Dash woke with a jolt and cried out, swinging her hooves wildly. That nightmare again... She looked over to the guard as he came rushing in. It wasn't that she needed a guard, but there had been unrest from every side, all at her.

She rubbed her head softly and tried to push the all too real nightmare out of her mind as she glanced at the clock. 2AM. She sighed and nodded to the guard as she left her new room in the castle, leaving her armour and weapons behind and taking a slow walk towards the throne room, down the eerily empty and silent corridors of the near abandoned castle. It was unlikely the castle would be busy at this time anyway, even before the war, but since Dash had taken over any able bodied mare and stallion had been sent away to help the war effort, the last thing she needed was servants and cleaning staff, all she wanted was an effective army.

As she entered the large, open hall she saw a familiar face still inside, reading a book and shivering softly.

"You are still allowed into your quarters, Twilight" Dash yawned, startling her old friend and making her look up from the book.

"I-I know... It's just... I prefer it in here..."

The throne room was the same as it had been before the siege on Canterlot, Dash had decided to keep it that way. She could have easily sent the thrones away to be melted down and had the room redone, but the history of it all had made her mind up. She was far from sentimental, but she hoped after the war was over there'd be a museum in her honour, and this room could be the heart of it. Perhaps her old ego was still deep down somewhere.

Twi's stumps where her wings once were had healed quickly after a Dash had allowed magic to be used, but it was obvious the Princess still hurt from her de-winging. She decided that now was a good time to question her 'friend', as the pegasus had no-one to have to show off to. "What happened to you?"

Dash sighed. The amount of times someone had asked her that, or screamed it at her, or used it as some form of shaming... "I presume you're asking why I am no longer the mare I was before the war? Before I joined the army and such?" She took her place on her throne and yawned, but was far from going back to sleep.

"I suppose" There was a hint of venom in Twilight's voice, but it didn't trouble Dash, after all Twi had the right to be annoyed and angry at her.

"I've been asked this a lot... and well... I don't really know. I have my theories, but I can't be certain" She subconsciously rubbed a long burn mark at the base of one of her wings, wincing slightly.

"Where did you get that?" She said, rather bluntly, pointing at the scar.

Dash instantly moved her hoof away, on her hooves lightening quick with a hoof raised at Twi "Don't!" she shouted, before slowly lowering her hoof from the cowering Unicorn and retaking her place "...Sorry..."

Saying that made Dash feel strange. It had been a while since she'd uttered those words.

Twi sensed the sincerity in Dash's voice but decided to change the subject. She'd dig that hole later. "Do you ever think about us, your friends? All of us?"

That was another hard question. She was a leader, and had to be. She couldn't show weakness at all. "Sometimes. But I am busy a lot... I'm not evil Twi, I'm doing all of this for you, and them, and everyone" She gulped.

"I didn't say you were evil... But you are a savage, a brute. I can't forgive you for what you did to the Princesses, and all those innocent ponies out there"

Over the last week the number of ponies hanging from the gate had increased. It wasn't Dashes fault, they were the ones not getting the message...

"You're turning everyone against you Dash, the Griffons want you dead, Ponies want you dead..."

Dash already knew that. Thats why there was more security at her speeches, around her at all times. "Well, perhaps you can help me?" She smiled sweetly, reminiscent of the old days.

"As much as I believe in the power of friendship, thats not going to happen. You're hardly the element of loyalty anymore"

"Hmm. You know, I've always wondered about you. You act as if you're completely against me and despise all of my actions, yet you have never confronted me, or stopped me. Not once have you used that powerful horn of yours"

Twi gulped. They both knew Twi's magic could overpower Dash, but only one of them knew why she hadn't.

"Perhaps you realise the other three, and perhaps yourself weren't fit to rule at these times. Or maybe you're just sentimental"

"I don't like you Dash. Not anymore. But I cannot stop loving you. The pony you were before is in that hard shell somewhere, and I'd give anything to have her back. But you are not her." For one of the first times in her life she didn't understand something, the mare infront of her had killed three of her best friends, but she still loved her.

"And I won't be her whilst ponies are in danger. You may hate me, Twi, but I'm a much prettier sight than those Griffons, trust me, I know, you don't want to be anywhere near them" Her hoof went back to her burn scar. "When this is over, maybe I can go back... and face them" She was almost certain she wouldn't survive this war, she'd either die fighting the war, or be killed after she'd won it. The things she'd done she didn't want to live much longer and certainly couldn't face Fluttershy.

Twi watched her rub the scar. She so badly wanted to know what it was, but she was slowly breaking down Dash's tough outer shell and didn't want her to rebuild it by asking too many questions, especially after her last response. "Have you tried peace? Maybe they'll be happy that you've killed the Princesses and will leave us alone"

Dash chuckled "Nah... They're not gunna let me get away" She looked at Twi's expression of confusion "Ask a Pegasi. Preferably Spitfire" she smiles and relaxes "Thanks, though. This was a nice little conversation. If you need any new books, just let your guard know" She smiles at her "G'night Twi"

Twilight was curious. She couldn't get Dash's burn scar off of her mind as she walked through the corridor of the castle, flanked by two guards. They weren't there for her protection, she suspected. Their black and red plate armour was very hostile, an unwelcome change from the white and gold of Celestia. She just about plucked up the courage to talk to one "Um... Can I talk to Spitfire?"

He looked at her with cold eyes "Hah... And why should I let you, unicorn?"

She sighed. The lack of respect for her was extraordinary "Excuse me? How dare-"

The guard punched her hard in the ribs, winding her and sending her to the ground "Shut up. You're lucky High Commander Dash hasn't killed you too. Perhaps she's going soft"

The other guard gave him a long look "Don't. She's just a mare, and thats your commander you're talking about"

He rolled his eyes and looked down at the crumpled up mare "Sure. Whatever. I'm stuck here, watching her, when I want to be killing Griffons. Dash is stalling when she should be attacking those birds..."

He looked around, obviously nervous "Shut up!" he hissed "Someone might hear you!"

"So? Let them hear me. Its true"

As he said this, Spitfire and Soarin came round the corner, deep in conversation and stopped infront of them "Hear what?" Spitfire frowned, only glancing down at Twilight before looking between the guards. She had her body armour on, but her helmet was not to be seen.

"The Princess here thinks she's all important" One chuckled

"H-he was offending the High Commander!" She stuttered "All I wanted was to talk to you and he hit me..."

Spitfire looked between them "Is this true?"

"N-no Ma'am!" He shudders "Never"

"He's lying" grinned the other guard "The Princess is telling the truth"

Spitfire nodded and sighed "Sorry Commander Soarin, please deal with this" Despite them being the same rank, everyone recognised Spitfire as Dash's second in command and chief adviser, so he escorted the guard away.

The remaining guard gently helped Twi back to her hooves and gave her a warm smile "well, now is as good a time as you'll get" he nodded to Spitfire

"T-thank you... Commander Spitfire" She slowly bowed her head a little "Please may I have a word...?"

She nodded "I have a few minutes. Take her to my office" She flew off quickly.

"I-I didnt know she had an office..." Twi follows the guard closely "Thanks... by the way"

"I'm sorry for what he did to you. I know you're a close friend of High Commander Dash, but I still recognise what you've done for this country, and I hope you understand that that's what we're doing here..."

She nodded, keeping pace "Perhaps you're not all bad" She joked "Can I ask you a question?"

He chuckled "You may"

"What is that scar under Dash's wing from? She hit me when I asked her"

"Oh. Perhaps she doesn't want you to know then... And I don't really think I should tell you if she doesn't"

She sighs "Please? She won't find out it was you"

"After Ponyville... When Dash was just a recruit... She was captured as the sole survivor. Thats all I can tell you"

She nodded as he held Spitfires door for her "O-ok... Thank you" She walked in and the door closed behind her, leaving her in the office alone.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading!

I'm going to try my best to upload quickly, alongside my ClopFic Return of the King