Endless, Lifeless Sand

by Death Star 813

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Adventure, Tragedy
Length: 3398

After a week of training, Rainbow Dash thinks she is ready to partake in the biggest race of the year. But what she doesn't suspect, is Fluttershy has different plans for her. Very, very, different plans.

Rainbow dash has been practicing non-stop for the past week. This race could get her famous, known, and respected. But when Applejack reviles her secret, Rainbow Dash is caught off guard. And when she tries to find Fluttershy to ask her if she will be there to cheer her on, Fluttershy finds her. From Rainbow Dash herself, comes the story of how she lost who she used to be. Of how she went from a hard-boiled, loyal Pegasus, to a shell of nothing but sadness and regret. Learn how and why this all happened in the endless, lifeless sand.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-12 16:29:20 UTC

Chapter 1: Velvet Rose

Have you ever done something so drastic, so horrible, so terrifying that it was the right thing to do? When all else fails, and the only thing left to do is the thing that takes away who you are? Because I have. And now I am just a shell of the mare I used to be. This isn't a story of sacrificing for the greater good, or death that saved you and the people around you, this is a story of reality. Of being who we are, and having that corrupt our true selves. My name is Rainbow Dash, and this is my story, the story of the never ending, lifeless, sand.

I wake up in my bed, refreshed and ready. It has been a long and hard week of practicing, my wings are pretty tired, but it like it like that. It makes me feel like iv been doing something right. I look down from my window in Cloudsdale, and see Applejack walking by. "Hey AJ!" I yell. I fly down and in front of her. But for some reason, she doesn't even glance up. "Hey AJ, are you ok?" No response. She just walks on by. She probably has somewhere to be. I fly into the sky, cleaning up the rain clouds from earlier. Once that is done, (which took about an hour) I go to visit Fluttershy. "Hey Fluttershy, what's up?" I ask, letting myself in. She isn't there. Her stupid bunny Angle is sleeping in her bed upstairs though. So I just walk out.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight yells from behind the hill. She trots up to me.

"Hey Twilight."

"Rainbow Dash, you have to come quick, there's an issue in the center of Ponyville." Twilight says. I immediately fly over to where she said the issue was. However, what I expected wasn't the truth. Not at all. There was a filly. An Earth Pony filly, with green eyes, purple skin, a red mane and red tail. It's tail was cut off however, as it was trapped under a collapsing building.

"How did this happen?" I ask, thinking of what to do.

"The mayor said she wanted to make a new mayors office, but in order for that to happen, this one needs to come down. But they didn't see Velvet Rose under there. Nopony can do anything. We tried to pull her out from under, but we can't, she is pinned under there. Our magic isn't helping because the office is too heavy. It measured at forty-tons at the finished time of construction." Twilight explains to me. I want to say egghead, but now is not the time. I look at the building. A support beam Is holding up the rest of the building, but the other half that is down is on top of Velvet Rose. I figure if I manage to fly fast enough, I can create a sonic rainboom inside of the building, vaporizing only the wood so the filly can get out. I fly as far away as I can get. I fly forward as fast as I can, aiming for a window in the office. But the past week of training made my wings stiff up. I hurdle towards earth at about the speed that it takes to create a sonic rainboom, and I hit the support beam. It begins to crack, and I can not get up. I look forward.

I see the green eyes of Velvet Rose. "It's ok, I still love you Rainbow Dash."

"Rainbow Dash, wait!" The building falls.

My eyes slowly open, staring up at a white ceiling. Am I dead? I look to my left, and see a heart beat sensor. At least, that's what the unicorns call it. I look at myself. My skin is scratched and bruised, my hooves have deep cuts, my mane and tail are short and messy, (not that I care) and my wings are bent out of shape. I'd try to get up, but I know how much that would hurt. So I just lay there, thinking. I remember the building. Velvet Rose, I think the filly name was. If I survived, I think she did. But then again, I'm fully grown and tuff. It was just a filly, already hurt. I may be able to take rejection from the Wonder Bolts, and I may be able to stand up for my friends when I need to, but this feeling. This feeling of, defeat, failure, and obvious empty hope was, different. I didn't like it, is this what others feel when they do something wrong? The door begins to slowly open, and in walks Rarity. "Hello?"

"Hi Rarity." I say. My voice is very rough.

"No, don't talk darling, it's completely fine. Listen, I know you may not remember the-"

"Building?" I ask, finishing her sentence for her.

"Y-yes, the building. So you surly remember the filly Velvet Rose?" In nod my head in agreement. "Well, she um, she didn't make it." This hangs in the air for a while. Tears begin to swell up in my eyes. "She had a, peaceful, passing though. She died in the hospital during her sleep. She died of a serious brain injury. I'm here to tell you to not blame yourself. You tried, and you did your best. Sure, you messed up, but we all do my dear. It's what makes us who we are. So don't beat yourself up over this, nopony is mad at you, they are just sad for the filly." I nod slowly, and she walks out of the room. I, I made a filly die. I practically killed a filly. I should have been more careful, I should done a better job, I should have-

"Hey RD." Applejack interrupts my thoughts when she walks into the room.

"Hey AJ. Are you here to tell me not to be upset too?" I ask.

"No, no I'm not. But you shouldn't be, it's not your fault. But that's not why I'm here. I'm here to say sorry for yesterday. I kept walking past you, I was just in deep thinking." She says. I can tell she wants to talk about it.

"Ok, tell me what's up."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I can tell you want to talk about it. So, lay it on me." I say, finally convincing her.

"Well, you see, it's uh, I, I don't want to talk about it." She says, blushing and looking away.

"Oh come on now." I say, getting up. Walking hurts, terribly, but it's the only way to get her to talk. "You have something to say, and as a friend, I'm all ears."

"But, but I don't think it's something you-" She cuts herself off. "Fine. You see, I was  thinking of asking Fluttershy out on a date." My heart jumps, and my breathing becomes erratic. I hope I miss heard her.

"What did you say?" I ask, pretending like I didn't hear her.

"I, I was thinking of asking Fluttershy out on a date." I did hear her correctly. And I hate it. It's not the fact of me not liking two mares together, acctually it's the opposite. The issue is that I was going to ask her myself. It was a good two minutes before either of us spoke.

"Well, you uh, you do what you want. I'll be support for you all the way." I say, trying not to show my anger.

"Really? Oh, thank you RD." She says, hugging me. She lets go, relizing she was putting me in pain. "Oh, hehe, sorry. Are ya ready to leave?" She asks.

"Yea, I should be fine." I say. We walk out the door, to meet an overly excited PinkiePie.

"Dashie!" She runs up and hugs me. All of this hugging, the pain! "Dashie I missed you I thought you died well actually no I knew you died but you didn't because your right here and I can't believe it well I believe it because your right here but I still can't believe it and I'm sorry to hear about the filly but you did your best and I'm proud of you and I am so happy that you are alive like so so so so so so so so soooo happy if you died it wouldn't be the same and-" Applejack puts her hoof on PinkiePie's mouth. She keeps talking but in mumbles.

"Hey Rainbow, glad to see your ok." Twilight says, walking up to the three of us.

"As am I." Rarity says, also walking up.

"Hey look, we are all here." PinkiePie says. "All six of us. One two three four five, hey, wait, where's Fluttershy?"

Chapter 2: The day after

It's night. The past twenty-four hours have been terrible. I almost died, a filly died because of me, Applejack is going to ask Fluttershy out when I want to be with her, Fluttershy is no where to be found, just ugh! My clock says it's nine at night, but I can't sleep. I fly through a window outside, but it's pitch black. I don't care though, I need air. I need to think. I fly down to the ground, and begin to walk. I just walk. After about three minutes of walking, I bump into something. It's so dark though I can't see who or what it is. "Oops, sorry." I say, and walk around it. I bump into it again. "Ok, are you purposely getting in my way?" I ask. No response, I just walk to the right, and back to the left. I feel a soft thing on my back. I recognize the feeling, but I don't know why. The feeling made me tired, and feel safe. Yet, under the blackness, it only made me jump. "Ok, who's there?"

"Hello Rainbow Dash." It's Velvet Rose.

"W-what? But, I thought-"

"I died? Yes, I did. I'm here now though to warn you to stay away from her."

"Stay away? From who?" I ask. She begins to glow, then fades away. "Hello? Velvet?" Nothing. I want to cry more than anything right now, but before I got the chance....

"Hey! Who's out there?" Applejack yells. I run towards her voice.

"Sorry AJ, I thought I saw something." I lie. Thankfully, she thinks I'm telling the truth.

"Sorry RD, I have just been on edge as of late. All of this, you know, stress. I don't mean to sound self-centered, but I just need time to calm down and take these next few days slow." Applejack explains.

"I get it, your stressed, but hey, don't worry, I'm here." I say. She just blushes, and turns away. "Hey uh, I can't see my house, do you mind if I bunk here?"

"Sure thing, make y'all self at Home." I follow her inside, and follow her to a bedroom. "This one here is usually Applebloom's, but she's away right now at a friend's house. You can sleep here for the night."

"Awesome, thanks AJ." I get into the bed, and she walks out. But I lay there for a while though, thinking. The race I have been practicing for starts tomorrow. I'm in no condition to participate. But if I don't, I'll be a laughing stock. Then you have this whole issue with Velvet Rose and the building. I can't go out there with that on their minds, they will think I straight up murdered her. I didn't. I don't think I did, I mean, my wing cramped up, it wasn't my fault. I, I just want Fluttershy here right now, she would make everything better. She always does. I begin to cry, and cry, and after a while, I cry myself to sleep.

"Stay away from her."

"Who are you talking about? Hello?" Nothing.

"The mare with the yellow." The mare with the yellow...

"You mean Fluttershy? Why would I stay away from her? I can't even find her."

"Stay away." The forest begins to fade away.

"Hello? Anypony? Hello?"

"RD!" I sit up, breathing heavily.

"What? Where am I?"

"Your are where you were last night, in Appebloom's bed." Applejack answers.

"Oh, right. So why did you wake me?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Because y'all were twisting and turning and muttering words to yourself. I'm not going to let you sleep like that."

"Oh, thanks AJ."

"No problem. Now the race is today, do you really want to participate in something like that with all that has happened?" I sit there, thinking.

I want to say no. Celestia, I want to say no. "Yes. I'm not going to back down because of something that didn't make me unable to participate. That prize is as good as mine." I say as confidently as I can. Applejack just stares at me as if she can see my soul.

"Look RD, I know your nervous. Especially with all of the stuff that has happened yesterday. But don't force yourself, you'll be distracted and do worse than normal."

"What? You don't think I can win?"

"What? No, RD, I don't think you should participate."

"Well then, we will see how I do." I say, furious. I trot out before she can say another word, and fly up to the starting line, seeing as though I am already registered. I was twenty minutes early, so I was able to get ready and stretch. The announcer then stepped out.

"Good morning ladies and gentalcolts! Welcome to the Equestrian 350! Here, the greatest flyers in all of Equestria will compete, flying around Equestria 350 times! We are honored to introduce, princess Celestia!" The crowd bows. "And hoof-picked from princess Celestia herself, we have our guest onlooker, Fluttershy!" My legs turn to jello, and my wings immoderately retract. Why would Princess Celestia choose her? What if I fail? Do they know about the death I caused? What if I hit something and crash? I'll embarrass myself not only in front of the princess, but also Fluttershy. Then she will love Applejack instead of me, and I'll be alone. Then- "Begin!"

Chapter 3: The Race

"Begin!" I see all seven opposing pegasi burst off like a bullet around me. And here I am, staring at a cloud in though. A good two seconds go by until I relize it began. I fly, shooting off the cloud like a gazelle from the street. I catch up to the one in seventh. "Hey Rainbow Crash!" He snickered. I want to hurt him, so bad, but I ignore it and keep going. "W-wait, wait for me!" He yells. I just slightly laugh to myself,  knowing he's in the clouds behind me. I hear the announcer.

"Current standing are, in order, Ace Wing, Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Top Wind, Cloud Control, Sandwedge, Rainbow Dash, and Dirtlink!"

Of course Ace Wing is in front. It's only fitting I suppose. After all, she was the first Mare to win five different flying events, and she is the daughter of Keelal, the head of the Pegasus flying competition, PFC for short. She won so much, she has been accused of steroid-like drugs. Of course she has been tested, but she still is strongly disliked by a lot of Pegasi. As I'm flying around the first corner, I pull ahead of Sandwedge. "Hey!"

I just fly past. As I fly down the stretch, I pass the next two. I hope Fluttershy is watching me. I turn the second corner, and pass the next Pegasus. I'm catching ground fast. I turn the third corner, and then fifth. I pass the last corner, and look up. Time itself slows down. I see Fluttershy standing there in all her beauty. Her pink mane flowing with the slight breezes made by the passing Pegasi, her teal eyes glistening from the sun, her light-yellow skin beaming with beauty, I have never seen such a sight as beautiful. But of course, as I'm looking at her, I fly next to the wall of the building she is standing in. I catch myself before hitting into it, but I'm sure she saw me. I get back into the line of Pegasi in the race. "They are turning the final corner, let's see who takes first loaded of the first lap!" The announcer yells. We turn the last corner, and I relize I'm in second. I fly even Easter, and I'm neck and neck with first place, Ace Wing.

She kicks the air, trying to kick me out of the way. She thankfully misses, and I pull ahead. We cross the starting line. "No!" I hear her yell.

"And first place of the first lap goes to Rainbow Dash!" I hear the announcer yell. But it was only one lap, we have along time before we are done.

After 348 laps, it's the final one. It was a very boring race. No fights, no Pegasi crashing into each other, no fun. But I was able to hold the lead from the first lap on, apparently it was a new record. I don't know though, it wasn't the point. The point was that I was in first, that's it. As I turn the last corner, I feel teeth on my hoof. I look behind me for a second, and I see Ace Wing biting my foot. I can feel my blood from her teeth. She pulls ahead of me, and the last stretch shows itself. I fly as fast as I can, and get neck to neck. We pass the finish line. I fall onto a cloud, and almost immediately fall asleep.

I wake up in a hospital, dazed and confused. I hardly remember the four hours of the race, and I can't see an inch in front of me. My vision slowly focuses, and I see an orange blob. I realize it is Applejack. "Hey RD." She says, seeing I am awake.

"Hey AJ, what's up?" I ask tiredly.

"Well, just wanted to apoligize for earlier.  How I kinda blew up on ya like that. Also wanted to say congrats on the win."

"Wait I won?" I ask in disbelief.

"Well, yea. You didn't know?"

"No, I must have passed out. Wait, did Fluttershy see me win?" I ask.

"Yea, she said to say congrats to ya when you wake up. Also to meet her in her cottage tonight, she wants to do something for ya."

"Did she say what?" I ask, trying to not to let Applejack onto my excitement.

"No, just that she wanted to do something for you."

"Ok. Thanks." I say. I get up, and fall to the floor.

"Easy there pardner, your foot."

"Oh yea, Ace Wing." I say, huffing.

"Yea, about that. She technically won, she crossed the finish line first. But she was disqualified as soon as they saw your foot, and put two and two together."

"Really? Well, thanks for telling me."

"No problem RD. I'll let you rest." And she leaves. I can't believe she won. And why did Fluttershy not come see me? She could have told me herself. I have to find her. I get up, holding my injured hoof up, and trot over to the door. I open it, and Fluttershy is standing there.

"Oh, hi Fluttershy." I can feel my face become hot and red.

"Hi Rainbow, congratulations on your win."

"Oh, thanks. I, I um, I need to get going." She trips me with her hoof. "Kwan! What was that f-" She kisses me on the lips. My mind melts, and my body relaxes completely. I forget about my hoof, and only focus on the kiss. She pulls away.

"Come here for a second, I want to show you something." At the time, I had a bad feeling. Damnit, I should have listened to myself. If I did, none of this would have happened. But no, I had to ignore myself. I had to follow her. I fly my way behind her, still thinking of that kiss. I never thought it would happen, but it did. I was so happy. Once we get to the edge of the Everfree forest, we stop. "This is it. Follow this path." I go without giving it a second thought. I get to a hole in the path. I fly up, but a branch falls and pushes me down the hole. I pass out.