The End of the Rainbow

by JTH

Chapter 11

From high above, Rainbow Dash continued flying through the sky, until her energy waned to a point that she felt her wings would fall off. It was beginning to be a struggle to even stay a float in the air; a point Rainbow didn't even realize how much slower a pace she was traveling in comparison to the "Rainbow Dash" everypony knew. But her speed or lack there of didn't matter to her right now; Dash just wanted to be as far from the Canterlot Castle as possible. From a far, Rainbow Dash could see a view of Ponyville, and planned to stop there to recollect herself, and maybe to just talk to any familiar face.

However, the trip was proving too much, as she could feel her right wing begin to go stiff, and quickly began to lose altitude. Dash had to act fast and attempt to land someplace safely nearby. Down straight below her view, she saw a rather unwelcoming location; it was the heavy brush and tree canopy of the Everfree Forest. Anypony knew it was unwise to venture into Everfree, much less all alone. It did have a string of positives as well though. Rainbow suspected over time Twilight and her friends would begin to search for her when The Princess of Friendship returned to Ponyville to inform the others of all that happened, and Rainbow knew that Everfree would be the last place they would ever look, so it gave Dash time to cool off and vent at her leisure.

"OOHH!" She cried in the air, as her wing muscles continued to tighten up, it was time to stop thinking mid-air and get on the ground. So after a quick glance to make sure that no ground pony would spot her, she glided downwards and landed into the heart of Everfree Forest.

Even in the broad daylight, the thick canopy of the trees made it quite dark from the forest surface, making it perfect to never be spotted. She chose to rest on a nearby stump, staring at her moping face in a grimy reflection of a large patch of swamplike water. Rainbow couldn't help but continue to remanence on what the Princesses told her back in Canterlot.

"I can't believe them...I thought they trusted me." The venting Rainbow Dash huffed. "I was trying to help them save Equestria, don't those jerks even CARE!?!" In frustration, Dash kicked the ground not knowing that where she kicked lay a massive rock, striking it full hoof force. "OUCH!!!" She yelled out, it hurt so much more that she thought it would. Rainbow began to realize that maybe the aftermath of that magical aftersurge was far worse than she ever thought. Her body still felt like it was quivering from the build-up of magic she had possessed not long ago, and it felt like it only made triple the pain in her newly stubbed hoof.

She muttered and murmured some things under her breath, but it didn't make it any better. It didn't make the pain go away either, and Rainbow Dash began to wonder. If she had continued the magical transfers against the Princesses' suggestions, she could be in much worse shape than a mere hurt hoof. She could only sigh in acceptance, as much as Rainbow didn't want to admit, she knew the Princesses were right...maybe they were only trying to help, even though she believed they could have showed a bit differently. But as Rainbow continued to ponder deep in thought, from behind her was a heavy ruffling from the bushes and brush. Rainbow snapped out of her daze and turned where the noise resided.

"Who goes there!? Don't come any closer, uhh..." In a bit of panic, fearing it could be a flock of cockatrees, or even a timberwolf she grabbed a long rod like wood limb, almost as long as herself, holding up in a defensive position. "I gotta a stick, and I ain't afraid to use it!"

Rainbow began to tremble slightly more as the movement in the brush continuing to fester and seemed to come closer. Soon in fact, Dash could now see a shadowy figure beginning to emerge, but as soon as Rainbow looked ready to pounce the figure began to speak in fimilar voice.

"Fear not child, for all is good." The shadow then became completely visible to the pony eye, it was full sized zebra, carrying a pouch of herbs and other plants over each side. The individual approached with a curious smile on their. "There's no need to use that piece of wood."

A took a couple of seconds for Rainbow Dash process the figure before her, shaking off the mental cobwebs in her head.

"Huh? Zecora!? No offense, but you could've said something sooner." Dash explained, still holding the giant stick shaking in her hooves. But the zebra merely gave a chuckle to respond back at first.

"Forgive me, but it was hard to see. Tell me, what brings you to the middle of Everfree?" She questioned. It was certainly uncommon to any pony enter the forest, much less one of her friends of note unless they were coming to see in pony. Though they all knew where she rescinded, so the zebra believed Rainbow Dash would have simply flown straight to her hut if that was where she wished to go. Regardless, Zecora seemed to welcome the company, though she did notice that her friend didn't seem to be in her usual "Free Spirited Awesome" state of mind.

"Sorry but, I don't really wanna talk about it. I kinda came here to not be seen by anypony..." Rainbow began to try to walk away to try and end the encounter, but one badly placed hoof step sent the rainbow mare in a yelp of agony, dropping the stick she held. It seemed if Dash could clinch hold of every limb possible, she would have. The ears of the zebra nearby perked in a worried concern, heading over to observe the mare's fore hoof, which looked a shade of purple that nearly matched said mare's mane.

"Your energy looks drained, and body strained. Stop struggling dear mare, it's clear you're in pain." Zecora responded, almost trying to make Rainbow Dash sit and stay put. It was clear to her that any additional movement would aggravate any of the obvious injuries Rainbow Dash was very poorly trying to hide.

Dash would give a deep breath here and there to tough through the discomfort. Zecora looking at Rainbow's hoof realized that it needed immediate treatment, along with the rest of herself for that matter. While it was unsure what the all out ailment may be, she was certain that a potion or remedy existed to do the trick. Zecora couldn't even remember a time this particular pegasus was ever grounded upon meeting, she would always be in flight or hovering with inner joy or what not. More so the fact, with a stubbed hoof would in fact encourage the mare to be in the air to stay off it, so to not be only increased the zebra's suspicion that something was indeed very wrong. Zecora came over and offered her hoof for assistance, putting Dash's sore hoof over the zebra's neck. "Come with me my friend. Your injuries, I will tend."

Rainbow really didn't want to, she'd rather just be alone to lament. But who was she kidding? She was helpless right now, the worst that could happen would her friend would help her recover, so that wasn't really bad at all.

"Thank you, friend..." Dash complemented, and while Zecora didn't respond, she gave a smile of acknowledgement. The pain was just too much to bare for Rainbow in her current state, so she just kept her eyes closed or winced, allowing to Zecora to be her guide back to her hut deeper in the forest. It certainly wasn't what she envisioned would happen upon entry into the Everfree Forest, but it was not an outcome Rainbow Dash would complain about in the least...

***

Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack had come to Twilight's Castle when she returned. However, when they all came to the throne room together, Twilight had a most discouraged and upset look on her face. It was also odd to them that Rainbow Dash was not with Twilight either, they were preparing to have the whole story on how well the test trial had gone, now they seemed ready to avoid that conversation entirely and ask the complete opposite of what had went wrong.

The others all sat on their respected thrones while Twilight explained her side of the story, although it began often interrupted by Twilight's visible frustration towards Dash's behavior. She would quickly pace back and forth, refusing to sit for being in one place only riled her more, and moving would allow to vent more freely. But then came the important question from the others.

"But, where is Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked on behalf of the remaining ponies. Twilight could only give a sigh of defeat.

"I don't know where she is..." Twilight glumly spoke. "She flew away after the argument, and no pony's seen her since." It seemed the reminder of the incident got under the Princesses' coat and skin once more, which she emotionally groan aloud. "I can't believe Rainbow Dash was so disrespectful to the Princesses, they were only trying to help..."

"But why did y'all decide to stop training? Didn't ya tell Rainbow you would help her get through any problems?" AJ openly asked the Princess of Friendship, Rarity chimed in as well to agree. "Applejack is right Twilight. This was an entirely new experience for all of you. Each of you told Rainbow Dash directly to not expect to succeed on her first try, did you not?" Pointing to the Princess in the process, almost confronting Twilight putting her on the spot. "And after failing one time and having a setback, you and the Princesses forced her to quit? Darling, that's not fair to her..."

Twilight didn't have a response to it, she just looked to the other ponies present who gave a slight nod of agreement. "Yeah, you dun goofed Twilight..." Pinkie tried to lay it on thinly. "Uh...no offense.

What made Twilight feel even worse is that at first she didn't agree with the Princesses feelings, but it was their worry of Rainbow Dash's safety that convinced her that they ultimately were right. But Twilight couldn't help but know that her friends were right, it wasn't fair to Rainbow Dash either. Rainbow accepted the risk that came with the battle that would face her, and they agreed to help her in any way despite that danger. Whether Dash wanted to continue on or not was her decision to make, she had that right to choose, but they took it from her. Now Rainbow was gone, and possibly hurt as well. This now only wasted more precious time that would be needed.

The Princesses' Stealth Spell wouldn't last for much longer, and if it failed at any time soon, the ponies would have no plan of action to stop Raindoom from flooding the land. The ponies needed to spend additional effort and time to now find Rainbow Dash wherever in Equestria she may be, then spend longer for her to recover, and then longer again to potentially come up with a new plan. Twilight wished she could have stood up for Rainbow back at the castle, now she needed to instead find her, but where...

***

In the dark hallows of the Everfree Forest, the shaman's hut and home of Zecora stood high around the murky surroundings of muddy water and poison joke plants. Inside Zecora had her cauldron boiling with a brew of ointments and other medical herbs she had scurried for during her recent walk. Meanwhile on a nearby bed lay the pony they were meant for. Rainbow Dash laid propped up in bed, her head lying on the hay filled pillow Zecora owned, waiting for the zebra to return to her side for aide. Candles were lit in all directions to keep the mare warm, her eyes very baggy. Even to an untrained eye, Rainbow looked as exhausted as she did weak. Even lying in the bed she lay in, she could still feel herself losing energy and strength. Whatever had happened to her at the castle, was still taking a toll and it took every bit of might in Dash's being to just tilt her head aside to see the zebra approach with a bowl of steaming vat.

"This herbal broth will reduce the swell." Zecora told Dash. "And it will replenish your strength as well." The zebra then proceeded to retrieve a roll of bandages to wrap Rainbow Dash's discolored hoof, but Zecora's trek was halted hearing a grotesque gag from the bed ridden mare coughing and hacking to the side.

"Ugh! This tastes horrible!" Dash groaned, gagging nearly between every word, but the statement was followed by an unexpected chuckle by her zebra friend, which was a tab surprising to Rainbow.

"Thus was an assumption that you need rethink. I never said it was meant to drink." Zecora responded back and then proceeded to sit aside the wooden stool the vat lay, and now with a bandage roll in hoof, using a small piece to wipe Rainbow's mouth of the mixture she mistakenly drank. She proceeded to gently mareuver Dash's swollen hoof over towards her and in a moment later, slowly dipped Dash's hoof into the same still steaming mixture. The temperature made Dash wince and make a soft moan, but almost just as quick the pain and swelling began to rescind.

While Rainbow stayed rested, Zecora began to mix an additional special brew for the injured guest in her hut. The zebra took a near entire sack of Everfree Berries from one of her saddlebags and began to boil them thoroughly. Now Everfree Berries in a raw state were quite poisonous, but boiled to a precise temperature would burn off all the toxins, leaving the sweet edible juice that had natural healing properties. Fortunately for Rainbow Dash, her lack of knowledge of Everfree worked to her advantage, helping not freak her out about what she was about to consume. When given the bowl of boiling berry juice, it tasted other worldly to Rainbow. Zecora told her over time, Dash's strength and energy would restore. So in the mean time while waiting for Zecora's potions and recipes to do their thing, the zebra indeed had questions. "So forgive me if you don't mind my asking. But it seems that there are troubles you're masking."

Dash sighed at the comment. "That obvious huh?" It was greeted with a nod from Zecora. Rainbow slowly sat up in the bed made for her and began to tell her friend of the events of the day. Zecora had seen many a tale, and heard even more, but this was far beyond even the greatest of zebra folklore. Rainbow Dash sat over the side of the bed she lay in, burying her hooves into her cheeks while slumped over. "I don't know what to do...I...I can't do this alone..." She then curled her pegasus wings around her face, almost to hide her feelings from her friend.

Zecora though knew there was a time where it was important to allow somepony to grieve. The zebra allowed Rainbow to vent and ease, and when the time was right Zecora knew the words to say. After a minute or so, she came over and with her own hoof, lifted up Dash's face to make sure Dash could see as well as hear the words spoken.

"Your friends will be with you, whether far or near. Because they will always be inside here." Zecora spoke with an assurity and confidently, pointing straight to Rainbow's chest. The exact placement of her heart, Dash looked down to where Zecora pointed and sniffled and wiped her face, though Rainbow would denied if they were tears.

"You're right..." Dash responded back, though her cracked for a moment, thus she repeated it again. She then hopped up off the bed and for the first time in a brief while, stood on all fours with a smile. "My friends have always been there for me. And they always will be. And I know that as long as their friendship is strong, that I have to be strong for them."

What Rainbow Dash didn't realize was that while she was speaking, her whole body began to glow a bright gold aura. And once she finished speaking of her friends, a bright flash of light encompassed the entire hut. Just as quick, it was gone and all returned to normal. Dash looked down at her once purple, swollen hoof, now like nothing had ever been wrong. In fact, Rainbow felt good as new. "Woah, I feel stronger than ever. That berry juice does wonders Zecora." Stretching her wings out, almost to see if they still had any illumination of light to them, which sadly for her they didn't; it would have been awesome to show it off to anypony who cared to look. Zecora though, was not so sure she believed that what just happened was anything to do with her remedies. "What happened my friend is a mystery. For whatever that was, was not done by me."

"Well, whether you did that or not, you still lent a hoof to help. I can't thank you enough. But I gotta go and find Twilight." With a quick zip and a flash, Rainbow flew out of Zecora's hut and left above the canopy of the Everfree Forest, making a beeline back to Ponyville. Zecora as Dash left placed a hoof under her chin to ponder what the strange occurrence was. The encounter as a whole was strange at that, and whatever had or was about to transpire that she be prepared. Because something in fur told her that she would be needed again soon...

***

At The Castle of Friendship, the girls had begun packing, preparing to find Rainbow Dash wherever she may have gone. The ponies had no leads, they could only go on locations that Rainbow would find "Awesome enough to get away" from. Twilight magically floated over a pack of items for both Fluttershy and Applejack as the five ponies present were ready to head out.

"How in the hay are we gonna find Rainbow Dash Twilight?" Applejack asked amongst them all.

"I don't know Applejack..." Princess Twilight answered in a somber tone. "We just have to hope we can find her before it's too late. Remember everypony, she could be anywhere, so whenever you think you've found her, let us all know." The statement was heard for all present, who all gave a nod of confidence. "Alright, let's go!" And Twilight used her magic to open the giant Throne Room Doors...

But when they opened, what was behind them shocked everypony.

"Twilight, we need to talk..."

The very pony that all were prepared to search, stood mere feet from all of them. Rainbow Dash's statement was responded with a state of silence, until...

"I FOUND HER!" Pinkie Pie screamed out to the other Mane Six members while pointing to Rainbow Dash with a hoof, maybe hoping a prize would be rewarded to the winner. But it seemed clear by the tone of Dash's voice that she wanted to speak with Twilight quickly, and privately.

Twilight could only hope that maybe Rainbow had learned something that prove useful to defeat Raindoom, or any other vital information.