Memories:

Brian woke to Dash moving around. He cracked and eye and took note that it was still night out. Before he could speak, she quietly told him she was taking off. “Be safe and don’t do anything stupid.” He tried to respond like an intelligent and well-spoken person, but all that came out was a grunt and a series of mal formed words. She laughed a little and told him to go back to sleep. He closed his eyes and fell right back to slumber. Leaning in she kissed him on the forehead. Walking away as quietly as she could, she looked over her shoulder at the shape in the distance that was her father, the reason she was alive. The weight of that thought was not lost on her. Taking flight and heading to town, she held onto hope now. Hope that she would beat this and finally have her life back.

She met Pinkie Pie at the train station and bought two tickets for the 4:45 to Appleloosa.

The train arrived in Appleloosa late that afternoon a midst a cloud of seam and squealing breaks. A tan pony with a smart looking hat exited the train and began to open the doors to the passenger cars. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie exited the train with the other passengers on to the station platform. The platform was crowded with ponies waiting for family and friends.

The passengers mingled with the crowd on the platform, greeting each other warmly, children ran around adding to the din of the place. Laughter and joy surrounded Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.  Pinkie stayed close to her friend. She has seen the memory switches several times now and it bothered her deeply that her friend was having this happen to her. She only hoped that the Medicine Bull would be able to help Dash. Rainbow didn't react much to the noise and commotion of the others. She seemed lost in her own world, thoughts of having another ‘shift’ right here frightened her. Pinkie could see it in Dashie’s expression.

Out of the crowd Little Strong Heart walked up to the girls with a smile on her face.

“Hello again Pinkie Pie and you too Rainbow Dash.” She said her smile growing larger. “How is Mr. Spike?”

Pinkie Pie ran over and gave Little Strong Heart a huge hug in greeting.

“Did you miss us? I missed you. How’s the chief?” Pinkie Pie asked in rapid succession, her voice high and cheery.

She drew another breath to start another round of questions when Rainbow Dash put a hoof over her shoulder to remind Pinkie Pie that this wasn’t the best time for a barrage of questions. Pinkie Pie glanced at Rainbow Dash and remembered why they were here.

“It’s good to see you again Little Strong Heart.” Rainbow Dash said with a tired quality in her voice.

“We should get moving the Medicine Bull is waiting for you.” Little Strong Heart said looking at Rainbow Dash with concern. Rainbow Dash looked like she hadn't slept in days. Her wings drooped and she walked with her head held not quite as high as she normally would. She moved slowly, without purpose or drive. This was not the same pony Little Strong Heart had become friends with not so long ago. She looked terrible to be honest.

The trio walked slowly towards the Buffalo camp, letting Rainbow Dash set the pace. They spoke little along the way. Rainbow Dash wasn't in the mood, she quietly hoped that she would keep it together long enough to get to the Medicine Bull’s tipi and possibly get the help she needed. The last week was weighing on her heavily. The stress and seemingly little sleep these last few nights drained her of her normal exuberance and left her emotionally depleted and physically exhausted. Keeping her slow steady pace she let Little Strong Heart and Pinkie Pie lead the way. Rainbow Dash thought about the possibility that the Medicine Bull couldn't help her and that she would have to go to Twilight and get help. She didn't want to betray her father like that. She had made up her mind it was this or nothing, this has to work, it just had too.

An hour later the three saw the village come into view. A collection of tents greeted them; buffalo wandered to and fro tending to buffalo affairs. Little Strong Heart led them into the village, heading straight to the Medicine Bull’s tipi. Several of the villagers looked at the ponies with hesitation, or disdain, but none said anything or made a move to interrupt them. Little Strong Heart kept a close eye on the other villagers, ready to put herself between her pony friends and the villagers in the event any buffalo started trouble. To Rainbow Dash’s great relief, the locals decided to not challenge them.

Arriving at the tipi that belonged to the Medicine Bull, Pinkie Pie noticed the baskets of semi-precious stones that decorated the entrance, Onyx, Jasper, Tourmaline, Moonstone, Turquoise and Obsidian, all arranged tastefully around the entrance to the tipi.

“Wow! Spike would really love this!” Pinkie Pie shouted while staring at various arrangements of gems.

“He could eat till he looked like a little green beach ball.” She paused in thought. “Then his tummy would hurt like future spikes did…“ Her voice trailed off and a pained expression crossed Pinkie Pie face.

“I don’t want spikes little tummy to hurt.” She said sadly, and then turning to Rainbow Dash and Little Strong Heart she stood resolutely and declared, “We can’t let spike know about this!”

Little Strong Heart and Dash looked at Pinkie Pie confused.

“Okay Pinkie Pie. We won’t” Rainbow said cautiously. Little Strong Heart nodded in agreement.

“Good.” She replied slowly, eyeing them both suspiciously.

Little Strong Heart asked Pinkie Pie and Rainbow to wait outside while she went in to see if the Medicine Bull was ready to see Rainbow.

The girls agreed and sat to wait for Little Strong Heart to return. Dash lay down on the ground and sighed deeply. Wishing she could drift off to sleep and this would all be over when she woke up. She yawned and looked over to Pinkie Pie who was watching her with deep concern.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head Dashie; the Medicine Bull will fix you right up.” She stated with conviction.

“I hope you’re right.” Rainbow said defeated.

Pinkie Pie sat right next to Rainbow Dash and looked off into the distance. Just being there for her friend felt right but just in case she began to think of a way to get Rainbow Dash to tell twilight about what was happening if the Medicine Bull was unable to help her.

Dash lay there trying to focus, trying to get her game face on, when Little Strong Heart came out of the tipi, looked at Rainbow Dash and told her the Medicine Bull was ready and she should go in. Rainbow Dash slowly stood and thanked Little Strong Heart, giving her a light hug. Little Strong Heart returned the hug and walked over to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie had stood to go with Rainbow Dash when Little Strong Heart put a hoof on her shoulder and shook her head.

“You can’t go with Rainbow. This is for her and her alone.”

Pinkie Pie looked at Little Strong Heart then to Rainbow Dash and back to Little Strong Heart opening her mouth to protest when Dash spoke up.

“It’s cool Pinkie Pie. I got this. Just wait here till I get back, K?”

“Okay Dashie.” She relented, setting aside her plans to go with Rainbow. As Dash turned to enter the tipi, Pinkie quietly said, “Please don’t forget me.” A sad look fell across Pinkie Pie’s normally cheery face. She looked as though she was seeing Rainbow Dash for the last time.

Rainbow Dash walked into the darkened tipi. It was a round conical one room dwelling about seven meters across with a pitched ceiling that was typical of buffalo’s homes. In the middle of the room was a small fire. On the walls were various paintings depicting buffalo running, more buffalo running, in fact all the paintings were of buffalo running. There was a small sitting pillow on the ground just ahead of her, and across the fire was the Medicine Bull.

An older buffalo with a fair degree of grey in his fur and beard, he felt huge and just a bit intimidating in the confines of the small tipi. He wore a traditional white feather headdress and had an ornate and beautifully crafted necklace made from the differing gems that the locals held any value for, and at its end a large polished crescent shaped moonstone in a sliver setting. The lines in his face hinted at many long years and seemed to hold secrets of the past. The Medicine Bull looked at Rainbow Dash and smiled at her. Motioning for Dash to sit on the pillow provided he spoke.

“What is the matter Rainbow Dash? How can I help you?” His voice was a deep baritone. He spoke slowly and with purpose. It had a calm quality to it, she felt reassured by its sound. In a way it reminded her of her father. She looked at him warily and fiddled with her hooves.

“Can you promise me that you won’t repeat anything I say, to anyone ever?”

He looked at her and a serious expression crossed his face. Reaching a hoof up he tapped the side of his nose twice and winked, a smile forming again.

Dash relaxed a little, and began to pick her words carefully. She wanted to pour out her heart but she was afraid of betraying her father. Slowly she began to tell the story of how she was sent to another “place” and had been made a child again. Found and raised by a different father, someone who wasn’t a pony and that he’d raised her for fifteen years. During those years away from Equestria she had no memory of her birth place. Then her friends brought her back to Equestria. In coming back she was given her memories of her birth place. Then quite suddenly however, she began to forget, she would forget her father. Rainbow Dash started to get teary when she thought about it.

As she told the Medicine Bull her tale, he never spoke or let on what he was thinking. After she had finished telling him all she was going to, she sighed heavily and looked at the large buffalo sitting across from her.

“So, can you help me?” Dash asked quietly.

The Medicine Bull sat there a moment and seemed to be thinking to himself. Then at last, he spoke.

“Perhaps.” He stated with a understanding tone in his voice.

She deflated noticeably and allowed her gaze to drift to the floor, this was not the answer she felt she needed right now.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked fearing what he might say next.

“Who are you?” the Medicine Bull asked plainly.

Rainbow Dash looked up to the Medicine Bull confused.

“Huh? Didn't Little Strong Heart tell you who I was? You were supposed to be expecting me.”

Dash was trying to process the question, when the Medicine Bull asked her again. “Who are you?”

Dash, stared at him, wondering what she gotten herself into. If he turned out to be some lunatic she was going make Pinkie Pie so sorry. Unsure of what the point of the question was, since he already knew who she was, Dash played along to see where this was going.

“My name is Rainbow Dash. I’m the element of friggin’ loyalty and friend to Princess Celestia.” She said with some frustration in her voice.

The MB pulled out a fat bundle of weeds bound tightly with string and tossed it on the fire, causing a thick, sweet smelling smoke to fill the tipi. The smell was familiar and strange at the same time. Dash breathed deeply trying to place where she had smelled it before.

“What was that?” She asked. “It smells so familiar”

“Who are you?” He replied in an even tone.

Her eyes started to burn and she was quickly losing patience with this so called medicine bull. “I just told you. I’m Rainbow dash, the best flyer in all of Equestria.” She yawned deeply.

A wave of drowsiness came over her. She wanted to be alarmed but she wasn't. She was in fact pretty much okay with everything right now.  “What was in that? What are… youuuu…Doooo...” Rainbow Dash fell over backwards fully asleep. The Medicine Bull smiled gently and closed his eyes.

A shout in the distance woke Dash. She sat up and found herself in a dark and barren landscape. The sky was swollen and angry looking. Low clouds hung near the ground no more than twenty meters up, they looked like storm clouds heavy with rain. Rolling and boiling they appeared, in her professional opinion to be unnatural. Dash looked around for anything that might tell her where she was. In all directions there was quite literally nothing all around it was a flat barren wasteland.  There was no sunlight or moon to be seen, yet she could make out the featureless land around her that faded in to darkness. The only light seemed to be coming from her, yet she herself was not glowing. Standing up she called out. Silence was her response. What the hell did that buffalo do to me?

“Hello!?” she called out louder, again there was only silence. Shrugging, she started to walk, calling out every few minutes. Time didn’t seem to pass yet she had a dim sense that hours were passing. She called out less and less frequently. When she figured she was completely lost she heard a cry in the distance to her left. Perking up her ears, she turned to the source of the noise and began to trot towards it.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” she shouted into the dark. Far away she could make out a pool of light. Picking up her pace she moved more quickly to the light. She began to notice movement within the light, and a shout of anger reached her ears, then another, and another. It sounded like someone was fighting, she was sure of it. The sounds she was hearing were definitely of a fight. Running now, she could clearly see two figures locked in hand to hand combat. The shock came when she recognized that one figure was her father. The tall shape was clearly a human and the sound of the voice clinched it that was definitely her pops. She ran faster to get to him, to help him, if he was in trouble she had to help. Anger rose up in her at the thought of someone hurting him, and she’d be the one to rain down hell on the one who dared harm her daddy.

The troubling scene became more so for her when she recognized who pops was fighting with. The stallion with a rainbow mane and tail were a dead giveaway as too who this was, it was her birth father, Spectrum Dash. What in the hell is going on? She ran closer until she was no more than five meters away from the two of them. They were fighting like rabid cats. Smashing each other with hoof and fist, knee and leg, they kept at each other neither side backing down or giving up.

“Stop it! Both of you stop it!” Dash cried out. The sight of her father hurting, well... her father, tore at her heart. Everything in her needed to stop this madness.

Neither one listened to her as she yelled again and again to stop fighting. Finally she was fed up and ran into the fray to put an end to this nonsense. Leaping at them she grappled with both in an attempt to separate the two. Putting herself in front of one made him sidestep her and go for the other. She tried again and again to intervene or stop them. To her great disappointment and frustration she couldn't keep them from trying to hurt the other

Finally she decided to just knock one down and cover him bodily to protect him. She chose Spectrum as it would be easier to cover him and keep him down. Humans were too slippery. Years of wrestling with pops taught her that if a human wanted to they could be very dexterous, more so than she would have liked to admit. He would have a clear advantage over her if he chose too. She leapt at Spectrum crashing into him full force knocking him to the ground. There was a light rumble of thunder in the distance. Pops took this as an opportunity to land several massive well placed kicks to his opponents head. Screaming at Brian to stop it Dash scolded him without reservation. He stopped his attack and for a moment the fighting had ceased. A dim awareness formed in her mind, she could feel her memories of Equestria slipping away. Like a slow motion movie in her mind, she saw and felt memories slipping away, it had the same sensation as the beginning of a 'shift', just slower.  In the shock of the moment she failed to notice that Spectrum lashed out and a hoof connected with her head. She was tossed through the air and landed hard on the ground a few meters away.

Looking back at the two fighting full force again, she tried to recall her memories of Equestria, they had begun to return. An idea started to coalesce, and she realized something that seemed very important. As one of them started to overpower the other, one set of memories overwhelmed the other. Her idea fully formed and Dash figured out a way to bring the fighting to an end. She stood up and squared her jaw. Calmly she stated “You two won’t stop fighting so neither deserves to be my father.” The sky above seemed to get slightly less angry, and the rolling boil of the clouds slowed.

Both fathers stopped immediately. They turned and looked at her. Seeing how they were paying attention to her now she addressed them. “There. That wasn't so bad now was it?” She said with a cocky attitude.

The image of Brian stepped towards her and spoke.

“Dashie."  He flashed one of his warm dad smiles. " My little Dashie. You deserve only the best…“ Pops words were cut off by her birth father.

“She is NOT your little Dashie!” Turning to Rainbow, Spectrum continued “Don’t listen to him RD. He is an alien! A foreigner! He can never love you like I can.”

“You know that’s not true Dashie. I gave up everything to be with you. I traveled across space and time to be here, to be here with you. Doesn’t that count for something? Don't I matter more than this absentee sire?"

“You are not a Pegasus!” He cried out in anger. “You can’t give her the love and care she needs. She needs to be with her own kind. Not with a hairless freak of nature. You can’t even fly!”

“She was sent to me! I found her! She’s my daughter!” Pops yelled back at Spectrum, and then turned to Rainbow “Dashie, I raised you from a baby, I love you. I am your father. No matter what, I will always be your father. When I found you in that box, you saved my life Dashie.”

“How can you consider this THING to be a father RD? He isn't able to understand what it means to be a Pegasus. How could he ever teach you anything about what that truly means? We are a proud, fierce people. Can he teach you about what it really is to be a Pegasus? NO! He’s an alien, with no family of his own. He is a usurper, a charlatan… a babysitter.”

“Dashie, please…” Pops voice trailed off.

Dash held back tears as she studied the two of them standing there. Mulling over what to say she looked at her pops and smiled. Spectrum took the opportunity and blindsided Brian with a hoof to the side of his head. He fell to the ground hard. Rolling over onto his back, Brian planted both feet into Spectrums gut as he descended on him sending him flipping through the air.

They continued to clash with each other, never giving up, never relenting seemingly forever locked in a struggle. Rainbow sat down and stared at the ground in frustration. She felt trapped in this personal hell. They would never stop and she would get worse and worse until she went nuts. Not knowing what else to do, she wept. Her idea hadn't worked as well as it was supposed to.

“I want to wake up now… please.” She spoke very softly.

A quiet voice caught her attention, it was just behind her. She wanted to look, but she didn't dare. The fur along her spine stood on end, uncannily she was afraid of who it might be.

"Who. Are. You.” The voice was calm and yet full of conviction, if she had to guess, whoever it was, was smiling as they spoke.  A giddy sense of understanding bloomed in her mind and heart. Her eyes went wide and she gasped as something in her clicked. “I AM Rainbow Dash…”

She slowly stood and faced her warring fathers, the light around her brightening as she did so. Drawing in a deep breath she focused on the both of them.

“EEENOUGH!”

The Royal Canterlot voice had nothing on what had bellowed out of Rainbow Dash. Like thunder directly overhead, her voice crashed and boomed out into the dark night around them, the sheer volume kicked up dust around Dash. The two fathers stopped in mid swings, staring at her wide eyed. Shock and fear were etched in their faces. A rolling echo of her exclamation came back and reinforced her position. The clouds began to peel back slowly and the beautiful night sky spread out from directly above Rainbow. With a deep confidence she strolled up to the two of them. A confidence she hadn't felt in so very long.

“I have had enough of you two!” Stamping her hoof on the ground, a light roll of thunder rippled out across the sky.

“RD I was…” Spectrum started and was cut off with a look, a look that dared him to speak again. He bowed his head and was silenced.

“This is how it is going to go down.” She stated firmly. “I am in charge!” She shouted at the both of them. From above, a roll of her thunder applauded the statement “Capiche?” Slowly she walked back and forth in front of them “All these memories are mine and mine alone. I am not one or the other. I am, and have been the sum of both. I understand that now.”

“Dashie, you don’t have to…” She turned on Pops glaring at him.

“You two don’t get it do you? I am the one in the driver’s seat. I call the shots! You do as I say, not the other way round. You obey me! And I say you both are GOING to live together peacefully!” she stamped her hoof again to emphasize the point. The ripple of thunder helped send the message home. “I love you both.” Pointing to Spectrum she said, “You taught me to be an amazing flyer. What it means to really be a Pegasus, to live fierce and free. And you,” she pointed too her pops. “You raised me to be the best person I could be. You taught me to love someone other than myself. I am more different than either of you know. I am better because of both. I am more than I could have ever been alone. However, I need both of you, not one over the other, I need both together.” She paused a moment to let her words sink in. “As equals. Do you get it yet?”

The images of the two of them stood there silently a moment longer and in turn they smiled in understanding. Turning around they walked away from Dash fading away into the mist of the dark. Dash watched them disappear. She let out a deep exhale and looked up at the sky; it was void of clouds now. A strangely familiar peace began to ebb its way into her heart. Then unexpectedly she gasped and clutched her head falling onto her haunches. In her mind she could feel two clear and distinct sets of memories melting together, peacefully joining to become one. Not one ruling over the other. They were no longer at war, but two coexisting and working as one for the purpose of making her greater than the sum of their parts. She laughed at the sensation, like scratching an itch you didn’t know you had it felt good, and it felt right. She sat there and breathed a deep sigh of relief. Slowly the sky became brighter and the stars seemed to shine more than she’d ever seen before. She closed her eyes and felt herself grow lighter and lighter until she faded into unconsciousness.

Dash fluttered open her eyes, a sweet sense of peace flowed through her. It was finally over, she knew it, and deep down it was all there; all her memories were intact and under her complete control. She let out cry of pure ecstasy, a cry of victory!

Pinkie pie shot up from where she’d fallen asleep in the night, startled awake by the shout that came from the Tipi. Running to the tent flap she peered inside and saw Rainbow Dash jumping up and down shouting in pure joy.

“Is everything okay Dashie?”

“Oh yeah! Everything is great!” She beamed. “I won!” then let out another shout that dissolved into laughter.

Pinkie cocked her head to the side in confusion, but accepted that her friend was now either completely mad, or she had been cured.

Turning around to thank the medicine Bull, Dash saw the seat he occupied was empty and the fire had gone out. Dude, how long was I out? Lying on his pillow was a large dark blue feather. Pinkie Looked at Rainbow and opened her mouth to speak. Dash shook her head and put her hoof over pinkies mouth. Pinkie mumbled something then nodded in understanding.

Together they left the Tipi to find Little Strong Heart. They found her shortly after, thanked her deeply and said their good byes. They planned to stay in Appleloosa for the night and take the next train back to Ponyville.

The train ride home was uneventful. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and that suited Dash just fine. She’d had enough excitement for the next year or two. All she had to do now was focus on her pops and his life here with her.

The train pulled into Ponyville station nearly on time. Dash said good bye to Pinkie Pie, hugging her tightly. Thanking her again for her help. Dash watched Pinkie bounce away, happy that she’d been able to help her friend. Rainbow took flight and with grace and well-practiced form flew high in to the skies, banked around and headed to the lake to find her father.

It was early evening as she landed on the shore. The cabin was coming along nicely, the walls were nearly complete. She guessed that in another week and it would be done and he could move in. Her father came out of the cabin looking kind of scruffy to be honest. Her heart leapt at the site of him though. He had a toothy smile on his face as he jogged over to greet her.

“How was your trip?” He asked excitedly.

“Pretty good.” She said with a hint of approval.

“Well you must have had some fun. You look a lot better than Friday night.“ He said teasing her.

“Hey! When do I not look awesome?! Seriously, look at this mane!” She exclaimed, shooting him a mock glare and flipping her mane around like the shampoo commercial girls did.

Brian laughed and told her she was the most beautiful pony anyone could ever hope to have in their life. Dash blushed and told him to stop being so sappy. In her heart though, she cherished the statement.

In the many long years that followed them and through their many adventures, she never told her father what had happened. In the end, it was her secret to keep.

The end.