//------------------------------// // Four Magic Elements // Story: Valley Of Rainbows: Seeking Solutions // by Sparx //------------------------------// Four Magic Elements With the rising sun, Rainbow found herself rubbing at the bags under her eyes, realizing that sleep had escaped her this night. She had been tossing and turning in camp before realizing she’d find no time to relax that way. As a countermeasure, she had walked up a hill under the stars to sit and simply watch them, letting her mind wander. The most frequent topics that invaded her thoughts were Pinkie Pie, what awaited them all next, and worries of the dragon or other creatures coming up behind them. This morning though, her thoughts were on Spitfire, as they had been for the last two hours. A sort of pull was on her mind, keeping her thoughts on her beloved. She wanted to hurry back home, perhaps out of fear that Owayix would rip away her chance to say goodbye. Her mortality hung over her head as if she were marked for death by the reaper himself, unable to read the ticking clock that burdened her. Things had started harsh, and only gotten worse as she continued this quest, putting her up against more death than she had seen before, some of it by her own hoof. She looked to the blades around her legs. They weren’t reflecting light; too crusted with blood that she had yet to wash from her fight against Freezer and his wargs. Her own injuries plagued her with pain from time to time as her own blood threatened to freeze; a parting curse from the wolf that she had to shake off whenever it came about. Her comrades began to stir as another episode of agony started up in her body. She sucked in her breath and tried to ignore it, not wanting her friends to fret for her when she was to be leading them. I shouldn’t be complaining when Fluttershy and Rover are in worse condition than me. Rainbow shuddered as the pain worked through her body, but tried to put it out of her mind as she walked down the hill to join up with her friends again. “Yer up early,” Applejack observed. “Been thinking,” Rainbow Dash replied with a half-smile forcing itself on her face. “A lot of stuff has gone down since we set out; a lot more than I expected to.” “Ah hear that.” Applejack brought herself to her hooves and stretched out her back, popped her neck and began to bend her knees. “Feelin’ any better?” Dash resisted the urge to grunt from the pain and merely nodded her head. “I’m more worried about Fluttershy. How’s her leg doing?” “Fine,” Fluttershy answered, standing up with her broken leg kept above the ground, tied around her neck with the same vines she wore as weapons. She said nothing more and looked off quietly, still obviously taken aback by her vicious attack against Tanzick. Rainbow kept quiet and let her friend reflect as she looked around the rest of the camp. It had seemed that Rover was recovering well from his near fatal encounter as he was plopped on top of his pack mates in his usual manner. The three dogs were snoring, drooling, and rolling over one another like they had before. Dash couldn’t help but get a light chuckle in. “Gotta admire their spirit. They meet death almost constantly and can still find time for relaxing and goofing off,” Gilda jumped in. She was lying not too far away from them with her head in her talon and a hint of a smile in her eyes. Dash gave an admiring sigh and agreed. “Yeah, they’re kinda like that. Tell you the truth; I think they’re more afraid of Rarity than the dragon.” Almost immediately, the group heard Rarity scoffing from her elegant shelter spun carefully from grass, leaves, and twigs, with nearly every flower plucked from a nearby field. “I honestly don’t see how I was so horrible to be seen as a creature to fear.” The unicorn kept her head high and eyes closed with a frown as she applied her various cosmetics, a habit that she had perfected to the point she was able to do it without much concentration. “Well Ah’m guessin’ that howlin’ at ‘em in their home didn’t help much,” AJ chuckled. “I was simply establishing that their behavior was not acceptable when in the presence of a lady. They should have treated me as such. A little etiquette never hurt anypony after all,” Rarity insisted. “And I did not howl, Applejack.” “Whatever.” Applejack swatted the comment away, earning a nasty glare from Rarity. “We should get moving again. It’s still another day’s travel to Vanhoover, but we should be able to rest at an inn tonight instead of on the ground.” Rainbow gathered her equipment, flinching as she put weight on her legs, but her stubbornness kept her from revealing the fact to anyone else. Fluttershy, though, caught a glimpse of her friend’s pain. Dash waited on everybody to finish packing up and wake the dogs before she asked, “Hey, anyone see Lyra?” Fluttershy gave a light cough to catch Rainbow’s attention and nodded her head to the north. Under a tree, a pony rested within the shadows. The two of them began to walk up as everyone else finished preparations. “Why are you hiding your pain from everyone?” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow let out a humorless laugh. “That’s rich. You’re actually talking again?” “Hostility isn’t necessary. We’re friends after all.” With a sigh, Rainbow Dash confessed, “What right do I have to whine when you’re limping on three legs and Rover has a hole in his chest?” Fluttershy stayed silent as they walked, making Rainbow frown. “Should have known better than to try and hide it from you though,” Dash huffed and turned her head forward again. It took a few seconds, but Fluttershy started again. “We wouldn’t think any less of you; we never have before.” “Yeah, but none of those times have I been the one to put you guys into danger. Now you’re all hurt because you’re following me.” “Because we chose to and need to,” Fluttershy added in her calming tone. Dash sighed. “But it’s my job to get us through this whole thing safely.” “I still count everyone you started with taken care of and alive, and considering what we’ve been up against, that’s incredibly kind of fate to allow.” Fluttershy kept her head forward as she responded. “What about the animals and Gilda’s crew?” Dash spat. Fluttershy’s eyes dropped, but continued to look forward. “Nature is not always kind, Rainbow Dash. I’ve learned this the hard way, and survival has taken priority over my element on more than one occasion… I should actually thank you for finding me when you did. I didn’t realize how far I was gone until recently. I wonder if I’ll still be accepted as a bearer.” Rainbow suddenly felt ashamed of yelling at her friend. “Look, kindness like what you’ve shown is pretty rare, and I don’t think there’s any way it could ever truly leave you. Hell, isn’t your concern for me a sign of kindness?” The pegasi met eyes and smiled to one another. “You can tell me what’s wrong, Rainbow Dash, I can probably fix it too. Are any of the medicines helping?” Dash frowned and shook her head. “The wounds are closing, but they aren’t hurting any less. I have to check them constantly in fear they’re tearing open further. My blood feels like it’s going to stop pumping and freeze in place at times too, and I can feel it slowing me down.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Rainbow, that’s not good at all! You should have told me sooner! You need treatment!” “Yeah, big and time consuming treatments we don’t have time for right now, that about right?” Rainbow sighed. Fluttershy stopped, aware that Rainbow was correct and would turn the offer down. They didn’t have the time, and she would say just that. “We have a dragon on our tails, tracking us in a way I can’t fathom, a war approaching back home, and we’re nearly done. I’m not stopping until we’re done and safe!” Dash began walking faster, pulling ahead of Fluttershy as Lyra’s image became clearer. “Rainbow!” Fluttershy called, irritated. “What is so important that we can’t get you help? We can find Pinkie; you can go back to Canterlot and get healed.” “I’m not quittin’!” Dash snarled. “Why are you so anxious? It’s only going to hurt more.” Dash stopped and spun back with a fire in her eyes. “I’m not quittin’, and I’m not gonna fall before I get back!” Fluttershy, for the first time in a long time, was intimidated to her very core, frozen in place as Dash walked up to a sleeping Lyra. Dash no longer felt her pains, the passion in her blood having given her a temporary relief from the cold in her veins. “Hey, Lyra.” She gave a light tap at the unicorn, stirring her from sleep. “We gotta go; we’re getting into Vanhoover tonight.” Lyra looked up and nodded, bringing herself to her legs. She paused to look up at the tree that had given her shelter. “I once rested under this tree in my younger years, before meeting Bon Bon. Figured I’d give into the nostalgia.” She smiled as she dropped her bags onto her back. Dash nodded. Past memories seemed to be a theme this morning. About an hour of travel had passed before the party seemed to split into two smaller groups. Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy were all up front while Gilda, the dogs, and Lyra all chatted among one another a few feet behind. “They truly are fascinating though, are you sure I can’t study them? I promise I won’t annoy you; perhaps while you’re sleeping?” Lyra had begun to pester Gilda about her talons. “No, that just makes it worse! Besides, don’t you have enough ‘study material’ with the severed grippers you grabbed? Why don’t those things smell yet?” Gilda frowned. She had to struggle to keep her talons out of Lyra’s reach. “Oh, some minor necromancy to keep the flesh from decaying, legal necromancy, used only for scientific purposes mind you! The spell has taught us much about many a creature with its use,” Lyra explained. “See, now that doesn’t make me feel any better,” Gilda groaned. “I swear you have to clarify the legality of your actions more than me, and I’m friends with pirates. What do you think that says about you?” “A lot actually, it says for one that—” “Yeah, it was rhetorical,” Gilda interrupted, rubbing the area between her beak and face. “Obviously, though I considered it a chance to let you know what I think of myself.” Lyra gave a light shrug. “As if I give a shit,” Gilda said with a sigh. “Look, do you have anything interesting to talk about other than your eerie fascination with my talons or hands or those ‘human’ things? Something I can actually contribute conversation to?” Lyra gave a grin, her journal and quill flying out of her bag faster than Gilda’s eyes could follow. “You could tell how you and our fearless leader became all chummy and whatnot!” Gilda shook her head, but smiled. “Well, that I’d be happy to tell.” “Excellent!” Lyra flipped the journal open. The headline of the section caught Gilda’s eye. “H-hey! What the hell? Why the fuck is the section on me called ‘Salty Scornful Sea Sister’?” Gilda roared, attracting everyone’s attention and laughter. The red under her feathers came from a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Lyra looked back as if it were a stupid question. “Because it illustrates that you are an experienced sailor with an anger problem of the female gender. Also the alliteration is amusing.” “Oh, do I amuse you now?!” Gilda growled. “Am I some clown you get your laughs from?” “Only if you offer,” Lyra countered, catching Gilda off guard. “You could stand to laugh a bit more if you’re gonna be one though, unless you’re supposed to be the straight mare in a clown duo.” “Ugh… forget it, could you just change it? I’d rather not be known that way to the rest of the world.” “If you insist,” Lyra agreed. “What would you prefer? Sexually frustrated sea mistress?” “What the FUCK?!” Gilda’s face was entirely red. “What the hell makes you think that’s any better? And where the hell did that come from?” “Well, you’re a long way from home, always angry, consistently stressed—” “And you immediately jump to that?” Gilda smacked herself in the face, dragging her talon down her beak. “Maybe I’m just angry and stressed because of the shit we’re going through?” “Well, I thought it was a fair assumption,” Lyra defended. “It’s not! Not that you need to know, but I find good lays pretty much any time I come into port anymore! Don’t need another griffon to get off ya know, actually better without one,” Gilda grumbled. Lyra began scratching away at her book. “Do tell!” “Fuckin’…” Gilda sighed and gave up. “Fine, you wanna know? Fucking with another griffon is fine and all, but hurts like a bitch when the dude pulls out. On the other talon, you got an equine that’s been out to sea for months with a bunch of other dudes and a need to slam with a pole that doesn’t feel like sandpaper or rake your insides as he pulls out, with enough girth or skill to satisfy, then yeah, I’ll pick the pony.” “Completely logical to me!” Lyra agreed. “Now pick a title for me already!” Lyra nodded, scratching out the previous title with her quill. “Well, what would you like to be called? It’s rare that an author has an opportunity to pick her character’s mind like this.” Lyra’s enthusiasm spilled out in the form of a smile that even Gilda had to admit was kind of adorable. The griffon blushed as she was given the chance to indulge herself, scratching her head in thought. “What do I want to be known as? Huh… Anything off limits?” Lyra shook her head. “Though, just know that if it’s too extravagant, the world will know of such narcissism.” Gilda chuckled. “Yeah, well no worries there. Uh… wouldn’t just Gilda do?” With a shrug, Lyra answered, “Sure, but then we lose some of the flair and flash, the artistic edge we get to add. You’ll be recorded through the annals of history as a hero that helped halt a war, fighting by the sides of ‘Applejack, The Hammer, and Goblin Smasher with Hooves of Steel’ or, ‘Rover, Canine Crusader, Splitter of Lightning!’ Surely you’d like to be known as more than simply ‘Gilda’?” Gilda tapped a claw against her beak in thought. “You raise a fair point… though, can’t we do simple and badass as well?” Suddenly the realization that the rest of the group had been given better titles than her hit, and she turned to Lyra with a furrow in her brow and her beak open to object. “Oh, sure, we can do that!” Lyra jumped in quickly, shutting Gilda down. “Let’s see, from your recent achievements, we know you can red out and go balls to the wall ballistic and make a whole lot of blood, even rushing up to a damned dragon that destroyed your entire boat and crew.” “Blunt, but true,” Gilda groaned. “I’ll pay the fucker back for that…” “Indeed you shall! An avenging captain you shall be.” Lyra paused for a moment. “The Berserk Buccaneer!” Lyra offered. Gilda thought about this for a moment. “That’s not too bad. But I’m not a pirate.” “True enough,” Lyra sighed. Gilda began playing around with the idea in her mind though. “I think you’re onto something though with the alliteration. What about the ‘Crazed Captain’?” Lyra’s eyes widened and she nodded. “I can dig it. Sure you’d like the world to know you as ‘Crazed Captain Gilda’?” The griffon smiled. “Invokes fear, respect, reputation; already revealed myself as the real captain anyway, so… why the fuck not! I like it!” “Excellent!” Lyra scratched it down above the previous name. “Now… tell me about your and Rainbow’s past!” Gilda grinned. “Well, if she hasn’t told you herself, we were friends in the Junior Speedsters Flight Camp. It was held above the sea between our two lands in the clouds. I was a lot less of a bitch back then, though I think most kids were,” Gilda said with a chuckle. “Less though, doesn’t mean I wasn’t one; kinda isolated myself with a foul mood, scared off a lot of other kids. “Back then I genuinely cared about being a fast flier too, not so much after a few years, and even now I pride myself more on strength than speed. First time I saw Dash though, I kinda hated her, ‘cause we were in a race. Of course, you put anyone up against that mare, if they aren’t elite fliers, they’re not winning. It was no different back then either.” Gilda’s eyes seemed to glow as she looked to Rainbow in front of them, memories washing over her. “You know, most of the kids stuck to their own kind. Griffon cubs stuck with other cubs and the foals stayed with the foals, they were kids, they stuck with what comforted them. I, however, wasn’t happy with a loss. I sought Dash out and challenged her again. She accepted, of course, and I lost again, so I tried again, and again. I began to lose confidence in myself while Dash’s ego seemed to only grow. “She saw how angry I was getting though, and offered to help me out. If it were any later in my days, I would have refused, but in that moment, I wanted to beat her so badly that I was willing to take any edge I was offered. I accepted her pointers, watched her fly and took mental notes. She taught me more than the basics of the camp did. In time, I found out that even though Rainbow was fast, she had a bad tendency of letting the thrill of the flight catch her off guard. I could never beat her in speed, but I could beat her in some measure of skill.” Gilda smiled, rubbing her knuckle against her chest in confidence. “We practiced, and raced once again, this time ending with my win. Now Dash wanted a rematch, and we flew on even ground… or through even skies rather. I don’t know when during all of that, but our rivalry built something stronger behind it without either of us knowing or realizing. We just sort of ‘became’ best friends through it all.” Lyra was writing furiously as Gilda lost herself to memory. “Inspiring and cute!” Gilda looked back down to Lyra. “Yeah, I guess it is. Doesn’t say much for me since I became a jaded, cynical bitch while Dash went on to save Equestria and the planet on multiple occasions, eh?” Lyra shrugged. “I wasn’t the greatest pony ever either, but why should that matter now? I never did any serious damage to anypony, and it’s all in the past now. You went on to have great adventures as well when you came over here and hopped a ship, right?” Gilda laughed. “I guess so. You make a fair enough point.” The two chuckled with one another as the group continued to walk. Ahead of them, Rainbow and her old friends were spending their time catching up. “Why is it that I seem to always find myself in the company of filthy dogs whenever I set out?” Rarity complained. “At the very least, our dogs now show the proper respect for a lady and are quite helpful.” “Yeah, well Ah bet the worgs woulda felt a lot more respectful if’n ya hadn’t stole their things,” AJ said with a smirk. “You would rather the brutes hold such beautiful and powerful artifacts for themselves?” Rarity seemed outraged. “Besides, Lyra even told us herself, I was bewitched into finding the jewels by something.” “Yeah, speaking of which, you feeling any better?” Rainbow asked. “Any memory returning?” Rarity stopped the conversation to think, searching her brain for answers. “No. None were missing though; I simply can’t recall why I felt such a sudden urge to leave without giving any thought to my friends, or even poor Spikey.” “Hey, how is Spike anyway?” Applejack asked, looking to Dash. “I would like to know too,” Fluttershy added quietly. “Little guy got big!” Rainbow chuckled. “Looks a little scary up there next to Twilight on the throne, but he’s still our little buddy. He was really worried over you, Rarity,” she added. Rarity raised a hoof in front of her muzzle, her eyes glimmered and sparkled as they began to wet. “Oh, poor Spikey. He must be worried sick! I just up and leave in the night without so much as a word to the darling dragon, and all during the time he brings up the idea of trying for—” Rarity stopped herself and blushed, turning her head away from her friends. All heads, even the ones in the group behind them, snapped to Rarity after hearing this, catching the crimson glow radiating from her head. “Well well! Rarity, Ah think ya have somethin’ interesting on yer mind,” Applejack teased. “Well, I do suppose that the cat is out of the bag.” Rarity let out a sigh and turned back to the group with a small smile and more red shining through her fur than Rover’s chest wound. “Before I was enchanted… my dear Spike and I were… trying for a child.” “No way!” Rainbow beamed, flying into the air with excitement. “You guys were gonna have a kid?” “We were attempting to, yes,” answered Rarity. “Or rather… are.” “That’s awesome, Rare!” Dash squealed with delight. “Ah agree. Ah think you two will make great parents.” Applejack smiled widely. “I think it’s lovely news,” Fluttershy peeped. “Well of course, you girls will be the first to know,” Rarity giggled. Dash brought herself back down to the ground and continued to walk alongside her friends, a new joy awakened within her. She then began to look at the other two friends in their line, and curiosity began to prey upon her. “So how about you guys? Fluttershy? Applejack? What have you two been up to before now?” Rainbow asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. Applejack pondered the question. “Well, aside from the bounty huntin’ ya mean? Ah’ve kinda just been tourin’ around, findin’ out more about mahself… though Ah guess that might be a tad snore worthy to say. Hmmm… Ah dunno if’n ya wanna hear ‘bout mah jobs with the Slayers?” “I’ve been meaning to ask about that.” Dash’s voice rang with some excitement. “I’m betting you fought a lot of big and awesome monsters, right?” Again, AJ found herself lost in thought. “Ah guess so. There were a few times Ah went out with the group on a ‘hunt’. There was a tribe of gnolls causin’ trouble south of Minos a while back, though it was a pretty typical job. We wandered in, spoke ta their chief, and o’ course he didn’t want ta hear none of it. Good kick to the jaw shut the feller up in an instant though, first thing I learned about the varmints is that they’re massive cowards, an’ they went and showed it exactly as the guild master said they would; boss goes down, gnolls run off.” “The hyena-kin were born cravens!” Spot called out unexpectedly, raising his fist in the air. Noticing their confused looks, Fluttershy explained, “Diamond dogs and gnolls are close cousins, but they also have an old hatred for one another.” “No damned cacklers are kin of ours!” Fido roared. “Right,” Dash dismissed the dogs and returned to her conversation. “So, you kicked a gnoll in the teeth and his buddies went running, yeah yeah, I’m sure we’ve all done something along those lines, you must have done something cooler than that.” “Alright, Rainbow, just gimme a darned second. What exactly do ya wanna hear?” Applejack asked. “What about a story about you running up the back of a giant tyrant of a monster, smacking the back of their skull or daringly evading their teeth and claws?” Rainbow spoke excitedly and rapidly. “Well ya were there fer just that, and none of us’r happy ‘bout it at all. Most of those jobs were for better Slayers’n us rookies anyway… though…” A memory began to surge through Applejack’s mind. “Ah think Ah remember somethin’ happenin’ before I went runnin’ after Foki…” She began rubbing at her temples with a frustrated look on her face. “You alright, AJ?” Rainbow asked. “Indeed, you seem troubled,” Rarity added. “Yeah, just a bit of somethin’ gettin’ in the way of mah memory.” As Applejack continued trekking her memory, Slippy dangled over her hat in what seemed to be concern. “It’s comin’ ta me… yeah… nope.” She dropped her hooves back to the ground and kept walking. “Mah mind is failin’ me today; Ah must be more tired than Ah realize. There I somethin’ there though, gimme some time an’ Ah’ll be able to collect mah thoughts and share this‘un round the campfire.” Dash let out a groan and sighed. “Do you have anything good to tell us? I refuse to believe that you left Ponyville on a big journey and haven’t done anything worth telling about.” “Well Ah hear stories like that from Granny all the time an’ have to pass chimeras on a delivery run, Ah’m not quite sure what y’all would consider worth tellin’ or not.” “Fair enough,” Dash surrendered. “Besides, the satyrs told better stories than Ah could before we took ta the sheets.” “What?” Every voice in the party but AJ’s roared, startling the sturdy earth pony. “That’s something worth telling!” Dash’s mouth spread in a devilish grin. “Really? Ah don’t see how it’s so surprisin’. Fellers are crafty little devils with experience, an’ whether it’s kickin’ trees or kickin’ critters, a girl has to let the tension out somehow, an’ while a ‘massage’ is nice an’ all, it’s more Rarity’s thing.” Applejack gave a shrug. “They were eager, so was Ah, so now an’ again Ah’d just grab one of ‘em, grab mah rope, an’ let it all out.” “Wait wait wait… You bedded a satyr? Not the other way around?” Lyra questioned with an impressed smile. “Right, now Ah’m feelin’ like Ah’ve talked more than Ah shoulda, Fluttershy, yer up.” Applejack threw the attention to her friend, more to divert the attention she was getting, but there was some genuine curiosity there too. Fluttershy’s original personality rushed back as her eyes widened and her face flushed a bright pink, a squeak of fear rising from her throat. “Wait, what? But I-I-I… I never.” “Yes, darling. Please do tell what you’ve been up to, I’m most curious as to how somepony as precious as yourself came to become so vicious and primal. It truly is remarkable,” Rarity pressed. Fluttershy sighed. “Alright, what would you like to know?” “Not to prod,” Rarity began, “but perhaps your relationship with the peryton would shed some light onto your, uh, explosive behavior. There seems to be something bothering you, and if we have the opportunity to help we’d be more than happy to.” The thought of discussing something that personal caused Fluttershy to wince. “I… I suppose you should know.” She limped along as she took a deep breath. “Tanzick was a cruel creature, mean and spiteful. He’s also the reason my master came looking for me. Lord and Tanzick had been fighting consistently in the swamps for years, both providing different support. The treants, plants and animals stood for the Wild, but Tanzick worked mostly alone, herding and luring monsters like the trolls to fight against them. “When Lord, Bleat and Shank came to me, it was out of desperation. Tanzick was still stubborn, and younger than my master, determined to wipe out the Wilds from what he thought was ‘his territory’. I think he knew that his time was running out, so he got someone new, someone fresh, and taught me everything his years had given him, the knowledge his own masters passed down.” The teachings of her master and the ones before him flashed in her eyes. “Magics, communication, remedies, there was more to learn than I thought. He was patient with me, took whatever time I needed despite the fact that he didn’t have much to spend. I became a Wild, and that isn’t just a title, it’s my life now. I have given my own life to protecting the animals, the plants, the land. I am a part of our planet now, as was my master and his masters before him.” “Ah think Ah remember Granny sayin’ somethin’ ‘bout this,” Applejack said. “Ah think she met one of the Wilds once; creatures very in tune with the earth, moreso than even earth ponies, that could draw power and call fer help from the world’s core. They used ta be a big organization years an’ years ago, right?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Not an organization. The Wilds were merely like-minded individuals with a common goal. In becoming part of the world, they became parts of one another…” Fluttershy grew quiet. “So when one of us passes… a part of us dies with them. “Tanzick called Lord out to face him directly, not a day after I had completed my basic training. We went to meet him, alone and outside of the forest. Lord told me not to interfere, Bleat and Shank focused on Tanzick as he looked at me with knowing in his eyes.” She choked through the words as her eyes began to wet, and were set aflame. “You don’t need to go on, dear,” Rarity insisted. She could see the pain building in her friend. Fluttershy shook her head. “I watched him rip away at each of his throats, seeing each part of him go limp. Shank was ripped away first, writhing around on the ground before I felt him leave. Then Bleat came next as Tanzick perched on his horns, twisting around as I heard every bone in his neck break. He left him there too… open eyed and lifeless, drooping over Lord’s back and burdening him. Lord was useless against him, without access to his back legs, or the eyes of Shank and Bleat, he wasn’t used to fighting without his brothers… so he didn’t. He stood there, unafraid and proud. Tanzick hated him for it, and in one final act of defiance, my master let out his final lion’s roar… and I ran. Only seconds after his roar began, did I feel his presence leave and the rush of loneliness hit me. I am the final Wild, and Tanzick made it so.” Things were quiet among the companions as Fluttershy seethed. Her hooves narrowed to sharp points and her teeth into fangs. “He tried to wipe us all out, left me alone!” “Easy girl, he’s gone now! Ya made darn sure o’ that,” Applejack said in an attempt to calm her down. “An’ we’re here for ya now too. Yer with friends.” Fluttershy took deep breaths, smoothing her teeth and hooves back to normal. “You’re right. He’s gone, and I’m not alone anymore. Lord may be gone, but Tanzick is gone now too.” “An’ ya just gotta take some time an’ get over it. It ain’t gonna be easy, sugarcube. Loss takes a long long time ta get over… take it from me.” Applejack went quiet with a sad smile on her face. Fluttershy could feel the understanding in Applejack’s words and eyes. “Shoot, Ah remember when you’d be bawlin’ yer eyes out, not more fiery than a dragon’s belly.” Applejack laughed. Fluttershy giggled nervously. “I remember it too.” The four of them all laughed in unison, reminded of their old bond. Rainbow Dash felt a large weight lift off of her shoulders. She had been stressed and worried all about putting her friends in danger, about causing them harm, but right now, having gathered all of her friends and sharing their stories and laughter, she felt good. They had all put themselves in danger, and gotten out of it perfectly fine. Rainbow had gathered them together, given them numbers and comfort and returned bonds to them. The four of them had been unified by their elements, but their friendship made them worthy of them in the first place and had brought them all together once again. We’re almost home, and we’re ALL going there together. The stars began to dot the sky as Vanhoover came into view. Sighs of relief and whoops of joy erupted. As they began to walk closer, Rainbow found herself looking into the sky, embracing the cool breeze on her face. “Hey… guys?” Rainbow Dash began, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I’m gonna sleep outside tonight… just another night.” She got a few odd looks thrown her way, but her smile brought about some understanding. “The sky is full of stars, the temperature is perfect, and the grass is soft… I feel I’d be missing out if I didn’t, ya know?” The rest of the group looked up to the stars as she was doing, soaking in the natural beauty of the night sky. “I think I’ll join you,” spoke Lyra. “Some of my best times travelling have been merely resting out in night like this one, producing some of my prime writing.” “I think I’d prefer staying out here as well,” Fluttershy agreed. “I’ve grown used to it. A bed would seem foreign to me after all this time.” “Dogs agree! The earth houses the diamonds, it houses diamond dogs as well; it is no trouble for us.” Rover smiled widely, slapping his chest with pride before grunting in pain, feeling a little foolish. Gilda was already pulling off her pack and finding a spot to rest. “Oh… fine,” Rarity sighed. “I suppose for the lovely night, I can sleep outdoors once again.” Despite her saying this, she did have a pout on her face. Rainbow Dash smiled as everyone began picking out spots to rest. Dash simply plopped right down where she was, lying on her back. She took a long and deep breath with her eyes shut, allowing the wind to play with her mane and caress her muzzle. She allowed herself to relax for the first time in a long time. Her eyes opened to a welcome sight of sparkling stars. The constant flow from one extreme emotion to the other was exhausting. Anger, terror, depression, frustration, worry, it was refreshing to be able to simply lie down and allow herself to be happy with her friends. “Hey, would you look at that?” Lyra piped up. Rainbow turned to see her lying on her back in a similar fashion, pointing her hoof to the sky. Dash turned her head back up to see what she was pointing at. “You can see ‘Discord’s Downfall’ tonight. Ya see it?” “What do you mean, Missus Lyra?” Spot asked. The three dogs got on their backs to observe as well. “Yes, dogs only see skylights, not some po-nee god’s fall,” Rover finished. “Well yeah, but you gotta connect them. See?” Lyra’s horn glowed mildly as she connected star to star with an amber line of magical light. “See? There you have discord, and there are the princesses.” The dogs squinted before grunting with signs of being impressed. “Interesting. Are more stories recorded in the night sky?” Rover asked. “Sure there are,” Gilda jumped in. “Some griffon ones too. Lyra, you familiar with Pazuzu?” “Yeah, I can even see him too.” Lyra connected the stars, illustrating a bipedal figure with four massive wings. “Wasn’t he a deity?” “Yeah, not the best one of ours though,” Gilda answered. “Pazuzu put the first griffon king on the throne, as the legends go. Granter of wishes and king maker they called him. The funny thing is that, though the stories tell that he granted every wish brought to him, things turned out pretty nasty for the one with the wish. First king on the throne is still known as the shortest lived king in our history.” “Bloodiest and most brutal of deaths I heard too, right?” Lyra asked. “Not an organ left in a single piece. Or even just two.” Gilda gave a light chuckle. Rainbow looked around for some constellations she could identify as well. “Right there, next to Pazuzu, I think I remember my dad telling me about that guy as a kid; King of the Nightmares right? I can’t remember his name though...” Lyra lit the lines up, filling out an eight legged horse, taller and brawnier than any other pony. She opened her mouth to answer, but Applejack interrupted. “Yeah, Granny told me ‘bout that feller too. Slipper or somethin’.” “Sleipnir,” Lyra corrected. “Right, that’s it. Wasn’ ‘e some sorta hero?” Applejack asked. “Yeah,” Dash picked the narration up. “Dad said he walked ponies across the barrier when we died, and that he used to interact with us all too.” “Very attractive from what I’ve heard,” Rarity giggled. “Big too. Believe it or not, Big Mac looked up to the stories.” Applejack smiled. “No kidding, he wasn’t alone,” Rainbow laughed. “I told dad I wanted to race against the guy someday. I was gonna outfly the skyrunner. Hell, if he existed, I’d do it in an instant.” “Well he may have. But even if he did, he’s gone now.” Lyra let out a sigh and silence dropped on the other ponies. “Well what happened to the guy?” Gilda asked. “And why would ponies care for a creature known as ‘King of Nightmares?” Spot added in. “It’s a darker nickname than it implies,” Lyra explained. “The Nightmares used to be another race of pony, but they existed so long ago, I can’t help but wonder if they’re just a story as well. “They supposedly brought fire to pony attention, warming everypony and lighting up the dark. They also lived within the dark, taking positions as guardians among us, fighting away any evils that would rush in and attack. They were named Nightmares for being the nocturnal defenders of us all, and just as Celestia and Luna guard us all now, the Nightmares had Sleipnir. Sleipnir took the black with pride, looking out for all of pony kind with the Nightmares at his side; well worthy of every legend we tell of him.” “A great po-nee lord. Interesting, as dogs thought mostly females held power in po-nee lands,” Rover observed. “Well, mostly does not mean all, Rover darling. This was a long time ago as well,” Rarity countered. “Pretty much,” Lyra agreed. “Though the story does have the inevitable tragedy to it, or we’d be seeing Nightmares running around with us all. Sure enough… and there’s a sign for this story too somewhere…” Lyra scanned the sky before highlighting the images of ponies in the sky, her light wavering as if their manes were composed of fire. “The Nightmares were a breed of pony that fed on emotions. This was a symbiotic relationship, as our safety and happiness was plentiful and filling. There was an especially dark night though, when the fires went out before the designated time, and the pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies heard the sounds of the monsters in the dark, and they were frightened. The Nightmares stepped in, defending us all from the things we couldn’t see, but when they fed, they became addicted to the taste of terror. “The Nightmares, once our guardians, sprouted manes of flame and took to scaring us and using us as farms to feed their craving. Their hunger overpowered them, destroying the noble desire to protect over time.” Lyra’s horn continued to glimmer as the eyes of the star ponies flared. “They took to using the very fire they gifted us with, to choke with smoke and force the fear out of us. During this time, Sleipnir had been spending time in the otherworld, speaking with dead friends. Upon his return, he was outraged, and the only one able to do anything. He tried diplomacy, but the Nightmares were too far gone, too powerfully addicted, and they turned upon their leader. He only had one option, and he took it, separating the pitch coated Nightmares from the rest of us. His body was destroyed, as the resistance of the Nightmares was strong and needed all his earthly strength to be held. He saved the ponies without killing the Nightmares, creatures he considered his own children, and we remember him with stories in the stars.” Dash sighed. “It’s too bad though,” she started. “Because you just know our story is gonna surpass even one as good as that!” Laughter rang in the night from Rainbow’s friends, bringing a smile to her own face.