//------------------------------// // What are you in the dark? // Story: On a wing and a rainbow // by Killbles //------------------------------// Chapter 9: What are you in the dark? Soarin galloped around the stadium in panic. His ears alert for any sound that might alert him to Dash's whereabouts. "Come-on, come-on, come-on" he muttered "Where are you?" A loud screaming noise caught his attention. "DASH!" he roared, sprinting in the direction of the hair-raising scream. He ran into one of the outbuildings, following the sound. An unused storage room inside he summarised, was the source. Throwing himself against the door with all his might, he smashed the door off its hinges. The sight that greeted him filled him with rage. One of the new recruits, Silver, was poised over the limp form of Rainbow Dash. Silver's coat was stained with blood in several places and his mane was wild. In his hoof he held a wickedly sharp knife. Silver was half turned towards the door, a surprised look on his face. Without a moment of hesitation, Soarin threw himself at Silver, sending them both tumbling across the floor. The knife was lost in the tumble and skittered across with the floor with a metallic scrape. "You BARSTARD! What have you done to her?" Soarin roared as he wrestled with the deranged Pegasus. The two stallions rolled around on the floor, tossing punches and kicking were possible, neither seemed to be able to gain the upper hand. Soarin managed to pin Silver underneath him, causing Not-Silver to snarl viciously. Lashing out with one of his hind legs, Not-Silver sent Soarin sprawling across the floor with a powerful blow to the gut. Instead of pressing home his advantage, the insane Pegasus started searching for the lost knife. Winded by the blow, Soarin wheezed to his hooves. Steadying himself for a moment, he threw himself at Silver, wrapping his legs around him and bringing him back to the ground. The dark blue stallion was surprised by the blow and Soarin pressed home his advantage, throwing him into a wall with a loud crash. He rushed to Dash's side. "Dash!" he said shaking her. "Dash, answer me! Are you alright?" Her eyes rolled around and locked on him. A bit of colour seemed to return to them. "Soarin?" she whispered. "Yes, it's me Dash." He held her tightly. "Soarin…" Dash croaked. "Behind.." Soarin span around to see Silver back on his hoofs, an insane grin carved on his face. Despite his grin, his eyes were full of fury. "Hello Soarin. I'm surprised to see you." He said, his voice full of malevolence "What the hell have you done Silver!" "I was just having my fun time, but then you came along and ruined it!" he whined, in an almost childlike manner. "Oh I'm so sorry, I'll just leave then." Said Soarin sarcastically. "You should, it's no fun when they fight back." Not-Silver moped. Soarin circled the navy blue stallion cautiously, waiting for him to make a move. Without warning, Silver snarled and leapt at Soarin, biting down on him. Soarin howled in pain as Silver' teeth dug into him. The insane stallion seemed to be enjoying himself as he was laughing loudly, even with his mouth clamped around Soarin. Snarling in rage, Soarin threw him off again, causing Silver to whimper in pain as he crashed into the wall again. Not willing to let his opponent stand again, Soarin stood on him, preventing him from getting back up. Silver squirmed and wriggled but couldn't get out from underneath the Wonderbolt. "Rainbow, are you alright?" Soarin asked, out of breath from his fight. "What do you think?" she said wearily. Her usual bravado and attitude was missing. She seemed hollow and withdrawn. "What happened?" "I was with Torchie when Silver came up… He told us that you said I was in danger… and that he had to take me somewhere… safe. That worked out… well." She said, he voice breaking as tears starting running down her face. Silver squirmed under Soarin again. "Then what?" "Well… he brought me here… and knocked me out. Drugged me or something… I can't move. He then started… hurting me. He cut me, he punched me, he… broke my wing." She turned to him, her face stony. "He… he… forced himself on me…" Soarin's eyes burnt with fury. His gaze fell on Silver. "You…" Silver visibly shied away under his gaze. Although he was insane, he was now scared. The pure fury contained in Soarin's eyes could have been weaponised. "You… What monster are you? You beat her, you carve her, and you rape her? No punishment is too great for you." Soarin growled. Silver's eyes glazed over. An insane cackle erupted from him. "Oh you missed the best bit Soarin. I beat her, I cut her and I raped her. And I enjoyed it. I did it for no other reason than for the fun of it! And do you know what the best bit is? I have nothing to lose! So go on! Kill me! Throw me in prison! Do your worst! You're right! I have beaten and violated your precious and no punishment will ever equal that!" he cackled again. "So do it! Kill me! KILL ME! Bring yourself down to my level. What are you in the dark? When nopony else is looking? Go on, give into your instincts. End me." Soarin pressed down harder on Silver, causing him to choke. "You will learn what happens to those you hurt the ones I love." Soarin snarled loudly. "Soarin… Don't" Dash mumbled. "Equestria deserves to be rid of scum like him." Soarin spat. "Don't lower yourself to him… he… wants… you to kill him." She groaned. "Do it... for me." Soarin glared at Silver for a moment longer before removing the pressure from him. Silver's smile seemed to fade slightly. "Death is too good for him." Soarin said. He stomped down on silver's head, knocking him out cold. "That felt good though." Dash didn't respond. She had fallen unconscious, finally allowing the pain of her wounds to overcome her. He trotted over to her and gently nuzzled her cheek. "You'll be fine Dah" he said, more to reassure himself. "Sir!" came a voice. Jerking his head up in surprise, Soarin saw a trio of figures silhouetted in the door. The figures resolved themselves into Torchie flanked by two Royal guards. "I brought some help." She explained unnecessarily. "How did you know?" Soarin asked. "I guessed. After you flew off so quickly I guessed that something bad might be happening so I managed to convince Mr Hunky and his friend here to come and help." "Mr Hunky?" asked Soarin incredulously. Despite the situation he found himself trying not to laugh. "What?" Torchie asked innocently. "Doesn't matter," said Soarin, suddenly serious. "Sha- "Torchie" Tochie interrupted "Right. Torchie, take Dash to Canterlot Hospital, she needs Medical attention. I'll drop by later. Until then, stay with her. You two, come with me. We've got a lunatic to take to a Princess." White. White everywhere. It was only the steady beep of some hospital machinery that that reminded Dash where she was. She winced at the bright light and blinked several times. Lifting her head off the pillow, she looked around the room. Slumped over in a chair next to her was Twilight, still in her midnight blue Gala dress. She was quietly snoring, a thin sliver of drool hanging out her mouth. Curled up on the floor in an adorable ball was Soarin. Not wanting to wake him, she leaned across and prodded Twilight gently. She groaned and rolled over. "Whaaat… To early…" she complained. Remembering why she was at the hospital suddenly flashed through Twilight's sleep addled brain and she flipped over and jumped on Rainbow. "Twilight… off me… please…" Rainbow half groaned, half whispered. "Oh… sorry." Twilight replied sheepishly. She contented herself with curling up on the bed next to Rainbow. "What happened? I haven't been told much." "I'd rather not talk about it Twi." Rainbow replied weakly, her ordeal, although short had been harrowing to say the least. "Later then?" The lavender unicorn asked hopefully. "Maybe." In truth Rainbow never wanted to speak of what Not-Silver had done to her. "Whatever you want Rainbow." Twilight said before leaping back into the chair. "Just glad to see you alright." She mumbled before dozing off again. Rainbow was left in silence. She looked out the window at the moon in the night sky. She guessed it was probably a bit after midnight. She tried to fall asleep again but couldn't. Crawling out of the bed silently, she lay down on the floor next to the sleeping form of Soarin. Curling up next to him, she draped one of his fore legs over her and closed her eyes again. "I'm never leaving you again." She whispered as she fell asleep in his embrace. Not-Silver awoke to darkness and silence. He felt nothing, heard nothing and saw nothing. Only darkness. He could feel the presence of the weakling with him as well. "What is this trickery?" he tried to say but no sound would come out. He could still feel his limbs, but he could not move them. The only other life he could feel was the other. 'This trickery is our sentence.' Silver said in his mind. Not-Silver growled, his consciousness shifted through their shared mind as he tried to decipher the Other's meaning. 'What happened?' 'At my request, we were banished to the moon. A self-exile. But that is not the full extent of our sentence. We are now stone. No movement, no feeling, no sight. All there is to do is to fight one another for all eternity. An eternity of war and fighting until one of us is destroyed.' 'You'll never destroy me, I AM you.' 'I am me as well.' Not-silver snarled as Silver's consciousness tried to overpower him. Erase him from existence. 'So I am destined to fight the Weakling for eternity am I?' 'I am no weakling' 'Oh really, how is it then you allowed me to emerge and add another victim to our list.' Not-Silver asked. Amusement seemed to emanate from him. 'That was a mistake, you shall not harm another.' Silver snarled, righteous fury fuelling his thoughts The two personalities silently roared and howled, fighting within the stone shell that Silver's body now was. The pitted and cratered surface of the moon became the scene for the unknown war, a war which would rage unabated for eternity, a war of mind and wills, and a war with one victor and one loser.