Rainbow Dash has a complex past. When others try to make things right, they often times end up making things worse. Or do they? It might be cliche, but maybe we’re just too stuck in the past to be able to live in the present.
Trust takes years to build and seconds to break. Rainbow Dash and Derpy are great friends. But Rainbow Dash is still haunted by her past years, and the heavy emotional toll that she suffered at the hands of her father. She can’t seem to forget. And neither can Derpy.
Hot sunlight streamed down on the two warriors as steel clashed on steel. Thick fog hung over the ground and caused a myriad of tiny droplets to form on both warriors as they fought with all their strength and skill. The warm steamy environment only worsened with each breath they took. Sweat and tears glistened on their faces. “You’ll pay for what you did, Derpy” Rainbow Dash growled through clenched teeth.
The rainbow mane warrior skillfully sidestepped a thrust and countered, swinging a fatal blow aimed at her opponent’s head. But Derpy was no longer there. Ducking the overhead blow, she kicked out with both back hooves and tackled Rainbow Dash to the ground. Both swords skittered off into the darkness. The two mares grappled together, kicking and punching, each trying to gain advantage over the other. Anger and grief overcoming her exhaustion, Dash reared up on both back hooves and struck a full force blow to Derpy’s right flank. While Derpy recoiled in pain, she took the opportunity to grab her sword and regain her balance. Derpy lay panting hard at Dash’s feet. There was no mercy in Dash’s eyes. Cold hatred swirled in the depths of her enraged purple gaze.
“Do it then” Derpy rasped. “Make it quick. You’ve made your choice and you won fair and square. But your father was wron-“
“DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT MY FATHER” Dash screamed. Tears of fury streaked her dust caked face and obscured her sight until all she saw was the gray outline of the pony she hated so much, the gray pony that she wanted dead, the gray pony that was responsible for her father’s death. Dash leveled the sword until it was pointed at Derpy’s neck. Her vision turned red. She swung.
Two Days Earlier
“Hey Rainbow Dash! Do you need help?” Derpy greeted her old friend enthusiastically as she was clearing the clouds above Ponyville. Rainbow Dash didn’t look too excited to see her.
“Oh, hi Derpy…..” Dash sighed inwardly. Derpy was one of those ponies who make everything go wrong. Honestly, if Twilight wanted to study an enigma, she had an unsolvable one right here in Ponyville. Still, Derpy was a great friend, and Dash immediately felt ashamed for feeling annoyance towards her when she hadn’t even done anything. Yet.
“No, I’m good, thanks for the offer though” she replied with a hesitant smile, hoping that she appeared friendlier than she felt.
After Derpy had left, Rainbow Dash allowed herself a moment to think seriously on past events. A letter had arrived just yesterday addressed from her parents urging her to come as soon as possible to Cloudsdale. Dash was puzzled. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen her parents. It had been moons since she had been in touch with them. She didn’t even think they knew her address. In fact, she hadn’t seen them since….Her thoughts drifted to the few childhood memories she did have, and her vision clouded over.
“Don’t be so ridiculous Rainbow. Thousands of other Pegasus ponies just like you are trying to become Wonderbolts. You want to pursue flying- you do it as a hobby. Find a more respectable career” her father chided.
“I told you, flying is more than just a hobby, it’s what I want to do! I love everything about it: the adrenaline, the competition, the speed, the acceleration” Her eyes sparked with excitement at the thought. “Why can’t you see that?” Dash protested.
Her father whirled around with anger in his eyes “I told you NO. You don’t question me. I’m older, wiser, and more experienced than you. I’ve seen a hundred times more than you've seen. Do you know how many ponies I see these days with no job? No home? No money? You need to think about your future Rainbow and forget these stupid dreams you have about reckless ponies and their flying tricks. Now go study, and if I see one more bad report from your school, I’m going to be even more upset than I am now.” He stalked away, his wing feathers ruffled.
Rainbow cried. Something in her had changed that night. She swore to herself, that she was never going to open a book again. Even on her hospital bed. That night, she planned to despise books for the rest of her life.
“Rainbow? Rainbow, are you okay?”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes snapped open. She was on the ground and Twilight Sparkle was looking down on her with concern. “Are you feeling okay Rainbow? You look pale.”
Dash shook her head to clear those thoughts from her mind. She felt like she had crash landed. Twilight kept shifting in and out of focus.
“Yea, I’m okay Twilight, thanks. How did you find me so quickly? Were you watching me?”
Twilight snorted. “No, but I did see you fall from a low cloud. You looked like you were having a seizure. Are you sure you don’t feel like going to the hospital?”
Dash shuddered. The hospital. She’d rather run the Running of the Leaves a second time with her wings tied behind her back. The thought made her think back to when she first ran away from home. What did she write in that note that she had left on her bed the night she left? She couldn’t remember.
She wasn’t angry. She was tired. Tired of it all, she wanted to escape. No longer did she want her opinions and dreams tossed like leaves to the wind. No longer did she want to be molded into some pony she didn’t want to be. Hastily picking up a quill in her mouth, she scribbled a letter to her parents. After tucking half of it under her sheets, she examined her bedroom window. Ironically, orange rust covered the frame but the glass was as clear to appear invisible. Clearly it had not been opened in ages. Hesitantly, not wanting to wake her parents with the sound of the creaky hinges, she pushed it open cautiously. Cool night air rushed in. It smelled of freedom. Without making a sound, and without looking back, she flew off under the soft moonlight.
Rainbow Dash awoke again, startled. She found herself hovering a few feet off the ground surrounded by a purple aura. Unicorn magic.
“I’m taking you to see the doctor Rainbow Dash, no exceptions. You passed out again!”
Rainbow Dash groaned. There was a dull throbbing in the back of her head. She felt as though she had been steamrolled by an army of ponies with iron horseshoes. Spots danced in her vision, and she felt slightly woozy. Tired and unable to protest, her legs hung limply as Twilight transported her to the general hospital in Ponyville. She felt her eyelids growing heavy, and once again slipped into unconsciousness.
Even the doctor was puzzled. Rainbow Dash woke to Twilight and an emergency room doctor conversing about Rainbow’s condition.
“We ran tests, but all of her vitals are completely normal. Did you say she collapsed three times?”
Twilight nodded. “The first time she fell from a cloud, the second time she passed out while talking to me, and she passed out on the way here as well.”
The doctor thought hard for a moment. “Well, this is a terribly unusual case. I recommend keeping her here the night, just in case something really is wrong. She can read Daring Do to her heart’s content.” He winked at her. “You remember that, don’t you Rainbow Dash?”
Rainbow Dash was no longer listening. She was lost in her own thoughts.
Alone and frightened, she flew through the night sky. Never had she been this far from home before. As she flew over the Everfree Forest, dark shapes materialized in the edge of her peripheral vision. They grew larger and larger. Rainbow Dash barely registered the fact that they were stallion Pegasi when she was slammed to the ground. Dark spots flashed in her eyes, and a loud ringing had filled her ears. Utter fear and helplessness filled her already nerve wracked mind. The stallion Pegasi landed next to her. There were three of them- big and buff with no sign of mercy in their eyes. They grinned and stared lewdly at Rainbow Dash on the ground, half conscious.
“Well, look what we got here. A pretty Pegasus all by herself in the middle of the night. Where are you headed gorgeous?”
Rainbow Dash sat up groggily and attempted to fly away, but was knocked flat by a glancing blow from one of the stallions. He leered at her. “Woah there beautiful, we wouldn't want you getting away, would we? Not before we've had our share of fun.”
Disoriented and frightened, but still unbroken, Dash struggled to her hooves. “Touch me, and you will see blood” she snarled, hoping her tone was more intimidating than it sounded.
The three Pegasi laughed. “Oh, we’ll see blood alright. Just not ours!” the largest one said with lust in his eyes. “Hold her down.”
The other two Pegasi caught Rainbow Dash by her two front hooves and held her to the ground. She fought and kicked, but they were two fully grown male Pegasi. They overwhelmed her easily. Tears welled in Dash’s eyes. “So this is how it ends” she thought to herself.
The large Pegasus stallion positioned himself behind Rainbow Dash. He grinned wickedly. “Trust me, you’ll enjoy it too. Just relax swee-.”
He stopped mid-sentence. A gargle escaped his mouth and he looked down. A blade protruded from his chest, its tip crimson red. Red trickled down his abdomen. The sword stayed for a few seconds, and as it pulled away, the Pegasus titter tottered for a bit, then fell to the ground. The other two Pegasi panicked. Both let go of Rainbow Dash and attempted to fly away. The sword flashed in the moonlight, as quick as lightning and another Pegasus lay dead, his throat slashed open and blood pouring from the grievous wound. The other got a little further, but not by much. He managed to fly a few meters up, before the warrior pony pounced. The mysterious warrior leaped with incredible agility, and slashed downwards with his sword. The Pegasus fell to the ground, cloven almost in two. He stepped over him, his sword whirling expertly, and his alert eyes darting from side to side. The largest Pegasus had struggled to his feet. He charged at the warrior’s back. Without looking backwards, the warrior sidestepped the charge, and swung at the same time. The final Pegasi of the trio fell at his feet, death pooling in his eyes.
The last thing Dash felt before her eyesight went dark was the strong muscular back of the warrior as he carried her deeper into the forest.
Rainbow Dash woke. This time, she was lying on a hospital bed in a dark room. She checked the clock. 1:00 AM. A heart monitor beeped nearby. She was shivering so she pulled the blankets further around her, but realized the blankets were drenched with cold sweat. “Why is this happening to me?” she wondered as she fell back into a dream plagued sleep.
She smelled something delicious. The rich, tantalizing smell of summer vegetable soup made her open her eyes. A large pot sat simmering in the corner, releasing fragrant vapor into the air. Onions, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, some ginger. Her stomach growled at the prospect of food.
Attempting to get up was difficult. Her body felt incredibly weak. Her muscles refused to obey her mind. The events from last night hit her like a storm. She glanced around. There was no one else in the cave with her. A blanket fell off her back as she rose unsteadily to her hooves.
The cave was incredibly well organized. Dried herbs and spices hung from the ceiling. A dry breeze blew through from the entrance. The air was not damp, but rather comfortably dry. A simple bed with a table sat in the corner.
Rainbow Dash walked outside and gasped. She was expecting to be surrounded by thick trees and shrubs in the Everfree Forest. Instead, her gaze was filled with towering, snow capped peaks. Birds of prey soared high above her. A gigantic lake almost completely surrounded the house, except for a narrow path that cut through it leading to the forest. A waterfall fell nearby, causing a light mist highlighted by rays of bright sunlight. It was breaktaking.
A movement nearby caught her attention. Her eyes swung towards a medium size dog with a sandy coat and large brown eyes. The dog looked up at her with expectant eyes. It wagged its tail happily and trotted over to greet this newcomer.
A tap on her shoulder almost made her jump into the lake. He looked amused at her astonished expression. Silently, he beckoned towards the cave where he had already set up a dinner table with three places set, and a supper dish on the ground for the dog.
The soup was as delicious as it smelled. But there was still an empty seat. A gray pony trotted across the land bridge towards her supper.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows. Rainbow Dash blinked and sat up. She felt much better. The queasiness and nausea were gone, and she felt like herself again. Her sudden illness was unusual, but not dangerous. The doctor dismissed her condition as “stress-induced”, gave her a prescription for sleeping pills should she need them, and discharged her.
Outside the cool, brisk morning air brushed Rainbow’s wings. Her body thrummed with energy, and she felt much better since yesterday when she had received her parent’s letter in the mail.
The letter! How could she have forgotten? She glanced skyward. The sun was still rising. If she left now, she could make it to Cloudsdale by mid afternoon. Should she bring anything? “Maybe I should bring the letter in case it was some stupid prank…. Nah that’s stupid.” She had left it at home anyway, and going all the way back would only take more time.
While in flight, Rainbow’s thoughts wandered, but she felt more in control, instead of feeling faint and dizzy like before. Her mind was miraculously sharp, and she could remember details vividly.
The gray pony’s name was Derpy Hooves. She told Dash her story, how she had been rejected by her superstitious parents who had thought she was a curse brought upon them by the gods and how she had run away when she was a little filly. How Sword Flash had found her freezing to death and at the brink of starvation in the dead of winter in the mountains and had brought her to live with him in his home. How he had trained her in the art of swordplay and meditation since then.
“Strangely enough, I’m not clumsy when I hold a sword!” she exclaimed proudly. “I used to break everything when I was with my parents, everything from glass vases to my mom’s favorite wooden spatula. I really did feel like a curse. But when Sword Flash heard about my clumsiness, he taught me how to control it using swordplay as an outlet. I’ve been living and training here ever since!”
The dog barked and bounded up to Derpy, jumping on her and licking her enthusiastically. She laughed and pushed him off. “This is Timothy by the way. He’s friendly.” She looked at him with amusement. “Most of the time.”
Observing quickly that she had nowhere else to go, Sword Flash took Rainbow in immediately as his pupil. He never questioned her about her past, or what she had been doing in the Everfree Forest all by herself in the middle of the night, or who her parents were. When she fell into the grasp of one of her frequent flashbacks, he would sit calmly until she came around again, and then resume the lesson as if nothing had happened. He was patient. Too patient. Almost as if he was waiting for something.
Furthermore, his lessons had nothing to do with swordplay. He didn’t teach her fancy moves, or advanced techniques regarding the sword. He taught her observation and meditation- often advising her to sit by the lake for hours at a time and observe everything around her. He taught her about the various flora and fauna in the lake, and in the forest- the fish, deer, birds, mosquitoes, and even how to tell poisonous mushrooms from edible ones. He taught her how to use all her senses to pinpoint what she needed when she needed it. But never once did he mention the sword. She would see him sparring with Derpy frequently, light sparkling off of their blades as they clashed.
And one day, almost a month later, something in her broke. The emotions that she had been holding in for years while she lived under her parents let loose in a giant flood. She screamed. She raged. She kicked everything from cooking pots to Timothy, who ran yelping into the forest. She tipped over the large pot of stew that Sword Flash had simmered all day into the lake where it became a red splat on the mirror surface of crystal clear water. Sword Flash made no move to stop her. He let her raze his well organized cave to piles of rubble. He showed no sign of surprise, anger, or annoyance.
Derpy, on the other hand, looked appalled when Dash told the story of her relationship with her father. Anger lit her normally happy features, and a dark shadow clouded her expression. It passed as quickly as it had come.
Finally she stopped her rampage. Breathing hard, she spoke in a calmer tone “Aren’t you going to stop me from wrecking your home? Why aren’t you angry and disappointed? Why didn’t you just leave me to those stallions in the Everfree Forest?” Tears of shame poured from her eyes. She braced herself, knowing that this was the last straw. He was going to kick her out, and she’d have to live all by herself, all alone and frightened. Again.
He gave her a broom. “Not my home. Our home.” And he started cleaning up his kitchen, piling the ruined vegetables and herbs into a neat pile with his hoof. He turned around with a fierce glare that had nothing to do with Rainbow Dash’s actions and everything to do with his sense of duty and protection. “As long as you are here, no pony will hurt you. Do you understand?” He paused, and his expression changed to one of long suffering and pain. His eyes glazed over, and he spoke with a more distant tone, as if he was caught in memories of his past. “Family, Rainbow, is the most powerful bond you can have in this life. You've learned in the hardest way possible that birth isn't necessarily a guarantee that you’ll be part of one. Remember that lesson, and be reassured that Derpy and I are your family now.” And he said no more.
But Sword Flash had made a fatal miscalculation. The day after he found Rainbow back in the Everfree Forest, the gang had located the three dead bodies of their members. The Mare8, as they were known, was a collection of the most notorious and dangerous stallions in Equestria- eight of them to be exact. Astonished at the fact that some pony had managed to take out three members at once and escape, the remaining five swore never to forgive. And never to forget. The leader knew the killer’s handiwork. He could see it, from the kinds of injuries inflicted upon his friends. This was no doubt, the work of Sword Flash.
Rainbow arrived at her parent’s house in Cloudsdale. She opened the door, and reeled back in shock. Derpy stood with her sword over the motionless body of Rainbow’s father with a murderous look in her eyes. Rainbow's father turned his head to stare at Rainbow Dash for the last time. His eyes registered nothing but calm acceptance and sorrow. At that moment, Rainbow saw the regret clear as day in his gaze. She yelled at Derpy to stop- to put away her weapon. Derpy looked at her with an expression that Rainbow knew all too well. It was the same expression of betrayal that Rainbow had worn during the last argument with her father. Derpy stabbed downwards. Rainbow lunged at her. Time slowed down. Rainbow felt as if she was moving in molasses. The sword met its mark. And he was gone.
Her father lay dead on the ground, blood pooling around the fatal stab wound. His final expression of sorrow and regret was etched in his features.
From that point on, Sword Flash started Rainbow Dash in her studies of swordplay. He taught her to forge her own blade using a forge he had constructed himself. He explained the significance of balance and dexterity when against an opponent of equal or greater physical strength. But most of all, he emphasized the importance of character- the component of swordplay that makes every warrior in question unique.
“A sword must be an extension of your being. When you hold a sword, you should feel no different with it than if you were standing bare-hoofed.” He spoke clear and directly.
It had been less than a year since Sword Flash had found Rainbow Dash in the Everfree Forest being assaulted by stallions when he lead her to a high point among the mountain range surrounding his home. Beneath their hooves, Equestria lay spread out, like a colorful moving map. Rivers snaked through the dense Everfree Forest. Wetlands and swamps dotted the landscape. Canterlot could be seen sparkling far in the distance. They remained silent for a few minutes. Sword Flash spoke first.
“Do you enjoy using your sword Rainbow?”
His question threw her off balance. What kind of question was that? She considered carefully for a moment.
“No.” A simple one word answer. Perfect. “It gives me ideas that I’ve never had before. Ideas that I don’t like to imagine. ”
Her answer seemed to satisfy him.
“Good. That means I’ve done my job. The sword should be considered a tool, not a weapon.”
He paused and turned around. “Fight for purpose Rainbow Dash. Because in a duel, it doesn’t matter how many ponies you have to face by yourself, or how skilled they are. If you have a stronger sense of purpose than all of them combined, then you will emerge victorious. Everytime. The art of the sword has almost nothing to do with ability or talent and everything to do with simple willpower.”
He looked tired, sadness clouding his eyes. “As much as I want to, I cannot protect you forever.” And he stumbled away on the path back down the mountain, looking older and more exhausted than ever before.
Rainbow Dash stared at Derpy, utter shock and confusion in her eyes.
Dash spoke first. “Why?”
Derpy stared defiantly at the cyan blue pony.
“Don’t you remember what Sword Flash taught us? We’re family. I came here to kill the pony that caused you so much pain and suffering.”
Dash spoke again. “How?”
“The letter. You left it on your bed when you left. That’s how I got the address. Aren’t you happy he’s gone?”
Rainbow shook her mane in disbelief.
“We promised each other, Derpy” she almost sobbed. “We made a promise when we came to Ponyville that we would never speak of what happened ever again.”
But she didn’t. Instead, cold fury entered her gaze. She grabbed a sword off the wall, and charged at Derpy. Rainbow had no idea what a sword was doing in her father’s house, and she didn’t care. Derpy’s eyes widened in surprise. She fled out the window. Rainbow chased after her.
That very night, Rainbow Dash was woken by the sound of Sword Flash pacing the cave. Derpy was snoring softly in her sleep. He had strapped on his sword belt and scabbard, and was pacing restlessly at the entrance. He had lit torches surrounding the island. Light from the torches bounced off the water and lit the entire area. He noticed Rainbow was awake.
“Rainbow, this is urgent” he spoke rapidly. “I need you to wake Derpy and leave immediately with her.”
Rainbow blinked. “What? In the middle of the night?”
The urgency in his voice made it clear that this was no time for argument. Rainbow looked closely at her mentor’s face. He looked nothing like the old, helpless pony that had spoken to her on the mountain. His eyes were bright and alert, and he radiated energy and confidence. But his expression was shadowed with worry.
“Yes. Take your swords and get out of here as quick as possible. Don’t use the main path, stick to the shadows and whatever you do, don’t-“
At this point, Derpy had woken too. She rubbed her eyes sleepily. “What’s going on?”
Rainbow was sure something was wrong. Sword Flash had honed her observation skills to notice even the smallest of details. She was near certain that she had seen ripples in the lake. Large ripples, which indicated large creatures. And she was sure there was more than one of them.
Sword Flash had noticed the ripples as well. Eyes flashing, he spoke urgently.
“There’s no time. Change of plan. Listen carefully. Get on top of the roof of this cave and whatever you hear or see, promise me you won’t come down. Promise me.”
Rainbow Dash and Derpy were utterly confused. They looked at him with wide eyes.
“PROMISE ME!” he almost shouted. They had never seen him like this before. They looked at each other, then looked back at him and nodded in unison, unable to speak out of fear.
He looked at them both with fierce pride in his eyes. “Take care of each other, no matter what happens tonight. Stick together always. Now go!”
They flew up to the roof. Under the cover of darkness, they crouched and looked down at the scene. The sharp rocks and pebbles stung Rainbow’s chest, but she didn’t move. Neither did Derpy.
Sword Flash sat, his sword sheathed and Timothy by his side. There was no friendliness in Timothy now. His teeth were bared in a snarl and he growled viciously at the lake.
And they appeared. Five stallions, right out of a horror film, walked out of the water. Rainbow couldn’t help but notice the long, threatening swords strapped to their bodies. Unlike Sword Flash’s weapon, theirs were long, black as midnight, and seemed to induce fear into Rainbow, filling her mind with the darkest of thoughts and nightmares. Derpy was affected likewise. She sat trembling next to Rainbow.
Sword Flash seemed unaffected by their presence. He remained in his position while they approached in a ring. He was surrounded.
“Father.” The largest one grinned, but there was an unsettling feeling behind his creepy smile, and his eyes were as cold as a winter night. “It’s been a while.”
“What are you doing here, Rough Pebble? You dare come back and show yourself to me?” Sword Flash looked scarier than ever, his face a mask of calm, but his eyes a storm of icy rage.
Rough Pebble seemed unperturbed by Sword Flash’s anger.
“No, no this is more than just a courtesy visit.” He glared cruelly at Sword Flash. “You are going to pay with your life for the death of my three comrades over a year ago. And when we’re done with you…..” He chuckled. “We have special plans for those two Pegasi you've taken under your wing. There are plenty of clients who would pay good money for those two as slaves. What they choose to do with them is no concern of mine.” He glared menacingly around the clearing, his eyes passing over the location where Rainbow and Derpy were hiding. “They can’t run forever.”
Rainbow’s heart almost stopped when Rough Pebble looked at them. He couldn't possibly know where they were, as it was pitch dark, and she heaved a silent sigh of relief when he looked away.
Sword Flash could retain his composure no longer. He sprang to his hooves and drew his blade. The deadly steel glinted in the torchlight. There was no fear in him. Only fury.
“Those three intended harm to a young and innocent Pegasus in the forest. They were scum- the lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile” he spat. “They deserved to die.”
Rough Pebble lifted an eyebrow. “Really? Who made you a judge of who deserves life and who doesn't?” He laughed again. “Enough of your blabbering. Kill the old fool” he ordered.
The other four stallions drew their blades and surrounded Sword Flash. Rough Pebble stood back a safe distance away with a smug expression.
Rainbow could tell that the blades the four stallions were holding were abnormal, but in what way? She was sure they were more dangerous than they appeared. Her worry for Sword Flash almost made her leap down there and help defend him, but she remembered her promise. She had to restrain Derpy too, who had lost her bubbly character, and was positively writhing to escape Rainbow’s restraint.
The boldest stallion swung experimentally at Sword Flash. He was more than ready. Slipping to one side, he lunged forward as quickly as a rattlesnake, forcing the stallion to parry the attack and back up. The ground smoked where the evil stallion had hit his sword.
“Poison”, Dash thought to herself. “Their damn swords are covered in poison.”
The others were more wary of attacking Sword Flash. They kept their swords up, their eyes glinting maliciously in the torchlight, circling around him. One got too close by mistake. And Sword Flash struck.
He attacked the stallion with incredible speed, weaving a web of steel around him. The stallion could barely defend himself. He would have been overwhelmed if his companion had not come up behind Sword Flash, forcing him to defend his back. While he was distracted, the third stallion’s blade struck at his other side. Had the hit landed, it would have proved fatal. Timothy leaped to intercept. He fell to the ground, dead, his fur smoking from the poison.
Sword Flash roared. He whirled around like lightning and swept the stallion’s hooves out from under him with the flat of his blade. As soon as he hit the ground, Sword Flash was on top. He stabbed downwards, his sword connecting with the evil pony’s chest. The stallion never moved again.
The remaining three stallions continued to circle. Rough Pebble still watched from afar, but Rainbow saw a flash of fear cross his smug features.
One of the stallions swung. Sword jumped aside, but a little too slowly. The black sword glanced off of his flank, leaving a smoking trail, eating away at his flesh. Rainbow felt Derpy wince next to her, as if she had been struck. If he felt any pain, he didn't show it. His eyes shone with the light of battle, and he charged.
The members of Mare8 used their swords awkwardly. They used them to stab, rather than the graceful slashing technique Sword Flash had taught Rainbow and Derpy. But jabbing was still deadly, and the stallions were good at it. One stallion stabbed at Sword Flash’s right hind leg. The sword barely touched, leaving a nasty looking burn. Sword Flash used his rear hooves to slam him in the chest. While he was winded, Sword threw his weapon like a javelin with deadly accuracy. It impaled the stallion through his head, and he fell, propped up by Flash’s sword.
Sword limped over and retrieved his weapon. He was still standing, but it was clear that the poison was sapping at his strength. Both stallions noticed his weakened state. They charged from both sides.
Sword Flash still had one last trick. As soon as they were in range, he dropped to all fours and kicked out with all four of his legs, like a butterfly. The two stallions tripped over his legs, cursing as they fell. One slashed out and sliced a gash open on Sword’s flank. He recoiled slightly in pain, but that didn't stop him from leaping upwards, and using his downward momentum to drive his sword deep into the first stallion’s brain. The stallion’s eyes went dark.
The final stallion had regained his balance. The two glared at each other, their flanks heaving, and swords held at ready. This time it was no match. Sword ducked his upper swing and swung an uppercut in retaliation, cleaving the last stallion into two pieces.
Rainbow knew where Derpy was fleeing to, and she didn’t like it. She hadn’t been there since she had left years ago. But the only thing on her mind was revenge. She was blinded with rage.
The island hadn’t changed one bit in the years past. But the beautiful surrounding lake had turned into a marshy swamp. Humidity hung thick in the air, frogs croaked nearby, and mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The place seemed more dead than alive, despite the abundance of natural life- a living wasteland of what had been.
Rainbow landed on the island, hardly noticing her exhaustion. Derpy stood nearby, trying to catch her breath.
“You’re father was no father to you” she spat, tears sparkling at the edges of her eyes. “He reminded me of my parents and what they did to me. I was doing you a favor! Killing him to make sure you didn’t have to do it yourself. Don’t you remember what Sword Flash told us? We look out for each other! Why are you so determined to forget everything that he taught us? Do you hate your past? Is that why you told me to forget everything when we arrived in Ponyville, and just try to live a normal life as if nothing had ever happened? I’m never going to forget Rainbow. NEVER.” Her whole body shook with emotion.
Rainbow was no longer in control.
“YES I DID WANT TO FORGET EVERYTHING. I WANTED IT ALL GONE.” she roared.
Sword Flash limped around slowly to face his son, who was still watching, shocked. Rough Pebble’s smug expression flickered for just a moment.
“I shall kill you myself” he decided, drawing his sword. Unlike the swords of his companions, Rough Pebble’s blade was massive, with an obsidian grip and long blade that tapered down to a deadly tip. Poison dripped from the end and burnt tiny holes in the dirt.
Rainbow had no idea how her mentor could face him and win. He was already weakened greatly from his wounds. He seemed slower, and more sluggish, and his breath came in labored gasps. Her body screamed at her to jump down there and protect Sword, but her mind held her back.
Rough Pebble was good. He was much more experienced than any of his comrades. Sword Flash found himself on the defensive as Rough Pebble’s blade surrounded him in deadly patterns.
With each parry, Sword Flash grew progressively weaker and weaker. His eyes were dim with hardly any light left in them. It seemed as though Death had claimed him already, and he was barely hanging on. Rough Pebble laughed manically, tasting victory. Any minute now, and he will have defeated his father- one of the greatest swordponies in Equestria. He would be unstoppable.
Sword Flash stumbled slightly, and Rough Pebble noticed. Quick as a flash, he swept Sword’s legs out from under him, using the same move his father had taught him decades ago. Sword collapsed in a heap, Rough Pebble standing over him with a triumphant face.
“Should I tell you what I’m going to do to Rainbow and Derpy when I find them? I’m going to gather a new gang of ponies, and we will not be stopped!” he sneered.
At the mention of his two beloved daughters, Sword Flash’s eyes reignited stronger than ever before. He leaped to his feet. Panicking at his father’s sudden burst of energy, Rough Pebble swung at his neck, expecting the sword to pass through. Sword moved with lightning speed. Rough Pebble’s sword bounced back with so much force, it almost impaled him in the forehead. The old warrior’s burning gaze fixed on Rough Pebble, who took a step back nervously. He tripped over the body of one of his followers as he backed up.
Rough Pebble didn’t even see it coming. All he saw was a flash of steel and his vision went dark. The decapitated head hit the ground as Sword Flash watched with a grim expression. It was over.
Hot sunlight streamed down on the two warriors as steel clashed on steel. Thick fog hung over the ground and caused a myriad of tiny droplets to form on both warriors as they fought with all their strength and skill. The warm steamy environment only worsened with each breath they took. Sweat and tears glistened on their faces.
“You’ll pay for what you did, Derpy” Rainbow Dash growled through clenched teeth.
The rainbow mane warrior skillfully sidestepped a thrust and countered, swinging a fatal blow aimed at her opponent’s head. But Derpy was no longer there. Ducking the overhead blow, she kicked out with both back hooves and tackled Rainbow Dash to the ground. Both swords skittered off into the darkness. The two mares grappled together, kicking and punching, each trying to gain advantage over the other. Anger and grief overcoming her exhaustion, Dash reared up on both back hooves and struck a full force blow to Derpy’s right flank. While Derpy recoiled in pain, she took the opportunity to grab her sword and regain her balance. Derpy lay panting hard at Dash’s feet. There was no mercy in Dash’s eyes. Cold hatred swirled in the depths of her enraged purple gaze.
“Do it then” Derpy rasped. “Make it quick. You’ve made your choice and you won fair and square. But your father was wron-“
“DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT MY FATHER” Dash screamed.
Tears of fury streaked her dust caked face and obscured her sight until all she saw was the gray outline of the pony she hated so much, the gray pony that she wanted dead, the gray pony that was responsible for her father’s death. Dash leveled the sword until it was pointed at Derpy’s neck. Her vision turned red. She swung.
Her sword thudded to the ground next to Derpy, missing her entirely. The blade sank almost up to the hilt in mud.
The gash had taken its toll. Sword Flash stumbled and fell as Rainbow and Derpy rushed to him. The poison had reached his heart. His breath came in shallow gasps, and smoke rose from every orifice.
He was unable to speak, but he turned his head to look one last time at his two apprentices, who sat by him, devastated. And he passed into the void.
Derpy glanced up, confused.
“Go.”
“Leave. I never want to see you again.” Rainbow choked. She looked more miserable than angry now, her ears and tail drooping. She turned and sat at the edge of the island, looking out over the marshland, ignoring the flies that buzzed around her, and not caring about the thick mud that caked her flank.
Derpy took the dagger she had by her side. With a little hesitation, she stabbed herself in the chest.
Rainbow turned around, horrified as Derpy fell. She ran towards her.
“NO! DERPY!”
The gray mare looked up at her, with sorrow and remorse in her eyes.
“I never wanted to hurt you Rainbow. I-I-I just wanted to make things right.” she stammered.
Rainbow looked wildly from side to side, looking for anything that would staunch the bleeding. Derpy shook her mane, a sad smile crossing her features. She coughed violently into her hoof. When she moved it away, it was coated in blood. Her breath was coming in shallow gasps- exactly the same as when Sword Flash had passed.
“It’s for the best Dash. I don’t want to forget like you do Rainbow. I never did, even when we got to Ponyville. And I'll be happy enough to see Sword Flash again” she told Rainbow, her expression content, despite the blood pouring from her wound and pooling at the ground around Rainbow’s hooves.
“Please. Don’t forget. Me or Sword Flash.” And with that, Derpy took her last breath.
Rainbow closed her sister’s eyelids so it looked like she was sleeping. The cyan pony lifted her as gently as possible into her hooves, and started the long flight back to Ponyville. She flew with Derpy’s bloodstained body clutched tightly against her chest. Never again would she spend time in the present trying to forget the past. Derpy was right. Remember the past, and move on with the present.
