Search for the spectrum

by MidnightFMare

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Crossover, Alternate Universe, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Other
Length: 8767

Rainbow Dash is many things, a speedster, a hero, and a loyal friend. But what is the connection between her mane, her dreams filled with such intense light and voices stronger than Luna's? Find out in this DC crossover where you need control to live

Rainbow Dash is many things, a speedster, a hero, and a loyal friend.

But what is the connection between her mane, her dreams filled with such intense light and voices stronger than Luna's?

Find out in this DC crossover where you need control to live

An idea that I've had but took off after I happened across the cover art by

All Non-pony related things and characters are property of Detective Comics and its affiliates, including Vertigo comics.

Published 2015-06-27 18:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-24 16:41:43 UTC

Prologue

Prologue

It was an average day in Ponyville, no monsters attacking, The CMC were in school, no special parties to plan, the weather was perfect thanks to the dedication of the weather team, and Rainbow "Danger" "Professionalism" Petunia Dash was chilling on a cloud, thinking about some sick tricks she had planned for later that day.

Or at least that had been the plan.

Yawning to ready herself for a nap, Rainbow saw a bright light out from the corner of her eye.

Prolly Twi doing some kind of magic thing or something she thought to herself, draping a wing over her eyes.

But the light seemed to get closer and the high-pitched whine of a Mach cone forming hit her sensitive ears. Sitting up, she turns towards the source of the noise and light "Okay, I know that besides maybe Spitfire, I'm the only pony capable of causing one of those cone things that Twilight talks about some... times..." her pupils shrink when she realizes what it is, a ball of metal coming straight at her.

Quickly taking off from the cloud, Rainbow watches in awe as the ball of metal disintegrates her cloud and hits the ground, carving out a trench before stopping, ozone and steam wafting off it.

Landing a few feet from the object, a mix of curiosity and excitement spinning in her gut, she calls out "Hello? Anypony in there?"

As if to answer her question, the ball squeaks open, a burnt pair of green hooves sticking out of what was apparently a door.

A low groan comes from the owner of the hooves, a dim green glow coming from within "Lohle? Nirg, snatrtale"

Rainbow cocks her head, stepping closer to the ball "What did you say? Do you need a doctor or something?"

The light grows for a second "... Hello?"

Rainbow waves "Hiya. What's with the pony-in-a-cannonball thing?"

The foot retreats into the ball as a white "Hand", as Twilight called them when talking about her time at the "High School" with "Hyu-mens" pulls the rest of the passenger's body out, who looked like a "Cent-oar" like Tirek, but unlike the evil one she'd fought before, it seemed hurt.

"Gree-" the thing, obviously male said before clutching his barrel in pain, blood dripping onto the ground despite the pressure he'd been putting on it.

"WHOA! Holy buck dude, you need a doctor ASA-now! Wait here, I'm going to go get my friend" She takes off again, leaving the strange "Cent-oar" behind.

Rainbow passes through the large dog flap that all her friends put in their houses so that they didn't have to repair walls constantly when she visited.

"Fluttershy! I need you!" she yells, a mass of small woodland creatures shifting to reveal the butter-yellow pegasus beneath it "Oh! Rainbow! I must have fallen asleep and my little friends must've covered me up." she says, the numerous animals hopping off her as she slowly sat up.

"Yeah, cool, anyways, I was getting ready for a nap when this huge metal thing comes from out of nowhere and nearly smashes me! I went to investigate and I found this 'Scent-or' thing inside and he's got a huge chunk of flesh missing from his side and I need you so come on let's go!!" she explains, picking up the still sleepy pegasus and the medical crate under Fluttershy's couch that Pinkie had handy in case of "Medical Emergencies".

Rainbow lands near where she had left, the "Scene-tar", who still clutching his side, gloves starting to stain red "I got my friend! Don't worry Scent guy, she's like a super medic or something!"

His eyes focus on them, seeming to shy away from Fluttershy unconsciously "... Lantern..."

Rainbow looks around "I don't see any lanterns."

Fluttershy's face wrinkles as the smell of blood hits her nose, kickstarting her brain like one of those motors Twilight had invented after her previous trip to the human world "Oh my!"

She rushes over, pushing Rainbow out of the way as she easily lifted the crate of medical supplies "What happened?"

He starts to protest at the proximity but thinks better of it and removes his hand, opting to lay on his less injured side, blood caking his lips "Fight... won. But... hurt... exiled."

Fluttershy nods in understanding, her mind going into auto-pilot as she cleans the gaping wound, blood starting to stain her hooficure and coat.

Rainbow cocks her head "So you won a fight and got exciled? You must be awesome to be kicked out for fighting, what were you fighting? Timberwolves? Cerberus? Tirek, I bet it was Tirek."

He nods "Was barbarian... before chosen by... ring."

Rainbow furrows her brows "How does a ring choose somepony? Isn't it the other way around?"

He nods, Fluttershy lifting his larger body with ease as she wrapped gauze around his barrel, scrubbing burns and cuts with a sanitary wipe held in her wing as she goes "It could be a magic ring" she mutters unconsciously, absorbed in her work.

Rainbow nods "That makes sense. So..." she looks over his massive form "What the buck are you?"

"Green... lantern" he replies, grunting as Fluttershy lowers him back onto the ground.

"That should work for now, but I really think he should go to a hospital." Fluttershy whispers as he stands up slowly.

He nods to them and closes his eyes, the green glow from earlier enveloping his body as he flies into the sky without wings.

Rainbow easily catches up with him, hovering above him "Whoa there big guy! You're hurt! You can't just fly off to wherever you want! That wound could open back up if you move too much."

He ignores her as his ascent gains speed, Rainbow easily keeping up "Seriously, I don't care how strong, big, or whatever you are, you're missing a chunk of your side and you need to heal!"

"Can't. I am needed to fight alongside my fellow lanterns... to rid the galaxy of the... enemy." he replies, before clutching his side again, the green glow around him fading for a second.

Rainbow crosses her legs "You can go back to ridding the galaxy of the enemy or whatever when you have the rest of your side back at least."

He looks at her with annoyance "I am grateful for your assistance, but I am needed... to fight. My life is of no... consequence but to ensure the safety of the... galaxy and all within it. Should I fall in battle, the ring will- UNGH!"

Clutching his side, he coughs up droplets of blood as the green aura fades away completely.

He starts to drop but Rainbow grabs under his arms and flaps with all her might, trying to slow the larger being's descent.

"Here... let me help... if you don't mind that is." Fluttershy says, looping her arms around his barrel and flaping her wings with all her might .

Both mares set him on the ground softly, Fluttershy panting in exhaustion, face down on the ground, wings hanging limply at her side.

Rainbow simply wills away her exhaustion with a flick of her wings.

She looks over the unconscious stranger on the ground, his clothing seeming to fade with each breath "So... I'll carry him to the hospital. Can you get Big Mac, his coltfriend, and Bulk to get the metal ball thing to my place?"

Fluttershy nods and sets off towards Sweet Apple Acres as Rainbow loops her fore hooves under the stranger's armpits "You owe me big for this Green Lantern... wow that is a strange name for a cent-soar."

Nurse Redheart returns from the hospital shrine known as the break room, having visited and paid tribute to the representative of the patron god of medicine and nurses, the humbled and venerable Lord Brews, or as the unappreciative fools called his holiness, the coffee machine.

So far today, no accidents, I have one more hour until my shift ends and then I'm going to go home and watch that Battlesol Galacticus box set I bought last month... just hope nopony comes in and sets me ba-

As if sensing her impending joy, the universe decides to send her favorite patient to ruin her day "Hello Rainbow Dash, what happened this time?"

Rainbow grunts and once again, disperses her fatigue with a wing flick "I'm okay right now, Red. It's my friend here, he kinda.... fell from the sky in a metal ball and is missing a chunk of his flank."

Redheart groans "Of course, why not? Let's see what's wrong with hi-" she stares wide mouthed at Rainbow's "Friend".

"... Is this some kind of prank Rainbow? I know a pony when I see one, and that is not a pony."

Rainbow shakes her head "I'm telling the truth! He's bleeding out as we speak!"

Redheart groans and motions for Rainbow to follow her to a vacant room Why me? Why always me? I pay my taxes, I participate in social events, I don't do bad things too often, so why does the universe punish me so?

After doing a physical exam, Redheart shakes her head "He's a centaur, that much is apparent. But the only centaur I know of is in Tartarus."

Rainbow nods "I knew that already! I figured that considering what happened might mean that the princesses would've sent out books on centaurs or something."

Redheart sighs "No, I only know about as much as the average pony about centaurs. I can't believe I'm saying this but we need a certain pony, a pony who is possibly the only expert on them."

"Twilight or one of the princesses?" Rainbow asks.

"No..." she shivers "Lyra Heartstrings."

The sleepy green unicorn drags her hooves as she approaches the hospital, pissed that her dream about exploring space was cut short by Rainbow Dash "Why did you pull me away from my dream? I was conversing about the virtues of emotion with an alien that looked like a giant blue bird with three eyes."

Rainbow rolls her eyes "Centaur fell from the sky, Red said that you were the only pony who knew a lot about them."

Lyra nods sleepily "Yeah, considering what happened a while ago with Lord Tirek, professors of history and Hippological studies have been bugging me for my research like Pinkie Pie when she wants to try one of Bonbon's new candies."

"'Lord'?" Rainbow asks.

"Seemingly immortal emissary of an unknown land. Seems fitting that he must be a high ranking individual from there, but then again, whoever lives there hasn't tried to get him back, not even his brother, Scorpan so... the honorific of 'Lord' seems appropriate." Lyra explains, entering the hospital still half asleep.

Rainbow stares at her "Note to self: Lyra is a genius like Twilight."

Lyra looks over the stranger who is still out cold, a number of machines measuring his functions "... He isn't a centaur species that I recognize, he lacks the horns and the flat face common in sapient and semi-sapient beings. So in my professional opinion, we are dealing with a more than 50-60 percent equine centaur... judging by the bone and physiological structure that I can see, I'd estimate around 70-80 percent. You say that he fell from the sky?"

Both Rainbow and Redheart nod dumbly, stunned by the flow of words coming from the usually goofy and odd unicorn.

"Okay... and considering the abrasions and semi dark bruising, he was either held in a tight space while going through intense heat or something, consistent with re-entry into the planet's atmosphere in a poorly insulated vessel. With me so far?"

Both ponies shake their head.

Lyra shrugs "What we're dealing with here isn't from Equestria or any other place on the planet."

Redheart snaps out of her stupor "Meaning?"

"Meaning that we are presently in the company of a non-terrestrial or in other words, an alien being." Lyra explains, yawning.

Redheart snorts "Aliens don't exist, nothing can survive off-planet."

"Princess Luna." Lyra replies "Not the best example, but the most widely known example in any case."

Rainbow shakes her head "Alien? As in... not from this world?"

Lyra nods "Yeah, and this is a strange dream even by my standards. The ones with aliens usually involve me either being half drunk or in space already." her brows furrow "And the fact that I know this is a dream means that it's a lucid one. So I command dream Rainbow's mane burst into flames!"

Redheart stares at her flatly "This isn't a dream. Now if we can get back to the fact that we may have an alien centaur in the room, I'd like you to show me some proof besides your conspiracy theories."

Lyra sighs "One, it's Cryptozoology, not Conspiracy. Two, the fact that he looks only vaguely like the elusive Lambmurian centaurs who, according to what relics have been uncovered, disappeared before the beginning of year 0 of the only year of the first rule of the two sisters. Thus, he is alien in origin or a time traveler. Or an alien time traveler, might be both."

Redheart rolls her eyes "And you want me, a nurse of medicine, to believe in time travel and aliens?"

Rainbow shrugs "We live in a town with Pinkie Pie, Twilight and her crazy brain, and a dragon. We've fought off an immortal centaur that could steal magic and cutie marks not too long ago, Discord appears here regularly, I can break the sound barrier and give ponies cutie marks when they see it sometimes, there's a giant crystal fortress of friendship where the library stood, Princess Luna is a temporary citizen here, you've seen how Derpy Whooves is never hurt no matter what, The CMC live here, we tend to burst into town-wide musical numbers that we all suddenly know the words and choreograph it even though we never practice it in advance, we're situated right over a door to Tartarus, and we can hold things with hooves somehow, even though we don't know how and shouldn't think about it because that sends Twilight into her crazy mode." she frowns "I'd believe anything at this point."

Redheart rubs her forehead "Fine, but if anypony asks, I said that I didn't believe you and called you two morons. I need to go make my pilgrimage to the temple again."

Lyra follows "Aye, Lord Brews is a mighty and revered vassal of the great one."

Rainbow watches them leave and sits next to Green Lantern "An alien, huh? Sweet, I saved the life of an alien from another planet. I wonder if that means that he'll take me to his planet and teach me how he was flying without wings. Wonder what Daring Do or Spitfire would do in my situation? Heck, I bet neither of them have ever met an alien!"

His hand glows green, startling her "Celestia on a stick!"

"-llo? Lantern Hag, report! I repeat, Lantern Hag, report!" someone says, the voice seeming to come from the glow.

"Uhhhh... Hello? Glowing green ball?" Rainbow asks, slowly walking towards it.

There's a pause, as if the glow was turning her words over in its head "You are not Lantern Hag. Identify yourself."

"Rainbow Dash."

The glow sighs "No, I meant where are you? What planet?"

Rainbow scratches her head "Uhhh... give me a sec."

She looks both ways and inhales "PINKIE PIE!" pause "WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PLANET?!"

Suddenly a suction cupped dart hits her forehead, a note taped to it.

In our language, it's name is Terra. In Interlac, It's Cellum 3, space sector 2813. By the way, do you know if your alien friend likes parties?

Rainbow stares at the note and looks around the room "I was facing a wall... how did she hit my forehead?"

Shrugging it off as Pinkie being Pinkie, she walked back to the glow "Uhhh... according to my friend, Cellum 3, space sector 2813, that mean anything to you?"

The glow brightens a little "Yes, you are an Equestrian are you not?"

"Yeah..." she answers unsurely.

The glow dims "That clarifies much. Where is Lantern Relok Hag?"

"Who?"

"A semi-equine/sapient male with a white mane and black fur?" the glow asks.

"Oh! I thought his name was Green Lantern! At least, that's what he told me when I asked. He's out cold, what are you anyways? An alien spirit or something?"

The glow chuckles "I haven't heard that before. No, I am Lantern Shorm of sector 40. You say that Lantern Hag is unconscious?"

Rainbow nods "Yeah, fell from the sky in some kind of metal ball with a chunk of his side missing and scratched up. We're in a hospital right now and he hasn't said anything since he passed out about an hour ago."

Shorm hums in thought "I suppose that is to be expected, especially since his ring only just came back on line around that time. He has been MIA since the war... did he also happen to have a green object that looked like a train lantern?"

"No, if he did, it must have been in that ball. So... why am I telling you all this? I mean, you're obviously attached to him or something glowing ball alien"

"Glowing- What are you even talking about?"

"I mean, you're stuck to his hand or whatever you call these things, they're not claws so..." Rainbow takes a closer look "Oh! A ring! Cool, you're some kind of ring-shaped rock alien!"

Shorm sighs "No, I am not, I am just using Lantern Hag's ring to communicate with you. Please tell me you have an idea of what a green lantern is."

"Not a one!" Rainbow says confidently.

A slapping sound comes from the ring "Lanterns are galactic police. Please try to get Lantern Hag conscious."

Rainbow shrugs and walks out of the room, passing Nurse Tenderheart "What up Tender?"

"Nothing much, just watching the bubbles in the water cooler." as if sensing her statement, several large bubbles rise to the top with a gurgle.

"Where are the smelly salts?"

"In the closet right across from the room at the end of the hall, brown box with a stink lines drawn on it" Tenderheart answers, her eyes fixed to the cooler.

"O... kay..."

Relok stirs, blinking away pain "What? What happened?"

Sitting in his chest is Rainbow "Good evening Mr. Lantern guy."

He blinks again "What... Where am I?"

"Equestria. You're a long way from home, Lantern"

"What? How do you know what I am?"

She rolls her eyes "You told me before you passed out. And Shorm told me the barest details."

"Shorm? Oh, him. You talked to him?"

"Yes she did, Lantern Hag." Shorm says, the glow reappearing.

Hag tries to salute but instead of movement, pain shoots up his arm "Rrgg..."

Shorm sighs "You are unfortunately too injured to continue your duty as a lantern at the moment. The lingering yellow energy in your body is making it impossible for your ring to heal you. Your partner is working capably in your absence, and until further notice, you are placed in reserve. Orders directly from the Guardians, I'm afraid."

Relok sighs "Wonderful, I'm not able to do anything again. I might as well still be on Biot."

Rainbow shrugs "So you get a little time off and compensation; big deal. So how about you just chill, heal, and then go back to work. How does that sound?"

"Like punishment. I'm a warrior, I live to fight and right wrongs. That is my duty, my oath, my life."

Rainbow rolls her eyes "Yeah yeah, heard that junk before. Trust me, I hate being laid up in the hospital because I hurt myself doing a trick or something. I bet I could do all sorts of awesome stuff if I was in space like you!"

Relok blinks again "You are an excitable one, aren't you?"

She shrugs again "Most everypony calls me reckless and... enough about me, Tell me about you! Shrom told me to keep an eye on you and I'll do just that! Never devia- devea- stray from that course"

He rolls his eyes "How do you think that you can keep up with me? I'm at least 4 or 5 times your size, and fight for a living."

Rainbow grins "I'm the fastest pegasus in Equestria, I can fly at right angles without slowing down, and I can break the sound barrier with ease. And you've got a chunk missing from your side."

He snorts "Touché little pony. But I must do something in my time here."

Rainbow shrugs "You can use your size to pick apples, dig, do anything really. So, after we break you out of here in a few minutes, how about we go see about getting you a job?"

Relok grins "That seems like a good plan. How about introductions? I'm Reserve Lantern Relok Tag of sector 173"

Rainbow taps a hoof to his limp hand "Rainbow Dash, Wonderbolts stunt flier, Element of Loyalty"

End Prologue

Author's Note

Lantern's name: Relok Hag
Sector: 173
Barbarian from a primitive planet pre-induction. Overthrew dominating leaders who experimented on the beings whom lived there and was thought killed in the process. Found in stasis on Manhunter home world of Biot *

Lantern's name: Shorm
Sector: 40
Acting desk sergeant for the GL corps, distributes equipment to recruits. Complains about rookies and irresponsibility present in the human lanterns of sector 2814 with his good friend Salaak. Boasts possession of 20 tentacles*
*All information paraphrased from Green lantern: Tales of the Sinestro corps by Geoff Johns and Ron Marz

Chapter one: Carry no doubt

Rainbow sits on Relok's back, careful not to step on his bandages "So... how does doing this help you?"

"I need to keep my body in peak form for when I return to duty" Relok answers.

"And lifting rocks will help that?"

He nods and throws one into the air "There is no other way to maintain it. I need to exert myself to the limit and then push beyond that."

Rainbow nods "I guess that makes sense. I'm always pushing myself to become better at flying and being awesome. Speaking of awesome, are you hungry?"

Relok shakes his head "No, why are you here? To keep watch over me?"

"That and I have nothing better to do. I mean, I could go hang with Pinkie but she's working today so... you're stuck with me, big guy"

Relok catches the rock he threw and sets it on the ground with a satisfied grunt "How is it that your kind have not attempted space travel?"

Rainbow shrugs "Never really thought about trying. I think Luna would've told us about anything she saw on the moon. And you don't look alien... except for the minotaur torso bit. So how does your fancy ring work?"

Relok wipes his forehead "I am not quite sure myself. I know that the major function is to protect lanterns and create constructs of energy."

"Sounds like magic to me."

Relok shrugs "It may be that way on your planet. I also notice that the presence of an alien does not... cause havoc."

Rainbow grins "Trust me big guy, not a whole lot scares us Ponyville ponies. Well, unless you're Fluttershy, in which case, nearly everything scares you."

"Hm. It's ironic, your friend is yellow and yellow is the color of fear on the emotional color spectrum."

"The what now?"

Relok starts walking down the hill "Emotional color spectrum. There are beings made up of pure emotion and they manifest in colored light. There are the red lanterns of anger, orange of avarice, yellow of fear, green of willpower, blue of hope, indigo of compassion and violet of love."

"Cool... so you have a willpower powered ring?! That's so awesome! Can I try?!"

"I don't thin-" Rainbow swoops around his hand, removing the inactive ring "Yoink!"

She inspects it, holding it between her hooves"Uh... how am I supposed to put it on? It's tin- Awk!"

Relok removes the ring from her grasp, holding her by the tail "Only I can use this."

Rainbow glares at him, upside-down "Why does everypony grab me by the tail?!"

He drops her, putting the ring back on "You could have just asked me to let you hold it."

Rainbow rolls onto her hooves "Would you have said yes if I did?"

"No."

Rainbow flies onto his back "Well there you go."

Relok rolls his eyes "You are very rude."

Rainbow shrugs "I prefer 'Awesome'"

Relok rolls his eyes and points to the castle of friendship "Why is there a large crystal tree in the middle of your town?"

"That's the fortress of friendship. It's some kind of gift from the tree of harmony. I don't know, I was kinda trapped when it happened."

"Hm." Relok's ring glows and he flies towards the castle, Rainbow still sitting on his back "Can't you go any faster?!"

Relok lands in front of the door "Why would I need to?"

Rainbow huffs "Nevermind... stupid alien ring."

The door opens "See you later Twi! I'm going to go-oof!" Spike rubs his head "What the-"

Relok looks down and helps Spike stand "Are you okay young reptile?"

Spike rubs his nose "Dragon, and yeah, just a bit stunned. I'm guessing you're Relok Tag?"

He nods "I'm assuming that the one inside is the local warlord or ruler?"

"Warlord? Nah, we have a monarchial system. I was going to go help a friend but I guess I have to be here in case Twilight's brain goes to silly putty. Again."

Rainbow flies onto Relok's shoulder "Hi Spike!"

Spike waves and motions for Relok to follow.

Twilight stares down at her notes "So... let me see if I have your story straight. You're an intergalactic police officer, otherwise known as a 'Green Lantern'. You crashed in the outskirt's of Ponyville where Rainbow happened to be and she had Fluttershy help bring you to the hospital. You healed due to the effects of your ring which utilizes a store of willpower-based energy to also create constructs, allow you to fly, and protect you from the vacuum of space. Is that the gist of your story?"

Relok nods.

Twilight sighs "I understand it all, but another part of my mind is telling me that it can't be true."

Rainbow grins and reaches behind her chair, pulling out a solid green trainlatern-esque object "I've seen it! I've seen it happen! I even have the lantern right here!"

Relok takes the lantern "How did you-"

"I had Pinkie Pie put here."

Relok sighs "It matters not. I must recharge my ring anyway."

He places the lantern in front of himself, points his ring at the opening and inhales

In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil's might,

Beware my power

GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!

The room fills with brilliant green light as the oath leaves Relok's lips, fading into the lantern as he finishes.

Rainbow stares dumbfounded "So... awesome..."

Twilight shoots from her seat and grabs the lantern "SCIENCE TIME!"

Relok removes Twilight with ease "No, the secrets of the lantern are to remain secrets. Thank you for returning my lantern Rainbow."

She salutes "My pleasure officer Tag. So... do you think you could get me one of those rings?"

Spike scoffs "They aren't like collectables Dash, they require strong will, an unbreakable desire to protect, and the ability to overcome fear. You have those things, yeah, but that doesn't mean you can be one."

Relok nods "It is as he says, and there are already two lanterns assigned to this sector."

Rainbow sighs "Fine."

Twilight huffs "I need to know how it works!"

Rainbow shrugs "There are secrets we aren't meant to know. Like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a squishy roll pop. Or why Luna can't use control the sun but can control other stars."

Spike rolls his eyes "She controls the light that comes through the atmosphere and the moon's orbit. That's it."

Relok looks around the castle "I wonder..."

Twilight turns to him "What?"

He points his ring at the wall and scans it "It's alive... and surging with energy..."

Rainbow cocks her head "Yeah, It's connected to the tree of harmony."

Relok nods "It acts similar to the central power battery and this is... a giant lantern battery."

Rainbow nods then pauses "Wait, then does that mean that you can harness the power?"

He shakes his head "Not I. Maybe one who is connected to it?"

Rainbow pauses and shoots out the door, leaving a spectral trail behind her.

Spike watches her fly away "Wonder where she's going?"

Rainbow lands in front of the tree of harmony and bows "Hi... I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but I was wondering... could you give me a way to... use your power? Magic?"

Do you truly desire the burden of being Equestria's defender? To undergo a transformation that could turn you to stone? Is that what you truly desire? a distant voice asks from within the tree.

Rainboiw nods "I want to be a lantern like Relok. I may be the fastest flier in Equestria, but I know that's my only strength... I want to be able to do things. Applejack has her strength, Pinkie can do the impossible, Fluttershy can talk to animals, Twilight and Rarity can use magic... all I can do is fly fast and I crash too much..." She shakes her head "I mean, being awesome only gets you so far."

You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. You do not need more power, you are stronger than most, Rainbow Dash. I believe in you.

Rainbow nods "But... what if I'm not strong enough? What if everypony is too hurt to help me? What if we're... changed like what happened with Discord? I still have nightmares about that, by the way... and even though he's proven to be trust worthy I... I can't shake the feeling that he pulled something from the bottom of my heart. Please, I need to be able to protect my friends.

The tree stands silent, as if contemplating.

"Hello?"

You already protect them. You are always by their side, if not in body then spirit and mind. You are as strong as your friendship Rainbow Dash. Do you doubt the strength of your friendships? Were the actions of an enemy turned friend able to shake your resolve? Your faith in yourself and your friends?

"What?! No! I- I'm just afraid..." she hangs her head, her mane obscuring the forming tears "I'm always saving my friends by the skin of my teeth. A split second too late... and then they're gone."

The tree glows, filling the clearing with light You fear being alone, to have no one to stand by your side. You are a lonely soul Rainbow Dash, but friendships, true friendships are stronger than death, time, or space. You will never be alone so long as you have your friends in your heart. Now go back to your friends Rainbow Dash, you have a new friend to make and maybe... maybe you'll get your wish.

Rainbow wipes tears away and takes flight, grinning "Thanks Tree. I needed that."

After she takes off A long, serpentine body slinks out from behind the tree, a grin on its mismatched features "you're very welcome Rainbow Dash."

Chapter two: A test of will

Rainbow landed outside of the castle, feeling confidant "I'm so awesome I don't need a ring!" she mutters, entering the throne room.

Spike looks up from scrawling something on a large pad, several papers scattered around the table "Hey Rainbow!"

Twilight walks out of the kitchen with tea in her magic "Why am I the one fetching tea?"

Spike rolls his eyes "You're a mage Twilight, you deal in facts and absolutes. I am a genius in the more esoteric pursuits and vectors of knowledge, logic, and reasoning."

Twilight stares at him, surprised "Uh... define 'Esoteric'"

"Esoteric means things and subjects that cannot be reasonably explained by linear logic without a large amount of uncertainty or are too small to be observed with any known or possible means. Basically, parascience." Rainbow says, looking at Spike's notes "Uh... dude? I'm sure that the spatial coefficient isn't supposed to be rounded."

Spike walks over to her and gasps "You're right! This would've spiraled out into complete inaccuracy! Thanks so much Dash!"

Rainbow shrugs "Hey, I just happened to have mistaken weather-based chaos theory class for something about wild weather."

Twilight stares at them both "Spike I can believe being able to maybe comprehend that level of math, but you Rainbow? And Chaos is... unnatural."

Rainbow sighs "I wish I could explain it, but I'm not good at that."

Spike shrugs, writing something "It's basically using biology, physics, statistics, meteorology, and mathematics to explain the inaccuracies and the ability of incredibly random things occuring."

Twilight furrows her brow "Is it 'Confuse Twilight day' or something? First I can't get a straight answer about how the ring and lantern work and now you two are evading my questions. I'm going back to bed."

Spike rolls her eyes "I'll get Derpy to explain it to you tomorrow!"

Twilight grumbles something in response and slams the door shut.

"That's the broom closet." Spike says, not looking up from his papers.

Twilight exits the closet and opens another door, slamming it behind herself.

She huffs over to Spike "Where's my room?"

Spike looks up "At the end of the hall, the one with your cutie mark on the center."

Twilight thanks him and walks away, grumbling.

Rainbow looks around the room "Where's Relok?"

"Said something about practicing with his ring."

Rainbow shoots out of the library and scans the ground looking for him "I knew it was stupid to try to leave him alone... stupid stupid stupid!"

Then a bright flash of green light burst on the horizon "Either that's him, or another lantern..."

Rainbow lands next to Relok "What don't you understand about 'I have to keep an eye on you' don't you understand?"

Relok turns to her, a number of copies holding weapons in their hands lined up in front of him "I am capable of looking after myself."

She shrugs "I'm just following orders, guy. So, what are you doing?"

"I am practicing my constructs." her motions to the solid green copies of himself.

Rainbow stares at the lantern next to the burnt capsule "Do you mind?"

Relok frowns "I do. Don't touch it."

Rainbow glares at him "I meant the pod thingy. I think I can fix it."

He stares at me for a few seconds before nodding "Do not break it."

Rainbow grins and sticks her head into it, a number of dim lights on the circular panels illuminating the inside "Okay... don't touch any red buttons..."

A beep answers her and she covers her face with her hooves "I didn't touch anything!"

A screen in front of me brightens, a blurry figure distorted by static "Green lantern Relok Tag?"

"Uhh... I'm his friend, is that close enough?"

The figure ignores her "There is a yellow lantern in your sector, exercise extreme caution and do not confront it."

Rainbow nods "Yellow guy, don't do anything, be careful, got it!"

The screen dims and Rainbow walks out of the pod and flies onto Relok's back "Big guy, you got orders from your boss."

He turns to her "I did not receive any orders from my rin- AUGH!"

A blast of yellow slams into his torso, knocking him onto his wounded side.

Rainbow takes flight, looking for whatever hit him "What just happened?!"

A tall fish-bird descends from the sky, bright yellow clothing covering its body, a sparking yellow ring on one hand, it's slitted eyes glaring at Relok in disdain and pride "Hello Lantern! I wondered why you'd be on this pathetic planet, turns out you were recuperating! I can't believe my luck!"

Relok grunted "Romat-Ru, the Xanadarian serial killer and yellow lantern..."

Romat-Ru grins "I see that I'm known even to you. Now I can kill you and eradicate this whole planet!"

Rainbow turns to him "Why would you do that?! What's he done to you?!"

"He's a green lantern. I wish to make an example of him and to have killed one of Biot's former prisoners is just a bonus."

Rainbow stares at him "What does his job have to do with anything?! You're both lanterns, you should be friends!"

Relok grunts, his own ring glowing "He's a mass murderer, he doesn't understand the concept of loyalty or empathy."

Romat-Ru holds a clawed hand to his chest "I understand them perfectly! I'm loyal to Sinestro and I can feel the fear of others! But enough talking, you can die along with this colorful eyesore!"

Relok creates a shield, and Rainbow avoids the blast of yellow energy and flies around to Romat-Ru's back and kicks him in the head but to no effect.

He turns and points his ring at Rainbow's face, her magenta eyes staring back at him "I'm not afraid of you."

Romat-Ru grins "How fooli-Argh!"

Relok fires a volley of green blasts at his back, Rainbow evading his body "Nice shot!"

"Get out of here Rainbow!" He yells, green energy forming into a platoon of clones.

Rainbow shakes her head "No way big guy! I never abandon my friends!"

Romat-Ru fires a wave of energy at them, the gladiators shattering like glass "You're not strong enough to defeat me! Give into fear, Lantern Relok!"

Rainbow shoots towards Romat-ru, the alien summoning another wave but she smirks and drops below him, and instead of kicking the back of his head, she bucks his ears, knocking him off balance with a growl "Take that you overgrown chicken!"

His eyes glow yellow as an innumerable number of yellow insects the size of needles appear from his ring "DIE!"

Rainbow grins and flies away, the swarm following her Whoa! These bugs're fast! I wonder...

She flaps her wings and looks straight up, ascending with the swarm and sound of Relok's constructs shattering followed by a grunt Just hold on Relok!!

Out of the corner of her eye, she can see the distant Cloudsdale floating I'm high up enough... now if I remember what I did last time... she inhales and looks down at the yellow insects coming towards her, she swallows her fear and flaps her wings hard, swerving to avoid the clusters of yellow bugs as a cone of air forms on her hooves "Come... on!!!"

The cone glows like the color spectrum, Rainbow's eyes tearing up as she targets Romat-Ru.

Boom. Rainbow thinks to herself, a shockwave of color spreading through the sky, her own mane and tail leaving a similar streak through the sky as her hooves make contact with the now aware Romat-Ru's chest "What are you-"

Whatever he said was lost as his uniform turned entirely black, his ring dimming right before impact with the ground.

Rainbow pants, her hooves screaming in pain and numbness "Awe... some..."

Relok gallops over to the edge of the crater, his ring glowing bright "What did you do, Romat-Ru?!"

Rainbow looks up at Relok "That was... me... never hit anything after my rain... booms before... ow..."

Relok slides down the crater's edge, ring still bright "Is... what did you..."

Rainbow tries to raise her wings but a sharp jolt of pain shoots up her spine "I... I think I pulled my wings..."

Romat-ru groans, an unintelligible string of syllables to Rainbow's ears.

"Uh... did I break his brain or something?"

"Ring, scan his power levels."

A cone of light envelopes Romat-ru's body, and a symbol appears above the ring "He has no power... what did you do?"

"Don't you think you should arrest him first?" Rainbow asks, pulling the dull yellow ring off the prone alien's claws.

Relok nods wordlessly, his ring glowing again and a different voice comes from it "Lantern Tag? Why are you contacting Oa? I was told you were on reserves."

He nods "I was. But a yellow lantern in this sector attacked me. The escaped Xanadarian serial killer, Romat-Ru."

Rainbow shuffles her hooves, holding onto the ring with her teeth and looking at the hoofprints she's left on Romat-Ru's chest Huh, so that's the symbol of the yellow lanterns? Cool.

The voice, a lantern Rainbow realized, continued "You were able to capture him? Alone?"

"No, I was assisted by a local, the one who found me when I crashed here. Rainbow Dash of Equestria."

"...I'll send a contingent of lanterns to return him to Oa for trial. You must come as well and bring the one who helped you."

Relok nods "Understood."

Rainbow looks up from inspecting her wings "What's the verdict, big guy?"

Relok nods, enveloping Romat-Ru in chains of green light "We are going to Oa."

Rainbow grins "Sweet. Don't be a stranger, you're awesome and hey, maybe you could have your boss send a letter about my courage to the Wonderbolts! They'd beg to let me on the team if they knew I helped beat an alien serial killer... okay, having said it out loud, I know that probably won't work."

Relok grins "I meant that you come to Oa with me."

The gears in Rainbow's head turn, processing his words slowly "Huuuuhhh...?"

She gasps "Y-you want me to come with you... to an alien planet? As in, an alien planet?!"

Relok nods "Yes, the Guardians demanded it."

Rainbow grinned wide and shot into the air "Oh my gosh I can't believe I'm going to a different planet! This is awesomer than awesome!!"

Relok grinned in response "I'm sure that the escorts will be along shortly."

Rainbow gasped "I'm gonna go get my camera!"

Rainbow flicks her tail, bored "What's taking them so long?"

Relok sighs "Impatience isn't a great quality Rainbow. Look, they've arrived."

Rainbow looks up and indeed, five green lanterns descend from the sky, each one a different type of alien "Coooooool..."

An orange human looking thing with pointy ears "Arisa, Green Lantern of sector 2815" Informs Relok as Rainbow snaps a picture of each one.

The next, a Xudarian like Romat-Tu "Tomar-Tu, Green lantern of sector 2813"

Next is what looks like a tortoise without a shell "Green Man, Green Lantern of sector 2828"

Rainbow looks at Relok "Don't you know his name?"

"It's more of a designation. Where he's from, there is no individuality."

"Harvid and G'Hu, Green lanterns of sector 2937" He introduces, pointing to a red human with an impressive mustache and a pink and violet man with two long tendrils draped from the back of his head to his ankles.

"Cooool..."

Tomar-Tu walks over to Romat-Ru, still held in green chains "So, we finally caught you again. Maybe without your ring you can pay for your crimes."

Romat-Ru sneers "I will escape and when I do, with lord Sinestro's blessing, I shall eradicate this pathetic planet for humiliating me."

Rainbow growls and bucks the side of his head "You'll never get the chance you fish-chicken freak!" She looks up at Tomar-Tu with a blush "Uhh... no offense officer."

Tomar-Tu cocks his head "I'm supposing you were the one who assisted Relok in his apprehension?"

Rainbow nods, saluting "Yeah! But I gotta say, he wasn't really scary to be honest. I mean, I get he's a serial killer and all, but why did he have a yellow ring?"

Green man walks forward "He is a murderer of thousands of his own people. Children to be precise."

A chill goes down Rainbow's spine, her blood turning to ice water "Ch-children?"

The tall yellow woman, Arisa, places a hand on Rainbow's shoulder "Yes, but you helped in capturing him. that makes you a hero not only to your people, but to the dead as well."

The words pass through Rainbow's ears but she doesn't register them, the chill turning to heat and rage."

"You... you're a monster... no, you're worse than a monster... you're scum."

Romat-Ru smirks "I've been called worse by my own kind. Your words do nothing but fuel me to eradicate everything you hold dear."

"Silence." Relok commands, a muzzle appearing over his mouth.

The mustache sporting man clears his throat "I suggest we get back to Oa. The guardians want to meet the civilian."

Rainbow gives Romat-Ru the stink eye before taking flight

Somewhere on the moon, Princess Luna was building her oft-put off moon laser cannon, a number of tools held in her magic when she notices a mass of green out of the corner of her eye "What the- l-lanturns?!"

Luna shivers, lighting her horn and takes something out of her saddlebags "No... it's too soon..."

Held in her magic is a small purple-blue object.

Rainbow gasps "Oh my gosh! I'm in SPACE! Oh crap! I'm in space! I can't breathe! T-tell Scootaloo... to keep her hooves... off... my... Playmares..."

Arisa grins "Relok's ring is letting you breath Rainbow. And we're almost to Oa."

Rainbow looks around "Really? We've only been traveling for a few minutes."

Relok nods and points to a giant floating fortress bearing the mark of the Green Lanterns atop a planet.

"Whoa... that's awesome..." Rainbow gasps.

Relok nods "That is the central core battery, it is where all the power of will in the universe is concentrated."

Rainbow grins "So... It's like a giant factory?"

Green Man shakes his head "No, it cannot manufacture willpower, it focuses it. It powers all of our rings and power batteries. Without it, we wouldn't have any power."

Rainbow shrugs "Sounds like a factory to me. So when do I get to meet the boss?"

Arisa grins "When we touch down and get audience."

Rainbow rubs her hooves together "This is gonna be awesome..."

"What do you mean I can't go in?! They asked me to come!" Rainbow yells, irritated.

A tall alien with four arms sighs "I wasn't given any instruction to let you or anyone else in. Please calm yourself."

Rainbow snorts and sits on Relok's back "This sucks..."

Relok walks forward "Lantern Salaak, we were instructed to meet with the guardians regarding Rainbow's actions and assistance in apprehending the yellow lantern Romat-Ru."

Salaak nods "I'm aware of his apprehension but not of her involvement. As far as I was informed, you defeated him alone."

"I helped! I was the one who beat him, held him down, and landed the last blow! Relok helped just as much as I did! Can't your ring tell if I'm lying or not?"

Relok shakes his head "I'm afraid that the rings lack that power. Salaak, I swear on my oath that I was told to bring her to Oa and meet with the guardians."

Salaak sighs "I'm not questioning your words, I just have not been told to let you in."

"We did not think to inform you Lantern Salaak."

They all turn and floating in front of a large door is a little blue man with white slicked back hair.

Rainbow raises an eyebrow "You're the one who called us? I never would've thought that a little blue man would control all these lanterns. Whatever, My name is Rainbow Dash. Nice to meet you." she extends a hoof in greeting.

The man stares for a second and turns away "Come, we have much to discuss."

Jerk. Little old blue jerk.

Rainbow shuffles her hooves, eyes locked on the centre guardian "So... do you want me to tell you what happened or are we good?"

The guardian nods "We are here to ask why you helped Lantern Tag, an alien whom you met not even three of your planet's days ago. Why would you throw yourself into the line of fire for a stranger?"

Rainbow shrugs "Relok's my friend, what other reason do I need? He would've done the same for me, but that's because it's his job. I did it because I wanted to help."

"That does not answer our question" a different guardian says.

"Well that's the only answer I have." Rainbow replies.

"How did you drain Romat-Ru's ring?"

"Beats me, I just wanted to help Relok and the best way to do that was to drive him into the ground. I think... and I'm not an egghead, but I think that my magic sucked it out. I mean, I felt like something was coming through my hooves when I hit him. I can't really explain it."

The first Guardian looks at her impassively "You say you siphoned off fear energy through contact? How do you explain that?"

Rainbow shrugs "Heck do I know. All I know is when I hit him his clothes turned dark and his light-bug-things disappeared."

Relok steps forward "She speaks the truth. She drained his power completely. I do not know about her 'Magic' but from what I observed, the inhabitants of Equestria are akin to our own rings. They seem to utilize power gained from harmony with their world. But it is varied between individuals."

A bald guardian turns to the others "Brothers and sisters, I have a hypothesis about her abilities."

The first one turns "What might that hypothesis be?"

"That these 'Equestrians' are living, biological counterparts to the Sinestro's modified Manhunters. I suggest that we test to see if she can utilize a power ring."

The other guardians pause, pondering the suggestion before nodding in unison "Agreed."

Rainbow flies around the large battery, testing the air resistance of the vacuum "Wooooo!!!"

Needless to say, she was having fun.

Arisa watches her, sitting next to Relok "She is very energetic, but why did she face down an alien psychopath without batting an eye? You'd think that she's be scared for her life."

Relok nods "She seems to put the wellbeing of others above her own. She not only assisted me, but also showed me that there is more to life than just duty, there is companionship... and I felt at home on that planet."

A tentacled lantern floats down to the duo "I'm assuming the prismatic blur is the one who has caught the guardians' interests?"

Relok nods "Rainbow!"

She swoops down, landing in front of the three lanterns "What's up, guy?"

The lantern scoffs under his breath "I am Lantern Shorm of sector 40."

Rainbow blinks several times, "You're Shorm? We've met already."

He nods "Yes, we spoke before. I'm here to administer your test. So please try not to damage anything."

Rainbow salutes and Shorm places a ring around her free foreleg "Try to create a construct"

She shrugs and looks at the ring "Uhhh... do I need to charge it or..."

Relok shakes his head "If my hypothesis is correct, you are a living battery."

"Okay... what do I do?" Rainbow asks, inspecting the ring on her leg.

"Simply recite the oath." Relok instructs, pointing to the central battery.

Author's Note

Romat-Ru is the most vile serial killer in Xudar's history, responsible for the deaths of thousands of children. He was sentenced to life in prison, but during the transport to jail, he was recruited by a Yellow Lantern Corps and joined the Sinestro Corps.
source: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Romat-Ru_(New_Earth)

A veteran green lantern and second generation lantern, after her father. But her appearance hides her immense skill.
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/Arisia

A second generation Lantern, after his famous father Tomar-Re. Originating from Xudar, he is good friends with many lanterns.
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/Tomar-Tu

A veteran lantern, he desired to know about individuality, a thing that was taboo on his home world of Uxor. He is annoyed by his partner's wandering and has partnered up with a lantern from a different sector.
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/Green_Man

Formerly retired lantern, he had committed his mad brother Harvid to a sciencell but once again took up the mantle of lantern when he escaped.
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/Harvid

A warden on his home world of Takron-Galtos, the prisoners broke free and used him as a hostage. By the time the other guards had gotten to him, he had subdued all of them and was waiting for them to open the door.
http://greenlantern.wikia.com/wiki/G%27Hu

Veteran lantern of the highest caliber, senior administrator and keeper of the book of OA. Also the clarissi, second in command after the guardians.