Dashpoint: New Equestria

"Rainbow Dash, wake up!" Rainbow Dash heard a faint voice. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. She looked around slowly and saw Twilight near the door. Rainbow Dash slowly got up and stretched. Her arms were sore, and she felt a stinging pain in her leg. She ignored it, and followed Twilight out the door. The four ponies exited the train and saw, what was left of, Ponyville. The whole town was ablaze with smoke rising high into the sky. Sounds of screaming ponies could be heard through the silence.

"The Republic's attacks are getting more frequent," Applejack said, squatting down to smell the sandy surface. "Same method too," Applejack left the sandy particles slowly drop to the ground.

"Do you think your house is still standing?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning to Twilight. Twilight scoffed.

"There's a magic barrier around it," Twilight said. "It activates as soon as I leave the town," Applejack looked down at her.

"Magic has been banned for years," she said. "You've been breaking the rules all this time!" Twilight looked up at her.

"Yes, I have," Twilight slowly approached the town, followed by Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They watched as ponies ran past them, trying to escape the flames. As they entered, Twilight broke into a run. Applejack and Rainbow Dash struggled to keep up with her. The flames began to spread down the houses. They would ignite the gunpowder soon. The four ponies saw Twilight's library approaching. They ran through the shield and into the house. Rainbow dash sat down, out of breath.

"Okay," she gasped. "I'm okay," Twilight walked over to one of the bookcases and pressed a red button on the side. The bookcase flipped around, revealing a large monitor.

"We need to hurry," Twilight said, rapidly pushing buttons. "Once the fire spreads to the gunpowder, this place will be blown off the map!" Rainbow Dash stared at the advanced technology in awe. Equestria was far more advanced than her time. Even though she saw the weapons, and all the secret military work at M.A.R.E, she was still trying to process what she was going through, and didn't notice how advanced they had become. She didn't even stop to consider Applejack either.

Rainbow Dash watched Twilight click buttons that changed the bright screen. There were many kinds of symbols all over the screen, and a white arrow that moved wherever Twilight made it move. Whenever Twilight clicked the device, a new screen would appear, and she would begin clicking on all the individual letters on a strip in front of her. Rainbow Dash kept her mouth shut and tried to pretend she knew exactly what Twilight was doing. Suddenly, there was a loud beep and there was static on the screen. Twilight began talking into a small microphone in front of her.

"Twelfth Sigma Unit, do you read me?" Twilight spoke into the static. There were garbled voices and faint shapes moving. After a few moments, the static cleared, revealing two ponies. Rainbow Dash recognized one of them as Rarity.

"Speak the password please," Rarity said.

"Se-23 Sigma," Twilight spoke softly into the microphone. Rarity looked through some papers on her desk before turning to the other mare standing next her. She whispered something to her, before turning back to Twilight.

"Thank you darling, now what is it?" Twilight looked back at Pinkie.

"We need an escort to the Unit ASAP," Twilight turned back to the monitor. "We may have finally found somepony who can put an end to this war," Rarity thought for a minute.

"I'd be happy to send a transport, but there is no need of this pony. I got word from a military base in Mareizona, saying they've found a mare who is willing to perform a suicide mission into the Plains of Night. I'll tell you the whole thing once you get here." the screen went black and Twilight turned back.

"Well, now what?" she asked. Nopony answered. The resistance was there only chance of finding some way for Pinkie to smile. They could bring her anyway, and hopefully convince them when they arrived. None of them had even stopped to consider the mare who was performing the suicide mission. Instead, they sat in Twilight's house, hoping the Resistance would find them before the Republic did.

* * *

Thundercloud had a headache. He wasn't sure if it was from hitting his head against the wall, or if it was from Derpy's annoying laughter. He did not talk for many minutes. The other ponies were able to salvage enough of the damage to repair the ship, and get another rocket. When they finished, Thundercloud told Derpy not to press the button until after she heard the beeping noise. They did not give her a test beep. The ship's autopilot took control, and Derpy was in the sky shouting Weee!

"Good luck Derpy," Thundercloud said through the radio. "Just remember, this is a one-way trip. You won't be coming back," the general stopped talking. Derpy didn't understand what "one-way trip" meant. She thought she was going on an adventure.

"Yay!" she shouted, sounding excited. As the plane flew on, Derpy got bored. After three hours, the sky began to go dark, as she approached the target. Meanwhile, ponies detected something moving on the radar. Rather than shoot it down, they sent their "Guard Dog" on the object. As Derpy got closer to the target, she saw it was a large city. She was awestruck, and almost forgot about the rocket after the beeping went off. When she realized the beeping, she was about to pres the button. Suddenly, a large serpent emerged from the water, towards Derpy.

"It's a Leviathan! Abort mission Derpy!" the general shouted through the radio. "Abandon mission!"

"What?" Derpy pressed the button. The Leviathan opened it's mouth, and swallowed the plane whole. Suddenly, there was a large explosion that ripped the Leviathan apart, sending it in all directions, and everything fell silent.

"Derpy? Are you there Derpy?" the general heard nothing but static. "Derpy, answer me!" there was no response. The general sighed. "That's it then. We found the Plains of Night. Derpy wasn't on a suicide mission. She was a Martyr," Thundercloud turned away from the radio, and pulled out another small radio. "Twelfth Sigma Unit, the mission was a failure. Repeat: The mission was a failure. Derpy is dead," he turned the radio off, and boarded the helicopter that lay next to the broken hangar.

* * *

Meanwhile, back in the remains of Ponyville, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash waited for the transport. Suddenly, there was a whooshing noise coming from outside the house. They rushed out and saw the large ship that would transport them to the Resistance. They slowly boarded, and saw Commander Rarity standing there next to the mare from earlier.

"Commander Rarity," she said shaking their hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you." she turned to the mare next to her. "This is Sunburst. She's a mare of few words so don't mind her," they sat down in the seats, and took off. Moments later, they heard a large explosion. They all rushed to the window, and saw the fire had ignited the gunpowder, destroying whatever remained of Ponyville.

"Rarity," Rainbow Dash said. "Can you tell us more about the Suicide Mission?" Rarity turned to her.

"Later darling, when there is time," she sat back down. "I'm sorry about the close call. We were delayed by one of the other commanders stationed in Celestia's Crossing," she looked out the window before turning back to them. "It seems the final battle is coming soon," nopony said anything. Rainbow Dash sighed. She would have to fight in the battle, while trying to find Blitz, and stop the war from destroying Equestria.

A few hours passed, and they found themselves approaching a large base. Searchlights lit up the smoggy sky, and pegasi patrolled the borders of the large building. The ship soon landed and they were allowed to get off. Guards lined the walls as Rarity stepped off the ship and approached the doors. The four ponies followed behind her as she opened the doors and entered the large building. The four ponies followed her down the corridors and through the rooms until they came to a room covered with computer monitors. Rainbow Dash was still mesmerized by the advanced technology. Twilight grabbed a cup of coffee that lay on the table.

"Now then," Rarity said sitting down next to Sunburst. "I think it's time you tell me what you want Twilight Sparkle,"

"Whoa, hold on a second!" Applejack said. "You're telling me that you knew each other all along?" Twilight looked up at Applejack and chuckled.

"It was a mission to Mareis, back in the summer of '95. We didn't know each other, other than we were both privates. While we were there, I saved her ass. I reckon she owed me one," Twilight put down the coffee cup. "Thanks by the way, about the saving." Rarity nodded.

"Of course darling," she looked at Pinkie with a perplexed look. "Um excuse me, but your friend is...uh, stabbing that pencil into the wall. Is she okay?" Twilight looked over at Pinkie, who grabbed a pencil and began making many holes in the wall.

"That's why we're here. We need you to help make her better. Right now she is a bit of a psychopath," Rarity glanced at Pinkie one more time before turning to Twilight.

"Twilight, I already told you. We've sent somepony on a suicide mission, she'll take care of it. Our hooves our full now," Twilight sighed and leaned back. Suddenly, through the speakers, a booming voice sounded.

"Twelfth Sigma Unit, the mission was a failure. Repeat: The mission was a failure. Derpy is dead," Rarity dropped her cup of coffee. Rainbow Dash gasped and got out of her chair.

"Derpy was the one sent on the mission? You sent somepony who was disabled?!" Rarity smiled, embarrassed.

"She had no family connections! What was I supposed to do? We had to many good soldiers out in the field! There was nopony else who could have. Plus, she volunteered,"

"Did you tell her it was a suicide mission?" Rarity looked down and sighed.

"No," Twilight was the only one who was still in her seat. She was sipping her coffee quietly.

"So..." she put the coffee back on the table. "It looks like your hooves are empty again," Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash before sighing again.

"Sunburst, take Twilight and her stabby friend to the Infirmary. See of they can do anything to help her," Sunburst nodded and walked out of the room. Twilight grabbed Pinkie and followed Sunburst out of the room. Rainbow Dash caught a glimpse of Sunburst as she left the room. Did she just...? Rainbow Dash thought to herself. No, of course not. That wouldn't be possible, She looked back at Rarity.

"So, how did you know Derpy?" Rarity asked nervously. Rainbow Dash glared at her.

"She was a friend of mine, back in Ponyville. Also, she did have a family. She had a daughter named Dinky!" Rainbow Dash sat back down and did not speak. Applejack cleared her throat and stood up.

"D'ya think we can help out 'round here while Twilight's with Pinkie?" Rarity looked up at her.

"Yes, fine. Do whatever you want. But don't lay one hoof on the jewelry!" Applejack nodded and got up. Rainbow Dash followed her as they exited the room. Rainbow Dash sighed. So far, Applejack was the only one who still acted like their element. None of her other friends seemed to be the "Elements of Harmony." They were acting like when Discord changed them, besides the fact that their coats weren't gray.

Rainbow Dash couldn't stop thinking about the two ponies. They obviously served Nightmare Moon. She wondered if Nightmare Moon knew who she was. Her attention turned back to her leg. She remembered Dustwing cutting her with the blade. Her leg still hurt, even though the wound was now gone. Rainbow Dash began to wonder why Moonshine would always stay hidden behind her mask. Who was she, and why wasn't Rainbow Dash allowed to see her face? As Rainbow Dash continued down the halls and through the rooms with Applejack, she felt as though the answer was not much longer.

Rainbow Dash did not want to know the truth. She felt that if she knew the truth, it would be the beginning of the end. She felt as though everything she cared about would be taken from her. Though she knew it was upon her, she hoped the truth would stay hidden until the beginning of the end.