The Long Lost Rainbow

by Ribe_FireRain


One Last Strike

When morning came, Strike was up early and managed to get out of bed without falling flat on his face, despite the pain running through his front hooves. He had his Dad's guitar strapped onto his back, sealed inside its case.
Walking down the hall to the entrance, he saw Applejack who waved over to him, but upon seeing his miserable-looking expression, she came up to him to ask what was wrong, but instead he walked on.

Concerned, Applejack followed behind him, trying to keep up with his pace. She called out to him, but he seemed to ignore her and continued on his way. When he left the hospital, Applejack trotted faster and caught up with him, but he didn't acknowledge her presence. Eventually, she grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face her, but he kept his gaze on the floor. And even she noticed the tears dripping from his cheeks to the floor.

Gently, she raised his head with a hoof and Strike met her gaze. He looked heartbroken and a mess. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and his eyes were a pale black underneath, and his mane was a little messy. To say the least, he looked like he didn't get much - or any - sleep at all.

''S-Strike?'' Applejack asked softly.

Strike looked away for a split second but then hugged her close and tight, taking her by surprise.

''Strike? Hey! You okay? You seem out of it.'' Applejack felt him shake as he clung onto her like his life depended on it. After a short while, he released her and looked back into her worried emerald eyes.

''Applejack...I...I...'' He stammered, barely able to talk over the sadness in his voice, ''I...I can't stay around anymore, AJ! I-Its my fault Rainbow was taken and tortured like that!''

''Don't go talking like that, Strike! None of this was your fault! You were only looking out for your family, that's all, sugarcube.'' She reassured him as she held a hoof to his shoulder.

''I...just...miss her so much!'' Strike sobbed as he hugged Applejack again, crying on her shoulder as she rubbed his back lovingly.

''Shh, its alright, Strike. They're gone now. They can't hurt you anymore. Now, come on. We need to go see the others.''

*** *** ***

At the Golden Oaks Library, all of Rainbow's friends were there, and upon entering, Rainbow Dash's face immediately lit up as she saw Strike and she rushed up to hug him, limping on her still injured hoof that was covered in blood-smeared bandages.
As she held him, she noticed he was cold, but his expression was more than worrying. Everypony else noticed it and shared the same concerned expression as they looked at one another.

''Hey...what's wrong, Strike? You okay?''

''Rainbow...'' Strike began but stopped to look at her bandaged hoof. Looking back up into her rose eyes, he hugged her taking her aback. ''I need to tell you something. To tell you all something.''

''What is it? Are you okay?'' Twilight asked him, seeing the small tears trickle down his cheeks.

''I...I...I'm leaving Ponyville.''

His response to the statement was as he expected - Everypony exclaimed ''WHAT?!'' at the same time.

''L-L-Leaving?! Strike...y'all ain't serious are ya? Is this because of what happened at the hospital the other evening?''

''Yes. It is about yesterday. When I wanted to talk to Rainbow but couldn't walk, it was because I wanted to tell her this directly. I didn't know how you'd all react to it. I just want you to be safe.''

''But we are safe, Strike! Them criminals are all gone! You killed Whipper! Why can't you stay around? Not even for a few more days or weeks?'' Rainbow asked, tears in her own eyes.

''Because as long as I'm around, none of you are safe, even with that gang of marauders gone. Trouble always seems to find me, and with that are unwanted circumstances. I'm doing this because I love you all and the family. I'm sorry.''

Turning to leave, he was stopped by Rainbow pulling on his tail, looking back at him with pleading eyes. ''Please don't go...I...I wan't you to stay here with me. With us.''

''Just let me go, Rainbow. I'll always love you, no matter what.''

And then he left, closing the door behind him.

Rainbow and the others exchanged worried glances at each other, mostly at Rainbow who was now visibly crying.

''He's not going to go is he? I...I mean for real?'' Twilight said as she felt her eyes tear up. ''I mean...where will he go? Everyone he knows but his family are dead! He can't possibly...'' Her eyes widened in shock, drawing even more worried expressions from the others, but most of all Rainbow.

''No...he wouldn't! I-I-I've gotta stop him! He can't do this!''

And then Rainbow flew from the library, in tow with the rest of her friends.

*** *** ***

At the cemetery in Canterlot, Rainbow Strike stood at the base of a grave, planting a bouquet of roses down on a black marble stone engraved neatly, reading:

Here lies
Remedy

A mare of many talents and loved by all of Equestria.
Murdered on June 20th

Strike stood there for a while, reading the words engraved on his beloved's grave. It had started to become dark and the rain had picked up, drenching him and making him shiver. Although he was crying, they blended in with the rain. Beside him lay his saddlebags, and in them lay some of his possessions. The ones that mean most to him.

He pulled out the picture of him and Remedy and stared at it, caressing her cheek before kissing it softly and planting it atop her gravestone. Next he pulled out his pistol.

He looked at the name Life's Blossom engraved onto its silver-plated body. He once gave it to Remedy on her birthday. She may not of like shooting guns of any kinds, but she knew a fair bit about them. She kept it locked inside a special box of things she wanted to keep safe and remember, but on the day she was murdered, he took the chest with him as a memory of her. To this day, it remained locked, the only thing being removed was the pistol.

Thunder crashed in the sky, followed by the flash of lightning. He pointed the pistol at his head, pulling back the hammer.
Strike's body shook from the cold, and he drew the gun back a few times, but before he could pull the trigger, he heard Rainbow Dash shout from behind. Turning, he could see her and her friends not far away from where he was.

Pulling the gun back to his head, he closed his eyes and gently squeezed the trigger. The bullet echoed loudly through the graveyard followed by a crash of thunder. And then he dropped to the floor, blood splattering the floor.

Rainbow screamed when she saw his body collapse to the floor, and she hugged his form tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably in the cold, pouring rain. The rest of her friends joined her as they stared at his corpse in shock and disbelief of what he did.

Applejack held onto Rainbow,stroking her back, but Rainbow's eyes were fixed to her brother's corpse. The rain didn't seem to get any lighter, but even though it was loud, she could of sworn she heard the sound of a slow-playing guitar in the air, followed by a ghost-like whisper in a very familiar voice.

''I love you, Rainbow.''