “Then who?” she rasped.

In response, Celestia looked behind her, then took a large step back. Just past her body was a white alicorn, his coat color more dismal than Celestia’s yet no less solid. His mane was a soft black, like rubbed charcoal, which angled around his head in natural spikes. The state of his wings was somewhat disturbing - both had been lashed to his body with rope, preventing any hope of flight. His horn, as well, was adorned with a metal contraption Rainbow had never before seen, but correctly guessed was used to block any magic at the source. All along his body were irregular burn marks, like webs caught aflame, which revealed patches of recently scorched hide.

She instantly recognized him as the victim alicorn they had all seen above the clouds several hours earlier. But while she did know where she had seen him, she had no words for him. So she only stared, taking in every detail in a mental mission to prove that the stallion before her was not Alucard in any way.

After a moment, the stallion gently looked up to Celestia. “Your Highness, may I stand?”

Celestia’s eyes instantly sharpened, and she glared back at him. “You may not.”

He instantly lowered his head and gave a grim frown, like he had known the answer to his own question all along.

Pinkie Pie broke the tension. “You know, it’s kind of weird to see you without your guitar.”

Eleven pairs of eyes shot toward her, a few accompanied by confused scoffs. The alicorn warmed up bit by bit, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Yeah, I remember that. Wow, it feels like such a long time ago...”

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking at Luna, who was closer.

The moon regent looked to her, then to the captive alicorn. “This one claims to have been rescued by you and your friends. However, he freely admits to being the host to Alucard - a claim we hope you can elaborate upon. Regardless, he is a stranger in these lands, and his power is unknown. Our security demands that we take precautions.”

“Precautions?” Rainbow echoed, gazing upon the metal clamp and ropes. They looked foreign and extreme to her.

“He’s been cooperating,” Celestia added. “Every question we’ve had, he’s answered to the best of his ability. He hasn’t fought the bindings than keep him here, but we still cannot take risks.”

Fluttershy peeked out. “Isn’t this a little much, though?”

Luna fixed her with a level stare. “Ponies have died.”

The timid pegasus immediately withdrew. Luna continued after relieving a heavy sigh.

“Believe me, young ones - my sister and I would rather have a more open forum. However, these extra measures are just as much for his safety as our own. Were it up to the Canterlot ponies, they would doubtlessly see him punished.”

Hesitating, Rainbow Dash looked over to him again. She tried to ignore the rope and clamp. “So, who is he?”

The stallion in question looked up to Celestia, wordlessly seeking her approval. She glanced back, waited a moment, then finally gave a stiff nod.

This scene was not planned as part of Kindred Spirits. In fact, it went off-the-wall very quickly. On a whim, I decided to see what would happen if I threw in two more twists to the tale. The first was Scootaloo’s reveal, as had always been intended, and the second would be her involvement in Alucard’s plan. Naturally, this bit of bad writing was instantly cut, as I had absolutely no room (or patience!) for it in the story proper. Despite that, it was still an entertaining distraction. One of those Shyamalan-esque “didn’t see that one comin’!” twists.

“What am I so scared of?” Rainbow asked aloud.

Her own mind answered her. ‘I already know what I’m scared of.’

“But I built this place. It shouldn’t scare me!”

‘What does that mean? I built up my own skill and pride, but it was used against me.’

“It’s...just dark in there. I’ve handled worse.”

‘Why would I want to handle it again?’

“Come on, Rainbow, you can do this. Just a little further.”

‘But what’s waiting for me inside there?’

“It’s probably nothing.”

‘Then what am I so scared of?’

She swallowed, then took a step. Then another. And one more, and again, one after the next, until she found herself surrounded by the damaged walls and cooled air that resided within. Her eyes moved from one side to another, gathering what details could be gained from the few spots of moonlight that filtered through.

The state of things inside her home fared no better than the outside. What little she could actually see was barren, merely spots of empty cloud. The rest remained too dark to make out more than faint outlines. It was just enough to know that something was there.

“See?” she reassured herself. “Not so bad at all. This is one darkness that can’t hurt-”

It was at that moment that a brief stirring to Rainbow’s left caused her to panic. She flinched and jumped aside, causing her bruise to radiate hot pain again. With a groan she couldn’t contain, Rainbow sank to her haunches and held her side, keeping one eye open and focused on the spot from where the movement had been.

The stirring continued, an almost indiscernible shape emerging from the floor of her home. Whatever it was, it grew until it was almost her size. The soft sounds of breathing came forth, steadily increasing in what appeared to be excitement. A moment later, two faint white spots appeared in the darkness, round and empty. They had come from nowhere.

They appeared magical.

The sight of the glowing spots of white moving with the shifting black caused Rainbow’s limbs to go numb. As the figure continued moving, she remained still. A harsh buzzing at the back of her mind urged her to get as far away as possible. But it was no use.

A moment later, the twin spots of white turned and focused on Rainbow Dash. The excited breathing had calmed slightly, now steady gasps of air. The figure, whatever it was, moved toward Rainbow very slowly, and she could barely make out the shapes of legs. Before long, the figure stepped into the moonlight bleeding through the open doorway, revealing itself entirely to Rainbow. As it took the last couple steps, it kicked forward various colorful feathers that had long since molted.

Rainbow looked at the feathers. They were not her own. She looked back at the dark figure in front of her. It began to speak.

“I...I always knew...you would come home...” it whispered. “After all, you...owe me...a promise, right...?”

Rainbow Dash’s mind snapped. She began to sputter. “No, no, nonono, please, no, please not you, oh Steed no, please...”

The dark figure gave a weak smile, its blank eyes narrowing in happiness. “You promised me...and I’ve been...waiting. I’ve waited...for you to...come home.”

“Please, no, not you, not this, anything but this! This isn’t right, this isn’t fair! No! NO! NOT YOU! Please, PLEASE, not you too!”

“Won’t you tell me...?” the figure asked, its voice as deafening as perfect silence. “Tell me why...you’re so late...?”

The dark figure lowered itself to rest on its stomach, matching Rainbow’s form. It kicked aside a few of the old feathers - dry, useless feathers of orange - and looked into the face of the pegasus.

But Rainbow couldn’t answer. She couldn’t even understand what the question was. She could only deny the truth before her, and hope that someone would listen, that someone in the empty town would tell her this was a cruel prank, a vengeful joke, a hoax, a lie, a dream - anything except what she knew it had to be. Suddenly she had a reason to fight again, but that same reason would hold her down more effectively than any magic bound to her soul.

After all, she was loyal to her friends. And none of them, especially the little one in front of her, deserved what she had gone through.

"NO! NO, THIS ISN'T RIGHT, THIS ISN'T FAIR! NOT YOU, PLEASE, NOT YOU!"

The figure simply looked at her and gave a tiny smile. Like a fan meeting her role model.

Chapter eighteen: Where Land Meets Sky

This was the original drafted idea for scene two of Where Lands Meets Sky. In it, Scootaloo is shown as an adult, enjoying a nice summer flight across town. She briefly reflects on a few memories of her hero before meeting the three fillies Kaitlyn Kream, Sun Spot, and Jeweled Radiance. I decided to cut it out because I ended up just reiterating known facts (a habit I’ve caught myself doing before) instead of progressing the scene. In the words of the Monty Python crew, I needed to “get on with it.” So I changed it up in the final draft and went from there instead.

The roads of Ponyville stretched out lazily, the surface always ready to unleash a cloud of dust at the slightest breeze. Old shops and new homes lined either side, and what few wooden merchant carts remained in use were stocked with food, drink, and curio. Spring would end soon; the gentle citizens could already sense the approaching summer winds and rains. The bounty had been generous that season, and the hamlet would not know the feel of hunger. Except, of course, for the playful children who would get a little too wild.

Scootaloo was trotting along the road, her mind on one such child. Kaitlyn Kream, whose family had moved down from Canterlot three years before, had once again asked for the orange pegasus’ company. It seemed the filly needed help getting some facts right (about what was still a mystery), and Scootaloo had been unable to refuse her. She couldn’t help it - she saw some of herself in the girl, even if they had been born differently.

‘It’s the curiosity,’ she reasoned as she turned a corner. ‘Kaitlyn has the same knack for trouble I did, except she’s got magical puberty to deal with to boot.’

The thought sparked a number of others. Scootaloo stopped in the middle of the road, suddenly reminiscent of her youthful days. She recalled the afternoon, over fifteen years ago, when she had met her best friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. The games they would play - and the trouble they would stir up - were not unlike those of Kaitlyn and her two friends.

“Hey, Scoot! Scootaloo!” somepony called.

The orange pegasus turned her head, and spotted Apple Bloom trotting to meet her. She smiled. “Heya, Bloom! What’s going on?”

The two of them exchanged a friendly hug. “Wanted to see if you were available fer a campin’ trip this weekend. Y’know, like we used to do as kids.”

“I’m game. Where to?”

“Ya remember the way to Windsome Falls?”

Like she could forget. The trip up to the magical falls remained one of Scootaloo’s fondest memories. She stretched her wings as the thought made her excited. “Absolutely. I’ll be sure to have better stories this time around.”

Apple Bloom gave a happy little cheer. “Whoo, alright! That jus’ leaves Spike an’ Twilight, then we’ll have ourselves a walkin’ caravan kind of trip!”

“Ah-pfft, are you inviting the whole town or something?”

“Nah, just our close friends. Why, ya got anypony in mind?”

Scootaloo shook her head, eyeing the road she had been walking along. “Maybe later. I’ve got to get going right now, but I’ll find you later, okay?”

With a quick hoof-bump, the yellow farm mare continued on her way. “You got it! If Ah don’t hear from ya, then just drop by the farm Friday, an’ we’ll leave the next mornin’!”

“Deal,” she replied. With a quick nod, Scootaloo turned back to the road, took two steps, and jumped into the air.

The ponies milling about below her looked up, some of them still expressing surprise. It had been a difficult time when Scootaloo finally came back to them, especially since she was so young when she left. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had been hurt most of all, but time eventually soothed the pain. As years went on, the three of them were able to firmly rekindle the friendship they all held. At the same time, Scootaloo’s interaction with the rest of the town settled to something peaceful.

She had been one of the first to openly defend Rainbow Dash when she came back. Many town members were ready to accept the truth, but not all of them. Those that still thought of her as a criminal were simply ignored.