Loyalty

                                                                                        Loyalty

                                                                                  Where Our Paths Lead

   Loyalty.

My entire life, this word has been pounded into my brain. Ever since I began to fly my father taught me the importance of sticking by your friends, your family, and most importantly your morals. Never abandon those you care about and never abandon yourself. I never knew what he meant by that last part but three years ago I finally got what he meant by that when my best friend turned ut to be a traitor. From the day she got her wings seven years ago we all noticed a change in her, a slight coldness she began to develop.

She became obsessed with perfecting her magic and even took up combat magic. Within a year she was able to best the finest mages Canterlot had to offer.She was truly the most powerful magic user in Equestria save for Celestia or so we thought. Three years ago Twilight Sparkle murdered her mentor in cold blood.

The two had nearly destroyed Canterlot with their battle. It was then that we all had witnessed the full fury of the Sun. If only Luna had been here when it happened it would have been much different but the Lunar alicorn had been on a diplomatic mission to the griffin kingdom of Talonreach. When she returned Twilight had given her a choice, join her or die.

Needless to say Luna refused and swore to avenge her fallen sister. I’ll never forget that day. Luna stood proud and regal refusing to betray emotion despite the loss of her only kin. It wasn’t until she was alone with myself and my other friends. A tear falls from my eye as I remember them.

Fluttershy my oldest friend had become broken by what had happened and disappeared into the Everfree one night never to be seen again.

Rarity pursued her work as a fashion designer and climbed to the heights of Canterlot Nobility. She had chosen to stay by Twilight and Spike, her lover’s, side. I don’t blame her, she had chosen love over war and remained loyal to herself.

Pinkie Pie left Ponyville and returned to her family’s farm where she died a year later. We were never able to find out why.

Applejack, she stood by my side throughout this war. We both had chosen to take up the sword for Princess Luna and we had become her most trusted commanders. A year ago she gave her life ensuring the safety of our main force. If it hadn’t been for her we would have lost this war then and there.

I presided over her funeral. That day I didn’t cry. I knew she would have crawled out of the ground and bucked me as hard as she could in the face if she had. Apples believed that death was a time to be remembering the times of happiness they had spent with them, not spent wallowing in sorrow. All the moments they had laughed with them and spent with them. So I chose to honor her memory as an Apple would.

“Are you ready?” I heard from behind me as I secured the final latch on my heavily scarred armor.

I remained silent as I stared at the mare in the mirror. She was so different from the arrogant thrill seeker I had once been. Rainbow mane cut short, body riddled with scars, and muscles rippling under cyan fur like steel cord but the most obvious difference was the eyes. Magenta orbs that once held smug arrogance now held a steel will and the understanding of the horrors of war.

Where Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolt stunt flyer once had been now stood Commander Dash, a battle hardened warrior and sly tactician. I turned to the pony behind me.

Emperor Shining Armor, the steely warrior had lost as much as I had perhaps more. He had been the sole ruler of The Crystal Empire for four years now having lost his wife when she confronted Twilight. Shining Armor had sworn his allegiance to the Lunar Republic that day and asked for one thing in return for his loyalty, to see his people safe from a tyrant.

I nod to the massive white stallion as I passed by him,” As ready as I ever will be Emperor.”

“You do know you don’t have to call me that Dash.” He said with a chuckle.

I fought the urge to smirk and opted for a steely gaze at the unicorn stallion,” Such habits are hard to break sir.”

I let a small smile grace my muzzle as he deflates in defeat,” But it’s good to know the fighting will end tomorrow.”

Shining nodded as this his expression grew grim as he gazes out the window,” One way or another.”

Outside the sun is setting over the horizon making. The Everfree was alive with the song of birds and all other manner of wildlife. We were currently in the old Palace of the Royal Sisters. The castle had been rebuilt and made into the Lunar Republic’s capital. A village lay at the palace’s base.  It had been aptly named Celestial City, Luna had named it that in honor of the fallen Princess. Over a few short years all manner of ponies gathered to this ever growing city. Now it was about the size of Cloudsdale. I stepped out onto the balcony and gazed up at the sprawling aerial metropolis a genuine smile again graced my lips.

“My question is Armor. Are you ready?” I said without looking to him I sensed he was standing beside me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him nod.

“Yes.”

I nod at that. It was time to end this war and I knew what I had to do. My jaw tightened as I stared ahead. Would I be able to do it though?

The next day we stood over a battlefield. Shining Armor to my right and Luna to my left. Our sight fixated on the ponies that were before us, a grand army. Each mare and stallion had been ready to give their lives to ending the reign of the tyrant Twilight Sparkle.  Luna stepped forward and began her speech.

“My little ponies today will be spoken of in song as the day we conquered a great evil. Today we will take our home back from the tyrant Twilight Sparkle and we will avenge those we have lost to her. Some of us will not survive this battle and I thank you all for standing by me. It has been six long years and we have persevered in the face of uncertainty but today we will emerge victorious.” Luna looks to me and nods to me. I stepped forward and flick my wingblades out. Never the one for speeches I said only one thing.

"Let’s give ‘em hell!” I roared, ”Charge!”

The entirety of the army charged forward into the awaiting forces of the Equestrian Army with a mighty war cry. I took to the sky with a pump of my wings and met several enemy pegasi. Setting my jaw I stopped midair and shot straight up. Several pegasi had been foolish enough to follow my ascent. Stopping suddenly I went into a freefall and seconds later a mach cone appeared before me. Where an excited giddiness once was felt at this all I had felt was sorrow for the ponies I was about to kill.  With a burst of color and a defining roar I performed the Sonic Rainboom. The pegasi that had followed me were torn apart by the explosion. Shooting down I flicked out my wingblades.

Still going the speed of sound I flew a bare inches above the ground among the Equestrian Forces a trail of blood and gore following after me as I carved a swath of carnage through the enemy forces. Angling up a second mach cone appeared before me. A pegasus had been unlucky enough to get in my way and was caught in the epicenter of a second Rainboom. There was no blood, he had merely disintegrated. At least he felt no pain in his passing. Suddenly a barrier appeared before me. I barely had enough time to shoot up to avoid becoming a blood stain on the magic construction. Slowing my speed I did a loop and found myself staring at Twilight Sparkle. She still managed to look regal and imposing in the simple purple robe she wore. She had grown taller, now rivaling Luna with her height.

She still preferred to appear simple in spite of her ambition and immense power.

“It’s been a long time Rainbow.”  She said, a genuine smile gracing her muzzle.

“Yes it has Twilight,” I say, my steely gaze falters slightly but I hold it in the end.

“I don’t suppose you can’t just drop your blades and join me can you?”

I sigh and shake my head,” No Twi you know I can’t do that.”

Twilight’s eyes glisten slightly and she nods,” I had a feeling you’d say that Dash, still loyal even to the end.”

She chuckles mirthlessly and steels her gaze. Runes appear around her as she readies a spell. Even in the heat of battle and after all these years I still think she’s the most beautiful thing in existence. Funny how love works that way. A single tear falls down my check as I draw my blade from its sheath. A blade made of pure moonlight forged on the dark side of Luna’s moon. The silver blade glows slightly. I steel my resolve for fear of it faltering. My heart screams for me to fly away and not cross blades with this lavender alicorn.

Unfortunately I cannot listen to my heart and clear my mind of all emotions. My gaze becomes a cold glare. Without warning I surge forward blade raised.

Twilight erects a barrier but I slice though it were tissue and bury the blade in her shoulder. With a scream of pain and rage Twilight envelopes me in magic and sends me hurtling toward the ground. Angling my body I perform a Rainboom inches from the ground and shoot myself skyward. The blast kills several enemy soldiers and knocks back many more. Shooting toward the alicorn at breakneck speeds I flick out my hoof blades and sweep by her. The blades sliced through her coat. Wrenching the blade out of her shoulder with a scream of rage, Twilight turned on me, the wounds on her shoulder and side closing up as I circle back for a second sweep. Placing my sword before her, magic circles appeared before the blade and with a flick of her horn Twilight sent it flying at me at blinding speeds. I angled myself to the right, the blade barely misses me as it cut my cheek rather deeply.  Hissing in pain I tackled the alicorn and began slashing her body with my fore blades. She chuckles then disappears. I realize it’s an illusion just in time to flip out of the way of a massive fireball. Twilight is hovering a good ten feet away from me with an emotionless stare.

With a thought I extend my will to my blade, ‘Mihi Mucro’. It appears at my side much to Twilight’s surprise.

“I learned some new tricks in the past few years Twi,” I say as I take my blade,”Ventus  Angunt.”

With that the air around me began to shimmer as storm clouds started to appear around us. Rain started to fall as I bend the weather to my will with the primal power of my ancestors.  Long ago pegasi warriors used incantations to wield magic but the art had long since been forgotten. Luna had decided to allow me to learn this magic when she saw I had an aptitude in it. Now I rivaled the Lunar alicorn with my skill of the art of incanted magic.

“Ventus aquilo de caelo, et dicere tecum. Erue eos qui obstiterit disrumpam. Caelum Fractruing!”

A funnel of raging winds surged toward Twilight who had erected a barrier. The funnel continued to push forward, cracks appearing in the construct as it pushed forward. The funnel finally over powered the barrier, shattering it but Twilight had teleported out of the way just in time. Appearing above me she let lose a barrage of magic blasts. I swerved and dodged this way and that as I was able to avoid them. Then with a yell of rage she sent a shockwave of telekinetic energy at me. Caught in the blast I buzzed my wings gathering static electricity as I was hurtled toward the ground.

“Lightnine armaturam!” I yelled as electricity surged through my body. My fur stood on end as the telekinetic energy dispersed around me. My fur took on a white sheen as the spell stabilized.

“For honor,” I whispered as I surged forward at the speed of lightning toward Twilight.

My hoof met her snout, shattering the bones in her muzzle with a sickening crack. I then planted several bone shattering jabs into her ribcage and finally ran her through with my blade. She looked at me in shock and coughed up a glob of blood from her shattered muzzle.

“Rainbow,” she whimpered as she slid off my blade and plummeted to the ground. She hit the dirt in a puff of dust. I sigh thinking it’s over until I see an explosion of fire. Down below Twilight stood tall. Her wounds gone and her coat a stark white while her mane and tail appeared to be an inferno. She took to the sky with a blast of fire and flew up to where I hovered. I was shocked by her burst of strength. I would not survive this fight. I was sure of it.

"Let’s end this Commander,” Twilight sneered at me and readied a cacophony of spells. I steel myself and looked deep within myself, pulling from my own mana reserves. Before me was a terrible monster, gone was the mare I had loved.  Energy begins to crackle around me as I begin my incantation,” Qui laudavit, et a ventis validis antiquis ego in te. Videntibus illis, et in calle Succidite time. Fervescere faciet quasi nubes, et exaudies vocem meam, veni ad litora torquent.”

I held the spell back,” Twilight surrender you can’t win.” My voice is even and cool.

Twilight sneered at me again,” Still an arrogant bitch hmmm? You can’t beat me Dash I won’t let you. I am more powerful than you can even imagine.”

'Very well,' I thought with a sigh as I unleashed my spell.

”Ira In Caelum!”

Wind funnels charges with lightning surge forward from the magic circles that appear beside me as I complete the incantation.

“Die!” she yelled as she unleashed her full power.

The two spells met between us, both powered, respectively, by our full power. It was now a battle of wills between us. The world around me slowed down, I no longer heard the roaring of wing or fire as tears began to roll down my cheeks as I look at the mare who had been my first in almost every way.

“I love you.”

The force of my spell overpowered Twilight’s. She screamed in pain as the spell hits her full force ripping her apart with the full fury of the sky. Twilight falls to the sky, broken, and hits the ground. Unable to keep myself aloft I plummeted toward the ground and hit it with a sickening crunch. I didn't even bother screaming I’d long since gone numb. I had used too much energy in that last spell and had pulled from my life energy, a forbidden act in its own right. I look to my left as I feel my senses dulling. I could feel it, I was dying and I accepted that. I looked to my right and Twilight. I had fallen right beside her. Her horn was gone, her eyes were closed and she showed no signs of breathing. I brought a bloody hoof to her cheek and I couldn't help but smile. I was once told by Luna that our lives are not our own. That we are intertwined with others throughout history. I closed my eyes and sighed, a smile gracing my lips at the thought of it. Maybe I will see her again, in another life, in another time, and if I do I won’t fail as I had all those years ago.  My senses faded as I feel my soul slipping away.

“I’ll see you soon my love.”