Zero Gravity

by Ephraim Blue

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad, Other, Original Character, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo
Length: 3111

Three years ago, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack all died in a fall after a tornado that Rainbow and Lightning Dust caused at The Wonderbolt's Academy. To this day, Rainbow makes sure it will never happen to anypony again

It's been three whole years today... Three years since they left; Since my friends died...

But that will never happen again.

~Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash: Fastest flier in all of Equestria, one of the two top students in The Wonderbolts Academy, Element of Loyalty, and friend to many.

That was three years ago. Three years ago that her friends died in what was supposed to be a tornado to help her and Lightning Dust clear clouds to improve her scores in The Wonderbolts Academy.

For over three years, she's lived with the shame that she helped killed them.

But today, she plans to create something that will save anyone from the same fate: The fate of falling to their deaths.

It's nearly finished... By tomorrow at most. By that time, I will have finally created Zero Gravity.

~Rainbow Dash

Parts of this, including the title, were inspired by Black Gryph0n and Bassik's Song: Zero Gravity. Go check both it, and all other songs they made by the link provided.

Published 2014-09-11 00:30:03 UTC
Last updated 2015-03-30 16:14:54 UTC

Prologue - Past Regrets

Zero Gravity

By: Ephraim Blue

Prologue - Past Regrets

"I miss you all," Rainbow said quietly to herself. "You were my best friends... Why... Why you?"

Tears fell from her eyes. Obvious tears, pain-filed tears...

Regular tears. The same kind of tears she's cried at least three times now. At least once a year... every year, always on the same pain-filled day.

The day they died.

It was almost like it was yesterday... Yesterday that she failed to save them... and even worse...

Led them strait to their deaths.

"It's a twister!" Applejack shouted over all the noise coming from the swirling winds. Twilight and the others noticed, but not in time to react to the hot air balloon being forced into the winds.

One by one, the ropes to the balloon snapped until all of them were broken and left the five mares flying through the air.

Rainbow Dash noticed all her friends and immediately flew in a path through a cave and out the side of the mountain, below the point where her friends currently were. Finding several clouds, she flew in a circle around them, compressing them together. Her friends fell on top of the compressed cloud, and looked around slightly to wonder what was going on.

'Now,' Dash thought to herself, 'all I have to do is fly upward, and spring the all back into the air where they can be caught by the other Wonderbolts' trainees. I can do this... I can do this!'

It was then that her wing fought on the cloud, sending her flying. That wouldn't have normally happened, but this cloud was compressed, and she was a pegasus.

The clouds that held her friends were no longer compressed, and immediately began to loosen up. A gap in the clouds opened up beneath them all, and they fell through.

By that time, Rainbow Dash had recovered from her wing hitting the cloud. She immediately began flying directly toward the place her friends were falling. She got closer to them... Faster... Closer...

And then her wing started hurting. The same pain from when her wing was hurt the other day kicked in. It was fine earlier, but the pain from the cloud kicked it right back into her.

She slowed down... She became further from her friends... Slower... Further...

"No!" Dash screamed. "NO!"

And then she watched helplessly as her friends hit the ground.

It wasn't supposed to happen like that... Not at all. It was just supposed to help her and Lightning Dust with clearing the clouds... Not kill her best friends.

Lightning Dust...

Rainbow gritted her teeth together. She despised Lightning Dust for that... stupid idea! She tensed up her right hoof and slammed it against the solid metal wall beside her.

It always hurt... Just like the previous two times.

"Rainbow Dash?" called a familiar voice behind her. The anger inside her left as she turned and saw who it was.

It was Scootaloo.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Rainbow turned her head away. "Yeah," she lied. "I'm fine."

"You keep telling yourself that... Do you really mean it?"

It was true. Every year, she was asked that question when someone walked in on her sullen moments. It was normally Scootaloo who came in, but Spike had an occasion to do so as well.

When Rainbow never answered, Scootaloo continued. "Well, you've got to remember that we're here for you." To the familiar statement, Rainbow nodded. "Come on," she said, motioning to come with her. "It's nearly time."

Rainbow nodded once more and followed her. She was right, today was the day. It was today that the ceremony was once again held. A memorial of that day...

An extra reminder.

Rainbow hated this day... She hated remembering it every year, sometimes even wishing that she could just forget it. But no... the doming back, no matter what she did. She couldn't forget her friends... never.

This day also brought remembrance to many other things. About two years ago, The Everfree Forest suddenly began growing, spouting trees and vines to all of it's surrounding residents. And soon after the start of that, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna vanished from all eyes.

With no other rulers in sight, Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor and Prince Blueblood were all chosen the rulers for the world.

Princess Cadence, being the only alicorn remaining, became the one to raise the sun at dawn and set it at night. Her husband, Shining Armor, though not an alicorn, raised the moon at dusk and set it at dawn. Prince Blueblood became the supreme diplomat, dealing with every issue that arose in the beautiful land of Equestria.

As for The Everfree Forest, it stopped advancing after it took the statue of Discord into the forest. Why was a mystery to anyone. Although, ponies feared that it would begin advancing once more, and they all built a giant dome around it. No way in, and no way out. t was entirely secure on all sides.

For Rainbow, all this was no different from the previous years. She goes to the ceremony in remembrance of the ponies who were lost in the previous years. And every time, she left with nothing else to say but more words to remember them.

But this time... This time will be different. For this past year, she's hasn't sat still and wept for this past year...

Not this time...

This time, she'll be different. This time, she will have something new.

Outside, all you could see about Rainbow Dash was a fast flier, high competitor, and a saddened mare by the loss of her friends.

But inside, you'd see a friend. A friend that would do anything for her friends. And that's what she was going to do.

She was going to help not only her friends, but all of Equestria.

Author's Note

Well, here it is! Zero Gravity, everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed this prologue to what is certain to come. If you did, leaving a like, favorite, and comment would be greatly appreciated.

I know this chapter is short, but I promise that they should definitely pick up in the near future. Until then I hope to see you all for the next chapter!

Chapter 1 - Silence in the Square

Chapter 1 - Silence in the Square

Rainbow found herself at Manehattan's annual 'Remembrance Ceremony'. As it were, today was the day that everypony- or mostly everypony- gathered together in Manehattan Square in remembrance of all had happened in the previous years.

It was always held in Manehattan... It would have been held in Ponyville, but that place became infected with plants from the Everfree Forest and nopony could live there anymore. As a result, it was also cut off by the dome that was built.

Rainbow's old home was corrupted by the clouds that came from the forest as well, and she was forced to move to a new location. She chose Manehattan, due to her own reasons.

Scootaloo was mainly alone after the incident because Apple Bloom was forced to move in with her cousin, Babs Seed, and Sweetie Belle went back to live with her parents. As a result, The Cutie Mark Crusaders were disbanded, and Scootaloo moved in with Rainbow Dash. Spike was alone after Twilight... left... and he could only go with Rainbow since she seemed like the only family he had left.

Together, they were known all throughout Equestria as The Effected. They didn't care, mostly because it was true that the three of them were effected the most since the incidents.

It was the three of them who stuck tether for each other, even in the hardest times.

As Rainbow approached the regular meeting place for the ceremony, she found that Spike was already there. She slowly flew over to him. "Hey," she said as she came to a stop next to him.

Spike turned to her on surprise. "Rainbow!" he said, slightly shocked. "What are you doing out here? You usually don't get here until halfway through the ceremony. You feeling okay?"

She smiled back at him. "Yeah Spike, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes. I just didn't feel like missing today, that's all."

"Today, huh? A year ago, you wouldn't have cared if all if Equestria was falling into an age of agony and despair. That project of yours has really changed your life."

Rainbow shrugged. "What can I say. I was tired of being one to mope around all year."

Spike chuckled slightly. "So you've finally allowed yourself to stand up a face the past?"

She shook her head. "No, my past still haunts me; it always will."

"Then why are you here?"

Rainbow looked forward from the back of the crowd that formed in front of her, all facing a podium where Equestria's current rulers stood. "To show Equestria that I can make a change in all our lives."

Spike was about to speak again, but was interrupted by Shining Armor as he began speaking.

"My fellow Equestrians," he began. "Today is a day we all know. Today, we mourn the loss of five ponies that all Equestria knew. Three years ago today, my sister, Twilight Sparkle, and four of her friends, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie perished."

HIs words brought a few murmurs among the crowd, which quieted down again after Shining put a hoof into the air.

"Today is also the day that we morn for the loss of our two beloved rulers, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. For without them all those years ago, we probably would not be the same ponies that we are today."

More murmurs came from the crowd, only to be silenced once again. "Please, let us have a moment of silence for those that we have lost."

All the heads in the crowd fell, almost in an instant. Rainbow was one of the heads that stayed up for a second before falling. Complete silence fell across Manehattan Square for the first time this year.

"Mommy?" a filly's voice asked. "Mommy, why are you sad?"

The mother's tears could be heard throughout the Square. "Shh," a different voice cooed, probably the mother's. "It's nothing honey... just keep quiet?"

Rainbow felt like crying then. Not for her own tears, but the tears of the filly who knew nothing about what was going on. She was so young... So innocent... she couldn't cry for what she didn't know to be sad.

Her eyes watered up, for the sadness around her. One by one, the pain from those days came back to her, and came out in tears. Not only for the confused filly, but for herself, even though she had cried out all her tears earlier today.

And, if need be, for any others who could not bring tears today.

"Thank you," Shining Armor spoke, causing every head in the Square to lift up.

The gathering in the Square continued normally, like it did in previous years. A little more talk, a little more quiet time, and then the time spent to talk with each other.

Rainbow always left when that last one started. There was no one she wanted to talk to. She could talk to Spike or Scootaloo, but both of them would have brought attention to her, and with the media always asking for her opinion on those days, that was the last thing she needed.

She was famous, just like she always wanted.

And she hated it. She hated being famous for being the last surviving member of the Elements of Harmony. That was basically like saying: 'Hey! Aren't you the Element of Loyalty, the one who survived the Fall of the Elements?'

That's what ponies called that day. The Fall of the Elements; the day that the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony left the world.

All except Rainbow, that is.

She reached the place she stayed as quick as she always did. For the past year, she's had that project to work on. It w's true what Spike said, this project changed her.

But it wasn't just going to change her...

Rainbow gave a sad smile as she passed by a picture of her friends. "It's been three whole years today," she began, "since you all left- No... Since you died."

She trotted off to a different part of her place. A part that was closed off to anyone but herself, Spike, and Scootaloo. She opened the door to the room, and closed it behind her.

Inside the room, there was a giant black cloth covering it. Her project.

"But that will never happen again... I promise you Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy... I promise that your fate will never befall anypony ever again."

Author's Note

Hmm... Nope! No regrets!

Chapter 2 - Sorrow In Your Eyes

She pulled the black tarp off of the project. It was mainly for preventing any visitors from seeing its contents, but it also kept most of the dust off it.

A large generator took up most of the space. It wasn't on and took a stable amount of magic in order to function. She didn't have that, but if she planned it right, she would have an endless amount. More than Princess Cadence, and possibly more than Twilight.

About a week before they left her, Rainbow had caught Twilight in her basement working on some weird science-y stuff. Papers were everywhere, this very generator in the middle, and as another surprise, something was covered in the corner.

"Twilight, what is all this?"

Twilight's head perked up in surprise. "Rainbow! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if the next Daring Do book was here. When you never answered, I came in to look for you."

Twilight shook her head. "You should have rung the bell."

"What bell?"

"The bell I installed outside the door. Pull a rope and it informs anyone of they're coming in."

"It's a public library."

"Not the front door! The door to this basement!"

"This basement used to be a storage room for outdated books."

Twilight furrowed her eyebrows. "Whatever. The book isn't coming until next month. Why don't you re-read the other books while you wait? That's why I do while waiting for another book."

"Why would you do that?"

"So that I remember what happened in the previous books to see if they effect any of the future ones!"

"That's egghead stuff."

"I'm not an egghead!"

"I never said that."

"You were implying it."

The two stood glaring at each other for quite some time. After about a minute, Rainbow broke the silence.

"So, what are you doing down here?"

Twilight turned around and continued looking at her notes. "I'm working on a project," she said. "It's not quite ready yet."

"What is it?"

"A generator. It transforms magic into an energy that can be used to power anything it gets hooked up here."

"Egghead."

Twilight quickly turned around and glared at Rainbow again, who was snickering to no ends. "If you say that again, I'll personally withhold the next Daring Do book from you."

That shut up Rainbow.

"Anyway, as I was saying, when the generator is given the magic required for converting to an energy, it can power any device."

"What kind of energy are we talking about here?" Rainbow pondered. "We already have electricity as an energy."

"Any kind of energy! Electricity, magic, water, even wing power!"

"What do you mean?"

"You remember when you, Fluttershy and all the other pegasi of Ponyville got together to send the water to Cloudsdale?" Rainbow nodded. "Well, this machine can be used to either turn magic into water to make the clouds, or make wing power to charge a device to create that tornado for you."

"Make the tornado? That's not possible Twilight. You need 800 or more wing power in order to create that tornado."

"Au contraire, my dear Rainbow."

"What?"

"Nothing," she giggled. "Just something from a book I wanted to say."

"You really are an-" Twilight glared at her again. "Shutting up."

"Good." Twilight proceeded to take out a small machine that looked like a fan but had several adjustments made to it.

"What's that?"

"It's supposed to be a miniature device to create that tornado to send water to Cloudsdale."

"Miniature?"

"Let me demonstrate," she said, proceeding to hook up some wires from the generator to the mini fan thing. After she finished, she sent a burst of magic into the generator. It started to make some loud whirring noises and eventually caused the fan to start spinning.

After a couple minutes, a small tornado appeared from the fan and caused some of the papers in the room to flap around a bit.

"That's awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed. "It looks just like the tornado we made from that day!"

"A small version of it," Twilight replied. "It's not powerful enough to accomplish what pegasi can do currently, but if I made a larger version of the machine and somehow caused it to move over water, it would accomplish that feat."

"How much wing power can it make currently?"

"80"

"80 wing power?! "Twilight, that's like four pegasi combined!"

She nodded. "This is just one thing this generator can be used for. With enough magic, it can be used for anything!"

"How long did this take to make?"

"About a month. It was very complicated to gather all the required items."

"Wow. That's a pretty long time for making one generator."

"The thing is, this isn't a fully functional device. It's a prototype, and can only power a single device at a time." Twilight suddenly fell to her knees, panting.

"You okay Twilight?" Rainbow said quickly, rushing over to help her up.

"I- I'm fine..." she said. "This generator takes up a lot of magic to use... Another reason it's a prototype..."

"You don't look all right... You look less-purple than normal."

Twilight continued panting, and eventually passed out.

"Twilight!"

Rainbow ran her hooves on top of the generator. "I'll make sure," she said aloud. With that, she grabbed a wrench in her mouth and begin tinkering with the generator. She mostly worked on the six slots on the top of the machine she was working on for the past three years. Six slots with six familiar engravings.

Author's Note

I'm taken by this feeling and I'm losing the fight!

I'm falling, feeling the faster we go.

Surrender to this moment like the day to the night!

I'm falling, falling, the faster we go.