//------------------------------//
// Part Three: Reasons To Live 
// Story: Valley Of Rainbows: Seeking Solutions 
// by Sparx 
//------------------------------//


Reasons To Live



Love and the pure enjoyment of life, those are my own. I shared these reasons with Dash. From what I know now though, she puts my own passions to shame, fully devoting herself to everything she cares for. Her passion fuels her. Still, I also consider myself to be a very passionate pony, or ‘obsessive’ even.

It was near the end of our first adventure together that I witnessed the true depth and drive that pushed her on, seeing her potential unlock. Her enemies were death and loss themselves, two foes that have taken much from many fiercer and greater creatures, but they couldn’t have been more ill-equipped to deal with her.

I know that so long as she draws breath, so long as her heart continues to beat, she will be the biggest obstacle between those that wish to do harm to her loved ones.

She shielded her allies, supported them, and rescued them by her sheer wish to do so, but when channeling love or even a strong need for vengeance, she becomes a force of nature.

I hold her as a bar to reach, somepony I idolize, and I have told her this before. As if I were being redundant, she had smirked at me and told me she was already aware.

Our friends agree with this notion, witnessing different traits of our valiant leader they wish they could rival. Gilda admires her leadership, Fluttershy her courage, Rarity her passion, and even the dogs held respect for her strength.

If my words seem exaggerated, perhaps they are, but legends are always remembered fondly, and I will sing her praises louder than anypony.
I once wrote her as fearless, but she told me I was wrong. Her fear kept her smart, kept her cautious, and kept her motivated. It was overcoming this fear, putting her attention on what needed to be done that left her standing tall, even as her body crumbled under hexes and fangs and her own emotions.

Was she perfect? No, though her behavior would have you believe otherwise. This being said, no hero, no individual is without their flaws. Even Sleipnir and Celestia had their weaknesses. Overcoming these faults puts them where they are in history, however. So remember this lesson young fillies and colts, and even you stallions and mares, as our heroes never chose their path to be legends, they simply made the right decisions despite their fears and shortcomings.

It’s also likely that they had astounding friends. Not everypony I know would have stood by her side as the jaws of fate closed down around her, but I know each of us would have done it again, and we have time and time again.

Though it was her own element, loyalty was inspired from her, radiating into all of us around her. The warmth and strength she gave us overpowered the chill within as we stared down what we were certain to be our final sight.

The ultimate price seemed an acceptable price to many of us. After all, every one of us would have to pay the toll eventually, might as well take along as much glory as we can carry.

Those who didn’t lose lives didn’t walk around without having lost something in the events. Homes, relatives, peace of mind, confidence, I saw it all taken as well. But even then, the loss of a friend and the loss of faith hit incredibly painfully. In her own eyes though, I knew I felt only a fraction of her own emotions.

It’s strange; out of all of us I would have expected her to fall, even with her incredible inner strength. She was battered physically, mentally, inside, outside, and endured the loss of friends on multiple occasions. She would cry, she would sob, she would reach the edge, but I would never see her go over. That damned smirk always found its way back onto her face, and it was infectious.

She will always fight, we will always fight with her, and damn I’m happy we’re on our side.

-Lyra Heartstrings