What Lies Beyond

Chapters

Over the Hills and Far Away
Lord of the Blacksmiths
Kinslayer
Mirror Mirror
What Lies Beyond
Amaranth
Enter The Glade
Goblin's Song
Imaginations From The Other Side
Dark Wings, Dark Words
Reign of the Hammer
Why this story is cancelled now
Romance and Wrath

Over the Hills and Far Away

Rainbow Dash slept soundly under the hot afternoon sun. Her work done for the rest of the day, she smiled to herself in her dreams. Just as her smile reached her peak she was shaken awake by the call of "RD!" Dash's eyes shot open and she let out a groan. Looking down from her cloud she saw Applejack beaming up at her. "Oh hey AJ! What's up?"

"Well ah reckon besides you, I got a few things ah'd like ta talk about. Ya wanna help me buck some apples while we chit-chat?" Applejack had a rather comforting smile on her face today as she looked up to Rainbow.

Dash really wasn't too eager to work, but then again, she didn't really have any plans either. As the element of loyalty she decided it was best. "Sure AJ. I'd love to hang out." Rainbow Dash flew down and landed next to her friend so they could walk together. "Whatcha wanna talk about?"

AJ started walking with Dash at her side. She began to blush and smile. "Ah nothin'. Just two good friends talkin' to one another."

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but catch Applejack's contagious good mood, and began smiling as well. "Aw c'mon AJ. You can tell me anything. I'm Rainbow Dash, your best friend. We know everything about one another." Rainbow's eyes narrowed as she smiled wider. "Eeeeeeverything." She whipped AJ's flank with her tail and managed to get the country pony to let out a bit of a squeak and blush harder.

"Well, if'n yer so intent on knowin'... Ah would like ta talk about Saturday."

"Saturday?" Rainbow Dash thought for a moment then grew a smile. She and AJ had taken the time to learn more about one another in a more 'physical' aspect. "Fun! You've got an incredible tongue AJ."

The orange pony became almost completely red as she chuckled. "Tweren't nothin' Rainbow. But Ah was wonderin' somethin'." Applejack stopped as they entered the acres and bucked at a tree.

"How those amazing thighs didn't manage to crush my head?" Rainbow Dash joked with a perverted smile.

AJ let out another laugh. "Actually I was wonderin' if'n ya wanted to do that more often. Like intimates. Y'know, callin' one another cute names an' such, maybe meetin' up somewhere in the moonlight and pressin' lips?"

Rainbow Dash instantly stopped smiling and rather had a bit of a puzzled look on her face. "Going steady? You and me?" She had thought about it a good number of times.

"Yeah." AJ Kicked at the next tree and filled up another bucket of apples. "Jus' cuddlin' up in the night mah lil' RD an' me. Hoof around hoof down the street."

Rainbow Dash kicked at a tree herself, knocking down only half the produce. "Well..." Rainbow started. "Believe me when I say I'd love to AJ, because I would. You're really awesome and fun, as well as one hell of a mare when it comes to bucking in the bed... but."

AJ's smile stayed but had lessened. "But?"

"I just don't know if I'm ready yet. Y'know? I like you AJ, I really do. If we'd been doing... 'this' for a lot longer, I wouldn't hesitate at all. Hay I'd leap on top of you right now. But I think we should build up more than what we have, you get me?" Rainbow Dash kept her composure surprisingly well for herself, she said exactly what she felt, and it helped that Applejack was looking at her so warmly.

"Ah understand RD. I guess yer right too." Applejack smacked another tree, her mood wasn't at all affected. "Well then, would ya like to get together tomorrow night then? The sooner ah can have you ta mahself the better."

"Of course!" Dash smiled warmly. "I'd never give up a chance to pounce on you after what I've seen you doing."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued to applebuck together for about an hour, just talking about various things like: how's Tank, you try Pinkie Pie's new recipie, how's that new Daring Do book?

In time the two mares spent talking they lost track of the time and soon the night was looming on in the distance. "Sorry AJ, I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Heck yeah ya will Sugarcube." Applejack winked as her friend flew off.

Rainbow Dash blushed with a grin as she flew off towards her home. She felt really good right now. Perhaps she and AJ should become a couple. It would make them both happy wouldn't it? There was just one problem...

"How do ya do Dashie?" When Dash landed on her porch she heard Spitfire's voice just above her head and her wings stiffened.

"Spitfire!" Applejack wasn't the only pony Dash had romantic connections to.

The yellow pegasus landed herself down next to Dash and gave her a kiss. "I thought I'd stop by and visit my number one fan."

Dash blushed and her heart started to race. "Your mane is down, you're not wearing your uniform."

"I like it better this way, and it's not like you haven't seen me without my uniform on Dashie." Spitfire stuck out her tongue with a small taunt. "Now, you going to invite me in or not?"

"Of course!" Dash opened up the door and let her hero in first. Spitfire bowed graciously and trotted on in. "You want anything?"

"No need for the formalities Dash. I'm not a Wonderbolt right now. I'm yours for the night honey." Spitfire batted her eyes towards Dash who couldn't manage to force her wings down even if she tried. The rainbow pony's heart was beating faster than she had ever flied. She'd always had a crush on Spitfire, always, she was the reason why she wanted to join the bolts in the first place. "I really dig the place Dashie, it's cute, much like yourself." Spitfire walked over and found a bobble head of herself, playing with it. "Almost everything you own has my face on it." She giggled and Dash's heart fluttered.

"Of course, you're my favorite." Rainbow walked over beside the other pegasus.

"Only, there's one place I'd really like to see it in that it isn't."

"Huh? Where's that?"

No sooner had Dash asked the question than her lips were met with Spitfire's. The yellow pony brought Dash to her back. Dash wrapped her front hooves around Spitfire's neck as they continued their kiss until Spitfire pulled back. "I just thought of another place." Spitfire kissed at Dash's neck, then at her chest, then to her stomach...

The next morning Dash woke up in her bed with Spitfire in her front leg looking back at her. "Good morning Dashie." A giggle came from both of them. "You know, I was wondering. You own almost everything 'me' that's ever been created."

"I thought I did own everything that was you Spitfire." Dash looked confused.

Spitfire shook her head. "You're missing one piece to your collection." She leaned over and kissed Dash again. "The original."

Dash didn't resist the next kiss but her eyes stayed open. "You mean you want to-"

"Be fillyfriends yes. Maybe we could move in at some point down the road as well." Spitfire cuddled into her lover.

"Uh..." Dash suddenly became quite uncomfortable. Where originally she had two amazing mares that she would spend long sleepless nights with, now she had two ponies that were falling in love with her, and she couldn't decide between the two. Applejack was always there for Dash, loyal and honest and kind, a great friend. Spitfire though had been intimate with Dash for longer, she could fly and Dash had held strong feelings for her since she knew who she was. "Spitfire... I'll have to put you on hold for that. I'm very sorry. I just have to think some things out. I'd love to, and normally I'd agree in an instant, but... something is up."

"Are you alright?" Spitfire looked up to Dash in concern.

"Yeah I'm okay. I just... I have to think." Dash smiled at Spitfire.

Spitfire smiled back. "Alright Dashie, no rush."

"Thanks Spitfire, it means a lot." Dash leaned over and gave Spitfire another kiss. "I'm going to go fly around the town, try to clear my head."

"Of course. I'll be at my place if you should ever need me." Spitfire winked to Dash and flew out the door.

Dash flew over Ponyville, circling the edges. What to do? Rainbow Dash cared for both of her friends, she didn't know who she could pick out of the two. Applejack or Spitfire, how could she choose? Maybe she would ask one of her friends, maybe she'd-

"RD!" Applejack's voice called up towards Rainbow Dash. Oh man. I don't need this right now... Rainbow flew down to meet Applejack with a look of worry. "You doin' alright Rainbow? Ya ain't lookin' too good."

"I'm... alright. Just a little worried is all. I was flying around to help."

"What about? Can ah help?"

Rainbow smiled lightly. "Nah, not in this AJ."

"Well if'n it's botherin' ya that bad we could postpone our plans fer tonight."

Dash had almost forgotten. "Yeah, if we could, that would help a lot actually AJ. Thank you." Perhaps she should stay with Applejack, she was always understanding. But Applejack is always busy with her work, Spitfire and I would have a lot more time together. Oh why does it have to be so hard? Rainbow Dash flew off a bit disheartened with Applejack looking after her.

From the edge of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash looked down upon the ground below. "I can't decide between the two of them. I'd be lucky to be with either of them. Both are amazing and fun, and if I choose one than the other is going to feel like junk. What do I do? I'm the element of loyalty, not the element of choices. Oh MAN!" She sighed and collapsed onto the cloud. When she opened her eyes she saw mountains in the distance. "That's where we all fought the dragon... huh... I wonder, what's past the mountains?" She brought herself up on her hooves once more. "Has anypony even bothered to explore anymore? What's out there?" Rainbow spread her wings, but retracted them. "It could be dangerous... like the Everfree Forest. Maybe worse." Dash looked past the mountains. She felt it calling out to her, pulling at her to come. She spread her wings. "It could be just what I need. I do need to clear my head..." Dash hovered over towards the direction she felt compelled to go. "I could... I'll go check it out. Maybe I'll find something to help, a sign or an answer." Dash flew off. She flew over Ponyville and over the trees of the Everfree Forest. She flew past the mountain where they fought the dragon, and she kept flying on, beyond her knowledge and safety.

Lord of the Blacksmiths

Dash continued her flight, searching the ground below her. There was far more forest than she ever thought there would be. Was the rest of Equestria the Everfree Forest? But no, she saw in the distance a small island in the middle of it all, seperated from all the trees by a small body of water around a log hut. "I wonder if anypony lives over there? Why would they though? So far away from everypony else." Dash flew closer to the ground. "Maybe they're like Zecora and want to stay close to their ingredients?" As Dash made her landing she looked around. There was a furnace and an anvil nearby, next to the moat. "Or... maybe not." Leaning against the hut Dash was able to identify sets of armor and blades. "Swords? I didn't think anypony made these anymore. Nopony has used a weapon like these in years." Dash couldn't help but admire the work put into the craft of the blade. She found no chinks or dents anywhere in the metal. She saw her reflection and smiled, she had to admit that she really did look good.

As she continued to admire herself, Dash realized there was another shape in the blade's reflection. Dash grabbed the hilt of the blade in her mouth and jumped to the side quickly as a giant lobster claw smashed into the ground that she was just at. Dash turned to face her attacker and saw a greenish yellow lobster standing on four clawed legs and two giant claws with tentacles dangling from it's mouth. The creature stood about three times taller than Dash herself. The giant lobster turned towards dash squealing in a watery gargle towards her. Dash moved out of the way of another attack and made a counter of her own, flying at the creature and cutting off a good number of it's tentacles from it's face

A shout in what Dash interpreted as agony escaped the creature as it swung it's claw around to try and smack the pegasus again. Dash flew above the chitinous hammer, dodging the swing and stabbing the creature at the joint where it's claw connected to it's arm. After applying enough force on the joint, Dash let out a grunt and chopped off the claw from the lobster shaped creature. Another squelching cry escaped the creature with Dash jumping off to it's side. She stuck the blade into the ground and gave a laugh. "Lose something? You're quite ugly ain't ya?" No sooner had she finished her taunt she saw the creature's tentacles begin to excrete a foul yellow liquid. "Right, you look pissed. Avoid the rest of the tentacles." Dash Took up the blade once more and dodged as the creature tried to clasp her in it's giant claw. She flew up before stomping down onto the hard shell on the back of the monster, forcing it to land face first into the ground. I know Fluttershy wouldn't approve of this... but this thing isn't exactly a bunny. Rainbow Dash forced the tip of her sword into the head of the creature and forced it further into it's brain. The monster howled in horror before it became silent.

"Impressive, it's been a while since I've seen a pony able to take down a chuul that effectively." Dash heard a rather masculine voice from behind her and turned to see a brown pegasus male land behind her with a large and gnarled gray beard. He had saddlebags filled with stones and ores. On his flank was a symbol of crossed swords with a helmet above them. "Not since me at least."

Dash stepped off the dead monster and walked over to the pony. "A what now?"

"A chuul, one of them things you just slayed. You hold a weapon nicely little one." The brown stallion walked over to the creature and pulled the blade out of it's body and back where it started.

Dash blushed. "Well I've fought monsters before, we have quite an array over the mountains. Though I'll admit I've never dealt with a sword before."

"Could've fooled me, you hold it just like the pegasi of years ago." He spoke, turning back to meet her gaze.

"Huh? what do you mean?" Dash walked over to help the old man push the chuul back into the water.

"I mean you fight like the pegasi of yore. Before Equestria was tamed. Before Canterlot and Ponyville. Before ponies started fighting with their hooves and magic rather than a well built blade. And I was the best at making the craft." The old pony sounded nostalgic as he spoke.

Dash looked at him in confusion. "Uh, I know this may be a bit early of a question to ask, I don't even know your name but... How old are you?"

The pegasus chuckled to himself. "The name is Steel Edge. You can call me Smith if ya like. And let's just say I'm older than you by a good number of years." Smith walked over to his furnace and placed his saddlebags down next to it. "So, who might you be?"

"Name's Rainbow Dash! The fastest flyer in all of Equestria." Dash hovered around the pony in pride.

"Rainbow Dash huh? Nice ring to it. What are you doing so far away from the rest of those ponies?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

The brown pegasus smiled. "Well, it's a different story than most you'd hear. I used to make the weapons for Celestia's army as well as all the armor you can see them wearing still. Years ago the princesses decided to abandon any and all weapons from use and they had no use for an old sword smith like myself. I got angry and left, built a nice little place here over the mountains and away from Ponyville. I've spent years perfecting my craft, I even dug up all the materials around my hut here and turned it into an island. To make up for it, I started flying out and collecting my materials. I make perfect blades and armor now, and I defend myself and my home. Though I'll admit, it's nice to have some company again after such a long time alone."

"I could imagine." Dash landed and admired the work that Smith had spent years perfecting. "You're really good."

"So, I answered, now it's your turn."

"OH." Dash remembered why she had come out in the first place. "Let's just say I had some soul searching to do, and I thought a little adventure would help me."

"Then you came to the right place Rainbow Dash. As you can see, monsters roam around like ants here. Though if you plan on staying, you'll need a weapon." Smith grabbed a block of ore and tossed it into his furnace.

"Oh I don't plan on staying..." Dash thought to herself. "But... I may come out here more often."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I have to admit, it was kind of fun taking down that... chuul. I haven't had adrenaline course through me like that in a long time. I felt like Daring Do when she fought off the giant crab of the Nickel Nile."

Smith chuckled again as he pressed on the bellows. "Well then, I'll make sure you have a way to defend yourself if you'd like. You seem to use a sword well, just as a pegasus should."

Dash watched as Steel Edge worked with his forge. "About how long will it take? And is it going to look cool? It has to be about as awesome as I am if I'm going to use it. And why would you make a sword for somepony you just met?"

Smith gave out a loud and sudden laugh. "Oh Dash, you haven't seen a Steel Edge sword at it's finest. I guarantee you, you'll have the coolest sword in Equestria. You have a spark in you that reminds me of myself when I was young, and I like that. You make me want to do the impossible and make the greatest blade that will never be surpassed. Come see me tomorrow, and I should be putting the finishing touches on it. I'll work all night and it will be my crown jewel."

Dash watched as Steel Edge's eyes glowed with the fire from his furnace and the grin on his face magnified. She'd only seen such determination from herself once before, when she managed her second rainboom. "Awesome..."

Kinslayer

Rainbow Dash awoke in her bed with a smile, stretching out her legs and then her wings. She stood and proceeded towards the door before she flew out towards Steel Edge's hut. She made it as far as the edge of the Everfree Forest when she saw a yellow streak flying from the right side of her vision towards her.

"Dashie!" Spitfire called out when she came within earshot. Oh, not now! I have to grab my sword, and get my mind off of you! Dash waited before Spitfire approached. "Where the hay are you going? That's the Everfree Forest. What in Celestia's Sun could you possibly have to do past there?"

Dash thought for a moment. There's really no reason I shouldn't tell her. "I'm going to see a new friend."

"Who lives past the forest?"

"Yeah, it's really weird, but he's pretty cool. I helped him out with a pest problem yesterday and he told me to come back for a treat." Dash smiled in her bright usual way.

"Oh? Interesting. You think I could meet him someday?" Spitfire's expression suddenly showed intrigue rather than concern.

"I'll ask him, he's not exactly used to company, but I'm sure he'd be glad to have you."

"Cool." Spitfire smiled. "Well, if that's all you're doing, just be careful, nasty things live in the forest you know. I've got practice to go to otherwise I'd help you on the way. You wanna get a bite later on?"

Dash suddenly felt her stomach churn up once again. "Actually, can we make a rain check? I was planning on spending a good amount of time over at my friend's place."

"Oh, well, alright then. You owe me one though."

"No doubt." Spitfire flew off a bit disappointed. Dash felt kind of bad, but she knew she'd feel worse about doing anything with one pony and not the other. She had to make her decision before she could hang out. With that, Dash flew off towards the mountains. In about half an hour she found Smith's forge and flew down. When she got close enough she could smell the scent of cooking seafood coming from inside the cabin. She knocked at the door before calling in. "It's Rainbow Dash, you know from yesterday?"

She was answered with the sound of unlocking and the door opening in front of her, the grizzled old pegasus standing before her chuckling. "You're gonna love this one." He motioned for Dash to walk in. She looked to the fireplace to see the giant chitin claw rotating on a mechanical spit. Explains the smell. The interior of the cabin was rather small, but warm and homey. A simple bed next to the door on the right where Smith was reaching under the mattress, a table with some cheese and daisies on a plate next to the fireplace, a chair here and there, but the only window was above the bed. "Here we go." Smith grabbed the hilt of a blade with his teeth and pulled it out before setting his mattress back in it's place. "The shining achievement of my craft! Nopony else in the world could make a finer sword than she." Steel placed the blade on the ground before Rainbow Dash's hooves. The hilt was covered in a strong rainbow colored silk with strands dangling off the edge. Underneath it all the actual hilt was made of a strong dark wood. The guard was shaped like brilliant white wings in contrast to the hilt with an emerald, shaped like Dash's cutie mark in the very center, shining bright from the sun in such a way that made the room glow. Etched on the inside of the emerald was-

"Hey that's me! How did you do that?"

"Old crafting magic." Smith smiled proudly. "Now, the sheath will keep the blade locked inside until it's owner pulls it out. The strap fits around you like so." Smith grabbed up the blade in it's sheath and fixed the strap around Dash's neck and under her wings and legs so that it sat comfortably and ready at her right. "Go ahead, pull it out!" Dash nodded. She was so excited, already this thing was the greatest thing she'd ever been given. She grasped the hilt within her mouth, the silk didn't wet with her spit, keeping itself dry and the grip perfect. She pulled the blade slowly from it's hilt revealing it slowly. The blade gleamed violently in the light with just the slightest tint of cyan in the metalwork. Black markings in an unknown language were found across the length of the actual blade. Dash's eyes grew wide and almost teared up in amazement. "Mithral. Strongest of metals you'd find anywhere, and yet I was still able to sharpen it to even a molecular level. It will never break, that's the first rune here see?" Smith pointed to the rune located at the base of the blade. "Ancient draconic. I don't think anypony outside of me, or the princesses even know of it's existence anymore. Now the second one here, will make you very much aware of danger's presence. It'll glow red when something means ya harm or shake when it's inside the sheath. This third one has to be activated, simply run your hoof over it like so." Smith ran his hoof down the length of the blade and over the ancient letter and his right eye began to glow yellow. "It'll show you the weak point of who you want, like me and my eye. Can't see out of the little bugger anymore. Number four works the same, but go horizontal, it'll show you your path." He slid his hoof across the rune and a blue smoke issued from the letter, pointing itself towards the claw in the fire. "Looks like your hungry eh?" Dash nodded slightly. Smith chuckled. "Well let me finish explaining the blade and we can sit down for a bite. Your catch anyway. Now number five will allow you to talk while holding the blade, it will keep it's position should you go to talk, a very handy rune that I place in every weapon I make nowadays. And number six, is my favorite. When you're faced with a powerful foe, number six here will glow green, and you call out this blade's name. When you do that, we'll see this thing's true power."

"What's it's name?" Dash asked, and sure enough the blade kept it's place before she bit down again.

"Ah, that's for you to decide Rainbow Dash. An owner and her blade must agree upon a name together, then they will work as one." Smith smiled his wise smile.

Rainbow Dash looked hard at the blade, searching it for something. "Your name is..." As Rainbow Dash spoke, the sixth rune started to glow a faint sickly green. "Your name is Iris." The next thing Dash knew, the blade vanished in a light of violent colors, a rainbow had taken the edge's place and formed itself into a lightning bolt, much like Rainbow's cutie mark. "Whoa... That. Is. AWESOME!" Rainbow dash squealed out in joy and jumped in place.

"Impressive, nopony has ever bonded with their blade so well so fast. I knew you had talent, daughter of Firefly." Smith smiled wider.

"Wait... what? You knew-"

"Your mother? Yes. I fought with her actually. The last great warrior of Equestria. When I heard that illness took her it was a sad day indeed. She was the only pegasus who still carried a sword with her, and she was the best."

"But how do you know?"

"You act and look just like she did. Strong, eager, quick, and your natural talent with a blade guaranteed it for me. That is why I went out of my way to make this for you. You are her daughter, and she wouldn't be prouder to have had you. " Smith spoke as if he himself were Firefly.

"Wait. Does that mean you're..."

"No, I'm not your father. I'm far too old."

Dash looked a bit relieved at this. She looked back to her sword and the bolt transformed itself back to the mithral blade. "Is there a limit to that thing?"

Smith looked to the sword. "It will only be able to sustain that form when fighting something of great power, and only so long as you have the willpower to keep fighting."

Dash nodded in understanding. "Thank you Smith. I can't repay this."

"You don't have to young one. Just use that to protect yourself and stay safe. You plan on coming out this way you'll need it. And I can die happy knowing I perfected my craft in your blade. Now... Let's crack this baby open and chow down huh?"

Mirror Mirror

Two days after Iris was given to her, Rainbow Dash was flying over the forest beyond the mountains. She couldn't be loving the blade more. It was almost as cool as her, and together they were 100% cooler. She couldn't help but beam in joy as she flew about to and fro. "So awesome!" She squealed as she dipped and dived, sheath snug at her side.

Suddenly she felt the blade begin to rattle in it's sheath. "Huh? What's wrong Iris? Where are they?" Dash scanned the ground for threats. Iris shook harder as Dash turned her head up. "What the-" before she could react she was hit directly in the chest by a black blur. She was hit hard and lost control of herself, she began falling as Iris rattled even harder in her sheath. Dash saw the ground race up towards her as she struggled to regain her composure, but she'd had the wind knocked out of her hard, and she couldn't focus. She panicked as she fell past the trees. She managed to open her wings right before landing but still slammed against the ground, rolling over until she finally managed to cough up a bit of dirt. "Ow. Not exactly my best landing ever." She shakily stood herself up and applied force to each of her legs. They seemed alright. She inspected her wings. No breaks, but she decided it wouldn't be too fantastic an idea to get back in the sky with that "thing" flying about. She looked around and determined the direction she believed home was in and began walking. Everything looked so different from the ground around here. The trees stood tall, almost giant. The ground was rather light brown and almost sandy but the trees and plants were very green and healthy, with even vines and flowers growing off the damp looking trunks. Dash continued down a dry dirt path for what felt to be half an hour. She probably could have flown off by now, she didn't hear any signs of flying overhead. But she felt compelled to continue down this road she'd found. Maybe there would be some fantastic treasure at the end of it. Her interest peaked, she continued to walk down the path, until it opened up to a rather simplistic looking cave.

"What do ya think Iris? Wanna check it out?" Dash smiled to her new blade. "Couldn't agree more, let's go in." Rainbow Dash stepped into the cave, eager to see what lies inside. The cavern seemed to be very well lit with a light coming from a few yards away. The cave was damp and a little cold with the sound of a whistle echoing off the walls. Moss and mildew grew on the stone walls and a musky odor filled Dash's nostrils. She gave a slight smile as she continued down the path. She was probably the only pony to ever come down this way. After what felt like only a moment, Dash came to an opening in the cave, a room of stone and she looked up with amazement. Atop a small stone shrine at the top of carved steps, was an enormous ovular mirror. The top of the room was dome shaped with an opening in the center, explaining the wind and light. "Holy cow." Dash had to take a moment to soak all of the room's splendor in. The mirror was composed of a reflective, violet, almost black glass. The frame that held it in place was hard silvery stone, carved in great detail with symbols of ponies and dragons and various other creatures. The shrine was composed of three rings of stone, stacking like a pyramid and the stairs were carved very carefully into the structure. "What is this? Did somepony make this? Or is it something magic?" Dash looked around the room, but aside from stone and moss, there was really nothing else in this cave. This mirror was the only thing in here.

"I kinda wanna have a closer look..." Dash spoke as she made her way to the steps. She placed her first hoof on the first stair... nothing wrong. "Wait, why am I being so cautious? It's just some stairs... leading up to a rather large, dark mirror..." Rainbow Dash swallowed hard as she continued to walk up the steps. She felt an overwhelming presence as she walked closer, as if she wasn't alone. She peered over her shoulder, but there wasn't anything there, the room was as bare as when she entered. She continued on her way, but felt the presence again. She looked again, still nothing. "Iris... keep alert. Kay?" Dash looked to her blade, but it remained silent in it's sheath. Dash made the final step and could see herself in the mirror, but something was off. The reflection showed her inside a much different looking cave. The mirrored cave was almost completely covered in moss rather than the small patches in the cave Dash now inhabited. It was a bit more beautiful in the reflection, violet and dark blue flowers popped up from the moss. "I guess it is magic. But it seems harmless enough." Rainbow Dash placed a hoof against the glass and her reflection moved completely in synch. When Dash touched the glass though, Iris shook incredibly violently in it's sheath, almost hurting Dash before she jerked her hoof back from the mirror. The instant her hoof left the glass the blade stopped jumping about. "What is it Iris? There's nothing here." Dash scanned the room again, still alone and empty. perhaps there was something on the mirror that could've poisoned Dash or caused her to blow up.

"Alright, so we won't touch it then." Dash looked back to the mirror and noticed something else was off. Her reflection wasn't wearing Iris. "Strange." Dash didn't think too much about it though. This just seemed like something that could happen. Magic was more of Twilight's thing. She checked the room once more and saw nothing. Well if this is all there is, I should probably leave. It's pretty cool though, I'll have to show this to Twilight, she loves this kind of stuff. With that, Dash Spread her wings and flew up through the skylight in the cave, not bothering to look at anything but her destination.

What Dash had failed to notice before she left, was when she had spread her wings, her reflection stopped synching up with her and began watching. After Rainbow Dash left, the reflection smiled and narrowed her eyes. "Well now. What have we here? It seems I've been awakened after all these years." The reflection gave out a low, subtle chuckle to herself. "I should be thankful to my double for finding the mirror." Dash's reflection forced one hoof against the mirror, and applied a bit of force, pushing her hoof through to the other side of the mirror. The cyan fur transformed to a darker shade of bluish violet. "Lovely." She forced the rest of her body out of the mirror. Fully emerged, her mane and tail became a gray-scale rainbow, her eyes a pale, neon green. Her cutie mark altered to hold a black cloud with the gray rainbow. "Freedom! Now, what to do with this... Rainbow Dash?"

As Dash continued to fly back home she realized that Iris was shaking incredibly violent. "Iris what is it? Where are they?" Dash searched around, but still nothing. She continued to fly, and in time Iris fell silent. "Either you're being very finicky today... or we just avoided meeting something I hope I never meet in the rest of my life."

Dash continued to fly off, and from a tree far below her, a small black creature watched her leave with eyes glowing of the deepest crimson. When Dash left it's view it jumped down from the tree, standing upon two legs with a tail, spikes and a pair of batlike wings. "Welcome back Mono Dash, your servant awaits your next orders."

What Lies Beyond

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, blinking a few times. She brought herself to stand and tried to spread her wings. They weren't damaged, just sore, she'd have to keep off of them for a while. "Where am I?" She looked around the new terrain, gathering in where she was. She looked down at the black and yellowy green soil, scattered about were roots that led to dead and twisted trees, contorted in multiple, disjointed angles. Not a single leaf hung from the branches, but brown and yellow flakes decorated the air as the wind blew by. The area around Rainbow Dash was open and wide, the trees seemed almost frightened of one another, keeping their distance. The wind whispered just enough to put Dash to an unease. The smell of the earth was something rotten and poisoned; and standing in it was difficult as she felt herself slowly sink. "Ooookay, definitely not Las Pegasus. Let's keep going, just stay on guard Iris." Dash continued to walk forward, dissecting the land with her eyes for any threat. In the distance, a sharp cliff face grew into Rainbow Dash's vision. As she stepped closer she could make out a cave carved into the cliff. "One of these things again." She swallowed hard. "Let's get going then."

Dash entered the cave, her hooves setting down on hard stone and moss, a welcome change to the unsteady, sinking mud outside. She continued to walk into the cave, every step down the stone hall echoed against the walls and rocks. It gradually became darker, harder to see, and even tighter in space. Eventually she saw a light appear in front her. It shined a rather uninviting red, but she saw no other way forward, and pressed on. As Rainbow Dash emerged into the light, she felt the cave become hot. She took in her surroundings once again, and what she saw was rather unsettling. The cave had opened up to a much larger passage, the stone that formed it was sharp and jagged, the light bathed everything in a fiery red glow. From the right cavern wall to the left was a jagged stone barrier that nearly reached the top of the room, in the very center, the barrier formed a gate, but standing before that gate is what sent Dash into a violent quiver of fear. Sleeping in front of the gates was the three headed dog that had attacked the town, the one Twilight called Cerberus.

"So then, that must mean..." Dash looked back at the gate and barrier. "This place... Is Tartarus? If so, then this is the place that all of the greatest ancient enemies to Equestria are sealed." Rainbow Dash remembered the problems and trouble that Discord had caused while he was about. And he's kept out as a stone decoration. So what lies beyond this wall, must be something really, REALLY bad. Rainbow Dash trembled at the very thought. A story came to her mind, one that she heard about in school when she was but a little filly. The mythology of the titans that meant harm to the land before it was known as Equestria, and how it took the combination of the princesses at their prime to seal them away. "Oh shit! I shouldn't be here. I really shouldn't be here." Rainbow Dash panicked in a hushed voice. "I need to get out of here right away!"

Rainbow Dash turned to exit the cave, but suddenly felt a shake at her flank. Iris was rattling in it's sheath, but only slightly. "What is it? Iris..." Dash looked over her shoulder and saw a figure floating by. It looked to be a pegasus flying over towards the gate. When if came above Cerberus' head, the pegasus stopped, Rainbow Dash felt a compulsion to warn her kin. "Hey! Be careful buddy, it's dangerous around here! Come on, let's get out of-" Before the blue pony could finish, the pegasus dropped at a high speed onto the center head of the lying dog, causing it to yelp loudly and cause an echo in the cave, then fall silent once more. "...here..." Rainbow Dash looked on in awe. The feat that she just saw, was both awesome, and horrifying. Iris rattled violently, much like it did back at the mirror. Dash took three steps back, her jaw agape in terror. "Nopony should be able to do something like that, not even AJ. Who... Who is that?" The pegasus gave a sinister grin from the back of the massive dog and the gates slowly started to crack open. "This is insane. Cerberus is out! The ancient enemies of Equestria are behind that gate!" In her panic, Rainbow Dash called out. "Stop! Do you have any idea what you're doing? Knock it off!" The pegasus, didn't respond. Instead, the gates opened and the unnamed pony walked through. Iris continued to rattle hard in it's sheath, but Dash didn't realize from all that had just happened.

"Oh crap! What do I do, what do I do, what do I do what do I do what do I do, OH CELESTIA WHAT DO I DO?!" Dash could feel the various parts of her mind working themselves to the point of exhaustion, she was almost certain she was going to lose her mind. "Alright Dash, calm down. Think about this, you're an adventurer now, what would Daring Do?" Dash thought hard, wracking her brain on what would be the appropriate course of action. If she were her hero, how would she approach this? After a moment, Rainbow Dash looked back to the gate. "I have to stop them. This could mean trouble for Ponyville, no, ALL of Equestria. I can't let that happen!" Dash gathered herself and started galloping towards the gates to Tartarus with Iris strapped and ready.

After she passed the gates, Rainbow gazed upon the prison of the titans. Instead of the red stone like behind her or the fire and magma she was expecting, she saw something rather different. The ground at her hooves was clean green grass and various flowers watered to perfect health. Trees and a red road were the only other things visible, the top of the room was too far to be seen. "What the hay is this? Not any prison I'd think of. Unless maybe Fluttershy ended up blowing her top again, however incredibly rare that would be." Dash continued to walk down the road, keeping alert for anything suspicious. Iris was still shaking but not as violently as before. Dash tested her wings, still sore, she wouldn't be able to get away if she wanted. After five minutes of walking, Rainbow Dash found herself at what she assumed was the halfway point in the road, she was able to see another gated wall up ahead, in the same fashion as the one she passed through. "An entire passage without any sign of titans. I don't know if this is a blessing, or something I should be nervous about..." She continued ahead carefully, keeping her eyes wide and aware before she noticed something off about the ground she was walking on. She felt the ground begin to shake, and Iris' steady quiver became a harsh quake. "That's not good." Dash darted her head left to right to try and look for the cause of the sudden tremor, what she saw threw her off a little. By the gate, the very earth was swirling and standing up by itself, a literal tornado of soil and grass.

The mass of twisting earth continued to grow taller and wider, sucking in the plants and dirt until all that was visible was the red stone seen on the road. Eventually the twisting and churning came to a stop, and the giant mound of green and brown stopped it's movements for a moment. Dash couldn't take her eyes off of the incredible structure, whether it be the power of the titans or a titan itself, it was amazing to see. Then the mass began to move once again. From the very top, a lump formed, pushing itself out in a round ball. The ball took shape as it filled itself with holes and formed a face, giving out a deep, intimidating roar. The mass reformed where it's shoulders should be two long stretches of earth erupted, forming arms, hands, then fingers. Dash looked up at the creature in terror, Iris clattering like mad at her flank. But the monster ignored her, letting out another roar and looking towards the gate. "What they hay has that guy's attention?" Rainbow Dash turned her attention to where the earthy monster was focused and saw the same pegasus that had taken down Cerberus. "That pony. Is she planning to take down this thing too?" Dash watched as the other pony floated in place before the gate, staring the monster down, face to face. The monster swung it's giant arm towards the pegasus, clasping it's massive fingers down, causing Dash to lose sight of the pony.

Surprise after surprise was happening for Dash today, for the next thing she saw still managed to amaze her after all of what had happened. The titan's hand began to give off a strange black smoke, and eventually the hand began to blacken as well. The "Infection" as it seemed to be, was spreading down the creature's arm, and it let out various groans that sounded like pain. The smoke began to billow forth from wherever the black touched. Once the entire arm was engulfed, it began to rumble and shake separately from the body. Eventually the rumbling gave way to cracking and crumbling, and the arm fell to the stone in large black boulders, smashing against the red stone.

Once the hand crumbled away, Dash saw that the pegasus was still floating where she was, wings flapping just like before. "Oh my Celestia... How in Equestria did she do that?" Rainbow Dash was quivering almost as hard as Iris was in it's sheath. "That pony... did they just use magic, or what? What the hay? Am I losing my mind? Is this a dream?" Rainbow Dash smacked herself in the head with a forehoof, using the pain to verify the reality of her situation. "Alright, so what I'm seeing right now... is either very dangerous, or... something else." Rainbow Dash's breath became quick and shallow, she was hyperventilating. "I think I'm going crazy!"

The mass of earth roared at the floating pony before it fell back into the ground it emerged from, filling the red stone with grass and flowers once more. The gate cracked open like the last one, allowing access for the strange pegasus to fly through. Rainbow Dash could only gather herself to shake off what she saw and follow after. What the hay do they have planned?"

Dash waited by the gate for a few minutes this time. If there were any more titans, she didn't want to get involved, and this pegasus seemed to know what they were doing at the very least. It was only five minutes before Rainbow Dash felt herself grow bored and peer through the doors of the gate. As she approached, she began to feel the air heat up fast. The next room was the first thing that Dash found herself actually able to predict. The room was identical to the last one in shape, however, it couldn't have been further from the atmosphere. Magma and fire coated the floors instead of flowers and grass. "Glad I decided to sit this one out. Phew, I don't know if I'm glad or terrified to see something I could expect today. I'll just keep the rest of my ideas to myself." Dash trotted through the doors and down the red road. Her hooves burned to the touch but there wasn't much she could do while her wings were recovering, the best she could manage was using them slightly to fan herself as she walked. Iris had calmed down to a slight wiggle. Ten minutes of the heated trot and Rainbow found herself to the next gate. "Finally, I don't think I have enough sweat to go through this much longer." Passing through the next set of doors, Dash saw no sign of a threat as she continued, Iris was rather silent compared to how hard it was shaking earlier. The next room was rather eventless, but full of gold, gems, food and a scent of musk. Every time Dash would step towards a bit of food or something shiny, Iris would rattle like mad, and Dash would pull away. Strangely, while stepping through this room, Dash couldn't help but feel in need of some sexy mare to be around, all she could think about was sex and it wouldn't leave her mind through the whole walk.

She noticed the rooms were growing gradually smaller as she managed through the room in only three minutes, and thinking about it, she would have gotten through the magma room a lot faster if she hadn't been sweating so hard. However the next room changed things. Walking through, Dash felt her energy drain, and the very force of gravity increase. "Oh hell..." Dash panted as she walked down the road. It took her a full fifteen minutes to drag herself to the gates of the rather unimpressive, plain, white room. "I've never... felt so... exhausted before..." Dash pulled herself through the gate as quickly as she could, regaining her stamina and energy. "Much better, now let's move on to-"

"SLAUGHTER!" A large, armored alicorn shouted as an axe embedded itself into the ground in front of Rainbow Dash. She looked up in horror and saw the titanic creature with blades, axes, hammers, and various other weapons floating around it's body. It looked down upon a pegasus floating in front of him, cocky and unimpressed. The pony Dash was following.

"You no longer hold your position! I've come to remove you from this place." The pegasus called out. A sword came swinging at the floating pony, but the blade vanished into a black mass, much like the arm of the first titan. The pegasus flew over towards the alicorn and simply placed a hoof onto his fore head, and he too deteriorated into a black, crumbling solid, until all that was left was a few black boulders. Dash felt her heart race and Iris quake. The gate opened quickly, allowing access to the unnamed pegasus and Dash. The unknown pony flew through with Dash silently peeking behind one of the giant doors. The room beyond the gate was small, but completely pitch black, four marble steps led up to a slab, where what looked to be a scythe was stuck. "At last, welcome back old friend." The pegasus grabbed the wooden staff in their mouth, and tugged the blade from the marble. The instant this happened, Shadows and screams flew from the marble, tainting it a deep violet.

The unholy shrieks from the stone forced Rainbow Dash's forehooves to her ears. No longer was Iris simply shaking, it was literally forcing Rainbow Dash back where she had entered. Without any objection, Dash busted out into a full sprint. "This is ridiculous, that pony is trouble! I have to get out of here! My wings!" Dash spread her wings. They were ready to go, at least enough to get her out of here. She took of like a bullet, forcing herself out of the gates. In her adrenaline, Dash didn't take notice of the amplified gravity, the urge to fuck anything that moved, or even the heat of the magma, she simply flew as fast as she could manage, forcing the air to break and give her way, a sonic rainboom. She fired out of the cave like a live canon round, and didn't stop flying. Her pain may have flown her this far last night, but her fear flew her faster. "I have to warn everypony. This is very very bad!"

In the cave, Mono Dash rested the scythe against her neck as she watched after Rainbow Dash. "Poor child. Looks like I've scared her off. No worries. It's not everyday a pony observes a titan's takeover. Now... I'll need replacements." The violet pegasus snickered as the shadows crawled up behind her, following their returning queen. "I'm hoooo-oooome. Should have stayed in your peaceful town, 'Dashie.'"

Amaranth

"I have to warn Ponyville! I have to tell my friends! Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity, AJ, Pinkie Pie, Spitfire, all of them, they're in trouble!" Rainbow Dash had never maintained a rainboom for this long, but she didn't even think about becoming tired after her recent encounter. She flew harder than she had ever flown, adrenaline nullifying any pain that would normally occur.

From Ponyville, Applejack looked up at the sky. She had heard a blast from beyond the mountains earlier, and now witnessed a rainbow making it's way to Sweet Apple Acres. "Rainbow..." Applejack watched the rainbow approach, and ran after it as it flew overhead. "Rainbow, come back! Ah'm sorry! Please!" Tears formed in Applejack's eyes, before the rainbow started to drop, and dive into the orchard. "Oh no... RAINBOW!" Applejack dashed hard to catch up to the falling pegasus. In mere seconds she saw Dash's body, struggling to stay afloat as she fell to the earth. As Dash fell into the dirt, Applejack rushed to her side. "Rainbow, Rainbow! Are you alright Sugarcube?"

Rainbow Dash coughed and panted, spitting out a mouthful of soil. "Applejack... We have to... we have to warn Ponyville.... to warn... The Princess. Equestria... is... is..." Rainbow Dash gasped for air hard.

"Warn 'em about what RD? What happened? Rainbow, c'mon, are you alright?" Applejack helped her friend up straight, supporting her.

"To warn... Equestria is in da-" for a split second, Rainbow Dash could hear a small voice in the back of her head. No no no! Now is not the time for them to know just yet. Just... forget, for a little bit. We'll give this back to you when the time is right to tell them. "...Is in... Equestria... is... I... I can't remember." Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on her head, tapping to try and jog her memory. "I just don't... remember. I was flying away... after you and Spitfire. And... I flew back. I..."

"You were sayin' somethin' 'bout warnin' the princess. What was it?" Applejack looked into Dash's magenta eyes, searching for the answer, and for just a moment, she could swear she saw a pale green flash in her friend's gaze.

"Warn... no... I came back." Rainbow Dash took a step back and smiled. "Don't know what the hay I was thinking, sorry if I worried you Applejack. I just came back to catch back up at home for a little bit. "

"That's not exactly funny Rainbow." Applejack let out a sigh. "But if yer sure nothin's wrong, then ah guess it's alright. Ah'm just glad to see you back Sugarcube."

Rainbow Dash flashed a grin to Applejack. "How about we go find the rest of the crew?"

"Alright, RD, if you day so." Something seemed weird to Applejack, something off, but she wasn't going to complain about her friend coming back.

The two ponies walked into town together, Dash leading the way. Every now and again a pony would walk up to Dash and greet her with a "nice to see you again Dash," or "long time no see Rainbow." She would politely bow her head and smile or grant a reply to each of them. The duo continued down the road until they came across the carousel boutique. "I haven't seen Rarity in a good long while. Let's say hi!" Applejack nodded at this suggestion and followed Rainbow Dash as she trotted inside. "RARITY!" Rainbow Dash grinned wide.

"Oh? Is that?" The white unicorn turned around from her work and smiled. "Rainbow Dash! It's been a long time since I've seen you darling. About a whole month now." Rarity walked over to the blue pegasus with a wide grin and a glimmer in her eyes. "A month among friends is positively ages, darling. Oh, but it's good to see you again. You're doing well I hope? And Applejack, always nice to see you here as well, though do make sure to wipe your hooves dear."

"Ah know ah know." Applejack mumbled under her breath as she wiped her feet down on the rug outside the door.

"Well what brings you by my dears? If I'd known you were coming I would have thrown on something for the occasion." Rarity said.

"No worry, it's not like we wear clothes very often anyways." Rainbow Dash walked over and placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder.

"Regardless, I still wish I had." Rarity took a moment to clear her throat, then noticed something. "Is that a sword?" Rainbow Dash turned her head back to Iris and back to Rarity, ready for the scream of concern to slip from her friend's lips. "Thats..." The pegasus braced her ears. "Beautiful!"

"Wait...huh?" Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked back to Rarity who had a tremendous shine in her eye.

"Oh Rainbow Dash, I haven't seen such a fine blade since my grandfather was still alive. My it sure looks fabulous with the silk on the handle. I'm guessing it's been enchanted, a sword this fine is always filled with brilliant magics." Rarity admired the blade in it's sheath, staring at the detail work.

"Yeah, actually. Uh... Rarity how do you..."

"Oh, but of course, I'm very sorry. My grandfather fought for Equestria you see, way back when us ponies would actually fight of course. We don't act so barbarically anymore. But still, a blade is an art piece, not simply a tool of death. Whoever made this one certainly knew that. May I see?" Rarity looked back up to Rainbow Dash with admiring eyes. Dash smiled and drew Iris, revealing the brilliant sky blue blade and the runes inscribed onto it. "Oh my! Darling, this is... this is magnificent! The detail, the precision, the craftsmanship, and just- Oh Darling it's MAGNIFICENT!" Rarity squealed in delight. "I'm assuming you've named such a fine piece of craftsmanship?"

"Yeah, I call it Iris." Rainbow Dash spoke with the blade retaining it's location.

"A marvelous name." Rarity looked dreamily at the blade. After only a moment her eye sparked. "IDEA!"

"Oh no, Rarity, don' be encouragin' her. Nopony should be holdin' a blade these days." Applejack stamped her hoof down in disapproval.

"Oh pish posh Applejack, there's no rules against it. If Dash wishes to own a weapon, it's not our place to say she can't." Rarity lectured as Dash returned Iris to it's sheath. Applejack looked at the two of them rather steamed. Rarity returned her attention to Rainbow Dash. "Now Rainbow Dash, I have an offer for you, and you can't tell anypony about this, you neither Applejack. I've a latent talent that I don't usually share with anypony, a skill that my grandfather taught me when Sweetie bell was just born. You see, my parents may have become rather... unappreciative of the family theme of crafting, however as you can see, I went to continue pursuing such. My grandfather's talent was creating armor, mainly fine leathers. While it was rather crude, he taught me his craft as well. It's a secret practice of mine, but when I have the small windows of free time, it's a hobby." Rarity spoke in a hushed voice as Dash's eyes widened and Applejack looked on in interest. "Rainbow Dash, I would like to fashion you a suit of leather armor, something grand, something powerful, a true work of art worthy to be used with Iris there."

Rainbow Dash beamed from ear to ear. "Rarity, that would be AWESOME! Absolutely, thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!" Dash flew over and hugged Rarity tight in her forehooves.

"Now hold on just a second there. Rarity, wha the hay would you offer such a thing?" Applejack spoke in an urgent voice.

"Oh relax Applejack, it's a project. I'm doing it because it will keep my friend safe yes, but I'm doing it for my own interest as well darling." Rarity looked at Applejack with a frown. "Now Applejack, dear, I don't know what's gotten you so upset, but this is something very important to me." Rarity placed a forehoof on Applejack's shoulder.

Applejack looked back into Rarity's eyes, seeing the determination in her eyes. She gave out a sigh. "Fine."

Rarity gave Applejack a loving hug. "Rainbow Dash is a big girl. She'll be alright darling." And in a whisper, Rarity went to Applejack's ear. "You have to accept those you love darling, I can tell you, you won't go unanswered if you allow her to be herself." She pulled back from Applejack's blonde mane and smiled. "Alright Rainbow Dash, come back in just a few days. In order to fit the theme you have with Iris, we'll craft the flower of immortality. Amaranth!"

Enter The Glade

"Come on now, don't get sloppy!" Smith shouted from his doorway. Rainbow Dash stood atop a thrashing Chuul's back, Iris tight in her teeth. She struck the creature with wide strokes, once, twice, three times. "That won't do, won't do at all." Smith cried out. "You gotta pierce the chitin. Stab into it!"

"Alright already!" Dash yelled as she struggled to balance atop the lobsterlike creature. "Not like I didn't hear you the first time old man!"

"Then DO it already!" An annoyed grunt came from the brown pegasus.

Rainbow Dash returned a grunt of her own as she sank her blade deep into the creature's head, causing it to shriek out in pain before finally crashing down into the muddy beach. "There. See, I took care of it."

"Yeah, but it took you quite a while now didn't it?" Steel Edge huffed and grabbed up a rope in his teeth, throwing it about the chuul as Rainbow Dash descended from the creature's back.

"Hey, I was just practicing a few new moves out." Rainbow Dash replaced her blade in it's sheathe, crossing her forehooves in wait as the older pegasus pulled the giant crustacean around to his tools where he began separating the claws and legs from the main body, and making sure to be wary of the tentacles drooping from it's face.

"Your moves almost ended up with you inside this things tentacles. Youd've been paralyzed."

"But I'm not.. I'm perfectly fine. I know what I'm doing." Rainbow Dash spat at the ground. "No stupid Chuul is going to take me out so easily."

"But what if you have to take on more than one? Or something much more threatening than a chuul?" Smith hefted a chuul claw onto his back and went through the door, Dash following after. "You need to be more careful Dash."

"Fine. But I still say you're worrying too much old man." Dash laid down upon the wooden floor with a yawn. "I can understand training, but why did you want me to come so early"

"Because you're going to be fighting a lot more than just a single chuul today. I have a full days worth of training in store for you." Steel edge picked up a stone in his teeth and struk it against one of his blades over the fireplace, causing it to spark to life. "The chuul was merely you catching us some breakfast." He stuck a sword into the claw, piercing a hole, then he forced a long stick through the hole, all the way down the arm, holding the chitinous mass down with a forehoof. "Your training will be a lot more difficult than that." He gave out a sigh. "But, it'll introduce you to a number of other creatures that exist in this world." Smith stopped for a moment and gave Rainbow Dash a smile. "A true adventure for such a bold pegasus."

This captured Dash's attention, as she raised back onto all four of her hooves. "You've regained my attention." Dash helped Steel heave the spitted claw above the fire. "What do I do?"

"You'll be going into an ancient glade, that still retains it's look of youth and beauty, as do the creatures that reside within. It is usually a peaceful place, that I don't often have to guard. Normally the fey that guard the pond are enough."

"Fey?" Rainbow Dash asked. The term seemed familiar, though she didn't know what it meant.

"Magical creatures, pixies, dryads, and the like. Anyways, the forest and I have been talking, and it tells me that the glade is in danger." He held up a hoof towards Rainbow Dash. "Yes, before you ask, I can talk to the forest and I don't care if you just think I'm being a crazy old man. So, I'll need you to go and defend the glade from attack. It's nothing beyond your capability."

"What is it?" Dash inquired in an excited tone.

Smith simply looked to her without saying a word. "You'll see them, then you can tell me."

"What does that mean?" The phrase was rather annoying in itself, without it coming from the old man.

"It means that they'll tell you what they are themselves. You don't need me to tell you everything. Use your own brain."

Dash gave out a huff. "Fine then."

Dash moved towards the edge of the pond. "This looks like the place." She had made her way to the glade, a rather large clearing surrounded by a dense circle of trees and the most pure pond water Dash had ever witnessed. "I don't see any of those 'fey' or whatever they're called though. Must've been the old man's age catching up with him." She gave out a yawn and crept up to the water. "I could use a quick drink and nap before these creatures appear." Dash sipped up some of the water, it tasted absolutely divine! "I can see why he'd want to defend this place." Then a thought popped back into her head. As she had walked out the door, Steel Edge told her that she would one day take his place. What did he mean? Dash knew nothing about smithing. She only recently found her way around a sword.

Then, a rustle came from a nearby bush. Dash jerked her head towards the sound, then drew her blade. "Come out!" She called over. No reply. She snuck over towards the bush, Iris at the ready. Once she made it to the bush, she quickly pushed the leaves to the side with a forehoof, revealing nothing more than a raccoon which looked up in terror and skittered off. "Woops." Dash gave a slight chuckle as she replaced her sword. "What am I so nervous about? I just need some rest that's all." Dash looked up in the clearing and saw a very comfortable looking cloud. She flew up and pushed the cloud down above the very center of the pond, this way she would be safe from anything that came out from the trees, and she could survey the whole glade. She sat upon the cloud, and crossed her forehooves where she then rested her chin. She gave out another yawn and drifted off to sleep.

***

Nilt looked on from behind his leaf within the tree, staring down at the cyan pony resting on a cloud. He had heard tales of the flying equines, even the magical horned ones, but never had he seen even the earth variety. After all he was only one hundred and seven years old, very very young for a sprite. She was a rather beautiful creature, much different than him. She was far larger than he though, and much much different looking. Where he himself had hands and feet, she had rounded stubs. Her wings were much different than his, feathery like a bird's, while his appeared as leaves stuck upon his back. He noticed she wore no markings of her clan in paint upon her face or ears, nor any leaves upon her body; however she did bear a mark to the rear of her body. Perhaps that was the mark of her clan?

The little sprite flew in closer, bringing a large leaf that he could hide behind should she awaken. He brought the glow of his body down so that she wouldn't wake up when he came close. As he approached, he realized that she was colossal compared to him, just to be safe, he drew his short sword and held the leaf up like a shield. He noticed that as he got closer, the wind picked up as well, sucking him in and blowing against him. Nilt flew closer and landed on the pony's muzzle. She was soft, comfortable. Her spectrum mane would make great, beautiful clothing, or bow strings.

Suddenly, the pony began to stir, the extra pound on her nose causing her to drift awake. Nilt panicked, he did the first thing that came to mind and stabbed the giant creature with his blade; right between the eyes.

***

"OW! What the hay?" Rainbow Dash felt a small prick in her brow and hurried to open her eyes. she saw what looked to be a tiny bug standing on her snout and tried shaking him off. Nilt flew off her snout and hovered in front of her, sword at the ready. "What the fuck are you?" Dash addressed the small creature, with strange blue markings about his face and long pointed ears.

Nilt kept his position. "I am Nilt, son of Elkman the Brave. Sprite guardian of the Everfree glade. Turn back stranger, or face my wrath!"

"Nilt? That's a weird name." Rainbow Dash stood upon her cloud, looking down on the creature. "Are you what I'm supposed to fight?"

A tinge of fear crept onto Nilt's face. "Fight me if you dare beast! But I must warn you, I will not be an easy opponent." Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. This little bug wanted to try and fight her. She gave a smirk, and blew a quick breath his direction which sent him reeling away. But he came back to eye level rather quickly. "That's it crature, prepare for a swift death!" Nilt dashed in the air towards his prey.

"Whoah, hold up little guy." Dash held out a forehoof to stop Nilt in his tracks. "Look, you're a guardian of this glade right? Well I was sent here to guard it as well."

Nilt flew a few inches back and looked Rainbow Dash in the eye. "Guard? You are a guardian as well?"

"Yeah I guess. I've been told that I need to help out. Apparently there's supposed to be an attack here today." Rainbow Dash perked her ears up. "Gotta be alert."

Nilt looked rather unimpressed. "Then why were you sleeping?

Dash gave a slight cough. "Well..." Suddenly she stopped, her ears perked even more as she noticed a sound coming from all around her. "Do you hear that?"

Nilt perked his rather large ears up as well. "Uh-oh."

"What uh-oh? What's wrong?" Dash tried to listen in closer, and soon it became loud and clear. In thick rough voices came an ugly raspy tune.

Goblins come and Goblins fight,
Goblins gnaw and goblins bite,
Goblins chew and goblins wreck,
Goblins turn glade into heck!
Eat the pixies smash the sprites,
Kill the nixies, turn out their lights!
Goblins come to ruin your day,
Goblins come, will make you PAY!
Goblins turn you into stew,
We be goblins, you be food!

Suddenly Dash understood Smith when he said that she'd know what the creatures were. "Goblins." She said. She remembered a story of Daring Do when she had to make her way through a goblin camp. One of her favorite stories, not to mention one of her most dangerous. The memory perked her ears anymore. "No trolls." Then she did hear something. A more intelligent voice rang out, stopping the horde from proceeding.

"I smell... a smell that I haven't in years. The smell of.........PONY!"

"Oh shit! Bugbear!" Dash drew Iris quickly as the goblins Ran through the trees into the glade, led by a rather large hairy looking goblin carrying a crude morningstar. The goblins screeched "PONY PONY PONY PONY! STINKING PONY!" Dash was slightly confused, why did these creatures hate her so much? The goblins surrounded the pond, but did not go in. Again they started to sing:

Kill the pony, smash it's brain
Cut the horse, Goblins will maim!
Stab the horsey wreck it's face
Crush it's hooves with heavy mace!
Pull the tail give it a beat,
Goblins will eat pony meat!

Dash started to feel beads of sweat form on her brow and Nilt settled down in her mane, holding his leaf shield and sword at the ready. "Are you ready for battle guardian?" The small sprite asked.

"Uh... There's gotta be at least fifty of them. How are we going to-" Before she could finish her question she heard a screech as one especially small goblin ran through the horde, screaming it's head off with blade over it's head, until it hit the pond and was pulled under. Seconds later the body resurfaced with it's face in the water. "Oh..."

"Yeah... Goblins are stupid."

Goblin's Song

"SMASH THE PONY!" The bugbear yelled it's attack orders and the goblins all sheathed their very crude blades, drawing long pointed sticks instead. "Throw the spears!" suddenly a hail of pointed wood flew towards Rainbow Dash and Nilt, who flew up as fast as they could, dodging the branches.

"You fight before?" Dash called up to the Sprite.

"Of course I have pony. The cockroach army stood no chance before the power of the sprites, and these goblins are no different!" With that, Nilt flew off as fast as he could, blade pointed forward into the nearest goblin, jabbing it's eye.

"Augh! Stinking fairy put out my eye!"

"Me help you!" The neighboring goblin drew his sword and aimed for Nilt, but the sprite was too quick for the goblin and flew out of the way, causing the sheet of metal to cut through the goblin's face. "Oop."

Dash flew down at high speed, sliding her hoof across the length of the blade. Various yellow spots appeared on her foes below and she struck at each one. Right leg, left arm, jaw, left eye, spine, she struck them all down, moving too fast for them to lay a strike on her body. Any that she didn't cut she would kick as it tried to jump at her. She bashed one so hard in the chest that he flew back into about three of his other companion, dropping his sword somewhere in the crowd where she heard a painful scream.

Nilt found his way back to Rainbow Dash and stood within her mane. "We don't have to beat them all, just take out their leader and a good chunk of their ranks, goblins are notorious cowards."

"Got it!" Dash continued to fly forward, cutting down any goblin that dared come close to her. She felt a sudden weight hit her back as a goblin jumped on top of her back. "NOT cool!" Dash started to fly rapidly in circles until she was only visible as a rainbow tornado, the goblin and Nilt hanging onto her for dear life. The goblin let go first and went flying with two of his companions into the water, resurfacing with claw marks and blood across their faces and bodies. A number of the goblins started to panic, running at Dash with their eyes closed. Some of these ended up chopping down their own comrades, while still others would run right past her into a tree, one broke his neck doing such a thing.

"Idiots! SMASH the damned pony!" The bugbear grew angry with his minions, bringing fear into their eyes, yet somehow forcing more competence from them. It seemed their fear for their leader outweighed the fear for the pony that kept defeating them. One ran up behind Dash, trying to jump up on her back again, but she gave him a good BUCK and knocked him hard against a nearby tree. As the battle proceeded, more and more goblins fell, lowering their morale, but for some reason, Iris began to glow brighter and brighter red. Was more danger approaching? Or were the goblins getting worse? Maybe Iris was just broken. Or maybe...

Dash turned in the direction of the Bugbear and saw him charging after her, morningstar held high. "Dodge it!" Nilt screamed out, fearing for his own life as well as Rainbow's. Too late, Dash felt the spikes of the club pierce her side as she was knocked into a tree, knocking the wind out of her lungs.

"Holy shit!" She wheezed out. She couldn't breathe, and DAMN that hurt! "I think I broke a rib." As she stood, the bugbear ran after her again, ready to finish this in a single blow. Nilt then appeared at the bugbear's face and jabbed his nose about three to four times before flying off as quickly as his wings would take him. He had attracted the bugbear's attention, and long enough for Dash to get up to her hooves. She should have been intimidated, but instead, she was angry. She lowered her eyebrows and tightened her bite upon her blade, charging full speed into the large goblin, piercing his back and causing him to give out a loud shriek.

He turned to smack Dash again, but she was expecting it this time, and jumped back with help from her wings. She ran a hoof across the length of the blade again to reveal the spot she just stabbed in a yellow glow. She must have hit him deeper than she thought, but it didn't matter, she dashed to try and cut him again, but she only grazed him as he swiped a large claw through her mane, barely missing her face. Nilt did his best to fight against the bugbear as well, jabbing it in the face with his little stings whenever he saw an opening. The rest of the goblins were cheering on their leader, avoiding actual involvement in this fight, whether they were more afraid of Rainbow Dash or the bugbear, nopony knew.

Cuts and scrapes littered the bugbear's body, but the only serious injury it had taken was the jab that Dash had given him to his back, which was bleeding, but not a lot. She flew at him once again, only to have to dodge his club once again. No good, she couldn't get close to him as he was now, she had to think of something. The hairy creature charged her, and she jumped to the right as he brought his weapon into the dirt. Suddenly, she had an idea. She slid her hoof horizontally across the blade, and a blue mist that only she could see drew a circle going around the creature twice before finally reaching his wound, and Dash followed it, dodging any strikes that he made, but before she could sink her blade in, she felt a tug at her tail. She turned and saw two goblins tugging at her, trying to pull her towards the water. Her face felt a hard SMACK as the bugbear's meaty hand slapped her across the jaw, knocking her into the dirt. Dash felt her tail tuggers pulling her towards the water. She jumped back towards them, kicking them both square in the chest, forcing them into the pond where they met the same fates as the other goblins.

In the corner of her vision, she saw the lumbering figure turn and swing towards her, she jumped back into the water, and readied herself to charge. She felt small claws rake her back legs though and gave a yell. She turned to see what looked like large fairies with webbed hands clawing at her hind legs, trying to pull her into the water. She readied to kick them but Nilt shouted "Don't hurt them! They are nixies! Guardians of this glade like us!" So Dash instead flew up, flinching in pain as the claws raked down to her hooves.

"They don't SEEM like they're on our side!"

"They just want to protect the pond." Nilt flew up to Dash's eye level. "They don't see you as any different from the goblins.

"Speaking of which." Dash looked back down at the bugbear, who looked back at them with a fire in his eyes. "What'll we do about him? I can't get close enough to do any damage!"

Nilt rubbed at his chin, then darted into Rainbow Dash, trying to push her. "MOVE!" Dash moved to the side as a large stone grazed her ear, the bugbear was growing impatient, and was beginning to lift another boulder. "Go NOW!" Nilt slapped the cyan pegasus on the neck as a signal and she dashed through the air towards her target. SHE HIT! She sank her blade deep into his left shoulder, forcing him to let go of the boulder and slap her away leaving the blade in his wound. His left arm hung limp and motionless as he held it. She severed it from his control! This should be easy now!

However, Iris only glowed a more violent red, and even began to shudder within the bugbear's arm. "HOW?!" The fire in the creature's eyes blazed brightly as he charged Rainbow Dash, reclaiming his morningstar with his good arm. He swung, faster than before, Dash could barely dodge it and ended up with some pretty deep cuts along her left foreleg. "AUGH!"

"He's gone berserk!" Nilt yelled to Rainbow Dash. "He's more dangerous now than ever!"

"Smash, smash, Smash, SMash, SMAsh, SMASh, SMASH, SMASH! SMASH!! SMASHSMASHSMASHSMASHSMASHSMASHSMASH!!!!!!!!" He had lost his mind! Rainbow Dash saw it in his eyes. Nothing more mattered to this creature than killing HER. "SMASH THE PONY!!!!!!!!" Dash dodged, and jumped, but she was losing steam, and without her weapon, she couldn't hurt the mad terror before her, even with one arm. As he continued on, he began to sing, at least that's what it sounded like, a terrifying, angry madman's tune.

SMASH THE PONY
EAT IT UP!
KILL IT DEAD
THEN CHOP IT'S HEAD!
SMASH THE PONY
EAT IT UP!
KILL IT DEAD
THEN CHOP IT'S HEAD!

Dash was getting too tired, she couldn't keep this up. He was going to kill her, she saw it in his eyes, she felt it in the back of her mind, this bugbear was going to kill her, and she couldn't stop it. And what of Nilt? Would he die here too? They only just met, but she couldn't help but fear for her comrade's life. And the nixies, and weren't there other sprites around here too? Other living creatures? This mad creature would slaughter them all, and she couldn't do anything about it.

Dash tripped, she fell on her face. This was it, she was going to die here... she knew that now, and one last thought went through her head. Spitfire, Applejack... I'm... I'm sorry. I love you guys, and I'm sorry I couldn't choose.

The End...

...OF THIS CHAPTER!

Imaginations From The Other Side

Imaginations From The Other SIde

I'm sorry guys... I'm sorry Smith, Applejack, Spitfire, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie... I'm done. Suddenly, something caught Dash's eye. A green glow emanated from the bugbear's shoulder and brought a spark of hope deep within her. In the split second she had left, Dash yelled out one final word.

"IRIS!"

The blade heard it's master's call and activated, changing from blade, to bolt of rainbow lightning, piercing through the bugbear, forcing it to screech as it was electrified in a brilliant spectrum of electricity, it's bones exposed to Dash's view. It fell to it's knees, tired and damaged beyond repair. Dash moved quick, she snatched Iris back from the creature's fried shoulder. Iris was sparking remarkably, and had doubled in size, Dash's renewed vigor powering it. The bugbear turned and tried to toss his morningstar at Dash, but in his weakened state, he only managed to toss it to the ground before her.

"My turn." Dash smirked and flew full speed at the monster, she grazed his cheek and turned, lobbed off the tip of his ear and turned again. Again and again, Dash made small grazes against the creature with the electrified blade, until she formed a tornado of slashing wind against him, slicing numerous cuts all across his body, then there was a loud crack and a rainbow ring burst from the tornado. Dash turned upwards, going as fast as her rainboom would let her, then she turned to dive, locking onto the bugbear, Iris pointed forward. With a BOOM! Rainbow landed on the creature's head, a rainbow mushroom cloud erupting all around her, blowing away a good amount of the remaining goblins. When the cloud and dust vanished, all that Nilt and the goblins could see was a bugbear embedded in the ground with Iris sticking out of his head, and a pony standing victoriously on it's chest, looking visciously at the rest of them.

"The pony defeated the General!"

"The pony is too strong! We must run for our lives!"

"Yes yes! Run! Run fast goblins!" The goblins all sprinted as quickly as they could in various directions, all away from Rainbow Dash.

"Guardian... you are very mighty." Nilt spoke in awe as the last goblin disappeared behind a tree.

"Thanks. And I'm Rainbow Dash by the way, not guardian."

"Well, Ms. Rainbow Dash! It's been an honor fighting with you. Again, you are a great warrior."

"Well, Nilt, you weren't so bad yourself. I mean that, I couldn't have done this without you."

The small sprite smiled. "You honor me." He looked about at all the goblin bodies that littered the forest floor.

"Uh... do you need help cleaning up?" Dash questioned.

Nilt shook his head. "The animals of the forest will take care of that. Thank you for your help Miss Rainbow Dash." Nilt turned like he was going to fly off, then stopped. "Um..." He started. "Uh... N-nevermind." He started flying forward.

Dash noticed that the small fey appeared rather... depressed, as he drifted away. "Nilt? Did you want something?"

NIlt turned back, biting his lower lip. He looked like he didn't want to ask. "Well... You see..." He let out a sigh. "Coming from a proud warrior family...not everyone survives... Sometimes even... you're the only one left." Nilt gave a half-hearted smile towards Dash. "I am Nilt... of the tribe..." He let out another sigh. "...Nilt."

Dash stared at the lonely fairy. "Nilt? Do you wanna come live with me?"

Suddenly, Nilt started to glow like a torch, bright with a smile. "To house with one of such might? T'would be an honor Miss Rainbow Dash!"

"Just Rainbow Dash, or Rainbow, or Dash." Dash gave a smile.

"Dash then. Now, where to?"

"Hey Smith! I solved your infestation problem." Dash called from outside Steel Edge's hut. He came to the door, and gave a quick smile, motioning for her to come in. She did so, and raised a hoof. "Now... one question. What were goblins doing at a fey glade?"

Smith walked over to a new chuul leg roasting over the fire and brought it down. "I knew you'd ask something like that." He said, almost reluctant to answer. "It means that dark times are approaching Equestria. If the goblins are moving, then it means that a dark power is readying itself."

"What? What are you talking about?" Dash didn't understand what the old stallion was getting at.

"He means that the dark forces gather in this forest." Nilt spoke from Rainbow Dash's mane.

"The sprite speaks the truth." Smith began dividing pieces of the claw for the three of them to eat, leaving the smallest bits for Nilt.

"What dark forces?" Dash was getting annoyed.

"Something beyond your understanding." Smith shot her down.

"FUCK that!" Dash brought down her forehooves forcefully onto the table. "Try me, I've faced down dragons, Discord, and Nightmare Moon. I've helped defeat a changeling army, and I just took out an army of goblins with the meanest creature I've ever seen. I've gone hoof to claw with a manticore and pulled off sonic rainbooms. I'm a damned hero, and not because I wanted to be, but because it was demanded of me, not just by Celestia, but by my nature. I am the element of loyalty, I will defend Ponyville, Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and all of Equestria to my dying breath! Now tell me, what the HAY is going on?" Dash was furious. She already felt the brush of death, there was no way she'd let her friends experience that.

Smith saw the fires in her eyes, much hotter than the flames he used in his forge. She was determined, and he lost any doubt that this pony was capable. She was as strong and as powerful as her mother, and just as fiery. "Alright. If you really wanna know, I'll tell ya." Steel edge passed out plates of chuul meat and took a seat. "So, there is an artifact, deep in these woods. It is an object of great evil power, much like a portal. It leads to another world, one where things have been... twisted, perverted. In that world, there is another Rainbow Dash. As powerful as you are here, you are just as powerful there."

"Cool!" Dash gave a smile.

"Not cool" Smith frowned back. "Because there is a twist. As loyal and true as you are here, the other you is vile and deceitful." A serious flash appeared across Smith's eyes. Dash felt a sudden ping in the back of her brain, something about that phrase seemed... familiar. "This... Nega Dash, I guess we can call her, is evil. And there are a bunch more ponies like her. Anyways, my point is, this portal has been acting up. I always knew it would, I just didn't know when. Those goblins can feel the energy building up, they know that now is their time to move. Something must have come through that portal, something very wicked."

Dash suddenly felt a deep sinking feeling in her stomach. She remembered the mirror she saw in the woods, how it caused Iris to shudder so violently. "Um... Is this artifact to the east? Kind of a large black mirror?"

Smith turned, giving a dark eye to Rainbow Dash. "How did you know that?"

"Well, you see. I kinda was flying about, when all of a sudden I got hit by something. I didn't wanna risk spraining my wing, so I continued on hoof. I went into this long tunnel and... at the end..." Rainbow Dash gulped hard. "I...saw this giant mirror. Inside was the same cave, but something was different. Something was more..." she couldn't put the words to it. "more... sinister."

"The other side..." Nilt said. "You didn't touch it did you?"

"Uh... Would that be bad?"

"Of course it would be bad!" Nilt sounded almost insulted.

"I thought as much." Smith sighed. "Rainbow Dash, your evil twin is running amok out there."

Again, Dash felt a pang in the back of her mind telling her for some reason she should already know this. "What do you mean?"

"By touching that mirror, you allowed your other side self to pass into this side. A very grave fortune for us indeed." Steel shook his head. "And you of all ponies touched it."

"Why is it so bad that I touched it?"

Nilt stood on top of Dash's chuul claw, looking up into her eyes. "Hasn't he made it obvious? You're one of the finest swordsponies in Equestria."

"The best. There are only two of us left after all." Smith chimed in.

Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Where did this thing come from anyways?"

Smith frowned. "If I knew that I could probably have told you a lot more than I have."

"Well how did you know my 'evil twin' would come out of there?"

"Because the same thing happened once already, and rather recently too." Smith huffed. "Do you remember the Summer Sun Celebration? How it remained night that day? That was the work of a creature from the other side. One of your princess's stumbled upon the mirror. Luckily though, she didn't touch it."

"Wait, you're saying Nightmare Moon was one of these other side thingies? Then why don't we just get the elements of harmony to-"

"Those damned trinkets can't help you here!" Smith shouted. "Your twin comes from a parallel universe, and she's still you. She can use your element, just as easily as you could hers, so it won't work against her. And if one doesn't work, none of them will."

"How do you know that?" Dash found this all rather suspicious.

Smith stared at Dash for a while. "Because your mother tried the same thing when she was an element."

Okay, I KNOW I'm missing SOMETHING here. Dash was more confused than she'd ever been in her life. "My mother was an element?"

"Yes."

"And she... fought one of these negaverse ponies?"

"Yes, she fought herself, because long ago, when she was around your age, she made the same mistake and allowed Flamewing into our world." Smith gave a sigh. "Except then we were much better prepared for an attack in Equestria. I was in work, fashioning blades and armor of the highest quality. Your mother tried to use the elements of harmony against her, but it had no effect. And now, history is repeating itself. I should have told you sooner, and maybe we could have avoided this whole mess." Smith placed his hooves against his temples and tried to soothe them.

"But, I thought that the last time the elements were used before me was when Celestia banished Nightmare Moon?"

Nilt floated about, buzzing near Dash's ear. "There were stories, by my people, about a group of six brave ponies who attempted using, what you two address as the 'elements', to bring down the lord of Tartarus. The elements didn't work, but one pink and blue pegasus was able to strike down the viscous lord."

Dash shook her head. "No way. You're telling me my mom was the only one who could stop some great evil clone, and now I made a mistake and have to do the same thing?"

"Yes, wasn't that made clear?" Smith snorted.

Dash opened her mouth to speak, then her brain felt heavy, her head fell to the table. She lost consciousness, and all she could hear was a voice. You're getting annoying little pony. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Wait, until it's time, forget, until we're ready.

The next morning, Dash awoke in her bed. She looked over and saw Tank and Nilt sleeping by her bed. She looked up and thought to herself. I wonder what those goblins were doing at that glade...

Dark Wings, Dark Words

"Well, my double has proven to be a bit of a nuisance already. Sticking her nose around where it doesn't belong.I've already had to use up a good amount of Dawn Sparkle's power." Mono Dash spat at the ground, staring into the blade of her scythe, instead of a reflection, she was shown Rainbow Dash, floating about in the sky.

"Mistress, I don't believe it is her snooping, rather her mentor simply knowing too much." A small black dragon with large bat like wings, bowed before the purple pegasus.

"Indeed." She tapped a hoof against her chin. "A survivor from my mother's reign it would seem. This, Steel Edge is simply an old codger that has lived longer than his time." A grin appeared on the sinister pony's face. "But, from his explanation, it is apparent that he does not know everything. Isn't that right Spire?"

The black dragon gave a crooked smile, eyes flashing bright bloody red. "He believes that the mirror would have the same effect for everypony, he knows not of the bloodline. Nor does he know of me it seems."

The violet Dash gave a chuckle. "You must have hit the old bastard a bit harder than you realized eh? He even thinks that Nightmare Moon had a part in this whole thing."

The black dragon snapped his fingers and gave out a belch, a purple smoke be-speckled with stars blowing forth. "One of my finer displays I would say. Not every day you get to corrupt a princess."

"Now..." The monochrome maned pony waved a hoof over her scythe and a brown, grizzled pegasus appeared in the reflection. "What to do with him?"

Spire flared his large black wings. "Maybe I could take care of your business Mistress?" He held out a claw, points unsheathing themselves from his fingers.

"No, I don't think so." Mono Dash Grabbed up the scythe and rested it against her neck. "I think I'll take care of this one. After all, the titan of death should do her own bidding, don't you agree?"

Smith awoke with a nasty headache. "Augh... I don't remember hitting the ale..." He looked up, and notice his company was no longer around. "Rainbow? Nilt? Oh shit!" He stood to attention. "Dammit! The witch took her away." He looked desperately around his hut.

There was no sign of them being dragged out, nor any sign of a struggle. Everything was where it should be, but with a new... scent. "That's no good." Smith turned towards the door of his hut. It was swinging on the hinges, he ran over towards it, slamming it shut and forced heavy furniture in front of it. He ran over to the window and did the same. "Got to prepare, she's coming."

"Already here" A sickening voice came from behind the old stallion. He slowly turned and saw the monochromatic witch that stood before him, a gleaming scythe resting on her back. "Hello there old friend. Been a while hasn't it?"

Smith simply looked at her, unflinching. He needed a blade, and fast. The closest one was to his right, hanging above the fire place. The blade he had forged long ago for Firefly. Mono Dash seemed to have noticed him eyeing the blade and gave a chuckle. "Hmhmhmhmhm... Now, why would you want that old trinket? Huh?"

"You ought to be more fearful of that blade. It's the one that stopped your mother after all." Smith placed a hoof forward and tried to keep his cool.

"Indeed, and it was very powerful." She stepped over to admire the sword, how it glimmered brightly above the fire. "But as they say, the brightest flames burn the quickest." With a slight puff of breath in the weapon's direction causing it to turn black and crumble into so many pieces. Smith's eyes lowered to his masterpiece, now just common trash while Mono chuckled. "Oh yes... Now I hope you've abandoned any more of your foolish 'hope' of defeating me."

Smith swallowed hard. "...Indeed."

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that."

"You're correct." He sighed. "I'm washed up. What hope do I have to deal with you? My time is done. It's obvious that Equestria has moved on without me. I'm just an arms dealer, and since nopony uses weapons anymore, I have no purpose. Witch, I'm at peace." A broad smile spread across his face. "I'm done here. I've lived a happy life, a proud life, and I have no shame. Take up sickle and reap my soul."

"Well, you're no fun are you?" Mono Dash gave a scoff, but retained her sick smile, she turned her head around and grabbed the scythe in her teeth, raising it and swung for Smith's neck.

I've done all I can Rainbow, now it's up to you to protect Equestria from the shadows once again. Stop the reign of the titans like your mother before you, I'll be watching. Make us proud!

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Drong Waph Wer Briquimchy

Reign of the Hammer

"Rarity, this is AWESOME!" Rainbow Dash looked down at her new armor.

"But of course it is Darling. Dragon leather almost never comes off less then fabulous." Rarity responded. "I had no idea what I was going to do with all those scales I'd been holding onto for the past year, so when I saw that incredible weapon of yours I just knew that I had to make some truly spectacular armor to match." And spectacular it was. The rainbow of scales glistened in the light, with a lightning shaped sapphire right at Dash's throat holding the piece together. It all flowed over her body, stronger than steel yet light as a feather. With a band for each of her legs, this little pony would be well protected.

"I can't thank you enough for this Rarity. Wow... Amaranth." Rainbow Dash looked at the armor in the mirror. Suddenly she saw something come in the door. An orange and blonde pony. "Applejack?" Dash turned away from the mirror and looked at the country pony in the eye. "What brings you around Carousel boutique?"

Applejack didn't say anything, a frown was dressing her face. "Ah need ta talk to ya Sugarcube..." Rarity looked over to the two of them. "...Alone." Applejack said requesting with her eyes.

"Oh, but of course Applejack." Rarity nodded and started nudging Rainbow Dash out the door. "Now, you two have some speaking to do. I'll see you later Rainbow Dash." And with that Rarity closed the door behind the two of them.

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack and the earth pony looked back. "Come along Sugarcube, I... This is important."

The two approached the barn of Sweet Apple Acres. "Now... Sugarcube... Ah know that you an' Spitfire have a...a bit of a relationship." Applejack looked to the ground as she opened the barn door slowly. "And ah know that we... have been really close like for a while now... But ah also know that you an' Spitfire have... well..." She knocked her forehooves together nervously, looking about the barn with a red hue on her cheeks. "Been... intimate... so ah figured... if ah even wanna be on even grounds.... jus'..." Applejack walked over to a pile of hay and plopped down on her back. She blushed like mad. "Come an' get me Sugarcube... jus'...be gentle. Mah first time an' all."

Dash just looked at her friend lying there, face red and looking to the ground, hat covering her muzzle. "Applejack..." Dash walked over to her friend, and pressed her lips against the orange mare's. The two kissed for half a minute, lovingly embracing one another's lips. "AJ, you don't have to do this..." Rainbow Dash pulled back and replaced The earth pony's hat on her head. "I don't like you less than Spitfire because we haven't slept together... I like you for the way you are Applejack, and... I just..." Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. "I know I haven't been fair... to either one of you. I need to decide or it'll hurt the three of us a lot more than it needs to." She pulled AJ back up onto her legs. "But I need you to stay as just you if I'm going to decide. Don't do something out of your nature just to try and change my view of you, because I like you the way you are AJ." The rainbow pegasus smiled and lifted the chin of her close friend.

Applejack smiled as tears rushed to her eyes. "Oh Rainbow..." She leaped onto Dash, forcing their lips to join once again. She pulled back, tears dripping down her face. "Well then, Ah have another proposition for ya Dash." She pulled her back up to her hooves. "Let me come with ya on your adventures."

"I'm sorry?" Dash shook her head, trying to clear her head.

"Ah wanna come with ya over the mountains. Somepony has to watch your back after all, an' ah can't think of nopony better than me ta keep ya safe." AJ wrapped a foreleg around Dash's neck.

"No way, it's dangerous out there Applejack, I can't risk-"

"An' ah can't risk you Dash. Ah'm comin' with ya whether ya like it or not. If'n yer so worried about me, then ya best protect me ya hear." With a wink and a grin Applejack walked out the barn doors. "Now are ya comin'?"

Later, in the forest, Dash led Applejack to Smith's hut, popping up over the trees every now and again to get a view of the landscape. "So, what weapon interests you miss Applejack?" Nilt asked from Rainbow's back.

"Well, ah hadn't thought about that. Ah have much more trust in my own legs than some relic." Applejack walked over to a tree and demonstrated her bucking prowess, knocking down nearly every leaf on the tree.

"Ah! Most admirable." Nilt responded, impressed.

"We're almost there" Dash said. "It's just across this moat." coming out through the trees the ponies and sprite saw the hut ahead of them with weapons scattered about with a stretch of water encircling it. "Now, I know there's a shallow end right about... here!" Dash stepped her hoof in the water and it sank about only an inch. "Come on, make sure you go straight though, the rest is pretty deep and full of monsters. Wait a minute... Why is his door open?" Rainbow flew for the hut, Applejack racing by closely after. At the door, Dash stopped and covered her muzzle. "Blood?" The smell was overwhelming. She peeked her head in and pulled it right back out, gagging. "Oh Smith... Who did this?" Applejack came over and prepared to open the door. "NO! Don't look, it's bad." Rainbow Dash pulled on her friend's tail to stop her from going in the hut.

Nilt flew up onto Rainbow Dash's head and peeked into the hut. "This stallion... His... His head is..."

But he didn't need to say it. Applejack pulled the door closed.She looked around, noticing blood spatters, and a number of hoof prints left in blood in the dirt. "This weren't no monster, somepony did this themselves..." Applejack walked over to a nearby hammer and lifted it in her teeth. "On second thought, maybe ah will need one of these things... Nilt, Rainbow, let's get going."

Why this story is cancelled now

Soooo...Ol' Sparx got some 'splainin' to do.

My apologies to those of you who have been waiting oh so patiently for an update on this story you have followed and enjoyed, but this is where the rainbow stops. However! I must let you know that at the end of every rainbow there is gold, and I am currently at work on that.
I have reluctantly brought this story to it's cancellataion, for the fact that I feel I can deliver better. Now I'm not saying that this story is bad, simply that I wish to build something better from it. For most of my earlier fics, including this one, I simply went along without any plans or editing behind it, but in the more recent days I have become much more active in the community and found myself a grand pair of editors and dozens more plans for stories.
THIS fic has ended, in order to evolve into what I originally wished. There is a new story that I will be releasing by some point around the end of December or the beginning of the new year. Fitting really as a theme for new beginnings. It will still hold much in common with this story; inspirations from my beloved Power Metal, Song titles as chapter titles, Exploration beyond Equestria's borders, Plenty of Rainbow Dash, Swords and sorcery, Spitfire and Applejack, hideous monster battles. But it will also have a lot more, as if this all goes to plan, it will spread across more than a single story. I'm talking a potential fantasy series. If that excites you than I greatly encourage you to keep an eye out for it when I release it. If it doesn't and you wish to stick with what remains here, I am keeping it up for you all to enjoy as it was.
I truly am grateful for you all enjoying my story, and am deeply sorry I won't continue it, but I hope that what follows makes up for it and is worth your wait. I truly do love you guys.

Here's to adventure and ponies!
-Sparx Skywriter

Here's a slight preview for those of you interested in the new fantasy fic. Consider it a thank you:

A few miles to the east of Appaloosa, was a settlement built upon a prosperous and thriving mine. The desert winds carried the consistent clinking of pickaxes and scratching of claws against dirt. These were Diamond Dog lands, and that could be seen by the various tunnels and holes surrounding the place. There were a few wooden buildings throughout the town, primarily bars and inns for travelers, as most of the dog's homes resided underground. One such tavern, titled "Diamond in the Ruff" as an attempt to be clever, was currently serving a particular pegasus with multicolored mane. She sat at the bar with a glass in her hoof, motioning for the barkeep for a refill.
"We don't get very many flying ponies in these parts. What you doing out here in the desert?" The dog asked as he poured another glass of hard cider.
The winged pony kept her eyes to the table as she let out a chuckle. "Believe you me, buddy, I never expected this either." A melancholy sigh came from her mouth. "But, it's like dad used to say..." She paused for a moment, then took a swig of her drink. "...Shit happens." The bartender nodded as he cleaned glasses with a rag. Dash started with another sigh. "I'm just traveling. Getting a better feel for this wide world we live in, after all, I kinda lost the only thing keeping me around back home. I thought about moving back to Cloudsdale at first, but I left that place a long time ago. There's nothing there for me anymore."
The dog gave a small chuckle. "Ah, sounds like very sad story for a pony. Usually heard things like that from Gryphon or other dogs."
Dash gave a chuckle in return. "Yeah. It ain't all sunshine and rainbows for us buddy. Don’t get me wrong, that's a lot of it, but we get the bad times too."
Another nod from the bartender as he replaced the glass he was cleaning with a new one. "If the pony doesn't mind, might I ask her story?"
A smile returned to Dash's face. "Sure...why not? It's a tale worth telling." She chugged back the rest of her glass and put it to the side as she gathered her memories. "Never saw it all coming y'know. The six of us always stood together, through everything, even a god couldn't tear us apart from one another. But see, thing is that Twilight had always been there to keep us connected. We'd all known of each other, but I didn't really spend too much time with Pinkie or Rarity before Twilight brought us all together, hadn't seen much of Fluttershy either in those days. Twilight was always the one who brought us back together when things were strained, united us against Nightmare Moon, stopped the changeling invasion, saved a whole 'nother dimension, and even managed to keep us together when our whole lives got swapped. So, you'd think we'd all be good so long as we had Twilight... and we were." The diamond dog never tore his eyes from Dash's face, just as her own eyes were focused on the table, looking more into her memory than the world around her.
"But what do you do when that major piece of the puzzle is taken away?" Her smile vanished. "Duty calls and she left...and gradually...so did everypony else." She reached for her glass, but stopped when she realized it was still empty. The bartender gave her a quick refill and she took her gulp. "You see, one day, Celestia and Luna just up and vanished! No explanation, no warning, no nothing...Just gone. 'Course Twilight did the only thing she could, she took over as the only available princess at the time. We all supported her and knew it was what she had to do. She tried to keep us informed on what was going on everyday, sending us all letters through Spike, who she had left with us to get those messages." The dog looked a bit confused. "He's an enchanted dragon...bit of a different story there." The dog shrugged and let her continue.
"Well as she got busier and busier, we heard less and less from her ya see...and..." Dash found it a bit difficult at this point, but pressed on. "Eventually, the letters stopped altogether. AJ and I did our best to try and keep the gang together...it didn't really work out too well." She took a pause. "Fluttershy went first. Went to spending most of her time in the Everfree Forest. She seemed to never be in her cottage when any of us came knocking. Rarity and Spike moved her business off to Canterlot. Pinkie Pie....well... you'd never have expected the loudest of us to leave without so much as a 'bye', but nobody knows where she went, or even when she left." A small chuckle escaped the rainbow maned pegasus. "She was the last one I'd ever have expected to act like that. So, then it came down to just me and AJ, I mean I would often fly off to see Twilight, but the two of us were the only ones left in Ponyville anymore."
It took about a full minute and another glass of cider before Dash could find her voice again. "I swear to you, I would have stayed with that mare forever, heh... but she said we had to be honest with ourselves and that..." Dash had to stop and chuckle again. "Get this. She told me to be loyal to myself." Her chuckle became a full out laugh as she drew the attention of a few of the other patrons in the bar. "She tells me, the Element of Loyalty, to be loyal to myself." She tried to take a swig from her empty glass before letting out one last chuckle and turning it upside down on the counter.

Romance and Wrath

Rainbow Dash began to carry Iris on her person at all times. After her last run in with the mirror she was a bit more cautious when leaving home. She got more than a few strange looks around town wielding a blade. Dash knew that she was doing something rather frowned upon, but she just felt unnerved without Iris anymore.

Dash had also been spending less and less time with her friends, she'd been getting too caught up in her new adventures and explorations, it began to become more of a reality beyond the mountains than the boundaries of Ponyville ever were. It wasn't too uncommon that a friend of her's would start to wo cloudrry because they hadn't seen her in a good number of days. There were even days she was missing work.

One day Dash heard a knock at her door. She walked over and answered, revealing Spitfire at the entrance. "Heya Dash, mind if I come in?"

"Spitfire?" Rainbow Dash looked surprised to see her at the door. "Uh... yeah, sure. Come on in." Dash welcomed the yellow pegasus in with a smile, and a little bit of confusion. "What's up?"

"Could ask you the same thing Dashie. Haven't seen you in a number of days. Just thought I'd stop by and check in on what's been happening." Spitfire stepped through the door and made her way to the kitchen where she helped herself to a can of cola in Dash's fridge.

"Check in?" Rainbow Dash Smiled. "You don't have to worry about me Spitfire, I'm the same Dash as always."

"So it seems." Spitfire gave a chuckle and popped the can open with her teeth. "You're still the adorable, lovable Rainbow Dash, and I'm personally aware of that. I'm not checking in on my own accord." Spitfire took a gulp from the can.

"Wha? Then who sent ya?"

Spitfire motioned for Dash to follow her to the door as she walked over to it. "A friend." Dash followed Spitfire to the edge of her cloud where she was motioned to look down. Peeking over the edge, Rainbow Dash could see an orange earth pony looking back up at her. Applejack tipped her hat to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow and Spitfire floated down, landing next to AJ. "Thank ya kindly fer fetchin' 'er Spitfire." Applejack nodded in thanks. "Y'all alright Rainbow?"

Dash stood straight and strong, showing she was healthy. "Yeah, I'm doing alright. How 'bout you AJ? What's with the worry?"

"Well fer starters, Ah ain't seen ya fer a good week an' a half. Ah'm sure ya can take care a' yerself, ah just... y'know, got a little nervous is all." Applejack chuckled.

"'Course I can take care of myself AJ. No need to worry." Dash chuckled even louder. "Nice to know you care though."

"Good ta hear." Applejack smiled kindly. "Now, Sugarcube. There's somethin'... else we hafta talk about..." Applejack kept her smile but looked rather nervous. "We... know what's been goin' down... amongst the three of us."

Rainbow Dash swallowed hard. "Uh... what do you mean?"

Spitfire gave out a small groan. "No use in playing it that way Dashie, we know you know what we're talking about. We're not gonna scold you... because it's not your fault."

Rainbow Dash was surprised. The two of them weren't demanding a choice, they were smiling. They were concerned for her, and missed her. "We know it can't be easy on ya Rainbow, havin' ta choose between yer friends like this. Ya probably feel like choosing one of us will make the other one feel lesser, an' that choice must be darn near impossible. Ah know that ah wouldn' wanna make that choice." Applejack chuckled lightly.

Spitfire also chuckled. "We understand Dashie. You don't want to hurt us, so you separated yourself so you wouldn't have to, and that shows that you care. But we..." Spitfire's voice caught in her throat for a moment as her eyes began to water. "We love you and we want to see you. So while you were trying to protect us, we spent our time missing you and worrying about you." Spitfire smiled through her building tears. She wiped her eyes with a forehoof. "We're sorry Dashie, we didn't mean to scare you off like we did, but please come back to us." Applejack also looked like she was about to cry, feeling bad for putting her friend in a corner, even if it wasn't on purpose.

"No, you guys... it... It's not your fault." Rainbow Dash tried to console her friends. "Look, I did leave at first to escape all the stress, but..." Rainbow Dash swallowed hard, trying to form the words she was looking for. "Look, I travel out there now, because... It's awesome." The other two looked confused. "Look see, there's monsters and mysteries and lands nopony knows about! It's awesome, you see? I'm an adventurer now, just like Daring Do!"

"But Dashie, how do you get around all the danger?" Spitfire's eyes grew in worry.

Dash smiled in pride. "My sword, her name is Iris. Here let me show you!" Before the other two could protest, Dash flew up into her house.

"Sword?" Applejack's body began to quiver. "Nopony makes swords anymore. Where the hay would Rainbow get one a' them?"

Rainbow Dash floated back down with Iris strapped across her body, posing with pride. "Ya see? Awesome huh?"

"Rainbow..." Applejack had an expression of worry spread wide across her face.

"AJ, don't look at me that way."

"It's awesome Dashie." Spitfire stepped up. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked rather surprised. "No, I mean it. Just look, it's very beautifully made."

"Beautiful yes, but there's no need for a weapon in Ponyville. It's unnervin'. Nopony has owned a sword since Celestia told the smiths to stop makin' 'em." Applejack's brow was glimmering in small beads of sweat, this was obviously an uncomfortable topic for her.

"Dashie is just taking precautions to protect herself against the outside Applejack." Spitfire insisted. Applejack didn't say anything. "Though, one question if I may." Spitfire's attention turned back towards the blade and Rainbow Dash stood to attention. "How are you able to hold onto it with a silk handle? Wouldn't it slip right out?"

"It's enchanted!" Rainbow Dash grabbed Iris in her teeth, pulling the blade out with a swift motion, revealing the faintly sea foam colored blade and the runes it held. "See, this one right here holds it in place, even while I talk. It's really convenient. Watch." Dash opened her mouth and the blade stayed completely still. She moved her head left and right and the blade followed, staying between her upper and lower jaw. "Isn't that awesome?"

Spitfire looked in amazement. "I've never seen such fine craftsmanship. Both beautiful and resourceful." She looked up to Rainbow Dash. "Much like a certain pegasus I know." Her flirting caused the rainbow maned pony to blush and smile.

Dash returned her blade to it's sheath, turning her attention back to her friends. "Ah don't like it." Applejack replied. The two pegasi looked at the upset earth pony. "Ah'm sorry but ah don't. Rainbow shouldn't need to go defendin' herself. You should be here, with us. Ya have a bunch of us worried, an' if we let ya go, then what's ta stop ya from gettin' hurt or even worse?" Rainbow Dash looked back at Applejack with rather wet eyes.

"Applejack, we can't stop her from doing something that's a part of her life now. If she enjoys it and she can take care of herself then I trust her." Spitfire stood in between them, facing the orange mare. "We can't tell her what she can and can't do, that's up for her to decide."

"Ah know that, but ah'm worried for her. She's goin' out there riskin' her life. Am ah just s'posed ta stand around an' accept that? Ah can't do that Spitfire, fer the very same reason you insist on lettin' her go an' do it. Ah love Rainbow, an' ah know you do too." Applejack, who had been holding back until now, broke down. Tears fell from her face, hitting the ground hard. "Ah just can't accept it Rainbow. Ah'm sorry, but stay here an' be safe." She wiped at her tears, but to no avail. She began to completely bawl, screams of emotional agony escaping her throat.

Spitfire frowned as well, eyes watering. She couldn't argue that, she did love her Dashie. The two mares had equally powerful feelings for the cyan pegasus, but their approaches were almost completely opposite of one another. Spitfire showed acceptance and even relation to Dash, strengthening and encouraging her best traits, well aware that she would be able to keep up and follow. Applejack wanted Rainbow to remain close so the two of them could enhance one another where the other was lacking, covering her loved one's weaknesses while she did the same.

Rainbow Dash let out a scream of anguish as well, tears flowing down her cheeks. "DAMMIT!" Her wings flared out and she took off at high speed. She had to get away from this, beyond the mountains where she could escape. She couldn't get far enough. She kept flying, on and on, as far as she could push herself and then some, distance was the only thing that mattered.

She passed Smith's island, the cave she found the mirror, and continued going. Soon the land beneath her became dark, and she felt her body spend it's final reserves of energy. She began to lose altitude and speed, her eyes blurred with tears and drooping without even enough energy to keep them open. The ground rose up to meet Rainbow Dash as she continued, the very dirt stained black and a foul green. The last thing Dash saw was the poisoned earth and dead trees all around her, the last thing she could smell was a wet muddy musk, the last sound she heard was the roar of the wing as she continued forward, then the sound of her body hitting the ground. Then she passed out...