Up the Creek
Chapter 2

Valley of the Dashes

Dash slowly floated along the river, sitting in her raft, eyes darting all about, cautiously watching for any signs of danger. She had decided the only way out was too press forward, follow the river to where ever it would lead her, sonce trying to fly out of the jungle hadn’t seemed to work. But as the sun creeped further and further towards the horizon, and the jungle pressed in on all sides, she started to regret her decision.

I’m not insane. I’m not insane. I’m not insane.

You kind of are if you think about it.

SHUTUP!

You can’t shut me up, I’m part of your mind… Well I guess you could drink a ton of shots and drop acid at the same time. That would shut me up, or give me super powers.

SHHHH! I heard something! In the trees!

Dash flared her wings out, ready to take off at the first hint of danger. She knew she heard something in the trees above. But it was gone now.

Look, Dash, I feel like this is partly my fault.

THERE! Something MOVED!

There was a flash of blue in the trees.

CHARLIE IN THE TREES! CHARLIE IN THE TREES!

Woah! Calm down. As your super conscious…

THAT’S NOT A THING!

Yeah well, how’s that high school diploma you don’t have?

Shutup!

Hey, you hurt my feelings I hurt yours.

I mean be quiet! I hear the noise again.

There was the faint sound of whispering coming from the jungle, Rainbow Dash’s ears twitched, trying to locate the direction of the noise.

“There!” She leapt into action, jumping off the raft and taking taking wing into the dimly lit jungle. The pegasus found her mark. She slammed full force into a hooded figure, knocking it on it’s back. “Let’s find out who’s been following me.”

Dash ripped back the hood, revealing… Rainbow Dash.

“What…” Dash was stunned.

Her doppelganger spoke up. “Don’t hurt me! I’m you, from the future!”

“The future?”

Dash’s future self stood back up on her hooves. “Yes, the future. I’m sorry for the scare. I had to make sure it was you.”

“But… How? What? When? Why?”

“All these questions will be answered if you just follow me.”

“Oh no!” Rainbow Dash responded. “I’m not moving until you tell me exactly what’s going on.”

“Fine, stay here then.” The second Rainbow Dash moved off at a rapid pace, weaving nimbly between the trees.

Damn! She outsmarted us.

Outsmarted you.

Rainbow Dash growled, before reluctantly following after her clone.

The two Dashes made their way swiftly through the jungles, on their hooves for around half an hour, before they came out into a clearing. Dash’s jaw dropped, there was a makeshift sort of village, huts, tents and small wooden structures scattered throughout the clearing, and to her surprise… maybe a hundred different copies of herself wandering around, cooking, cleaning, making repairs, or just lazing about.

“What… the… hell?”

“Come on. I’ll take you to the elder.” The second Dash led the way to one of the few permanent looking structures. There was a campfire in front of the wooden dwelling, and in front of the fire sat an ancient looking pony, clearly Rainbow Dash, but much, much older.

“I see we have a new arrival.” Old Dash croaked.

“You mean me?”

“Of course child. You must be very confused.”

“Uhhh, yeah. What the hay is going on?!”

“This jungle holds many mysterious secrets and wonders. Here, in this clearing, there is a tear in time. We are all you, but from different times. I was the first to find my way here clearly.” The elder Dash smiled and offered up a cup of water, which Rainbow Dash took up eagerly.

“So you’re all me?” Dash asked after gulping down the water.

“That is correct.”

“So I’m the newest?”

“Yes.”

“So that means I’m the youngest?”

Something prodded Dash’s leg, she looked down at a foal version of herself. “Hi I’m Wainbow Dash! I can fly weally fast!”

“Oh come on! That doesn’t even make sense. Wouldn’t I remember if I was here as a filly? FYI kid, stay in high school.”

The elder Dash spoke again “Listen, we have a very important mission for you.”

“Me? Why me? Why not one of the other BAJILLION dashes?”

“You and you alone are capable of completing this quest! You must journey down the river, find the temple of time and return to us the chalice of destiny!”

“What? None of this makes any sense! Not even a little bit.”

“If you cannot do this, we will all be stuck here… FOREVER!”

“This has to be some sort of joke.”

Like your education.

“Shutup Super Conscious Dash!”

“Did someone call me?” A Rainbow Dash from the crowd called out.

“No, she said SUPER Conscious Dash.”

“Oh okay then.”

“GUH! I’m going insane here.” Rainbow Dash cried out.

“Go forth on your quest youngest Rainbow Dash.” The elder spoke again.

“You mean me or her?” Dash pointed at the foal.

“You, obviously, why would we send a foal to the temple of time?”

“What… you… shutup! Don’t turn this around on me! I’m not crazy! You’re all crazy! Stay away from me!” Dash ran away, heading back towards the river at top speed.

“Yes! Run… go forth on your quest Rainbow Dash.” The village watched as Rainbow disappeared between the trees. The elder smiled. There was a flash of magical light around her, when it subsided, a changeling was standing in her place. The rest of the Dash copies followed suit, revealing an entire village of changelings.

“Haha, new record.”

One changeling crossed Rainbow Dash’s name off a list. “Okay, that’s four down, next up is… Trixie Lullamoon, says she’s a showmare. She should be here in forty minutes.”

“HAHAHAHA… oooh this is going to be fun.”

Meanwhile, back at the river, Dash continued floating down the river in her tiny raft.

Okay… So did that really happen? Or am I crazy?

Well we know you’re crazy, you’re talking to yourself and getting a response.

Dash growled.

When we get back home, we’re going to see a psychiatrist again.

Is that a threat?

Yes… yes it is.

Author's Note

thewalkindude - Not really going anywhere with this fic, for now it's just a disjointed series of random wierd ideas that I have (Possibly in an acid induced stupor), maybe if this fic really picks up steam It'll gain an overarching plot of some sort. Anyway thanks for the feedback! :D