Chapter 1 - Silence in the Square
Rainbow found herself at Manehattan's annual 'Remembrance Ceremony'. As it were, today was the day that everypony- or mostly everypony- gathered together in Manehattan Square in remembrance of all had happened in the previous years.
It was always held in Manehattan... It would have been held in Ponyville, but that place became infected with plants from the Everfree Forest and nopony could live there anymore. As a result, it was also cut off by the dome that was built.
Rainbow's old home was corrupted by the clouds that came from the forest as well, and she was forced to move to a new location. She chose Manehattan, due to her own reasons.
Scootaloo was mainly alone after the incident because Apple Bloom was forced to move in with her cousin, Babs Seed, and Sweetie Belle went back to live with her parents. As a result, The Cutie Mark Crusaders were disbanded, and Scootaloo moved in with Rainbow Dash. Spike was alone after Twilight... left... and he could only go with Rainbow since she seemed like the only family he had left.
Together, they were known all throughout Equestria as The Effected. They didn't care, mostly because it was true that the three of them were effected the most since the incidents.
It was the three of them who stuck tether for each other, even in the hardest times.
As Rainbow approached the regular meeting place for the ceremony, she found that Spike was already there. She slowly flew over to him. "Hey," she said as she came to a stop next to him.
Spike turned to her on surprise. "Rainbow!" he said, slightly shocked. "What are you doing out here? You usually don't get here until halfway through the ceremony. You feeling okay?"
She smiled back at him. "Yeah Spike, I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I just didn't feel like missing today, that's all."
"Today, huh? A year ago, you wouldn't have cared if all if Equestria was falling into an age of agony and despair. That project of yours has really changed your life."
Rainbow shrugged. "What can I say. I was tired of being one to mope around all year."
Spike chuckled slightly. "So you've finally allowed yourself to stand up a face the past?"
She shook her head. "No, my past still haunts me; it always will."
"Then why are you here?"
Rainbow looked forward from the back of the crowd that formed in front of her, all facing a podium where Equestria's current rulers stood. "To show Equestria that I can make a change in all our lives."
Spike was about to speak again, but was interrupted by Shining Armor as he began speaking.
"My fellow Equestrians," he began. "Today is a day we all know. Today, we mourn the loss of five ponies that all Equestria knew. Three years ago today, my sister, Twilight Sparkle, and four of her friends, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie perished."
HIs words brought a few murmurs among the crowd, which quieted down again after Shining put a hoof into the air.
"Today is also the day that we morn for the loss of our two beloved rulers, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. For without them all those years ago, we probably would not be the same ponies that we are today."
More murmurs came from the crowd, only to be silenced once again. "Please, let us have a moment of silence for those that we have lost."
All the heads in the crowd fell, almost in an instant. Rainbow was one of the heads that stayed up for a second before falling. Complete silence fell across Manehattan Square for the first time this year.
"Mommy?" a filly's voice asked. "Mommy, why are you sad?"
The mother's tears could be heard throughout the Square. "Shh," a different voice cooed, probably the mother's. "It's nothing honey... just keep quiet?"
Rainbow felt like crying then. Not for her own tears, but the tears of the filly who knew nothing about what was going on. She was so young... So innocent... she couldn't cry for what she didn't know to be sad.
Her eyes watered up, for the sadness around her. One by one, the pain from those days came back to her, and came out in tears. Not only for the confused filly, but for herself, even though she had cried out all her tears earlier today.
And, if need be, for any others who could not bring tears today.
"Thank you," Shining Armor spoke, causing every head in the Square to lift up.
The gathering in the Square continued normally, like it did in previous years. A little more talk, a little more quiet time, and then the time spent to talk with each other.
Rainbow always left when that last one started. There was no one she wanted to talk to. She could talk to Spike or Scootaloo, but both of them would have brought attention to her, and with the media always asking for her opinion on those days, that was the last thing she needed.
She was famous, just like she always wanted.
And she hated it. She hated being famous for being the last surviving member of the Elements of Harmony. That was basically like saying: 'Hey! Aren't you the Element of Loyalty, the one who survived the Fall of the Elements?'
That's what ponies called that day. The Fall of the Elements; the day that the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony left the world.
All except Rainbow, that is.
She reached the place she stayed as quick as she always did. For the past year, she's had that project to work on. It w's true what Spike said, this project changed her.
But it wasn't just going to change her...
Rainbow gave a sad smile as she passed by a picture of her friends. "It's been three whole years today," she began, "since you all left- No... Since you died."
She trotted off to a different part of her place. A part that was closed off to anyone but herself, Spike, and Scootaloo. She opened the door to the room, and closed it behind her.
Inside the room, there was a giant black cloth covering it. Her project.
"But that will never happen again... I promise you Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy... I promise that your fate will never befall anypony ever again."