Chapters A Warrior's Heart of Gold
This is the story of a sad, romantic, tragic love story. A loving, yet sad love story. And it all starts with one word...
War.
The changelings had never liked the ponies, and it was the same the other side. Princess Celestia had tried hard to make peace, but sadly was unsuccessful. Queen Chrysalis became furious with the princess that she declared war. On the same night that she did, was the night Rainbow Dash and Soarin first met.
Rainbow Dash smiled at Fluttershy.
"What a way to spend New Year's Eve huh?"
"U-Uh yah sure. I don't like big crowds." Fluttershy smiled at Dash.
"Well, no one is actually getting the party started."
The New Years Eve party was full of ponies, lots of dressed-up formal looking ones. Rainbow Dash was full of energy and frankly, she was bored. She stood there watching pony couples dance and laugh. She had her friends, but otherwise she was a loner. Practically every pony in Canterlot was there, even the Wonderbolts. When Rainbow Dash saw them arrive she pratically jumped for joy.
"OMG! It is the Wonderbolts! It is them! It really is! She smiled and looked at Fluttershy with excitement.
"Yes I can see that they have." Fluttershy shyly smiled at Rainbow Dash.
'Aren't they wonderful! I'm going to be just like them some day!" She smiled and stared intriguingly at the great band of flying troops. One of the flying ponies happened to noticed Rainbow Dash and walked over to her.
"Hello. I happened to notice you were staring at me and my group." He smiled at her.
"Oh sorry! I-I'm just such a big fan." She nervously stumbled out the words before she looked like an idiot.
He smiled at her as though he understood her. "Oh it is quite all right. My name is Soarin and I fly with the Wonderbolts."
"Dash. Rainbow Dash. Nice to meet you." Her face turned a cherry red as she embarrassingly smiled at him.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Pardon?"
"Would you care to dance with me?" He held out his hoof to her.
Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. Then sweetly took his hoof and walked out onto the dance floor with him. They began to dance to a soft sweet song. They quietly smiled at each other here and there until he finally spoke up.
"You are a pegasus. Do you fly much?"
"Me? Of course! I love flying! I'm the best!" She proudly said.
"Oh how nice. Are you on the weather team?"
"How did you know?" She looked at him with intrigue yet confusion.
"I have traveled through that area and I think I might have seen you up in the sky one day"
"Oh yes I'm always clearing the clouds and...stuff" She giggled and nervously smiled.
He laughed and stopped, still holding her hooves.
"Do you want to hang out some time? Like grab a bite to eat or something?" He nervously smiled at her.
She nodded and giggled.
"Yes. I would love to."
"Wonderful. Hmm..How about we meet at Sugarcube Corner at noon next Friday?"
"O-Ok. Sounds like a plan."
The crowd began countdown to the end of the year. Dash smiled at Soarin as she joined in. When the clock struck 12, the building went wild as people cheered and yelled, but before Dash knew it, Soarin had disappeared into the crowd. Rainbow Dash looked around but he was nowhere to be seen. All that was left in his place was a small slip of paper that read:
Sugarcube Corner. Next Friday. Noon.
Dash bit the bottom of her lip and held the paper close to her chest as she smiled and began to walk home.
A Warrior's Heart of Gold
Rainbow Dash must've changed her makeup and clothes at least a hundred times! She was so nervous!
"Oh what do I do! What do I do! "
The last time she had ever gone out with anypony was 2 years ago and it was only for 2 days. She heard a knock at the door.
"One second!"
She looked in the mirror once more then answered the door. It was Rarity. She happily jumped up and down then smiled at Rainbow Dash.
"Oh darling! I heard you had special 'plans' today and I thought I might help!"
"Oh thank you Rarity. Yes I need some help. I'm so nervous!"
Rarity began to search through her clothes and pulled out a lovely gown.
"Oh this is perfect!"
Dash tried it on and slowly walked out from behind the curtain.
"How do I look?" She twirled around and flicked the end of the dress.
Soarin was waiting outside the door to the bakery. When he saw her, his eyes widened and he smiled.
"You look beautiful."
"Oh thank you" Rainbow Dash's muzzle turned red and she nervously smiled at him. Soarin held out his hoof and walked her into the bakery. They sat at a table near the window. Rainbow Dash was trembling as she nervously nibbled the muffin he bought her.
He smiled. "You truly are amazing. I'm so happy you decided to join me."
She smiled nervously. She could tell he was also nervous. He shuffled and turned to her.
"Come on. I have to show you something."
He held out his hoof and she carefully took it and smiled. He led her to a beautiful waterfall and a bridge. The water trickled down. They stood there looking in amazement at the wonderful scenery.
"I-I...I really like you Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow Dash looked at him and smiled with a loving, understanding expression.
"I like you too Soarin."
She lightly kissed him and they stood there in each other's arms looking at the waterfall.
Pinkie Pie saw them in the bushes. She excitedly jumped up and down and trotted back to town to tell her friends.
When the girls had heard the news they gasped. They sat around Rarity's boutique in astonishment.
"Rainbow Dash and Soarin! Oh how wonderful!" Rarity excitedly clapped in joy.
"This is so exciting! Rainbow Dash has a special pony!"
"Now girls. Be mature about this. When they walk in, do not mention it-"
Twilight Sparkle was cut off as the two lovers walked in holding hooves.
"Hello Rainbow Dash! Did you two have a good time?"
"Oh yes thank you. It was lots of fun!" Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin and smiled. He returned the smile and held her close. Applejack winked at Rainbow Dash and giggled.
"Uh- Dashy can we talk to you for a second? Alone?"
"Of course." Rainbow Dash walked over to them as they dragged her behind a curtain.
"Yee-ha! Girl!" Applejack jumped up and down and smiled at her.
Rainbow Dash blushed and playfully socked Applejack.
"Oh stop it." She giggled.
"It looks like you have finally found a special pony." Twilight smiled at her.
"Well...you know..."
"No need to explain darling. We all understand." Rarity turned to the ponies and they all nodded. She winked at her. They walked out from behind the curtain and Soarin smiled at Rainbow Dash.
"Talk to you later girls!" The two love ponies happily walked out. Once they were out of sight, the ponies huddled up.
"OK Girls. Stay focused. None of you mess with them. We do not need to screw this up for Rainbow Dash understand.?"
They all agreed in unison. Suddenly, Spike ran up to Twilight panting and tugging on her tail.
"Twilight! Twilight! An urgent letter from Princess Celestia!"
Twilight took it and read it aloud for the rest of the girls to hear.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
We have a serious issue and we need you to come immediately. It is an emergency.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
A Warrior's Heart of Gold
Twilight and her friends burst through the castle doors. They kneel before the princesses. Surprisingly, they were able to contact Rainbow Dash and she came with them.
"Your majesty. You called for us?"
"Princess Twilight Sparkle. Arise." Twilight looked up and slowly stood up before Princess Celestia. The other ponies soon followed.
"It seems that we were unable to calm down Queen Chrysalis and she has declared war on pony kind. Troops are being sent out at this very moment."
"Oh dear!" The ponies gasp in astonishment at the news.
"I have asked you to come here because I need you to find a solution as to how we can fix this. For now, we will have to fight them off. Guards from the north have spotted changelings. We think they might plan an invasion. If so, then I need you to inform the town and all the ponies to be ready to leave if it is needed."
"Yes your highness." The ponies slowly begin to walk out as they talk amongst themselves.
"Leave? Oh no! This is not good!"
"Come on ponies. You heard Princess Celestia. We have to inform the other ponies. This may be hard to hear but we must stay strong."
The girls began running around spreading the news of the war. Everytime they told a new pony, they first looked at them in astonishment, then in a deep...deep sadness.
Rainbow Dash flew straight to Soarin's place. When she arrived, Soarin sadly looked at her. He handed her a letter he had received that morning.
Dear Soarin,
As you may have already heard of the recent war, we are having every stallion of every household to
fight in the war. Please report as soon as possible.
Royal Guard
Tears filled Rainbow Dash's eyes as she hugged him tightly.
"I know. I know. It's going to be OK." Soarin tried to calm her down and soothe her. Pain ached in both of them. Soarin gently raised her muzzle up to where she met the gaze of his.She rubbed her eyes and sniffled.
" I will come back...I promise..."
She hugged him again as her heart began to shatter as though some colt had mistakenly dropped a fragile plate. It crashed and banged as it hit the floor with a sharp thud. They stood there embracing the time they still had and possibly the last. Rainbow Dash let the letter loosen from her grip and fall gently to the floor.
"Why...Why did there have to be a stupid war?..."
"I don't know...I don't know"
Once the ponies had informed the whole town, they met up at the bakery. They all sat around slouching and groaning. However, Rainbow Dash was not there. The girls figured she was spending time with Soarin.
"So what do we do now?" Pinkie Pie played with her food and had her muzzle resting on her right hoof.
"I guess we should just wait...wait for an answer I guess." Twilight choked on her words and sat there looking at everypony.
"We'll I'll meet up with you folks later. I gotta go back to the farm to tell the rest of the Apple family so we can prepare."
"W-We'll I better go and inform all the animals." Fluttershy and Applejack got up and walked out slowly and sorrowfully while Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all sat at the table looking at each other.
"Hey! I got it! Wanna hear a joke?" Pinkie Pie looked at the two with encouragement trying to cheer them up. The two returned her joy with a depressed glance, then continued to stare at the table.
Soarin stared into Rainbow's eyes as the two spent the last five minutes together. He sweetly kissed her then looked away and began to pack his things in a small saddlebag. Rainbow Dash sadly watched him. When he was finished, he looked once more into her eyes, kissed her, then flew off. She began to cry as she watched him disappear into the clouds.
A Warrior's Heart of Gold
Being on the Wonderbolts Soarin had not experienced much violence. He was always used to publicity and racing, but not what he was about to see. His squad waited...waited for the command to kill. They watched as the green hills stood there silent. Any minute now the changeling army would appear out of the mist. Soarin prepared himself for the worst, his guns strapped to his sides and beads of sweat dripping off his forehead. When could hear the faint sound of a trumpet, he paused for a moment until his brain finally collected everything going on around and charged. His first instinct was to aim, his second...to fire. On and off he aimed and fired until he looked around and realized half his squad was already wiped out. He bolted for the hills along with a few other ponies where the changeling army seemed to never end. They continued to shoot down the enemy. Soarin watched as his once fellow soldiers perished in the dust and fell to the ground in a heaping crash.
When it seemed like the enemy had finally disappeared, what was left of his squad finally appeared out of the dust. A few tattered with bruises and covered in dirt. Soarin himself was a bit dirty. When the medic carts came to collect bodies that seemed to still have a bit of breath in them, the leftover squad recruited back to camp where they were patched up and rested.
Rainbow Dash could see occasional plumes of smoke appear from behind the rolling hills of Ponyville. As she passed town, she would notice signs pasted up all over the shop walls. These signs were not the normal WANTED adds or FOR SALE signs. They were signs of war. Ponies had been talking around town. Rumors spread about how the smoke was getting closer and there was no hope for them now. Rainbow Dash stopped to read one sign from the royal palace. It stated how they were currently losing and were suggesting all ponies prepare for the worst and a possible invasion. Dash had thought about packing some necessities and leaving town but she couldn't just run off now. She had her best friends here and Soarin in the war. She would weep practically every night as she thought about him. Oh how she missed him so and she would occasionally panic in a fit of worry about what could have happened to him. Her friends tried to comfort her during these panic attacks and it often calmed her down a bit but nothing could cover up the sadness in her heart. Rainbow Dash sat atop the clouds gazing off into the distance at the smoke...wondering if he was still alive.
Soarin always thought about Rainbow Dash as well. He would try and send her letters but everytime would be sent to battle. He felt so lucky to even be alive after what he had seen after the first few days. As the weeks past, he became even more frightened of whether or not he would live the next day.
Rainbow Dash started noticing guards appearing in the cities more and more often. She wasn't sure whether or not it was just a precaution or if they really were worried. Her friends began packing a few of there things as the smoke got denser. Rarity had already moved out of town to her parent's house and Applejack had closed the orchard until further notice. Rainbow Dash began to worry on whether or not she should be taking those precautions and preparing herself as well but she lingered and stayed in town. She would talk to her friends about it and they all told her to prepare herself and expect the worse but Rainbow Dash was to saddened and worried for Soarin to leave. She had packed a small suitcase of things she thought she might need in an emergency but that was it. She would never have thought that she would of actually needed to use it until that fateful day...
A Warrior's Heart of Gold
Soain walked through his camp. The other soldiers were too busy to look up at him as they were being ether bandaged or just being checked up on. Soarin entered a small tent with two beds with wooden chests at the end. Between the two was a tall shelf. Soarin walked up to it and gazed at a small framed picture. It had a small layer of dust on it. It was a photo of Soarin and Rainbow Dash standing in front of Sugarcube Corner. It was the only picture he possessed of her and was a prized possession to him. He held the picture to his chest and sighed. His eyes clamped shut as he remembered her.
Suddenly, a small thin pony rushed through the tent. He wore a worn brown cap on his head and was carrying a small satchel that hung around him dangling at his side.
"You gotta get out there. Your squadron is being positioned in Ponyville."
Soarin's head popped up at the pony's message. He grabbed his hat and ran outside where the troops were being loaded into heavy military trucks. Soarin was placed in one and they moved on towards Ponyville where the changelings next raid would be.
Rainbow Dash and her friends were evacuated from the street and ordered immediately to leave the city. The guards hoarded the streets as they ushered every pony out. The ponies, some what frightened, did as the soldiers commanded and quickly hurried to grab there things and head for the train station. The Mane 6, at the time were hanging out in the bakery when 3 soldiers came in and demanded that every pony leave. The girls grabbed there things and walked out into the street where the sky was completely covered in smoke and the city littered with military. They tried there best to stay together but at this point in time each of them was sitting in a completely different train car. Rainbow Dash looked over at Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle whom had ended up with her in the same train car. It was dark and cold but she could faintly make out the outlines of the box. It was crowded and wreaked of body odor but Rainbow struggled to keep her composure. She looked behind her, with the little room she had, and could barely see through a small crack in the car. It wasn't much but with it she could see the prairie hills roll passed and the small bushes.
"Are you alright Rainbow Dash?" Twilight was looking at her worriedly as she turned away her gaze from the small opening.
"Huh? Oh yah I'm fine just worried is all..."
"I think we all are. We have been pulled from our homes, taken from what life we have, and loaded into compact train cars off to who knows what. Not to mention a storm raging on."
Rainbow Dash smiled with what little hope she still had and nodded turning her gaze away from Twilight.
"Don't worry Rainbow...he is still out there..." Twilight smiled before turning her attention back to Pinkie Pie and the others.
Soarin coughed as the dust rolled up from the tires of the military truck. He slowly but uneasily stepped out of the back. He looked around, his eyes squinted. This place seemed very familiar to him. He could tell by the small little houses and the soft colored light posts. He breathed in the smell of dust and, military trucks, and baked goods. He was finally back home, but not in the way he was hoping for.
"Soarin! Get in position!"
Soarin turned around to see the commander looking down at him. The stout pony gave him a look of you-better-do-as-I-say-or-you-can-run-home-to-mother-when-I-pound-your-face-in-look. Soarin nodded quickly and hurried to the rest of his squad which were positioned behind a small house. One of the ponies, a younger muzzled stallion, nudged Soarin in the side when he sat beside him.
"Ol' Blu given you a hard time?"
"Huh? Oh yah..."
"Don't worry about him. He's just a little uptight old stallion. He just don't want to be here that's all."
"Yah we'll he's not the only one." Soaring wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the hills ahead of them. They were silent, but soon he knew, they would be trampled by an army.
A Warrior's Heart of Gold
The day the changelings had declared war on the ponies, my heart had saddened. At the same time though, I felt relieved to have my special pony beside me. I knew that I would always be safe and that this war would not affect me. However, that letter that I had received in the mail changed everything...