Cataclysm: They've Returned

Rainbow Dash looked out over what was saved of Las Pegasus after the infectious changelings hit. She still remembered their minor attack on Las Pegasus. She and Applejack had just arrived and were checking into the local inn when a bright green flash happened and then the changelings savagely attacked ponies. The horrid part wasn’t actually the attack, it was watching what happened to ponies that didn’t die or more like stay dead. They would come back soon after as what she could only describe as zombie ponies. Luckily they were in one of the cloud cities of Equestria and it was rare to see a flying danger unless it was a newly turned zombie pegasus. “Rainbow Dash” she heard Spitfire call, “It’s time to head out, the wagon is ready”. She nodded and headed for the cloud chariot where Applejack was making sure they had enough supplies to make it to Ponyville and back. Rainbow Dash was still amazed that Twilight’s cloud walking spell was still casted since magic seemed to come in spurts around Equestria since the princesses vanished.

“Who’s a comin?” Applejack asked.

“We’re waiting for one more,” Soarin said as he and Spitfire harnessed the wagon on their backs. A brown pony flew up to them. His mane was a mix of light and dark blond and he was wearing a red and tan hat. His cutie mark was a backward bit sign.

“Howdy Big Shot” AJ greeted and he nodded. Big Shot was once a paparazzi, known for catching rare sights.

“Ok, Dash and Shot when we take flight use as much strength as you need to hold the carriage from the back until we land” Spitfire ordered and they nodded. She and soarin took off into the air and Dash and Big Shot soon followed holding the carriage. When they landed Dash and Big Shot sat down in the carriage with Applejack. Dash rested her head back and closed her eyes.

“Rainbow Dash!” she heard somepony call her name. She groggily opened her eyes. She was shocked to find herself in the throne room of Twilight’s castle. She looked up and her heart fluttered in her chest. There stood Twilight.

“How did I get here?” Rainbow Dash pondered. Twilight just smiled and walked out of the castle. Rainbow panicked as she remembered the dangers outside and ran after Twilight. She burst through the castle doors. “Twilight wait.,” she realized then she wasn’t in Ponyville but, in the middle of the everfree forest path. She froze in place when she seen a line of zombie ponies just standing there. Their dead red eyes staring at her. Just up the path she saw a shadowy figure. She started galloping toward it as fast as her hooves would allow her.

“TWILIGHT!”. Just as she reached the end a changeling tackled her and she shot up and looked around.

“Ya, ok Dash?” Applejack asked concerned.

“Uh...yeah I’m fine. Bad dream” Dash said sighing in relief and sadness. A little while later they arrived in Ponyville and hid the wagon under a willow tree.

“Remember to keep your weapons at the ready at all times and stay silent. Me and Soarin well hit the big buildings for supplies and survivors if any. Rainbow Dash you take the rest of the town. Applejack you look around the markets. Big Shot well keep an eye out overhead”. Spitfire ordered and everypony nodded. Rainbow wandered around being as quiet as she could searching different places and listening for any sound. She was snooping through some carriages that had been left behind when the town was attacked when she looked up and spotted Twilight’s castle. Her dream filled her mind as she trotted toward it. She stood and stared at the faded yellow and pink doors. Part of her hoped if she knocked Twilight would be there when they opened, but she knew it wouldn’t happen. She flew up to the balcony and headed down to the thrones. As she stood on the white star in the middle of the floor and looked at the thrones now covered in dust so many memories went through her mind including how they defeated Tirek. That’s when she noticed two books in front of Twilight’s throne. She picked one up and blew the dust off it. It was their diary. She knew it from the horseshoe with their cutie marks on it on the cover.  She dusted off the other book and it was the book she had always seen Twilight reading. The old brown book with the golden alicorn on the cover. Dash remembered all the times she saw Twilight with the book and would tease her for being an egghead. She hugged the books as she teared up. She had been sitting in the castle for a while when she heard a scream that sounded like Spitfire. She put the books in her saddlebag and dashed out the doors just as Applejack ran by. As she caught up to her they saw Soarin flying down to the ground with Spitfire in his hooves. “What happened?” Dash asked landing beside them. She saw Spitfire was bleeding heavily from her right side.

“Flyer sunk his teeth right into her” Soarin said as he gently held her.

“I’m not” Spitfire winced, “gonna make it.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Soarin said tearing up.

“You have….to take the lead Soarin” she took a shallow breath, “please don’t let me turn”.

“I...I can’t do it” Soarin closed his eyes as he hugged her close. Dash placed a hoof on his back.

“I’ll do it” she offered.

“Are ya sure Dash?” Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash could hear the concern in her tone, but she nodded. Applejack patted Soarin’s back and lead him to the carriage along with Big Shot. Rainbow got her bow and an arrow from her saddlebag and aimed the arrow at Spitfire’s head as she pulled it back. She mouthed “I’m sorry” and let the arrow fling.