Rainbow Dash's Exile

Rainbow Dash’s Exile: Ch. 1

Rainbow Dash sat alone atop her cloud, drifting slowly through the endless blue sky as she quietly tried to hold back the tears that traced their way down her cheeks. Below her the residents of Ponyville went about their business happily like every other day before, laughing and playing blissfully, ignorant of the depressed Pegasus floating above them. She sniffed once, refusing to let herself cry out in the anger that threatened to consume her. Poking at the cloud she sighed and stared at the joyful setting below her.

“It’s not fair cloud, why am I the only one that everybody hates? No matter what I do nobody seems to like me, I do my best to hide it, but it’s getting so tiring, maybe I should just leave and go back to Cloudsdale…”

She belatedly poked at her cushion as a breeze picked up and she floated over the library where Twilight Sparkle had taken up residence only a few years before. “Yea, of course you wouldn’t answer, you’re just a cloud.”

As the lonely rainbow Pegasus began drifting off into a tear induced sleep she heard the beating of wings rise up behind her and a soft gentle voice called out tentatively.

                “Um, hey Rainbow, I-I mean if it’s not a good time I-I could come back later, you know, or maybe I’ll just-,”

Rainbow Dash quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and put on a fake smile as she turned to face her old time friend, “Hey Fluttershy, come back here, what’s up?”  The adorable yellow pony blushed cutely as she flew closer.

“Um, well you see, there’s an awful lot of dark, scary clouds looming over the meadow and, well I was just wondering, if maybe, you could help me move them somewhere else, the animals are too scared to come out, and well, it’s not good for them to be cooped up in the dark all lonely and frightened.”

Immediately Rainbow Dash shot up from her cloud and sped toward the meadow, “No problem, the best flyer in all of Ponyville has ya covered!”

Fluttershy struggled to catch up with the streak of rainbow left in Dash’s wake but by the time she arrived, the clouds had vanished and the animals were chittering happily, but Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen.  The yellow pony went back to playing with the animals and jumped in fright as a high pitched, cheery voice shouted from right behind her.

“Well hey there old buddy old pal, how ya doin’?”  Fluttershy tried to catch her breath and blushed as she peeked out from the bush in which she had disappeared into.

“Oh, hey there Pinkie Pie, it’s only you, you kind of scared me,” Fluttershy stepped out of the bush and sat next to the loud pink, party pony, “have you seen Rainbow Dash? She helped me clear some gloomy old clouds away but then, she-she just disappeared, is something wrong with her?”

Pinkie Pie just shrugged as she blew on a party whistle so hard her eyes crossed, “No idea, I say it’s better if she just vanished for a while anyway, all she does is crash into things and causes that icky nasty rain to ruin my parties!”

With that Pinkie Pie hopped along back into Ponyville as Fluttershy sighed and looked at a field mouse that was cuddling against her hoof, “Oh Mr. Mousey I feel so bad for poor Rainbow Dash, it’s not her fault, I wish I could help her feel better.”

From her white cushioned cloud bobbing inconspicuously overhead Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as another tear fell from her bright purple hued eyes. “I knew it! Even Pinkie Pie hates me, maybe Twilight will know what to do…”

With that her rainbow trail shot through the sky towards Twilight’s library in Ponyville. In her distress Rainbow Dash forgot to pay attention and didn’t notice until too late that she was headed straight into the side of Twilight’s home. A massive explosion of rainbow, wood, paper and ink split the normally calm atmosphere of Ponyville as shouts of alarm and anger rose from the magical unicorn’s house.

“Rainbow Dash! What in Equestria do you think you’re doing!” The rainbow Pegasus rubbed her head as she tried to apologize.

“I’m sorry Twilight, I just-,” Her sentence was stopped mid breath as the dark purple pony exploded in outrage,

“You! You just what Rainbow? You just wanted to try another childish stunt through my house while I’m trying to work!? Do you have any idea how much we have to reorganize now! Everyday it’s something with you and it’s getting OLD! Why don’t you go take some time to grow up then maybe-“

Twilight was still ranting as Rainbow Dash hung her head in shame and with a dropping mane paced out of the library; she looked around her at all the other ponies going about their business. Some had seen what she had done and huffed disapprovingly as they walked away.

Rainbow couldn’t take anymore, the ground at her feet cracked as she launched herself into the endless sky. She didn’t care where she went so long as it was far away from Ponyville, far away from anyone to judge her or call her irresponsible.

Every pony in Ponyville looked up in horror at the twisted explosion of distorted colors and covered their ears as the terrifying roar of hate filled rainbow waves blasted over the town. In her anger and frustration the last memory that Rainbow Dash left the gentle ponyfolk of Ponyville was the first ever sonic rage-boom that flattened trees, toppled stands and houses and left violent streaks of jagged purple, green, blue, and red tendrils of lightning that sent every animal scurrying for shelter and small Phillies cowering under their parents’ hooves.

Ch. 2

Lightning shattered the sky. But it was not normal lightning. Blackened clouds threaten to tear themselves open and drown the pitiful, helpless world below. But they were not normal clouds. Again the violent crack set asunder the skies and shook the foundation of the immovable mountain. The streaks of energy were colorful, but they were tainted. Where once the blues were light and soft, now they were dark and depressing. Once the reds were bright and happy, but now they were jagged and stained as if with blood. Yellows no longer existed and the greens were pale and sickly, the purple as well was repressed and belayed the hatred felt by its master.

Alone Rainbow Dash sat, her castle of black and purple clouds sat towering high in the foreboding shadows of the long forgotten mountain range. She had built it only a few years ago, but lost in her depression and rage it had felt like a lifetime since she had taken power of the dark shadows and deformed creatures that had fallen so easily against her indomitable will. It felt so long ago that her bright and colorful mane had faded into a twisted mesh of distorted colors and her once joyful smile and mischievous glint of playfulness had fallen into the steady glare of intimidation and power.

                Yawning, the young Pegasus rose from her comforting bed of black clouds and stretched as she paced her way down the long, massive walkway of her grand hall. Small purple clouds of lightning flickered and spat multi-colored bolts of depressed hues from their set places along the towering walls that enclosed the throne room.

“Draven! Cheff!” The dark rainbow mare’s voice was not loud, but low and insidious, nonetheless it echoed eerily through the halls and immediately two young bat ponies answered her call,

“Yes, ma’am?”

“At your service ma’am.”

Rainbow Dash critically eyed the two young bat ponies kneeling before her. Cheff was a small and black young male with a splash of red down his muzzle and his tattered blood red bat wings folded demurely at his side as he shyly hid his face by staring at the swirling pools of shadow drifting through the floor. Draven on the other hand was a few years older and stood respectfully after he had bowed. His mane was orange and his coat a sleek purple, his sly and demanding personality made him a perfect match for the easily intimidated Cheff, which is exactly why Rainbow Dash had made them a team.

“I have a task for you, now listen carefully.” The bat ponies perked their ears and stood at rigid attention as their queen laid out their mission. “You are to enter the Everfree forest and enslave all manner of dark creatures there, big or small. I am planning an invasion of Ponyville, and it will happen within the year, your purpose is to force the dark creatures into submission to my will so that my army will overcome any manner of resistance that those tiresome ponies can come up with, even if Celestia arrives, which I’m sure she will.”

In unison the bat ponies kneeled, “As you wish your highness.”

With that they spread their wings and vanished into the dark gloom of the far off ceiling on their mission to accomplish the will of the dark rainbow Pegasus.

As Rainbow Dash paced through the gloomy halls of her fearful castle she contemplated all the ways she could force her revenge on the ponies that had led her to exile. Their hatred and scorn had brought their own doom upon them, and nothing gave the dark Pegasus more satisfaction than to be the one who brought that doom upon them.

Eventually she satisfied herself with sitting on a balcony of clouds and watching as the young recruits honed their flying skills in preparation for the invasion. Many of them were natural flyers and skilled for their age, not as skilled as she was but they would suffice. Amusedly she summoned black and purple clouds of forlorn lightning to break their concentration and upset their flight. Some were too unaware and some not fast enough to evade the lethal bolts and were struck down, falling to the earth never to fly again, left as a broken husk of smoldering ponyflesh. The ones that did evade and managed to survive she took special note of, these would be her squadron leaders for the initial push, provided their skills were honed by the time of the invasion.

Below her were the training grounds for her caster force. It was a simple ring set on the lower levels of the dark cloud castle were it merged with the mountains so that the young unicorns would have footing to train on. These too were young ponies, abducted from towns and villages across Equestria for their magical talents and bent to her vision.

“Yes, the invasion will proceed smoothly, and I will have my revenge…”

“Yessssss, and what then hmmmm? Will you take over the world and enslave all of ponykind or will you set loose the power of chaos and confusion to destroy the land?”

Rainbow Dash scoffed, unimpressed at the deep, eerie voice behind here, she didn’t even bother turning around as she addressed her old nemesis, “And who invited you, Discord? Let me guess, you showed up to play another stupid game of yours didn’t you?”

Still persistent the mixed beast appeared in front of her and her world seemed to turn in dizzy circles and shapes twisted and contorted into inexplicable horrors, “Why yessssss, this time though the odds are much more fun, sooooo?”

Discord stared into her eyes; his hypnosis trying to take hold of her mind, the dark Pegasus just sneezed in amusement and summoned a bolt of blue lightning that bore a charred hole into the beast’s neck. Discord screeched in pain and the world returned to normal, “You’ve been locked away in that statue too long you puny wimp, I’m way stronger than you will ever be!”

Rainbow Dash huffed and lightning shot from her nostrils as she pawed the clouds below her hooves, “It’s time for you to go, until I end your useless existence!”

Angered, Discord floated back from the balcony and the entire castle shook from his insanity, “Silly little Philly, I am Discord, god of chaos and confusion, you will witness my full wrath!”

“Blah blah blah…” Rainbow Dash cracked the bones in her neck as the sky darkened from its normal purple and grey pallor and jagged colors of energy ripped through the sky. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you numbskull!”

She stretched her depressing, multi-colored wings to their full span, and with one push launched herself into Discord as an explosion of twisted colors and jagged streaks of lightning blasted through the skies so violently that it could be seen across all corners of Equestria. As Rainbow Dash slowed to a halt, miles away, she returned to find nothing left of Discord but floating ashes and one broken horn that plummeted to the earth far below. He existed no longer,

“Get a load of that Princess Celestia, just try and stop me…” even though it was only a dark whisper, Celestia, perched on her throne in Canterlot, heard it as if an evil wind had carried the message all that way…

Ch. 3

It was a sad and frightening day in Ponyville. Ever since Rainbow Dash had vanished her tainted sonic rain-boom had left the skies filled with murky dark clouds that constantly spat lightning and acidic rain. Crops were poor, ponies could barely fend for themselves no matter what they tried and even the Pegasus’ from Cloudsdale could not find a way to banish the torrential blights. But that day was the worst, Princess Celestia had heard the dark Pegasus Queen’s warning and had done all she could to prepare, but there was no way to know the force that began its destructive journey to their once peaceful home. It had only been a day since the Princess’ scouts returned with the grim news: A vast force of shadow and black clouds covering distorted beasts was steadily sweeping over Equestria in a direct path to Ponyville, and it was only a few miles away, carving a swift path through the Everfree forest.

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, thank goodness you’re here, please, there has to be some way to stop them!” the distraught purple unicorn rose from a bow as she looked pleadingly at the two most powerful mares in Equestria.

The sisters looked grimly at each other, and finally Celestia turned back to her loyal pupil, “My dear Twilight, our best hope is to hold out against Rainbow Dash’s hordes long enough to find a way to defeat her.” Twilight began pacing behind the two sisters as they toured through the ramshackle town.

“But what about the elements of harmony? Surely there’s some way we can use them to defeat her?”  They passed Rarity, who was bent over a forge designing magical armor for the ponies and stallions who had volunteered to defend the town. She looked up at bowed sadly as the trio passed then quickly went back to work.

Luna stayed silent as Celestia shook her head, her light rainbow mane flowing with the breeze, “No my dear, I don’t think that would work. When Rainbow Dash turned the element remained with her and all the elements have to be used together in order to harness their power.”

They passed a pit lined with cages were Fluttershy greeted them with a stiff bow and cold gaze, “Your majesties, Twilight, what can I do for you?”  From inside the pit came fearsome roars of wild beasts and monsters of war.

“Hello, Fluttershy, and how are you this sombre day?” Celestia quickly hid the concerned frown that nearly broke across her muzzle.

“Fine princess, but if you don’t mind, I have warbeasts to train.” Without waiting for permission Fluttershy turned and walked back into the pit, disappearing from view.

Celestia sighed sadly, “I remember when she was such an innocent, adorable young pony, but look what this war has done, even Fluttershy is cold hearted now.

Twilight gently patted Celestia as Luna wandered off to oversee preparations, “Don’t worry princess, we’ll find a way to stop her…Wait! I have an idea!” Celestia turned to Twilight in surprise and she went on, “You said that the Rainbow Dash’s element never left her, right?” the princess simply nodded, “then that means there must be something still tying her here, something she’s still loyal to, if we can find out what it is then maybe we can use it against her!”

Princess Celestia immediately perked up, “Twilight Sparkle, to this day your intelligence never ceases to amaze, that’s a brilliant idea, but we must hurry though! Her forces are nearly upon us!”

With that the clouds darkened and a distant rumbling could be heard crashing from the direction of the Everfree forest. Celestia gathered all the ponyfolk to the town’s center, where she made her announcement.

“Excuse me, excuse me everypony, may I have your attention!” The depressed shuffling and hurried preparations stopped as every pair of eyes turned toward the princess, “I believe we have discovered a way to stop the evil Pegasus Rainbow Dash!” Immediately excited whispers and mumblings spread through the gathered ponies as Celestia went on, “but we need everyponies’ cooperation if it’s going to work. We, believe that there is still something or someone that Rainbow Dash left here that she still cares about, if we can find out what or whom, then we have a chance at using it against her, but I need anypony that was friends with or knew her in any way to give us any information that they think might be useful.”

Immediately a multitude of townsfolk surged forward who knew the dark rainbow Pegasus, shouting out any and all knowledge of their experiences with Rainbow Dash.

Meanwhile…

Rainbow Dash broodingly sat atop her dark storm clouds, watching silently as her army advanced slowly through the Everfree forest. Confident in her lieutenants’ abilities to lead, she amused herself by blasting large trees and small animals that failed to flee the path of chaos in time. Quickly growing bored the dark Pegasus huffed and plopped down farther into the clouds where she watched the scene of destruction play out below her.

Leading the massive horde were the largest and most violent of her monsters, they recklessly toppled trees tore at the earth, clearing a wide path for the foot soldiers that followed at a safe distance. Leading the front of the foot soldiers was lieutenant Darkhorn, a ruthless white unicorn who came from a harsh land of freezing blizzards and fearsome predators. Covering the ground force from above was the aerial squadron, mostly made up of bat ponies augmented with a few Pegasi that had been bribed, coerced, and twisted to serve the dark Rainbow Dash’s scheme.

Eventually Rainbow Dash spotted one such Pegasus approaching from the direction of Ponyville, a messenger scout she assumed. Somewhat timidly the red winged Pegasus with an orange coat approached her dismal cloud and stiffly saluted.

“Good afternoon ma’am, I have an urgent update from our flyovers of the objective!”

Rainbow Dash snorted and her cloud erupted in a dismal explosion of muted colors as she used her long, powerful wings to hover, “Well come on already, I haven’t got all day, what’s this oh-so important news!?”

Cowed, the Pegasus cleared his throat, “We have visual confirmation that both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are leading the defensive preparations, as well as other key ponies that may be of interest to you, in particular is Celestia’s advisors, a purple unicorn who has displayed exceptional magical abilities and a brown coated mare with notable physical strength.”

Rainbow Dash gnashed her teeth as she pondered the information, then glared at the Pegasus, “Don’t worry about the two princesses, I’ll take care of them myself, as far as the other two, send a message to lieutenant Darkhorn , I want those two separated from their main force once the fighting starts and if they try to get in on the action, discreetly pull our troops back and send in the dragons.”

With a quick salute the messenger departed to send the word and Rainbow Dash began flying towards Ponyville.

“What on earth is that!” the cry of alarm spread through the defenders as one mare pointed out a faded, multicolored streak aiming directly for the town. It approached at a speed unseen before in Equestria and left slices of lightning that shattered the sound barrier far behind it.

“Everypony stay calm and take cover! It’s her! Don’t worry my sister and I will handle it!” Celestia’s cool, confident tone washed over the town like a soothing wave and the townsfolk quickly hid beneath their defenses as the streak stopped overhead and Rainbow Dash appeared.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Princess Celestia, oh look, little Luna is here too, what a touching reunion!” Celestia remained calm as she shrugged of the snide sarcasm of the dark rainbow Pegasus, her sister on the other hand was not so composed.

“Rainbow Dash you little runt, how dare you! You will be punished harshly for your crimes!” Luna stamped her hoof and lowered her horn as she prepared to charge. Celestia quickly put a hoof on her sister’s shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Rainbow Dash continued taunting from above.

“What’s the matter, gonna’ let your sister tell you what to do! Why don’t you come and get some!” the evil Pegasus spread her wings, shadowing the square below as she effortlessly back flipped and destroyed the top of a house with a bolt of stark red lightning.

Luna growled, but her sister held her back, “What is it you came here for Rainbow Dash?” Celestia’s composure had not wavered in the slightest.

Now upside down the dark Pegasus yawned and stretched, “Eh, nothin’ much, just thought I’d drop in and give you a chance to surrender before I kill you all.”

Celestia sadly shook her head, “Then it seems we are at odds, because Ponyville will not kneel to your childish fits!”

“Rainbow Dash! What in Equestria do you think you’re doing!” the Pegasus stopped midflight and turned herself upright as she glared at the purple unicorn.

“What do you want Twilight!? Come to give me a lecture you damn egghead?!” In her anger the rainbow Pegasus summoned another bolt of lightning that would have destroyed a nearby house, however Twilight was able to deflect it with her magic.

“No Dash! This is wrong and you know it! We were friends once, what happened to you?!”  Twilight’s pleading eyes met the glare of the dark Pegasus, begging for her to stop the destruction, but Rainbow Dash only scoffed.

“Friends!? You thought we were friends? Well I got news for ya’, friends don’t talk shit behind each other’s’ backs, friends take the time to listen to each other’s’ problems, where were you when I needed to talk!? Oh yea, I remember, you were berating me because I put a little hole in your wall and did you take the time to listen, NO!”

Rainbow Dash’s mane began crackling with electricity as a strong wind began to rise. Twilight knew things were about to get desperate, she had to keep the Pegasus distracted before anyone got hurt.

“Please Dash, it’s not too late, we can still talk, tell me what’s wrong!”

The rainbow Pegasus shook her head in disgust, “You’re wrong, it’s way too late, I just came to give you a warning, bow down and submit or I’ll crush every last one of you! You got until my army levels Everfree forest to come up with an answer.”

Rainbow Dash disappeared as a streak of subdued colors as a massive gust sent debris flying in her wake. Disheartened Twilight looked to her teacher and longtime friend.

“Princess Celestia, what are we going to do, I don’t think our plan is going to work…”

Celestia affectionately looked at her student, “Don’t worry dear Twilight, if all else fails we’ll evacuate the rest of the ponies to Canterlot through the tunnels, not even Rainbow Dash will be able to break through the gates.”

The purple unicorn just sighed, “I hope you’re right princess…”

Sunlight gave way to moonlight and still the army pressed on, ceaseless and tirelessly making its way towards Ponyville, until once again dawn began to break over the horizon. Rainbow Dash stood imposingly atop her gloomy clouds, watching the progress of her force.

With a splitting crash the last tree was torn as its roots cracked and snapped from its life giving earth, and the army stood across the last open field, waiting for the final command to raze Ponyville into dust and flames. The evil Pegasus ordered her lieutenants to halt as she flew across the breeze blown plain to address her foes one last time.

Rainbow Dash landed just outside of a heavy wooden barricade and waited to be challenged. It was not long before Celestia made an appearance, flanked by Luna and the two advisors, Applejack and Twilight. Nervously ponies took up their positions behind the wall; all were clad in magically crafted armor. However the earth ponies were equipped with extra spikes protruding from their helms and shoulders so they could ram their enemies. The Unicorns had their magical horns and above circled the local Pegasi and the Pegasi from Cloudsdale who had arrived to defend their friends and families. They were armed with canisters and pouches of explosive powders and acidic oils.

“So, what’s your answer?” Rainbow Dash stood powerful and imposing against the four, who in return held their own hostile bearings.

Celestia stomped her hoof and lowered her horn, “Our answer remains the same, we will not submit!”

The rainbow Pegasus grinned evilly in response, “Fine, have it your way then!”

An explosion of dark clouds and twisted colors rocked the landscape and sent waves of dust and static sparking through the town as the barricade split like a twig from the force. As the dust settled it revealed the broken bodies of Princess Luna and Celestia, who had sacrificed themselves to shield Twilight and Applejack just in time. Among the town echoed cries of pain and agony as ponyfolk writhed in agony, their limbs shattered, bleeding out and charred, while others remained silent, never to rise again.

“AAAAATACK!!!” Darkhorn’s shout could be heard even from the town as the evil forces rushed forward to lay waste to the vulnerable Ponyville. Chaos ensued as the Cloudsdale Pegasus rushed through the skies to drop their munitions, but were met with stiff resistance from the merciless bat ponies. The rising sun disappeared behind the wall of the flying forces. Bodies of Pegasus dropped, lacerated and punctured by the sharp fangs of the bat ponies, however the battle one not one sided. Princess Celestia’s now leaderless guard rose to the challenge and rallied their forces in a valiant assault against the enemy.

However the earth ponies were not faring so well. Rainbow Dash had left not only a physical scar gouged into the earth but also had mentally destroyed those who witnessed the effortless violence. Those who had managed to rise to the defense were quickly assaulted by creatures they had never seen before.

With a savage roar Fluttershy burst from her training pit leading a horde of beasts to defend the helpless ponyfolk. It took a great effort but eventually her force was able to hold even with the dark brutes while the earth ponies and unicorns recovered and assisted her in bringing them down. From above Rainbow Dash watched impassively, occasionally striking out with a bolt of lightning that set a house ablaze or a pony screaming in mind numbing pain.

The tide began to turn as a magical force began aiding the ponies of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash cursed as she saw Twilight and Applejack rejoin the fighting, carving their own path from behind the horde to rejoin their friends. Quickly she swooped down and rammed both of them into the town hall; their bodies broke through the marble wall and sent clouds of dust to hang in the dark air of the hall. The dark rainbow Pegasus hovered over them as they moaned and tried to regain their feet.

“You should have bowed down! But no, I had to beat you down and that’s where you’re going to stay!” A monstrous cloud of purple and blue lightning began to form near the ceiling as Rainbow dash prepared to end the lives of her once close friends.

“Oh no you DON’T!”

Rainbow Dash grunted as she was skull bashed from behind by a force she had never encountered before, the world dimmed around her, and she closed her eyes. Quickly she opened them, refusing to lose consciousness, she tried to fly but could not move her wings, and her head was ringing like a gong. As her vision cleared a familiar face filled her sight, it was the light yellow coat and soft pink hair of Fluttershy and it reared back and collided with her nose this time. The rainbow Pegasus reeled as stars filled her vision.

“How could you Rainbow Dash, you were our friend!” the Pegasus had never heard the shy pony’s voice so harsh and angry before, it evoked something deep inside her, something she had long forgotten and soon she lost the will to fight. She planted her head back into the dirt as Fluttershy smashed a yellow hoof into her chest.

Barely breathing the Pegasus let out a soft, painful whisper.

“What was that?” Fluttershy stopped her assault and glared down at her friend-turned-foe.

“Pl-please Fluttershy…I-I’m sorry…You-you don’t know how sorry…I…am…” Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and felt darkness closing in around her, with one last effort she pushed herself up and wrapped her hooves around Fluttershy’s neck, “Thank… you…f-for beating som-some sense into…me…I never…realized it…before…but you’re…the only pony I-I ever…”

But the rainbow Pegasus had spent the last of her energy and she fell to the dirt, defeated from the inside out, her breath was shallow, and blood steadily flowed from the bridge of her nose; her pulse began to fade, a single tear fell from the corner of her fluttering eye.

Fluttershy looked down in horror at what she had done, “How did I become so cruel, what has this war done to us?” her hardened exterior broke and Fluttershy leaned over her dying friend, weeping freely.

Suddenly the dwindling horde of dark creatures and twisted ponies stopped, it was as if they could feel the oppression of hate and fear leaving them as it faded with their once tyrannical leader. The ponies of Ponyville took advantage of this and laid everything they had left at the army. Confused and leaderless the dark horde fled without shame and scattered to all corners of Equestria, some of the ponies and Pegasi that had been manipulated and coerced begged for mercy and were forgiven.

A victorious cry exploded from the lungs of the triumphant ponyfolk, but it was short lived. The wounded and dead needed recovery and the town needed rebuilding. As well as the heartbreaking deaths of the Princesses.

One year later…

The flourishing majestic town of Ponyville had long since recovered from the onslaught of that dark day, but the emotional scars would never heal. Years later the young Phillies and colts would see their parents with a dark look or sad expression, but they would just say it’s nothing and go about their days. Princess Twilight Sparkle had a memorial erected in honor of the fallen princesses Celestia and Luna, which stood proudly in the field where they had fallen. To this day ponies old and young could walk to the monument and see the lessons of friendship engraved in the perfect white marble.

Nobody ever knew about Rainbow Dash’s grave, Fluttershy had taken her body deep into a secret glade and buried her silently, tears pouring from her eyes as she lay the last hoof-full of dirt over her closest friend’s peaceful face. She was never the same after that day, she spent more and more time alone and infrequently visited the other ponies.

Under Twilight’s fair and just rule the districts of Canterlot became a strong and peaceful land, but no pony ever forgot the lessons that were learned from the battle of Ponyville.