Kindness.
I find it fascination how cruel that word can be. The cruelest acts are a kindness while the kindest acts are among the cruelest. Eight years ago this would have appalled me to say the least now it is a sad truth to the world that I have accepted. The past is something to be learned from and to be accepted. For eight years I ran like a coward. It is time to face my past, face old demons and bury grudges I have held. As I walk this ancient path I marvel at how time has had no effect on the Everfree Forest. I used to tend the animals that made this ancient grove their home. I chuckle at the memory of how ponies used to find this place dangerous now I find it as tame as a park. Wandering the Dragonspine Mountains is by for a more dangerous venture. Birds sing their songs and small rodents go about their foraging paying me no heed. It is as I am a part of the forest itself. In some ways I am the past four years I have learned the way of the druid. To become one with nature and see the world around me through the eyes of the animals and I have. I see a sign to the side of the dirt path I am one, curious I walk up to it.
Celestial City ahead.
Welcome weary travelers.
It seems some things have changed, continuing down the path I eventual come to a city wall of white stone. A pair of guards stand at attention at the gates, each bare Luna’s insignia on their armor. When they see me their eyes widen. Not because they know me oh no even if they had known me in the past they wouldn’t have recognized me. Before them stood a one winged pegasus holding herself strong. One my left side is a jagged white scar where a wing once stood. My once long willowy mane cut short and teal eyes that once held a gentle soul now hold a hardened hunters gaze. Under butter yellow fur is lean muscle and I carry myself with a feline grace. My only item of clothing is a worn black scarf and a quiver with bow strapped to my back.
“Gentlecolts,” I say my voice still soft but is firm, sure of itself. I trot past them and I feel their eyes on my flank. “Eyes forward,” I growl which I know causes them to tear their eyes from my body. After all these years one thing has not changed I can’t stand being stared at but instead of retreating I now prefer to challenge anyone that dares stare at me. I keep to the back roads and alleys a habit I suppose. I find it fascinating that a sprawling metropolis has sprung up in such a short time in the heart of the Everfree. I see the Royal Sisters Palace above the city. It had been rebuilt to its former splendor. I spit at the ground irrated, they dare defile this grove with their constructs of stone and metal. Not even Discord dared alter this forest when he was free. I feel a familiar sadness turn my heart cold at remembering him. Twilight had seen to his imprisonment, locking him in stone. The magic that had been used was not that of Harmony.
“Well, well what have we here lads.”
A guff earth pony steps onto my path in the alley way ripping me from my thoughts. A pair of pegasi appears behind me.
“Yeah boss and look she’s one wing short,” one of the pegasi chuckles. I roll my eyes at that I never really cared about my ability for flight.
I remain silent as the earth pony steps toward me,” So whats a pretty little thing like you doin here hmmm? Out for a stroll?”
“You’re in my way,” I say with an edge to my voice.
“Oho did ya hear that lads she says I’m in her way.”
“You know boss that seems just a bit rude. Don’t you think Breeze,” the pegasus on the right says looking to the pony on his right.
“I say so,” Breeze says, a dark grin gracing his muzzle,” maybe we should teach her some manners.
He pulls out a dagger. A sneer threatens to break my calm expression . I’ve dealt with manitcore kits that were more menacing.
“Leave me alone or you will regret it,” I say with a light growl.
“At first it was cute but now its getting annoyin,” the earth pony whips out a knife of his own,” get her lads.”
They all charge me with blades raised. I leap into the air and land on the earth stallion’s back with the grace of a feline and deliver a blow to the back of his head. He goes down with a grunt, out cold. Rushing forward one of the pegasi. Breeze finds me invading his personal space. Whipping my bow out it cocks him upside his skull. He goes down as well. Second verse same as the first. Grabbing an arrow from my quiver I round on the final Pegasus notching my arrow. He finds himself staring down the shaft. With a gulp he chuckles nervously, my expression still radiates a calm as I let the shaft fly. I t burys itself in the wall next to him. After staring at it for a moment the Pegasus then faints, foaming at the mouth.
Placing my bow on my back I continue down the alley way toward the castle.
When the once ruined castle stands before me a small part of my mind can't help but marvel at the work that had gone into its refurbishing. In front of it stood a monument in Rainbow dashes likeness, at its base was a long list of names and at the top it read, ' To that gave their lives we will forever remember your courage.'
"Its something isn't it," a vioce says behind me. I turn and see a young earth filly clad in purple robes behind me. She has dark pink fur and blood red mane set in a ponytail. I almost thinks she is Pinkie Pie but she looks barely old enough to get her cutie mark. I simply nod and turn back to the statue.
"Did you know anyone on that list?"
"You could say that," I say as my eyes stay focused on the statue. I incline my head toward Rainbow's likeness," Do you by any chance know where she is?"
"Who Rainbow Dash? She was killed during the battle," the filly looked up at the statue with admiration alight in her icy blue eyes," they say she confronted Twilight Sparkle on the battlefield and that their fight was one for the history books. She was buried in the courtyard."
Suddenly a bell tolled in the distance," Crap I'm late sorry gotta go. O and if your wondering the courtyard's that way." She points in a garden to the left of the Castle's grand staircase
I smile gently at that and allow her to leave. I then make my way through the garden, Gaurds are posted here and there but they pay me no mind despite my bow. Eventually I find myself among rows of tomb stones among pruned willows and flower bushes. In the distance a large monument catches my eye. On its surface is Rainbow's cutie mark, a polychrome lightning bolt, set in glowing gems. Below the gems is a gold plate.
'Here lies Rainbow Prism Dash.'
'Friend.'
'Hero.'
'Legend.'
I can't help but chuckle at that last part. I can almost see her puffing her chest out in pride at being called a legend. To think she was actually able to bring herself to kill Twilight. I feel rage bubble up in my mind at her betrayal, she had been so cruel . Good riddance to her. My ears perk up to the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Acting on instinct I quickly scale a nearby tree and hide myself among the leaves. I then spot the pony that had been coming my way. An orange Pegasus mare with a magenta mane and tail. She is clad in an officers uniform adorned with medals. At her sides are a pair of powerful looking wings. I can't help but think this mare looks familiar. The mare stops in front of Rainbow's grave and lays down a pair of white roses.
"Hey Dash. You'll never guess what happened today. I was made the rank of Commander. I almost had a heart attack on the spot when Queen Luna pinned me." the mare chuckles," Oh yeah I also mastered that Wrath of Sky spell it was, in a word, awesome. Luna thinks I'm getting as good as you were maybe even better. Watch out cause I'm breakin all your records. Well I gotta go my first assignment as Commander is to settle a dispute on the Eastern Border so I've got a long flight ahead of me. Commander."
She offers a salute and walks away from the gravestone. My eyes widen at realizing who that is, Scootaloo. She had been so small back then and her wings were majorly underdeveloped. Even then I doubted if she could ever fly. Now she had grown into a strong young mare and by the look of that uniform, an accomplished one. I smile at that, glad that she had grown so I climb down to the ground and watch her go. Looking at the grave again.
"Rainbow would have so proud of her."
I nearly jump out of my skin at the sudden voice behind me. Whipping around I quickly notch an arrow in my bow and pull it back in one quick motion. When my adrenaline calms slightly I notice who I have my arrow aimed at, Luna. The navy blue alicorn was now as tall as Celestia had been and she radiated a dark, alluring power.
"You have certainly changed Fluttershy." she says her expression neutral," When once you would be rendered catatonic you now act on instinct as a wolf would, with fangs bared."
I let the bowstring slacken my mind screaming at me to cower and hide but years of solitude in the Dragonspine had taught me to ignore this thought. Fear once domintated me, now no more.
"Luna," I say with a nod as I but my bow upon my back," You have changed as well."
"You can tell then hmm. I suppose I no longer speak in an archaic way anymore. As well war tends to change a pony."
I nod," Yes I suppose it does."
"My question is what changed you and why do you choose now of all times to return. We thought you dead."
"When I ran I kept running until I couldn't anymore. I found myself in the Dragonspine Mountains across the sea."
The alicorn's eyes widen at that but I continue," There I learned that nature is as cruel as it is kind. I learned this lesson at the loss of a wing," I turn slightly to let her see my scarred side," As to why I returned it was time to face my past, to rectify my cowardess."
I look to Rainbow's grave and sigh softly," But I fear I won't get that chance. Tell me are any of the others alive."
Luna looks to the grave as well and says," Only Rarity and Spike remain from your circle of friends. Pinkamena died a year after Twilight Sparkle's betrayal and Applejack met her end in battle. I believe you already know what happened to Twilight and Rainbow Dash. You'll be happy to know Rainbow died at piece almost content at her end. I feel she had been ready for rest for quite some time then."
I look to the ground as tears threaten the corners of my eyes. "Where are Rarity and Spike now?" I ask with a shuddering breath .
"They have decided to live out the rest of their days far from here in the Whitetail Woods. They have a cottage there I are raising a family. They already have six foals. Ponies screamed for their heads when we won the war but they had been victims all the same."
So they got their happy ending. I smile at that despite the tears now cascading down my cheeks. They deserved it she remembered the day Rarity had chosen to stay at Spike's side. Love over war, so like the fashionista.
"What about Discord?" I ask looking up to Luna. She smiles at that," We were able to free him when we gained control of Canterlot. I chose to give him his freedom after he had tried to stop Twilight. I feel it was an adequate reward."
Freedom was all he ever wanted. I smile softly, The scars of war had healed and many had moved on with their lives maybe it was time for me to move on. I turn and begin walking away from the alicorn.
She calls after me," Where will your path lead now dear Fluttershy?"
I look at her over my shoulder, my eyes alight with a hope that had not been there in over eight years," I don't know I think wherever the wind takes me."
Fin.