Benevolence Over Vengeance

Rainbow Dash

"We are approaching Nova Castle, My Lady!" reported one of the soldiers.

"Good! We must find Zephyr and end the Rebellion!" I shouted with enthusiasm. The road was lonely and all that could be heard was the bustling of ponies and their hooves colliding with the ground. If Zephyr was here, where would he be? I had to find him, no matter what. He was the one who protected me, the one would give his life for me. He was still out there, just hidden.

As we continued down the passage, Twilight began to look worried.

"What is it Twilight?" I asked.

"My husband, Flash Sentry, is in the battle. I just hope he's alright..." she trailed off. Right when I went to comfort her, a wounded pony staggered up the hill in front of us.

"Reinforcements... thank Celestia! The enemy... too strong... Flash Sentry... gone..." The pony collapsed on the ground, dead.

"Flash Sentry..." Twilight began but stopped. I saw the fire in her eyes.

"Twilight..." I tried to say something.

"FORWARD! SLAY THE ENEMY AND BRING ME THE HEAD OF THE PONY WHO KILLED MY HUSBAND!" she shouted as she charged forth with her unit.

"Rainbow, Ah think we should let you rest up in the castle. Don't need ya gettin' into heated combat," Applejack suggested.

"Nonsense! I'll end these foes myself!" I shouted as I charged after Twilight. Applejack was right behind me. Fire boiled in my heart as I came to a realization. Flash Sentry was one of the strongest stallions out there. There were only two who could kill him and that was Shining Armor and... Zephyr.

"Reinforcements! My Lady, please head to the castle! Fluttershy needs you!" the soldier pleaded as we arrived at the castle. Worried, I flew into the throne room and found Fluttershy with her head down.

"Fluttershy! Are you alright?" I asked.

"Rainbow... he's here... he's outside. Please leave me to rest, if that's OK with you..." she trailed off as always. I headed towards the gate and found it closed.

"Open this gate now!" I commanded.

"Not until the enemy officer leavAGH!" An arrow penetrated his neck and he fell lifeless onto the lever. The gate opened, revealing the one I was so desperate to see again... Zephyr.

"Zephyr!"I shouted. He didn't react, but simply stood there. "Zephyr! Did you shoot that arrow? Why are you here? How did you..."

"Silence! Move... I have a debt to repay..." he trailed off.

"Debt? C'mon Zephyr! We need to push back the enemy!" I exclaimed. He looked up, and I saw a sickening scar etched across his face. Something else was noticeable, the blood that coated his armor. How had he gotten that much on him?

"Rainbow Dash... move out of the way... forgive me... but I must repay the debt I owe," he spoke with resentment in his voice.

"Zephyr? Did you... kill him? Did you kill Flash Sentry?" I asked. I began to grow worried and angry.

"In order to preserve this land from the never-ending chaos, I had to exterminate the one who got in that path. I... I... I'm nothing more than a monster..." he trailed off again.

"Just finish your debt already! You've done more than I could ask for Zephyr. You brought Rainbow Dash right to me!" a voice exclaimed. A stallion stepped out from behind Zephyr. It was Xaipher!

"Xaipher?! I'll have your head!" I charged but Zephyr swung the butt-end of his spear and hit me back. FAR back.

"If there is one thing that would make me happy after what I've done, is allowing me to kill the man that made me do these horrible things!" he shouted. He turned and hit the blade out of Xaipher's hoof.

"You haven't completed your debt yet! You are nothing more than a traitor!" exclaimed Xaipher.

"I would rather die a traitor to you than to My Lady. I stand here to protect her! As I always have!" Zephyr shouted as he charged for Xaipher. He began to run. Just as they approached the exit to the wooden barricade, something horrible happened.

"This is for Flash Sentry!" shouted a voice from the castle walls. It was Guardeye. Fires blazed across the barricade, engulfing Zephyr in a bubble of flame.

"Guardeye! You traitor!" Zephyr exclaimed. Zephyr jumped out of the flames.  His coat and armor were ablaze, but a stronger fire resided in his eyes.

"Don't blame me Zephyr, it was Rainbow Dash, the one that you protected, who ordered me to do this!" shouted back Guardeye.

"No I..." I tried to speak but was interrupted. Zephyr's entire face was contorted in pain and misery.

"You?! I killed my own friends to be back at your side and you order this against me?! I killed my own friends! I was used! I fought to keep you protected! I nearly died on multiple occasions to keep you alive! This is how I'm repaid?! You are no better than Xaipher! I always thought that I was to stand alone in this war! I thought it would at least be as the last pony in the Equestrian Army to stand against these forces with you by my side. But no! You betrayed me! I brought myself to killing my own friends to get back to you! I killed Twilight's husband! The pain in my heart is not from the flames, but from the betrayal that you've done! From what I've done for nothing! Fuck you Rainbow Dash, scum on the name of Benevolence! I'll fight on my own side if I must!" he shouted with rage and pain. The blazed on his fur and armor. His faced hardened in pain and despair. I couldn't believe he had said those things...

"FIRE!" shouted Guardeye. A hail of arrows appeared from behind the castle walls. They struck Zephyr.

"Agh!" he was in horrible pain, I could tell, but he got right back up.

"He's... immortal!" screamed Guardeye.

"I don't care how much pain is brought my way! It will never match the pain that you've caused me Dash! I'll have all your heads mounted on pikes! I hope you're happy Rainbow Dash. You failed me and all of Equestria. Trust means nothing to you. You are no true leader..." he spat. He turned and galloped off, not without grabbing the pendant from his neck with his hoof and throwing it down on the ground.

"Execute Guardeye! His lies have brought despair to this land!" I shouted. Guardeye stood wide-eyed as a blade went through his chest. It was because of him that Zephyr truly hated me... he hated everyone... I was no true leader... merely scum on the name of Benevolence...

I cried for hours. Twilight was reluctant to speak about Zephyr and Applejack and Fluttershy tried to comfort me, but I wasn't talking. Before Applejack left, she placed the pendant that Zephyr had threw on the ground. It was in the shape of a heart, and inside... was a picture of me...

More tears flowed forth. I was hoping I would die from the excessive amount of water flowing out, but after another few hours of crying, I found myself still alive. I cried myself to sleep... I had betrayed him, even if I haven't. I could do nothing but just stand there and let that piece of shit Guardeye lie. I was nothing... but I had to fight for my people... to keep their spirits up high. I had to redeem myself, but I knew I would have to face him again.... just a matter of when.