Dead Or Alive

The rest of the train ride was a blur for Rainbow Dash. She could still hear all the other ponies in their sleeping cars blabbering about her nonstop, and the lovely couple from the day before had decided to stop debating to whether or not Spike belly flopped into lava or not like he claimed. Instead they decided to speak of the elements of harmony, as well as another lovely couple or two who overheard them when it was morning.

Rainbow Dash kept her curtain closed to avoid confrontation, and continued to look up at the ceiling with her Rainbow Dash themed headphones upon her ears. She cocked her head to the window as they had begun to enter Ponyville. The town was more dull that she had remembered, with hardly any colorful buildings, and there was a large gap where Twilight's old castle once rested. From the distance it had appeared that all the buildings had either been closed or shut down. All but the Quills and Sofas store, which hadn't reminded anyone of anypony, being the elements of harmony.

The train stopped at the train station followed by a cracked voice that came from the speaker.

"We have arrived in Ponyville," The stallion then coughed into the mic before shutting it off to allow the passengers to get off. Rainbow Dash stayed in her sleeping cart, hoping no one would be slow enough for the train to leave Ponyville by the time she put a hoof out of her sleeping cart.

Rainbow Dash stuck her muzzle out of her sleeping cart, followed by her head. She scanned the room to see the train cart was empty and quickly stepped out. She  threw her saddle pack on her back and cautiously walked towards the exit keeping her head down to avoid being seen by anypony. Rainbow dash yawned as she continued to walk closer and closer to exit.

Rainbow Dash slumped over as she trotted out of the train. She cocked her head to all the ponies greeting their families warmly. She thought of how to escape the crowd as she cautiously continued to trot towards the Everfree forest. Rainbow Dash looked up at the cloudy sky as she groaned softly. She sighed, continuing to make her way to the forest. She began to trot faster with a look of determination on her face to capture Twilight.

She groaned uncomfortably at the deafening silence of Ponyville, and looked over at a row of houses. She gagged at the dark, grimy paint. The houses had patches of different shades of grey, with piles of paint scrapings up against the walls. She attempted to ignore the unsanitariness of the wretched paint job as she viewed what appeared to be a orange coated mare with a purple mane. Rainbow Dash continued to walk through the town as her mouth fell open at the sight of the lack of ponies walking around.

Sugar Cube Corner had been repainted a vital shade of grey and yellow, yet sadly, it had been the most colorful building in the town.

Rainbow cocked her head back at Scoot's supposed house as the now older mare stepped outside with a dusty Rainbow scarf wrapped around her neck, with faded colors. Scootaloo blew a small strand of hair out of her face as she walked past Rainbow Dash with no real clue who she had been.

As Scoots walked past Rainbow, she sighed while Dash held one hoof up waving it from side to side slowly hoping it would catch her attention from the corner of her eye. Scootaloo looked back at Rainbow Dash for a brief moment then stopped in her tracks as Rainbow spoke.

"Scoots..." Rainbow stood still and stared at the mare. Scootaloo kept herself from looking back as the sound of hoof steps reached her ear. Rainbow walked closer and closer to Scootaloo till she was mere feet away from her. The two stood still without making a noise. Scootaloo sighed softly and turned to Rainbow Dash slowly. she walked closer to Dash and rested her head on Dash's neck.

The moment was silent except for Scootaloo's sniffs.

"Please don't leave again Rainbow Dash...Ponyville has been a disaster. Nopony ever comes out of their home, Sugar Cube Corner, the last remaining place in this wretched town is close to shutting down cause Mrs. and Mr.Cake can't get any business, and now it's just me and Apple Bloom since Sweetie Belle is always at home taking care of Rarity..Please Rainbow Dash, you're the last person that can help this town. Don't leave," Scootaloo said softly followed by another sniff.

"You know I can't stay Scoots...The princesses need me to help protect Equestria. Even you. It wouldn't be very loyal of me to abandon the rest of Equestria and just care for you guys now would it?"

Scootaloo shook her head slowly. She pulled her head away from Rainbow Dash and stepped away from her.

"It was nice seeing you Rainbow Dash...Maybe one day you can save this town like old times..." Scootaloo turned with a saddened voice and slowly began to walk away from Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow sighed softly, "Nice seeing you too Scoots.." Rainbow thought to herself as she stepped back and flew up. She was in no hurry to find Twilight, and decided to scan Ponyville for a dash of color that stood out.

Despite the slight color from Sugar Cube Corner and the pink and red slabs of wood nailed together that formed Apple Bloom's apple cart, Ponyville was practically colorless. The roses were black, the lilies grey and the grass had been cut so short, that all that could be seen was dirt.

Rainbow shook her head quickly trying to clear her mind of the sorrow all the Ponyville citizens had felt with the absence of the elements of harmony. Rainbow Dash lifted her head up to see Sweet Apple Acres in the distance over Town hall. She cracked a soft smile, flying to the side to view the farm. Rainbow's eyes widened at the sight of the far,. It was a dusty broken down farm. The walls were on the verge of rotting with old furniture lazily thrown outside. Couch cushions had been covered in dirt and partially buried. The apple trees had rotted. Some had fallen and the ground was covered in rotten apples.

Rainbow Dash sighed looking down. She gulped with guilt knowing she was the reason for Ponyville's torment. A glint caught Rainbow's eyes coming from the Everfree Forest. She quickly turned her head towards the forest. A pony escorted a wagon full of equipment into the forest. The forest from a distance looked worse than before, with dead trees and the sound of vicious beasts roaming the forest.

She flew down towards the forest, her weapons banging against each other in her saddle pack as she got closer to the forest. She skidded against the dirt, attempting to catch herself before she entered the forest against her will. Rainbow's jaw dropped a bit as she looked at the forest's appearance. The trees had all rotted and looked as if someone had drilled holes into them. Most leaves had all fallen from the trees, yet there were enough trees close enough to seem as if the trees were covered in leaves from the top of the forest.

Rainbow Dash gulped in fright as the sound of growls could be heard inside the forest.

"Alright Rainbow Dash...It's just a forest...You're the element of loyalty, and soon to be co-captain of the royal guards.."

Rainbow lifted her head up to view the darkened sky and slowly began to walk closer and closer to the forest entrance. Rainbow dash gulped once more, and put a hoof inside the Everfree Forest