As Simple as Rain

Chapters

Paper
'Please'
Feathers
Stumps
Cloudsdale
Rain
Crimes Punished
"They laughed at me."
Chess

Paper

"They laughed at me."

Clash sat in a quiet Canterlot bar, nursing his drink. "Bucking laugh at me...I try and tell them how to make it better and they laugh at me...." Clash smacked his drink off his table. "I told them how to fix the water distributions and they bucking laughed at me! Pigs, all of them pigs!"

A sullen looking unicorn sauntered over. "Alright bucky....who bucking laughed at you?"

Clash glared at the unicorn. "Why the buck do you care?"

The unicorn slammed his drink back. "Believe me...I'm probably sympathetic." He joined Clash and slammed the table. "Bucking threw me out of the guard. Misconduct, or some other crap. We're guards, we're the law, how does me dealing out justice count as misconduct!?"

Clash sat upright. "They called me here for the weather report. I found out we're watering parts of the Everfree and the barrens. We could be saving so much water if we just stopped! But those earth ponies kept going on about natural fauna, the unicorns just laughed, they laughed at me, at the mud ponies, they laughed at my studies, my proof, they just threw it back at me!"

The unicorn stuck his hoof out. "Steel Shot."

Clash returned his greeting. "Clash, Cloudsdale Council."

"Oh...are we doing titles too? I- I was...a guard."

Clash took a deep breath. "So I gathered...."

"Hey, don't get smart! I've had enough of it today." Steel leaned back into his chair. "I spent six years working for that cow, five years clawing my way up from recruit. I was gonna make captain, then that little shit, bucking Shining Armor. They give the bucking captainship to a fucking rookie instead of me! That bucking cow, Celestia...bucking cow."

Clash nodded. "I'm not a fan either. She treats those mud ponies like normal ponies. But...I don't care. So long as they keep out of Cloudsdale and stop complaining about the weather." Clash rubbed his mane. "They don't realize how hot it gets up there. They keep asking us to keep the clouds out of the sky, but we need those bucking clouds to keep the ground from drying out! They're idiots, I swear."

"So what, you just...you have to listen to the earth ponies? Just tell them to deal with it!"

Clash nodded angrily. "I wish I could. I keep telling them, they need to listen to us, they need to trust that we know agriculture too. But then the mayor of Cloudsdale shows up with another list. Six clouds here, seven there, nine moved twenty miles south. All for the mud ponies, just because they wanted to settle in the desert!"

Steel looked around the room. "Well...you could do something about it. I could probably help."

Clash snapped upright. "Do what? What the buck can I do?"

Steel licked his lips as he leaned forward. "Take it. Take Cloudsdale for yourself." He looked around sneakily. "You take control, you cut the mud ponies out of the equation."

Clash took a nervous breath. "That's- you realized what you're saying right.... Taking an Equestrian town for one pony...that's--"

"High treason...now keep your bucking voice down." Steel leaned back. "I could make it happen. I call in a few favors...somepony in Cloudsdale has an accident, you did your best to save him, but in the end you're, forced, to take the reins."

Clash glared across the table. "What the buck do you get out of this?"

Steel swallowed hard. "Without Cloudsdale, that cow Celestia would have to pay you for water, I could- I could do the same thing, I could have a town, I- buck the guard! I- I- I could be--"

Clash smacked Steel across the cheek. "Shut up!" Clash stood up and started walking out, whispering into Steel's ear as he passed. "Seven-two-six Orchard St."

Steel let out a shaky laugh. He was in, he had help for the first time since he was kicked from the guard. "Name...need a new name...new coat...new everything." He mulled around a few names, settling on Brass Buckler before leaving the bar. He laughed like a maniac as he trotted outside and started going home. The thought of spiting the guard, the Princess, Caterlot made him giggle like an idiot.

No more would this town run off nepotism and favoritism. He would take this town, turn it into a meritocracy, a truly glorious place to live. He just needed a little help starting things off.

'Please'

Paper

Rainbow Dash snoozed lazily, waiting for her call to action and waiting for the first rain of the year. The pegasai had already picked up the water from the lake, and were no doubt making rainclouds to help water the crops throughout Ponyville. She could see it now.

Industrious weather factory workers, packing clouds full of clean water and sending them down for her to shower the fields and bring the seeds and sprouts the earth ponies had planted to life. But for now, she could relax, rest up, maybe take a little nap before things got started.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the warm sun filtering through the branches and drifted off into a light spring morning snooze. She worked hard, she deserved it.

Rainbow Dash, you know I love you, but you need to jump.

Mommy, I’m scared!

I know Dash, but you need to do this, one time, one time and you’ll never be afraid again!

I-I’m flying, mommy I’m flying! I’m really flying! Mommy I’m--

Dash, no! Rainbow Dash!

Rainbow dash jumped, awakening from her nightmare just before the fateful plunge ended. She clutched herself, trying to rid her body of the creeping sorrow that her nightmare had dug up.

“Uh...Rainbow Dash….” Applejack called to her friend, Dash barely realizing she wasn’t alone. “You alright up there?”

Rainbow Dash took a moment to shake herself back to normal. “T-totally! What’s up, the clouds here yet?” She asked, trying to remain nonchalant despite her miniature panic.

“No, they ain’t. That’s the problem.” Applejack shot back, stunning the flamboyant mare and making her hop down from her perch.

“Whaddya’ mean, what time is it?”

“It’s five, Rainbow Dash, the clouds were supposed ta’ be here hours ago.”

“What!?” Rainbow Dash snapped, looking up and shooting past the barren trees. She scanned the horizon for what felt like ages. Not a cloud in the sky, not a drop of rain. She continued to search, flying around, looking for traces of water in the lake, the stream, even the town fountain was bone dry.

She darted around to Fluttershy’s cottage, the reservoir, even the river in the Everfree. All were barren, all were empty. Rainbow Dash’s heart began to pound in her chest, threatening to force her to the ground if she didn’t calm down.

This was bad, in all her years as weatherpony, the rain had never been late. It couldn’t be late, they needed to water their plants, they needed to fill the water tower, they needed to bathe, to drink, they needed water to live.

“Somepony musta’ gotten hurt!” She chanted to herself, flying back towards Sweet Apple Acres. “They wouldn’t be late if it wasn’t important!”

She flew hard, back to where Applejack had gathered the farmers of the town. She floated above them, looking out over the angry crowd as she tried to come up with an excuse. “Rainbow Dash, what the hay is goin’ on?” Applejack asked, her tone growing angrier by the word. “We ain’t got no water, we ain’t got no food. Yer’ folk know that!”

“I--” Rainbow Dash stuttered before being rudely interrupted by the crowd.

“Where the heck’s the water!?”

“Yeah!”

“Well, where is it!?”

“Hurry up!”

Rainbow Dash’s heart sunk as the crowd turned against her. The once friendly crowd of people turned bitter and angry, and she had no right to blame them. She knew just how important the first rain of the year was, but what could she do?

Could she race to Cloudsdale, could she steal the untamed clouds clouds from the Everfree and risk hurting somepony, what would any of that accomplish? How would going up and barking at the laboring weather factory workers do a thing besides make them go slower, if anything she might make them mad and force the rain to be pushed back a few days, if not a week.

Rainbow Dash was stuck high in the air, flying in circles as she tried to think of something. She had to do something, she was Rainbow Dash ,Rain-bow Dash, it was in her name! She had to figure out a plan, she had to do that much.

Rainbow Dash bolted up, flying through the clear spring sky and towards Cloudsdale. She didn’t know what she would do, but she knew it would start there. Start at the source, and eventually you’ll find the problem.

Her eyes stung as she soared through the air, speeding through the sky and towards Cloudsdale. The flight was normally short, but with her added haste she was there in minutes.

She could see ponies flying like mad out of Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash’s heart picked up out of her gut as she slowed her pace and landed outside the common area. Everything was damp, humid and cool, clouds were being made somewhere in the city.

“Ha-haaha...phew.” Rainbow Dash tried to calm herself, she totally over reacted, there was no way they could forget to bring the rain. They probably just had some sort of malfunction or hiccup in the system.

She pushed her head through a cool cloud and steadied herself. Once her head was cooled off and her mind was cleared she shook off a thick cloud that stuck to her face. She felt great, secure in the knowledge that the clouds were going out.

“Ms...you need to go home.” A rugged voice cut Dash’s mind asunder.

She snapped around, face to face with a rough looking pegasus with scar. She nearly stepped off a cloud as she tried to give him room. “Whoa- hey….”

“You need to go home. Now.” The scarred one stated coldly.

Rainbow Dash’s throat went dry. She had no idea who this horribly rough pony was, nor did she have any interest in finding out. “I- uh- I can’t until I--”

“Go home. Now.” The scarred one stated, taking an aggressive stance over Rainbow Dash and flaring his wings. “Last warning.”

Dash’s voice fizzled in her throat. Her usual brash attitude and roguish nature was nothing compared the the weight this stallion carried with his mere presence.

She backed away from him, taking to the air and flying back to Ponyville. Her worry replaced with anxiety, her time with the scarred stallion, however short, had left her rather shaken.

Ponies were generally nice, kind, perhaps a bit rude to strangers at times, but he was different. A bitterness followed him, emanated from him, clung to his mane, his coat, his entire being.

He consumed her thoughts as she flew towards her home town. Who was he, why did he tell her to leave, was he why the rain was delayed? Her mind swam with more and more questions as she lowered herself into the bustling town’s main street and watched as a mass of ponies pushed past her.

Ponies were running like mad, past Rainbow Dash and towards the center of town. “Hey!” Dash yelped, a unicorn scraping her with their horn as they ran off. “Jerk….”

Dash’s anger subsided as she dodged a coming horde. She stared at the rushing mass of ponies, completely unaware of the strange shadows casting over her town.

They came in droves. They came from the sky. They came from everywhere.

Dash looked to the sky. Pegasai flew in trios, dumping leaflets from their sides as they bolted past.

The papers fell. The words sunk in as Rainbow Dash looked upon the pages with horror.

In bold black the words split Dash’s mind and turned her world dark.

Water is a privilege, not a right. Give us Sharp Quill.

Give us Sharp Quill.

Sharp Quill for water.

Sharp Quill, Sharp Quill, Sharp Quill.

All around her were calls for this Sharp Quill, yet not a single explanation, not any hint of what was happening.

Another wave of fliers zoomed past, littering the skies with paper.

Sharp Quill, wanted for desecration of Commander Hurricane’s grave.

The Princess is hiding him.

The Princess is holding your water.

The Princess has Sharp Quill, the Princess has your water.

Sharp Quill for water, water for Sharp Quill.

Pegasai spread the word, solidarity in our founders name. Withhold all water from the Earth ponies and the Unicorns until justice has been dealt. Pegasai control the skys, the water, the key to life. We are strong, we are powerful, and we will have justice.

Earth tribe and Unicorns, your Princess holds your water….

The words went on and on, blasting propaganda and sending Rainbow Dash into an utter panic. This wasn’t a mistake, this wasn’t an accident. This was an embargo. And her town was caught smack dab in the middle. The first rain of the year, perhaps the last rain of the year, was not one of life giving rain, but of paper. Paper bearing the doom of a city, of lives, and possibly of all of Ponyville.

Feathers

'Please'

The smell of sweat was heavy in the air. Three days since the papers fell, sealing the land in a aird heat that threatened to break the minds of the weaker ponies. What little water was left was being rationed heavily. Celestia’s warm spring days were cut short half the week, preserving what little ambient water was still in the air.

Rainbow Dash was recruited by Celestia herself to try and gather as much water from the vile Everfree clouds as possible. Polluted with taint and sickness, a single Everfree cloud might fill a single mug, water a single plant for a day, and it took nearly an hour to get that much.

But what else could she do? Could she convince an entire city of ponies, feeling they have been wronged in the most grievous of ways, could she convince Celestia to hand over an Innocent stallion, who inadvertently stumbled into a sacred place? No, she knew what was needed of her, and would do it for her town, for her friends, for her life in Ponyville.

She flew with the few Pegasai that were left in town, working to corral the aggressive black clouds and compressing them over the dangerous Everfree. Her hooves were sore from her constant pushing, wings exhausted from the constant work. But she couldn’t stop, Applejack was counting on her, Ponyville was counting on her.

She flew a gnarled cloud down to the ground and pulverized it. A meek squirt of fresh water seeped out, nearly falling to the ground before Dash could collect it. Again, her hooves were slammed down against the sickly cloud. Another strike, another squirt. And so it when for half an hour. But with a bottle full of water, and another Everfree cloud condensed into the pure bile that was left, she flew away.

She flew past the irrational crowds that tried to follow her, past the screams and hollers of scared ponies below. The town was going mad once again, the once calm and happy ponies below turning scared and irrational. They cast blame on whatever they could, simply trying to understand what was happening, and why.

The papers that littered the gutters were doubled since the first day. The simple cries for justice and retribution grew more and more sinister.

We will outlast you.

Death to Sharp Quill, water for Sharp Quill.

This only read as, blood for water, to Rainbow Dash. But she couldn’t refute the damage done. Both sides of this conflict were stubborn, and justified in their own light. Celestia couldn’t give up one of her subjects to a raving crowd, calling for death. And the pegasai couldn’t back down from their supposed, and somewhat justified, moral high ground. Sharp Quill had broken the law, but his actions weren’t deserving of death. And non of this was worth it.

As Rainbow Dash flew down to Sweet Apple Acres she could only think of how damaging this was. Cloudsdale was going to burn by the end of this, but they were going to take down lives, generations of work on the agricultural areas of Equestria. Cloudsdale could rebuild, Ponyville could rebuild, but Sweet Apple Acres, Appleloosa, Dodge Junction, none of them could survive once the trees lay barren and lifeless.

Rainbow Dash cleared her head, rushing down to meet Applejack as she tried desperately to find any seeds they missed, trying to save them for after the crisis. “Applejack, here!” Rainbow Dash tossed her bottle, the water cloudy but safe.

Applejack nearly dropped the glass flask. “Whoa there!” She managed to cradle it, falling forward and planting her front knees into the ground. “Rainbow Dash, damn it, ya can’t be doin’ that!” Applejack snapped, her words biting deep.

Rainbow Dash took a step back, her face burning as her friend got upright. “Hey, I’m out there busting my flank for you, I--”

Applejack shook her head, drawing her hat over her eyes. “I know...I’m sorry, with all that’s been going on, I just...things are different now, ya gotta be careful, at least for now.”

Rainbow Dash relaxed her stance, the burning in her cheeks moving up towards her muzzle. “I uh...yeah. Things are kinda tense, right?” She asked with a half hearted laugh, trying to break the tension.

Applejack matched her nervousness as she walked over to the only green tree in the orchard. She slowly poured the glassful of water around the roots, trying to keep it even as she did. But the glass quickly ran out, leaving the tree clinging to life as the water seeped into the ground. Applejack took a deep breath and turned to her winged companion. “Rainbow Dash...I got a favor….”

“Anything!” Rainbow Dash snapped, flaring her wings out and striking a pose.

“Don’t come ‘round here for a while--”

Rainbow Dash lost herself for a moment. Applejack’s words hit like a freight train. Her best friend, one of her oldest friends, had just told her to stay away.

“-I can’t have ya comin’ over, the ponies are getting angry...and….” Applejack took her hat off, covering her eyes as she did. “I don’t want them thinkin’ I’m helpin ya.”

“Helping me!? I’m helping you!” Rainbow Dash snapped, angry at her friends stupidity. “How the hay--”

“Dash...please. Just find a place to leave the water, it’s easier this way.” Applejack croaked, turning away and walking towards her house. “I gotta check on Granny….”

Rainbow Dash’s mind was blank. Her emotions were in a tizzy, and for the first time in her life, she felt as if her wings were a crutch, like she was different from everypony else in town. It stung.

She kept her wings to her side and walked out of the orchard. She felt like dirt, and in some strange way, it felt like showing support by walking on the ground instead of flying. Other ponies didn’t seem to think so, shooting her dirty looks or mouthing obscenities. “Bird brain, feathered freak, aerial abomination.”

These words felt different from normal insults. She was an athlete, she was used to hecklers, but these words carried a strange venom with them. It was far worse than any other insult, it hurt more than Rainbow Crash.

Dash walked slowly through the angry crowd. Ponies that were once her friends, her neighbors, now spitting at her, treating her like trash. But what could she do?

She took to her wings. A slurry of insults fired up at her immediately. “Scared, scared like a chicken! Fly away chicken.”

“Go home bird, go home and die!”

“Pegasai go home!” Rang out a single, violent time.

“Pegasai go home!” Again, with more ponies joining in.

“Pegasia go home, pegasai go home, pegasai go home!” They chanted, the crowd trying to keep pace as Rainbow Dash flew off. These were her friends, how could they turn on her like this.

Was she the enemy, by the mere association of race or creed? But these were her friends, surely they would understand that she would stand by them till the end. Dash grew sympathetic to the pegasus who left for Cloudsdale or Canterlot.

Before Dash could get back home, another rain of paper came fluttering down. Three days of paper rain, constantly demoralizing the locals and painting the pegasai, not only Cloudsdale, as the enemy.

Days of food: Canterlot 365 Cloudsdale 243 Ponyville 78 Appleloosa 18 Dodge 28

Days of water: Canterlot 400 Cloudsdale 999 Ponyville 19 Appleloosa 1 Dodge 7

Demand the transfer of Sharp Quill, bring your water back, bring your food back.

“Amazing how the heat makes people crazy.” A dry voice snapped Rainbow Dash back into reality. “Oh, I’m sorry, you were reading.”

Rainbow Dash searched for the voice, finding it in the form of a solid tan pony with a scarf over his face. “Who the hay are you, huh!?” Dash got into an aggressive pose. “Spit it out!”

The tan pony picked a note off the ground. “Hmm, Canterlot’s doing well...so is Cloudsdale. Seems like only the Earth pony towns are having trouble.” He crumpled the leaflet between his hooves. “A shame.” The tan pony walked next to Rainbow Dash, pulling his scarf off of his mouth. “The sun makes people crazy Rainbow Dash, the heat makes people insane, and drought makes them bitter, aggressive, and stupid.” The tan pony let out a rattly breath. “Awfully good timing don’t you think? Waiting until after the water collection, waiting until someone, desecrated, a pegasai landmark, waiting until winter was over...until all the water was sent to be distributed. It’s all so...convenient.”

“What the buck are you saying!?”

The tan pony nipped at her ear. “Stay hydrated.” With his message delivered, he fell apart, fading into the dust that clung to the road.

Rainbow Dash was left stunned. She decided to hurry home and drink her days allowance. Her mind might soon join the slowly growing madness if she didn’t get a drink.

Rainbow Dash hurried home, throwing her door open and settling into her usual routine. She took a hearty gulp of water as soon as possible. She moved to her window, watching as paper rained from the sky.

She stared out over the slowly dying town below.

“Please...let this be a dream, please let this be over.”

She couldn’t stand it. She could fight against a villain, she could push back against adversity, but she could only sit and watch at the absence of the most basic of things.

“Please, bring us rain.”

Stumps

Feathers

Rainbow Dash...I’m sorry.

Mommy’s gone?

No, mommy’s not gone. She’s in the clouds, she’s in the rain, she’s always with you, always watching over you.

Rainbow Dash snapped awake in Rarity’s guest room. Her house had been taken on the twelfth day, and drained for the water it was made of. Rainbow Dash shook her limbs, shaking her head and trying to banish the feeling of dirt and dried sweat that clung to her coat.

Two weeks without rain. Celestia and the Council of Cloudsdale were in heated talks discussing an end to this hardship. Cloudsdale had demanded vast sums of bits and the execution of the explorer Sharp Quill. Celestia was stonewalling it, transporting water from Canterlot to the most needy places.

Unfortunately, Ponyville wasn’t covered. Appleloosa, Dodge and Manehattan were covered under the emergency act. Despite the massive need for agricultural water, Ponyville had enough in reserve to keep everypony in town alive, and even with the orchards gone, the town could grow back, where Appleloosa and Dodge were too reliant on agriculture and Manehattan had no reserves after a contamination from the sea seeped into the reserves.

Rainbow Dash still worked to grind water out of the few remaining clouds in the Everfree. And the sooner she got started, the better.

She hurried out of Rarity’s guest room, walking down and finding Rarity weeping in her kitchen. She ran over, skidding along the tile. “Rarity, what happened!?”

Rarity’s normal overenthusiastic sobs were cut, somber, and heavy. “Oh...Rainbow Dash...hello.” Rarity did her best to stop herself. “It’s nothing...I promise.”

“Don’t lie to me, Rarity, what, happened?”

Rainbow Dash went deaf as Rarity spoke. Her words skipped her ears and bored straight into her brain. Her wings flared out as her blood pressure spiked. Her vision went red, her mind regressed into an animal state.

“No!” She screamed, “No, no, no!” She ran out of Rarity’s kitchen, nearly breaking the door and bolting towards the center of town.

As she flew, a familiar face, or rather lack there of, joined her in her flight. “Rainbow Dash, how good to see you again.”

Rainbow Dash stared forward, ignoring the sand pony. “Shut up, just shut up!”

“Hmm, that’s not nice. I’m only here to talk.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes stung as she hurried towards the center of town. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!”

“Fly as fast as you like. Blood flows faster, and soon enough the land will be drenched in it.” The sand pony croaked, his voice like gravel in a sifter. “But I suppose it doesn’t matter. I’ve never seen a plant that can grow in blood, so it won’t resolve a thing.”

“Shut up!” Rainbow Dash screamed, her mind going blank as she slipped through the sound barrier, causing a Sonic Rainboom as she zoomed to the center of town.

The sand pony faded away, disintegrating as the Rainboom knocked him away. “You can’t run forever Rainbow Dash, some day you’ll have to make a choice.”

Rainbow Dash could feel his words seeping in after her as she landed. Her zoom down and sharp landing left cracks on the path, startling a crowd of ponies. They quickly turned on her, yelling the now normal slurs and throwing things at her.

She pushed past them all and towards the hospital doors. Two strange guards in blue armor stood in front of the doors. “Halt no--” The guards stopped as they looked Rainbow Dash over. They stepped aside. The crowd roaring behind her as she ran inside.

She ignored it all and hurried towards the rooms of the hospital. She ran through the building, searching every room, finding dehydration and heat stroke victims left and right. It wasn’t until she reached the last room, guarded by two more pegasai guards, that she found her.

Rainbow Dash pushed past the guards and towards Scootaloo, her face one of utter sorrow as she played with the patterned cloth of her hospital gown.

“Scootaloo, what happened!?” Rainbow Dash yelled, stumbling over to her bed and putting her hooves over the railing. “Scootaloo, look at me, what happened?!”

The sound of shuffling paper caught her off guard. “Her wing’s broken in three places, minor cuts and bruises, and her flight is going to be stunted for another three years.” A loud tap sounded from a pegasus in a lab coat. “Are you her guardian?”

Rainbow Dash got onto her hooves and trotted over. “No, but I--”

“Then why are you--”

“Yes, yes, I’m her guardian, now what happened!? Who did this!?” Rainbow asked, gripping the doctors coat and shaking her.

The doctor pulled free and brushed himself off. “Calm down. You’re gonna wanna be calm when you hear this.” The doctor took a deep breath. “She was beaten by her classmates, they focused on her wings, of course. Now, I--”

“It was my fault okay!” Scootaloo snapped, nearly falling out of her bed. “I should have just walked away….”

Rainbow Dash ran over. “Who, did, this?”

“It wasn’t their fault. I should have just walk away….” Scootaloo stated, staring at her bedspread.

“It was Apple Bloom.” A meagre voice eeked out from behind the room’s divider. The curtain slowly pulled open, revealing Sweetie Belle resting. Her horn was bandaged, her face bruised. “She started it...and...everypony else just started jumping in.”

Rainbow Dash’s mouth went dry. Scootaloo continued to stare at her lap. “I should have just walked away.” Scootaloo started crying, her tears staining her bedspread. “She was mad about her orchard...mad about the treehouse...she kept blaming me...and I stood up to her.”

Rainbow Dash was heartbroken. Her best friend’s sister had just crippled her little sister. She could feel tears streaking down her face as a loud pop from outside caught her attention. She ran out, bursting out of the hospital and into the middle of a pair of clashing mobs.

Unicorns and a few remaining Pegasai were standing off with a huge mob of earth ponies.

“You animals, you hurt an innocent filly!”

“Innocent!? All you pegasai are guilty! You stole our water, you stole our work, you’re vermin!”

“They didn’t do anything! You brutes just don’t understand. If they didn’t care, why wouldn’t they go to Cloudsdale!?”

“Spies!” The earth pony crowd roared. “Spies and traitors, all of you!”

“You need to leave...now.” A familiar voice made Rainbow Dash jump. “Leave, now.”

Rainbow Dash turned slowly, meeting the scarred grey stallion eye to eye. Her voice went dry once again, her mind swimming as the stallion looked down on her. “But I--”

“Miss, leave, now.” The scarred one boomed, making Rainbow Dash jump. She felt suddenly weak in the stallions aura.

She wanted to stay. To try and keep the groups apart. She would take a kick, she would survive, she just wanted to try. But the scarred one’s words sunk deep, biting into her bones like no other.

She lingered for a moment, trying to muster her usual courage to say something. But the stallions gaze, his stance, his words, something about him rendered her hapless.

She tiptoed away as the crowd grew restless. She took to her wings as a stone was hurled through the air, igniting the crowd and causing a full scale riot to break out in front of the hospital. She flew onto a nearby hill where she could watch as ponies clashes.

“Remember when I said blood would flow?” The sand pony muttered, drawing up out of the dust around her and forming into his usual tan body. “It’s gonna be a river.”

Rainbow Dash stared down at the fighting crowd and watched as more and more ponies rushed to join in. The smell of fire filled the air as a spell missed the crowd and struck a home. The once proud building was set ablaze in seconds, billowing thick black smoke into the air and heating the land further.

“Two days.” The sand pony stated. “And on the third day...on the third day everything will change.”

Rainbow Dash stared as the town was slowly enveloped in violence. She scanned the horizon, locking onto the last green tree in the entire town. The tallest appletree at Sweet Apple Acres stood tall and proud. “No...things will be okay….” Rainbow Dash rubbed her lips with her foreleg. “Things are gonna be okay.”

The sand pony let out a rough cough, dust flying from his mouth as he did. “True. But things will always get worse before they get better.”

“No...things are gonna be okay...I know they are.”

The sand pony let out a long huff. “Oh dear child. How innocent you are. To expose you to such brutality is a shame.” The sand pony walked next to Rainbow Dash, kissing her on the neck before falling to dust. “Be safe.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t notice his departure, too lost in the mayhem below. The town was ablaze as the sun started to fall. A horde of ponies was flying down from Canterlot, the citizens were ruining their own town, her life was being torn apart in front of her, and all she could do is watch.

Fighting would be useless. Arguing would get her killed. She could either leave, or stay strong as her city burned to the foundations.

But the tree in the distance, the stoic green standing out over the growing smoke and fire gave her hope. And hope was all she needed to endure.

Cloudsdale

Chess

The sand pony stared out over the rioting city, Rainbow Dash staring with him. "Amazing isn't it. How the greed of one can spark such adversity."

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head. "This, this is amazing to you!?"

The sand pony let out a short breath. "Oh my love, how I wish you could see this from my view." The sand pony turned to Rainbow Dash with a frown. "But...not even I see all the pieces, I'm doubtful you could even begin to understand."

Rainbow Dash took a deeply shaken breath. "What are you!? Why do you keep saying you love me?! What do you have to do with any of this!?"

The sand pony took a deep breath. "I am sand and dust given life, name of Pulvis, and that is all I can say. I...how do I say this, I am the watcher, waiting to act. And...I call you my love because you are. In this grand chess game, I can see three pieces. One, of bronze, dark, greedy, a hungry creature, only concerned with feeding itself while letting this world burn. Another of white, scared, fearful, always planning, always plotting, he is scared, hiding behind walls and trying to figure out his next step. He has no idea where to go, how to end this, nor does he even begin to understand the consequences his actions will have on this land."

Pulvis turned to Rainbow Dash with a smile. "But then there's you. A bright vibrant creature amidst a tempest, always constant, always strong. A beacon of hope in this horrid haze, you, my love, are the one piece I can truly understand. I have faith you are the one who will end this, and for that, my shining beacon, my light, my hope, you are my love."

Rainbow Dash frowned hard. "So what, you think I'll magically fix this!? I- I know this will end, but- how am I supposed to change it! It won't be me, it will be everyone!"

Pulvis shook his head. "Your bright, in mind and body, and underestimating your part will do nothing." Pulvis felt his frown grow deeper and deeper. "This town will burn, your life will change forever. But you alone...you, my love, my light in the darkness, will survive, and more importantly, you will thrive."

"You're a freak!"

"I know my love. I have seen bits of what is to come, moves to be made, pawns to be played. How I wish I could show you...but I fear showing you what is to come may alter the course of events." Pulvis turned back to the burning town below. "It's a fragile thing Rainbow Dash. Peace, civility, mind and body. The most simple of actions can have far reaching consequences, and those unprepared for the repercussions will fall." Pulvis let out a dry cough. "And I fear knowing the truth of your future might give you some false idea of perpetration. Best to let you play your part, and leave the madness of this travesty to those who have no real say. For I can only watch, and shape your course from afar."

Rainbow Dash felt her lip quiver. "So that's it? I'm just supposed to go along with this? Just roll with the punches until the world ends?"

Pulvis rubbed his chest. "My love, I wish I could give you more. For all the hope you have given me, for your service, you have earned my love, but even then, to upset your path...I cannot." Pulvis started to fade into dust. "I'm sorry...but even if you don't like my reasons, I ask you to understand them."

Rainbow Dash was left alone as the last of Pulvis drifted away. She was faced with her home ablaze, her world being toyed with by some supernatural creature and the greed of ponies. And all she could do was play her part.

Rain

Stumps

Rainbow Dash walked sullenly through the town. The guard had managed to finally take back control after two days of fighting. But now, half the city was on lockdown, and the other half was burned to cinders. Scootaloo had been taken by the pegasai, taken to live in Cloudsdale. For how long she didn’t know, but she did know she would at least be safer there.

Rainbow Dash walked towards her usual spot. A pony stopped her midway, pushing a flyer into her hooves. Rainbow Dash tucked it under her wing and continued to walk to her spot overlooking the town. She was continually harassed by paper pushing unicorns, trying to spread the news.

Rainbow Dash already knew. A chat with Twilight let her know a day ago. She flew up, leaving the crowds and feeling the harsh sunshine on her wings. She suffered the heat and darted over to her perch. She slammed down, kicking up dust as she landed.

Rainbow Dash looked out over the scorched town as the sand pony started to form behind her. She knew he would be there, she had talked with him as the riots went on. “Pulvis, things are going to get better.” She dropped the paper from her wing. “Things are gonna be okay.”

Pulvis formed out of the sand and dust. “Hmm? How so.” Pulvis picked up the paper. “I have decided to turn myself over to Cloudsdale in an effort to convince them to return our water. For those unaware, on a scientific expedition I inadvertently destroyed part of Commander Hurricane’s grave. I knew I would be punished for my accident, but I never wanted things to go this far. -Sharp Quill. Aww, how sad.”

Rainbow Dash fell to her haunches. “You were right...everything changed.”

“Did it? It’s still a bit arid out here. I’m enjoying it, but I can’t imagine your friend Applejack is.” Pulvis’ words bit into Rainbow Dash.

She looked around wildly, she hadn’t realized it before but the one bit of green in the entire town was missing. She scanned Sweet Apple Acres like mad, searching high and low for the large apple tree. She started panicking at its absence. “No, no no no no no!”

Pulvis put his dusty hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “The land had its fill of blood, now it hungers for life, and Rainbow my dear, there is nothing you can do.”

Rainbow Dash felt her heart sink. “What happened…?”

“I think it’s better if you find out yourself. Nothing I could say would have the same impact as what is to come.” Pulvis started to fade into dust. “Be strong Rainbow Dash, be strong my love.”

Rainbow Dash shook her neck, ridding herself of Pulvis’ dust and taking a moment to collect herself. She could see a crowd rushing towards Sweet Apple Acres. She flew up and raced passed them, flying to the head of the crowd and running the rest of the way into the farm.

Her ears were full of low pitched screams, coming from a distant crowd. Rainbow Dash ran over, spotting Applejack and Big Mac arguing. Big Mac was trying to calm her down, but Applejack was yelling angrily and snarling at the growing crowd.

“Animals, all a ya, damn animals and freaks!” Applejack screamed, running before the crowd. “Every single damn one of ya is an animal!”

Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “Applejack, what the hay--”

“You! I told ya don’t show up here again! I bucking told ya, I said stay the buck away, ya freak, you’re just like them!” Applejack screamed, her legs growing weak. “Rainbow Dash...yer a varmint, a rat...you and all yours.”

Rainbow Dash stood tall. “Applejack, I don’t--”

“They cut it down! You and your Cloudsdale bucking friends!” Applejack threw her hat off her head and tossed a piece of paper before her. “Scum! Rainbow Dash I trusted you, I trusted ya’ll that stayed, ya buckin’ lied to us all!”

Rainbow Dash picked up the paper. It was a simple, in bright red ink.

An eye for an eye, you take a filly’s flight, we will take your pride, your joy, your life. -Birds of a feather

Rainbow Dash was horrified. “Apple jack it wasn’t--”

“Shut up, just shut up! Ya took my water, ya took my trees, ya took everything! Just go, run away, go back where ya buckin’ belong!” Applejack cried out, falling to her knees as she tried to turn back to the felled apple tree. She reached the trunk and laid her blonde mane against it. “Never come back...ya ain’t welcome.”

Rainbow Dash tried to walk forward, stopped dead by Big Mac. “Don’t...just go.”

Rainbow Dash’s anger boiled over. She channeled her rage from the scarred pony, from the riots, from being called a bird and told she doesn’t belong. “Buck you, I didn’t do anything! I did everything for you, I spent hours working my hooves raw to get you water, I gave you my rations, I did everything I could, and you think I would do something like this!?”

“Rainbow--”

“Shut up!” She shut down the burly stallion, turning to the growing crowd. “I did everything for you, I bled for you, I cried when I saw what this did to you. I stood by you even when you threw fruit at me, called me a traitor, I trusted you all, I stayed with you because I knew you were scared! This is my home, just like any of you, but you treat me like scum because I’m a pegasus!”

Rainbow Dash charged over to the downed tree. In a fit of rage she started stomping it, tearing away the bark and inciting the crowd. She quickly found herself at the mercy of a crowd of earth ponies, watching her, a pegasus, tear away the last vestiges of Sweet Apple Acres.

She flew. She flew as the crowd lurched forward. She flew hard and fast out of the orchard. Her single stupid act had just cost her the last shred of trust the ponies of Ponyville had for her. Thrown away during some childish tantrum.

She hovered over the town, watching from on high as the crowd swelled around the large stump. She was alone now. She was an island in a sea of angry faces.

Then one by one, dots started to rise into the air, quickly turning towards her and flying over. Little by little the last remaining Pegasai in Ponyville converged on Rainbow Dash.

Their faces were grim, their course clear. “Rainbow Dash...we’re here.” Cloud Chaser flew over and gave her a sympathetic look. “We’re here with you.”

Rainbow Dash looked to the group of ten ponies and shrank. She wasn’t a leader, she couldn’t make a decision like this.

She turned away from her friends, the dour faces of those now left homeless. She turned towards Cloudsdale, and flew. Silently leaving behind everything she had tried to hold on to. She would atleast be accepted there, she would be amongst friends and smiling faces.

She flew for an hour, her group trailing behind her. She didn’t know what waited for them, she didn’t know if she could ever go back, but she needed to go somewhere.

Her group knew where to head and flew on without her, some hesitating as Rainbow Dash lagged behind. But eventually only Rainbow Dash remained, standing alone on the hill outside of Ponyville.

“Makes you think, doesn’t it?” Pulvis asked, pulling himself together out of the dust. “How fragile the strongest of us truly is.”

Rainbow Dash fell to her haunches, staring out over her town. “I don’t want to leave...Applejack...I’m sorry...Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, I’m sorry….”

Pulvis wrapped his gritty hooves around her body, holding her tight. “They will forgive you, even the farmer will come to see her mistake.” Pulvis nuzzled the slowly tearing mare. “Things will get better.”

Rainbow Dash choked back a tear. “But they always get worse...they always get worse.”

“Hmm, now you understand. And as much as I love you, there is nothing I can do. Your path is set, and the sooner you go, the sooner this will end.” Pulvis gave her a final tight squeeze before stepping back and falling to dust. “You will always be my love, remember that.”

Rainbow Dash pressed her hoof where Pulvis had been. Her tears slowly fell to the earth, her resolve crumbling as she realized what was next. She would be branded a traitor, a coward. But she couldn’t go to Canterlot, she didn’t belong there, she couldn’t go to Manehattan or Appleloosa, she could only go one place, one place to fill the void.

And so she flew.

Crimes Punished

Cloudsdale

Rainbow Dash landed with the others in Cloudsdale, looking over the dull grey city in the sky, the cold air sinking into her coat and chilling her flesh. There was something cold about the entire city, something, empty.

The ponies that fled Ponyville were lined up by a pair of guards, slowly being filtered into a small building with a poster. The poster was plain, a piece of pegasus propaganda. It felt out of place, something harsh and unforgiving in a town supposedly steeped in solidarity and mourning for the late Commander Hurricane. Rainbow Dash felt uneased by it, made only worse by the armed guards ushering her towards the building.

Tension followed her as she walked towards the building, and only compounded once inside. The room was dull, a dark grey that drew every bit of color out of the ponies inside. She felt horrid, oppressed by a room.

“Excuse me...eyes forward.” A pony behind a desk called out to her, snapping her forward. Rainbow Dash looked past the desk, staring at the dull red pony behind it. “Due to the recent influx of refugees food is being rationed, as is housing and water. You will be given a dorm, daily ration tickets and free reign of the town for two hours a day. Any questions are best kept to yourself. Move along.”

Rainbow Dash was stunned. These were the ponies causing it all, these were the instigators, and they were rationing. Rainbow Dash tried to look the pony over, quickly tapping the tip of a spear to her flank. She yelped at the small prick and jumped forward. “Keep moving.” An angry looking guard stated, pushing her forward. “Stay with your group.”

Rainbow Dash hurried on. She found the other ponies in yet another line, being given slips of paper. She waited in the quiet room, being watched all the while by looming guards and a pony in a strange hat. When she reached the counter, she was slid a piece of paper and a card. “Dorm twenty-six b, work hours are six to eight, move on.”

“Wait what--”

“Move along, now.” The pony in the hat walked over, shoving Rainbow Dash out of line and towards the door. “Keep to yourself, and stay out of trouble.”

Rainbow Dash was tossed out of the room, stumbling into the street. The dark grey sky above, the dark streets below her, the damp oppressive cold clinging to her coat and drawing the heat from her. She tried to look around, but wherever she went armed guards lined the streets.

Whenever she stopped she was poked and prodded to stay in line. Ponies hovered above her, clung to her side, stared her down, and kept her in line. She had no where to go but forward, forward against the line of ponies, forward towards the dull grey ahead. Forward to whatever work they had planned for her.

She felt her life leave her hooves as she entered a dull building. The hall was lined with doors. All plain, all grey, all numbered. “Find your rooms and settle in, lock-down is in thirty minutes!” A rough voice shattered the silence of the room and made the new arrivals jump.

Rainbow Dash didn’t turn around. She stood tall and walked steadily towards her room. Twenty-three, four, five, room twenty-six. She stood before the door, looking it over as the guards drew closer. She jammed the key into the door and threw it open, revealing yet another dull grey room, a single bed, and a bedside table.

The room would barely fit her, it smelled of mildew, the was damp, but it was a bed. Something Rainbow Dash had spent days without. She threw herself inside, letting herself fall against the bed and collapse.

Her body ached, her mind was frayed, her old life was gone, but for now, she could sleep.

Rainbow Dash, I love you, and you know I’ll always be here for you.

I know dad, but I have to do this, Fluttershy’s down there, Ponyville needs a weather pony.

Dash--

I know you want me to stay but…

Rainbow Dash--

I just need you to--

Rainbow Dash! You’re crying.

I am not! I just- I- I’m gonna be late….

Go on, I’ll be here if you ever need me.

I...I love you daddy, I’ll visit, I promise.

I know you will, you’re my little girl.

A loud bang snapped Rainbow Dash awake. “Everyone up, now!” The banging grew louder and louder. Rainbow Dash threw herself out of bed, her head aching and body reeling from the rough night’s sleep. “Work starts in an hour, get to your stations and start early!”

Rainbow Dash pushed her way out of her room, into the hall. She found ponies lining up and marching outside. She joined them, spotting a few familiar faces. However happy she was to see them again, the stares of the guards forced her into line. She joined the march outside and flung herself headlong into the early morning sky. A heavy fog had descended and ponies were going about their day trying to clear it.

Her group was split up. Half of them working to clear the fog, her and the others continued moving towards the weather factory. Little by little the security tightened. Red banners lined the streets, armed ponies were everywhere, and the weather factory was pumping out thick black clouds, stuffed to the brim with precious water.

She smiled to herself as she walked proudly forward, taking a kick to the gut and being pushed out of line. “Knock it off, now!” A burly pony screamed, stepping on her ribs. “Why the buck are you smiling, huh!?”

Rainbow Dash failed to catch her breath and was left wheezing as the pony let off. “Get the buck back in line, now!”

Rainbow Dash whirled around. She let out a rough cough as she fronted on the guard. “What the- kkruch- what the buck’s your problem!?”

A pair of guards joined rank against her. She found herself at the tips of three spears. A nervous looking pony stepped forward, his helmet clanking against his head. “G-get to work, now!” His eyes were pleading, needy.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes darted around her aggressors, but slowly she relented, joining the other ponies on their march towards the factory. Rainbow Dash spotted the pony in the hat once again, talking with someone else. It wasn’t until she was face to face with them, taking the back of a spear to the jaw, that she realized who it was. The scarred pony stood with the hatted one.

Her heart shattered. He was wearing their armor, they were beating her for nothing, he was no different, he had kept her from fighting back, he had always been there, keeping her from discovering the truth. The scarred pony occupied her mind as she walked.

She was stood at a tub of water, small white clouds passing by. She was forced to fill the clouds, sending them along the line like a machine. She lost track of time as her mind searched for answers. She tried to turn to the ponies next to her. They ignored her.

She looked past her station, finding Flitter nervously stuffing clouds full of water. “Flitter...Flitter….” Rainbow Dash called. “Flitter!”

Flitter jumped, a bruise on her chin becoming apparent. “R-Rainbow Dash?! What are you doing here!? Oh dear Celestia, tell me Cloud Chaser’s not--”

“No talking!” A guard screamed, kicking Rainbow Dash in the side and jabbing Flitter with his spear.

Rainbow Dash waited until the guard passed. “Flitter, what the hay is this!? Don’t they know Sharp--”

The line ground to a halt, throwing clouds off as it stopped.

“No! She didn’t know!” Flitter screamed, guards pouring around her and Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash tell them you didn’t know!”

Rainbow Dash was yanked down by her mane. She scrambled to stand as she was dragged out of the factory, kicking the guards behind her and screaming. “Let me go, let me the buck go, buck you, let go!”

The guard dragging her lifted his leg, giving her a swift kick to the head and silencing her. Rainbow Dash was left dazed as she watched the dull sky drift past. She couldn’t hear, she could barely see, her mind was blank. It was as if she was watching through her own eyes as a pair of guards dragged her into an alley.

She could see fritter being taken away, flailing and crying as she went.

One day, one day back in Cloudsdale and she was being beaten, treated like a criminal, and now, as she watched the scarred pony approach with his spear drawn low, she would die.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the blow, waiting to finally get the rest she so desperately needed. She felt a heavy weight press against her being as she fell into darkness, she lost the feeling to her limbs as she drifted away. She regretted not fighting, she regretted not seeking out the princesses. She regretted not staying in Ponyville. But none of it mattered as she lay dead on the cloud floor of Cloudsdale.

"They laughed at me."

Rain

Rainbow Dash’s eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry and her head was achey, but she was alive. I looked down at her chest, spotting a familiar blanket covering her. “What the….” Rainbow Dash muttered as she tried to get up. “But…- but I...this is--”

A loud creak cut her off, followed by the scarred pony walking in with a huge bundle of papers under his wing. “I told you to stay away.”

“How do you have this!?” Rainbow Dash screamed, letting out a pained wince as her ribs started to hurt. “Where did you steal this from!?”

The scarred pony walked over to Rainbow Dash, lifting the blanket under his hoof. “I didn’t steal this, it’s been in my family for years.” The scarred pony let it drop as he undid his helmet. As he let his helmet drop to the floor, his faded multicolored mane flooded down, hanging low as he undid his tail wrap. “I really don’t blame you. I’ve changed a lot.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t gawk or stare, she simply lowered her head and sobbed. “You...why did you make me leave.”

“I needed you to be safe.”

“Why didn’t you tell me!?”

“Because you would have come after me!”

“I hate you!” Rainbow Dash screamed. “I hate you, I hate you, I hope you die!”

The scarred pony cut her off, wrapping his hooves around his daughter’s neck and pulling her against his chest. “Dash...Dash...sshsshshh, daddy’s here.”

Rainbow Dash threw her hooves around the scarred poy’s back, pulling tight against him. She buried her face into his coat to try and muffle her cries. “I thought it was over, I thought you were gone!” Rainbow Dash let go, weeping loudly into her father’s shoulder and holding him tight. “Daddy, why didn’t you tell me!? I- you- I just wanted to help them! I only wanted to help them!”

“I know...I know dear….” The scarred pony ran his hoof along his daughter’s back. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, I tried to keep you away.” The scarred pony let the papers drop from under his wing, wrapping them around Rainbow Dash and cradling her against the cold damp air. “You’re safe now sweetie, I’ve got you, I’m here.”

Rainbow Dash continued to rock, sobbing into the scarred pony’s coat and trying to catch her breath. “It’s never going to be okay dad, never!”

“Rainbow Dash--”

“They hated me, the chased me out of town-”

“Dash…--”

“My house is gone, my friends left me to--”

“Rainbow Dash!” The scarred pony boomed, the same tone that stopped her dead before shaking her to the core. “Calm down.”

Rainbow Dash took a few shaky breaths as she snuffled and sobbed. “Daddy I’m scared...I’m so scared.”

“Rainbow Dash, stop. If ever there was a pony I knew could stand up to this, it was you. Now pick yourself up, read this-” The scarred pony picked up the papers and plopped them down on Rainbow’s blanket, “- and get ready. I think it’s finally time….” The scarred pony pulled away, leaving Rainbow Dash’s legs outstretched for her father’s touch. He walked off, closing the door softly behind him.

Rainbow Dash took a moment to wipe off her face, clearing her eyes and staining her forelegs. She opened the bundles of paper and looked them over.

The night guard captain’s asking for more land. We offered him Manehattan and it seems like he’s ready to work with us…

Shining armor’s out of the picture, off to live in the north. We’re pushing for Buckler to get the captainship, but even if he doesn’t he can keep the guard crippled for the time we need…

Copper’s getting restless, he says ponies are getting suspicious about him hanging near the reservoir. We might need to distance ourselves until we can…

Blue Blood’s being a pain, he’s having seconds thoughts. We need to step up the timetable, hit them soon or we’ll lose our chance at…without him we can’t keep Canterlot busy long enough…

This is it. Hail Storm’s managed to get some stupid archaeologist to agree to look for Commander Hurricane’s grave. We don’t need much, just enough justification to start things off…

Apples are the biggest target at this point. We’ve already been halving their normal water usage but I’m going to make sure we drain their river before we start. Same deal across the towns we...

The list went on, some of the plans dating back to before Luna’s resurgence. Rainbow Dash flipped a few pages.

Contingencies for artificial water creation.

The page was littered with easy recipes for poisons that could be made using plants from Cloudsdale. Places that could be easily flooded were clearly marked out on a map of Equestria, Canterlot’s water table was marked at accessible locations, as was a list of names with various percentages next to them.

She flipped the page again.

C-1

In event of artificial water production by either Unicorns or the Princesses, flood targets have been identified. Mobilization time, three hours.

C-2

In event of attempted theft we have poisoned the false storage areas in the cloud factory.

C-3

In event of forced retrieval by the Royal Guard, we will destroy the main storage area, flooding the land in mist before spreading out the poisoned water we have in the false storage. Mobilization time, thirty minutes.

Rainbow Dash flipped the pages once more.

A map of Equestria, divided into huge chunks around the cities. A huge red X was laid through the southern towns in the desert. Detailed drawing littered the page, too many to follow with the little time she had.

She flipped through the pages for a final time.

A list of names ran for six pages. Three standing out.

Guard Lieutenant, Brass Buckler.

Head of Royal Cartography and Geography, Prince Blue Blood.

Head of Cloudsdale’s Pony Committee, Clash.

She knew that name, Clash, she recognized it from her days before leaving Cloudsdale. She remembered him, always wearing a coat, a hat, he always wore clothes. It struck her, the pony in the hat.

A loud crunch came from the door, sending it open in a flash. The scarred pony burst into the room. “We need to go--now.” he ran over, yanking the covers off of Rainbow Dash and shoved her onto her hooves. He tossed her a tattered pair of saddlebags and started getting his armor back on. “You make sure those papers stay in that bucking bag, got it!?”

Rainbow Dash snapped awake. “I- what happened!?”

The scarred pony shook his head. “They found the bodies. You’ve got about an hour before there’s no way out of the city.” The scarred pony started guiding her towards the door. “I think this is it. I’ve got all the information anypony would need to end this, just make sure it gets to the right pony.”

Rainbow Dash ground her hooves into the floor, bringing her to a full stop. “Just bucking stop, what is this!? What happened to Cloudsdale, what’s in these papers!?”

“Dash I just need you to--”

“I do trust you! But I want to know, I need to know!”

The scarred pony took a deep breath. “There isn’t time for this….”

“Make time!”

The scarred pony rolled his head, armor clanking as he did. “Five years, five years of watching. I could have acted sooner, but I needed to be sure just how deep this ran, all the players on the field. But this is as good as it’s gonna get.”

“Then why don’t you take it!? You’d know who to give it--”

The scarred pony stamped his hoof. “I can’t leave. If this is ending...I...I have something to finish up.” The scarred pony took a deep breath. “Something that I have to do, something...delicate. And I’m either going to do it right, and end this, or screw up and create a sea under Cloudsdale.” The scarred pony licked his lips. “Goodbye Rainbow Dash.”

He ran past, throwing himself into the sky and flying towards the weather factory. Rainbow Dash ran outside, watching him leave. Her heart dropped as she realized what he was going to do. “No! No no no!” She screamed, pacing on the steps of her old home. “Dad! Daddy!?”

Rainbow Dash took off, heading towards the Weather Factory. She stopped half way, watching her father dash into the building, ponies running out behind him. She knew what was to come, she knew her last memories of her father would be of him rushing to save the ponies of Equestria. At this point, she couldn’t ask for more.

She turned towards Ponyville. Get the papers to someone who will know what to do, rang in her ears. And so she flew, she flew as fast as her injured body could take her. She could feel herself trying to hesitate, trying to turn around and watch the city. She forced herself onward, against her baser instincts and towards Ponyville.

“No!” A hat fell past her, quickly being joined by a heavy body, piledriving her into the ground. The pair of bodies landed with a thud, kicking up a plume of dust and dried grass. “I’m not about to let you ruin this!” The pony, now without his hat, towered over Rainbow Dash’s battered body. “I planned for everything, I planned for this!”

Rainbow Dash tried to speak, her voice catching in her throat. She tried to move, the hatted pony’s, Clash, hooves pinning her wings. “I’m done with this...and I’m sure I could bury you deep enough in the mud.” He reared up, towering his hooves Over Rainbow Dash’s head. “Bucking useless--” He brought his hooves down hard.

“What about this is okay?” A gritty voice asked. Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes as it became apparent she wasn’t dead. She watched as a pair of hooves lifted from the sand and dust. “Not since Starswirl went mad. Not since Equestria was divided. Not until now, have I been called up. And you, have the audacity to bring strife to my land!?” Pulvis lifted from the sand, his hooves enveloping Clash’s and lifting him up. “I killed Commander Hurricane, I locked Starswirl away, I blanketed the old world in ice and snow, and now, I think it’s time you joined it.”

Pulvis threw Clash a few feet away, fading back into the dust and popping up underneath him. “I think it’s time you join us.” Pulvis croaked, wrapping his hooves around Clash and slowly dragging him into the dust below. Clash screamed and kicked as he was slowly dragged into the dust. His cries were short lived as his head was pulled under the ground, his back legs kicking wildly as he was swallowed up by the ground.

Rainbow Dash rolled onto her front, her wings slightly bent from the harsh landing. She took a moment and just fell apart. She laid down in the dust wishing that she could just rest for a while. “It’s okay to be tired. We’re all tired.” Pulvis’ voice croaked from under her. Rainbow Dash found herself riding along the sand pony’s back as he walked gingerly towards Ponyville. “Thank you Rainbow Dash. You did everything I could have asked of you. And I’m sorry.”

Rainbow Dash lingered on the edge of exhaustion as Pulvis plodded along. “What...why are you sorry?”

“The tree, the town turning on you, that wasn’t exactly easy to achieve. But I needed you to get to Cloudsdale when the time was right. And...as sorry as I am, you played your part perfectly.” Pulvis let out a rattly breath. “There it is...can you feel it, that sudden surge of pressure?”

Pulvis stopped, turning towards Cloudsdale so Rainbow Dash could see. The weather factory had exploded, spewing hundreds of gallons into the sky. A strange pattern spread out over the city, growing wider and wider. It reached its apex, spreading out and blanketing the sky.

The pattern seemed strange. Not a normal mushroom cloud, but something wider, spreading out as it reached the highest point and thinning out as it went. As the cloud reached her and Pulvis it brought down a torrent of rain, quickly thinning out into a light patter as the crest swept past.

Rainbow Dash let her body go limp against Pulvis’ back. “Is it over?” She croaked out. “Please...let it be over.”

Pulvis let out a sigh of relief, his voice growing less and less gravely as the rain fell. “Yes, I think your part in this play is over. Now you only need to play courier a final time before reclaiming what was yours.”

Pulvis carried Rainbow Dash through the rain, on towards the cheering town of Ponyville, their systems overcome with joy at the return of the rain. Pulvis ignored their cheers, carrying Rainbow Dash towards the town’s library.

Once there, the waning elemental started to crumble into mud. “Rainbow Dash, it’s time, my love. You have done so well, finish this and earn your rest.” Pulvis started to gently set Rainbow Dash on the ground, melting into mud as the rain soaked his body. “Thank you Rainbow Dash, we shall never forget your service and sacrifice.”

Rainbow Dash was left on her hooves, leaning against the library door. She took a deep breath as the sound of hooves started growing louder. Rainbow Dash suddenly fell, stumbling into the mud as the door opened outward.

Twilight Sparkle ran out after her friend. “Rainbow Dash!” She pulled her out of the mud and started dragging her into the library. “Rainbow Dash what happened!?”

Dash just went limp, letting the cold rain and mud draw her excess heat out. She relaxed as she was pulled inside the library. “I was worried sick, Fluttershy started talking about going after you, Pinkie hasn’t--” Twilight’s tirade was cut short.

“Twilight...papers….” Dash undid the straps on her saddlebags and let them fall to the floor. “Papers….”

“Huh--” Twilight stopped dead as the stack of papers flopped out onto the library floor. Twilight slowly looked over the papers as Rainbow Dash rested on the floor. “I--” she flipped like mad through the pages. “This is- I- Spike!? Spike where are you!? Spike!?”

Chess

Crimes Punished

Rainbow Dash stood in the center of town with everypony else. Her friends, the ponies that only days ago had chased her out of town, everyone.

Mayor mare slowly stepped out of the town hall, standing on a pulpit and clearing her throat.

"Everypony listen! In accordance with the ongoing investigation, the names of those convicted is to be announced to the general public. All parties have been put to trial and convicted of their crimes." Mayor Mare took an extremely deep breath.

Clash, for the crimes of: treason, *attempted destruction of a unified Equestria, racketeering, **conspiracy to overthrow Princess Celestia, conspiracy to overthrow Princess Luna, attempted creation of an openly aggressive pegasus state, conspiracy to withhold water, terrorism, unlawful execution of Sharp Quill, inciting panic, destruction of both personal and civic property through embargo, creation of a fascist regime, denial of pony rights...* The list went on for Clash. ...for his crimes he is sentence to death.

The crowd stayed silent.

Blue Blood, for the crimes of: conspiracy to withhold water, racketeering, extortion, and treason. In light of his assistance in apprehending and identifying his fellow conspirators his sentence had been committed from execution to exile.

Guard lieutenant Brass Buckler, for the crimes of: conspiracy to withhold water, racketeering, extortion, rape, treason, conspiracy to overthrow Princess Celestia, inciting unrest, spreading dissonance through the ranks of the royal guard, assault, subversive activities...and abuse of his guard status. For his crimes his is sentenced to death.

Night guard Captain Chloric, for the....sentenced to death.

Green Apple, for the...exile.

Guards' pony Acco, exile

Guards' pony...exile

Exile

Death

Exile

The list went on for two hours. Name after name, list after list.

Mayor Mare looked exhausted by the end. "And- any and all information regarding the formation of independent city states, subversive elements, coup attempts, fleeing conspirators should be given to your nearest guard. And- ...and...excuse me, but can someone else-" Mayor mare handed the paper off to a guard.

The guard let out a rough cough. "Any and all future attempts to overthrow the Equestrian government or form an independent nation through aggressive means will result in a public execution. Peace will be maintained at any cost. A corp of ponies will arrive by tomorrow to assist in rebuilding."

Rainbow Dash turned away from the crowd, walking off towards Sweet Apple Acres. She felt terrible, but at least it was over. "Rainbow Dash...." Big Mac's voice boomed as he trotted over to her. "Ya got a second?"

Rainbow Dash tried to argue, but she knew who she was dealing with. "Did you need something?"

Big Mac took a deep breath. "I'm...I ain't...I'm.... I'm gonna offer up a room at the Acres.... I know you and Applejack had a spat an' I'd like to--"

"I can't." Rainbow Dash stated coldly, "Thank you...but I can't."

Big Mac took a deep breath. "Yeah...I figured. You know she's sorry right--"

"Big Mac, I know...I just can't. I'll be fine, and...maybe some day we can--"

Big Mac cut her off, stomping his hoof and nodding. "I don't need your reasons...I know it weren't you that cut down the tree, ya only ever gave to us, I ain't about to question ya, but if ya need it, ya got a room."

Rainbow Dash smiled at him, making him grow slightly bashful. "Thanks Mac," she threw her hoof around him and gave him a hug. "I mean it."

Big Mac shifted uncomfortably. "I uh- I...eeyup...."

They stayed together for a bit, slowly breaking off. "So, when do we start rebuilding?"

Big Mac took a breath. "Soon. Rainbow Dash...can I ask ya something?" Rainbow Dash nodded, letting Mac continue. "Could ya do it? Could ya...could ya do all this? Takin' the water, beatin' ponies, for what?"

Rainbow Dash licked her lips. "They- he...was greedy. I knew Clash, he was a family friend. He never liked Earth ponies, he never liked unicorns...he just...he was angry, bitter. I'm not sure what he had planned...but...I know what he wanted. He wanted a place for himself, he wanted a town for himself, he didn't want to be connected to anypony else, he just wanted to be powerful, an island."

"So what...he just...what the heck was his plan?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "He just wanted to live in a world where he would never have to see another pony besides pegasai." Rainbow Dash rubbed her head. "Celestia couldn't let that happen...Luna wouldn't let that happen...open racism, it's a slippery slope."

Mac shifted uncomfortably. "But you...ya got a reason. Half the town turned on ya!"

"I still couldn't do it." Rainbow Dash looked back to the crowd. "This is my town, Applejack- she's...she's still my friend. It's gonna take time to look at her the same way...but I could never stoop so low."

"You'd never go make your own town?"

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Not if I had to do all this."

Big Mac tapped his hooves in the dirt. "Well...I uh...you uh...you let me know if ya got any free time...alright?"

Rainbow Dash nodded and trotted away. "Maybe." She walked on towards her hill. She trotted calmly up the path and laid down in the slowly growing grass.

She stared out over the slowly growing land, a loud rustling cutting her off. "Rainbow Dash, hello again!" A green mare fell out of the tree on the hill and trotted over. "It feels so good to be back to normal!"

Rainbow Dash didn't turn around. "Pulvis?"

The green mare rubbed her mane. "Not exactly. I mean, you're not wrong, but we've got a lot of names. We're...do you know windigos? We're like...the summer version."

Rainbow Dash let out a soft sigh. "So what, you're here for what?"

The green mare rubbed her head. "Well, I'm here to say thanks. Pulvis was here to...well...you saw why Pulvis was here."

"So what...it's over?"

"Well...I'm here, not Pulvis, not the windigos, so things aren't exactly in trouble." The green pony stated, tapping her hoof on the grass. "Feels good outside."

"Yeah...it does." Rainbow Dash stated, taking a deep breath. "Hey...tell Pul--" she turned around, finding herself talking to the air. She let out a short huff and settled in. Equestria had survived yet again, the greed of ponies, the lust for power and status once again failed against the magic of the land and the loyal ponies that follow the princesses.

But for as long as she lived, Rainbow Dash would carry a flicker of doubt in her mind. But she could never leave. The ponies that stood with her were here, her truest friends were here, and she could never betray them.