Rainbow stared at her opponent's black eyes, challenging him quietly. She didn’t care he was four times taller than her or the power aura that he emitted. Rainbow's eyes followed Tirek's every move, her body was ready for jumping when he would have any minimal intention to attack. By the corner of her eye, she saw her friends; imprisoned in the cage, powerless, too weak to escape after they lost their magic. Rainbow was the only one that stood up.

"Arg, stop to fight and join with your friends, damn blue mare."

"My name is Rainbow Dash, stupid," she grunted in response. "Prepare yourself, I'm going to kick your ass until you get back sobbing to Tartarus."

Her hooves raised dust to air as she initiated a rush toward her enemy. Rainbow had seen how he absorbed the friends's magic and she didn't let to do the same with her. Her feints were enough to dodge magic beams that passed to centimeters of her, which exploded to impact with the ground. Time to take off. Her wings opened totally, and with two flutters, Rainbow soared the sky and put herself meters beyond land. This was her element, her best weapon, while she could fly it was impossible for the monster to defeat her. She accelerated, avoiding more beams.

"Ha! Maybe you’re fast, but not faster than me."

So fast that got out of Tirek's sight, Rainbow started the first attack, trying to cause the most possible damage. Three blows in head, chest and knees made Tirek roar, who tried to catch her without success. Near immediately, he received another two, which he couldn't react to fast enough. Overcome that. She didn't hold back any time, giving blows that would have crushed the skull of anypony and enjoying of frustration roars that issued monster's mouth. But in spite of that, her blows didn't seem having any effect. Dammit! Is his skin steel or what?

"That is all?" Tirek began to laugh. "After many threats I waited something better."

"Shut up, I just started!"

I'm going to finish you, here and now. With that single-mindedness she flew away, so far away that Tirek became a small point in the land. I must use all I have against him if I want to win. A fear twinge invaded her before what she planned to do, but the reminder of her imprisoned friends reinforce her. I don't think to fail you, whatever the cost.

She grit her teeth and plummeted, leaving her body cut through the air like a bolt. She flapped her wings again for giving herself more impulse. The ground was far away, but Tirek's beams still came, forcing her to restrain herself to dodge them. She felt the resistance formed before her, one that started to know too good. Focus Dash, only a last impulse. Feeling like if she broke in two parts, with the last wings flutter she got her reward; the barrier was snapped as she shot out to more velocity that any other living pony would have known.

The impact sound was as strong as the Sonic Rainboom's sound. Rainbow noticed how her hooves crushed Tirek's skull before he blew away, unable to support the kick, as she had planned. Immediately after she felt as her own bones smashed to pieces, then a brutal impact against the ground. She bounced repeatedly, for finally fell in dust, unconscious.

When Rainbow awoke she regretted what had been done. At first she wasn't even able to locate the pain, just knowing her whole body felt as if she were being pierced with red-hot needles. If Rainbow could, she would have opened her mouth to scream, but she was so exhausted and dazed that she couldn't find focus. Or maybe she was, but couldn’t hear it. She couldn't open her eyes neither. Her entire world had been reduced to a sphere of darkness and pain.

She tried to concentrate and breathe easy, ignoring pain points. She was used to suffering many accidents during training, she got hits in areas that other ponies didn't even know, but never had injuries like that. Gradually everything became more clear in her mind. Her chest burned with every breath. Somepony hit me if I don’t get several broken ribs. She was sure her legs too, and her head's twinges confirmed at least a crack in her skull. But the wings were good, she could still move and feel them. She outlined a smile of victory.

She opened his eyes, but closed them almost instantly. The world seemed a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors that stunned her. Bit by bit, she reopened them, trying to focus images that appeared in front of her. Her other senses also seemed to start working again. Sweet Celestia, hasn't been so bad. Rainbow Dash one Tirek zero.

And then the ground rumbled, something huge was coming toward her. Her heart froze. It's impossible. It was approached from behind, she couldn't see, but there was no doubt what it was. I hit him with my Sonic Rainboom, he can't be unharmed! I hit him in head, for Celestia's love! Rainbow tried to move, got away somehow, but with her wounds there was nothing she could do. Tirek's hand wrapped her completely and was raised like a doll, staying at the height of his face.

"A very nice colors show. It's a shame it's nothing more than that., I almost had fun, but finally, all the ponies are equal. Garbage. And now..." Tirek licked his lips, savouring the victory.

No. Rainbow knew what was going to happen. She flapped in desperation, didn't matter pain bursts, trying to escape of magic that imprisoned her. But she could do nothing against the Tirek’s power. He sucked her body's magic as easily as a foal took a smoothie. He took his time, savoring every drop of energy as he drained Dash's body.

Rainbow strived to contain the tears. It was painful, but more than that was humiliating. She could feel him snatch a vital part of herself, something as essential as one of her extremities, and the worst was Tirek didn't care. Her wings became a dead weight on her back, her Cutie Mark disappeared. Each and every one of her dreams were lost. She couldn’t be a Wonderbolt. She couldn't fly again. Never.

She felt Tirek toss her into the cage with the rest of her friends, but she didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore.

Unannounced, she felt a hoof stroked soft on her back. Rainbow turned to see Fluttershy, smiling. Dash couldn't avoid smile in return. Despite her distress, Fluttershy's caresses relieved her, contact with her skin and fragrance of wildflowers were enough to take away temporarily her pain. Fluttershy was at her side and that was enough to compensate. She wasn't alone. She had to be strong. For her friends, for Fluttershy. They got ahead.

"Are you okay, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy's smile became a mask of pain. “How could I be good, Rainbow? I gave you my heart and you yelled me, you humiliated me, you made me cry." she stepped back, breaking the contact with Dash.

"Fluttershy, I..." Rainbow extended her foreleg, not knowing she could say, ‘sorry’ was not enough. Really, nothing was enough.

"Oh, shut up," replied Applejack's voice. "Now she has a pony who really loves her, isn’t that true, sugarcube?

Dash's astonishment was huge when she saw Applejack and Fluttershy embraced, as their muzzles got together with tenderness and shared a warm kiss. When they finished, Fluttershy left her head resting on the Applejack's shoulder, showed a bliss expression.

"Yes, Dash, I won this competition," she said proudly, laughing at surprise expression that still had her friend's face. "I’m much better partner for her than ya, don't believe girls?

"Absolutely," Rarity answered. "It's just wonderful you're going out, you're the perfect couple."

"Of course, they fit better than a pair of raspberry cakes coated with hot chocolate and then with candy chips. They are great and delicious!" Pinkie Pie rubbed her hooves while a drool trickle escaped out of mouth's corner. Suddenly her mane spiked and her eyes widened in surprise. "Ohhhh! My Pinkie sense tells me that soon there will be a wedding! Right there!"

They were at Sweet Apple Acres and Pinkie Pie indicated precisely the barn, which was decorated as the occasion demanded. Rainbow realized the rest of her friends were outside the cage, but she was still inside. She didn't understand what was happening or how they had gotten there. She looked at Fluttershy, waiting for an explanation, but Fluttershy avoided her gaze. All her friends did. Just Applejack gave her a last contempt sight.

"You're not invited, of course, none of us want be near you after what you did to Fluttershy. Real friends don't do that. I waited not see you again, Rainbow Crash."

"Wait! Don't leave me here alone. Come back!"

It was useless. They moved away more and more while laughed happily. Rainbow closed her eyes, unable to bear it any longer, taking refuge in cozy darkness. The guilt and pain embargoed her. There was nothing more for her, she had lost everything today. Their wings, her friends and Fluttershy, all gone in an instant. All by her fault.

"I think would be better get this over."

The voice surprised to Rainbow, she rise her head up, trying to locate its source. The cage was gone, Applejack’s farm, the soil itself too. She noticed she was floating on a starry sky. Instinctively Rainbow flapped her wings and realized pain was gone, her body was intact and not need to fly to stay afloat. She blinked, trying to understand what was happening. Where was she? What was this?

"All has finished, you can relax."

This time Rainbow was able to locate voice's source, and saw she wasn't alone in this universe. There was another pony at her side. An alicorn with a dark coat and bright blue eyes that gave her a smile.

"Princess Luna!," Rainbow exclaimed with all the force of her lungs, shocked.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Element of Loyalty."

"What does this mean?" Rainbow looked from side to side, still confused. "What has happened to me, what has happened to my friends?

"Focus you. It's just a dream, your dream, I must add. If you stay calm, you'll notice."

A dream? That made sense. Yes, that's right. Tirek's attack happened two weeks ago. I didn't fight against him, I was captured by Discord before. Rainbow scratched her head, beginning to clarify her ideas. "And are you real, or also part of a dream?”

Luna couldn't stop her laugh. "Do you think you would notice the difference? But yes, I'm real. I saw your nightmare since it began two weeks ago, but I thought you ask for help to some of your friends, especially Twilight."

"You can help me stop dreaming about this every night?," Rainbow asked hopefully, ignoring comment about her friends.

The princess frowned when heard Rainbow's words. "I can modify your dreams as I come into them, but I can't be at your side all nights. To end the nightmares, you must first confront what they represent. With that, I can help you."

"So I have to get to interpret my dream?” Rainbow protested, shaking her head, upset. "It's kind of boring things which Twilight lost days doing, and is useless."

Luna didn't answer, but her eyes said it all.

"Okay, okay, I will!" she lifted her forelegs as surrender sign. "But if it’s my dream, we go to a more comfortable place, I'm tired of floating into nothingness.”

The next time they spoke, they were in Rainbow's house, sitting in her living room. At least in the area that wasn't covered with fan mail or by innumerable display cases with gold trophies of all types and sizes. And through the windows they could see a crowd of ardent fans, trying to reach Rainbow's house while a security team kept them at bay.

"Rainbow Dash is the best!"

"I'm your number one fan, you're my hero!"

"I want to fu-!"

Last girl's words were cut sharply and rest of the crowd suddenly disappeared, as well as trophies and letters. Luna gave an annoyed look at Rainbow.

"What?" Rainbow shrugged. "I just had a damn nightmare, is it wrong to have some fun?"

"...guess you're right, I've seen worse things." Luna rolled her eyes while shuddered. "But I've come to help you with your fears, not to live a night at Rainbow Dash personal paradise.”

"I don't have fear, it's just a stupid nightmare."

"Are you sure?" Luna insisted, pressing slightly.

"Well, not exactly, I'm not afraid, I'm concerned," Dash said reluctantly. "That. Tirek could have killed us. Not even Twilight could defeat him . If we hadn't gotten her key at this point we'd be dead. None of our other enemies was so strong, it was through pure luck that we won."

"I know it." she tilted her head. "Twilight took a big risk giving our magic despite our warnings, but chose well. But let me doubt Tirek is your fear. In your dreams you face him without problems. He scares you, but it isn't what torments you."

"And if you know what it means, why don't you tell me instead of playing psychologist?," Rainbow replied. She didn't like to waste more time, I just wanted to solve that problem. She was angry, tired of not being able to sleep more than a few hours until the nightmare came back to assault her. Two weeks was too long.

"I can do it, but it won't help if you don't realize by yourself. Otherwise the nightmares will just keep repeating."

"Then tell me and we'll see if I can or not understand it," Rainbow said defiantly.

Luna stood still, thinking, considering her next move. She didn't think Rainbow Dash could be so stubborn as to not solve it alone, but she didn't find reasons to oppose her request. She sighed and just let it go with what she thought.

"You’re scared to admit you’re afraid, that there are things that affect even you. You're afraid your facade is broken and others see you as you really are. And you're afraid to lose everything when that happens. Especially lose to Fluttershy. Your encounter with Tirek was just a catalyst that has brought this to light, nothing more."

Rainbow swallowed, frozen in her seat. It wasn't true, it wasn't true at all, that's what a part of herself shouted. However, deep down, she knew what Luna was saying was true. In any case she isn't going to say it aloud. She was afraid to think Luna knew so much about her when they had seen only a few times.

"She likes you, right?," Luna asked again.

"Yes," Rainbow said dryly, although she was relieved of not having explain her fears.

"But you turned her down. Why?"

"It's a long story," Rainbow tried to excuse. She hadn't said this to Twilight, why is she going to tell her?

"We have time." a clock appeared before both ponies. "It won't be dawn for another two hours."

Rainbow was pretty sure that if she wanted to, she could force Luna out of her dream. Finishing all this questioning and wake up in his bed, hugging Tank, without having to answer to anypony. Enjoying the comfort of her home, have some breakfast and go to work. A quiet day. Until became at night and nightmares came again. She bit her lip in indecision. She don't want talk, but Luna was a princess, she couldn't throw like that. It's also true that she had asked for help. Rainbow took a deep breath and decided to trust her.

"Okay. It's just... she wouldn't be happy with me. We're very different, we're going in opposite directions. I want to become a Wonderbolt and she just wants a quiet life. If we start to date, she wouldn't support a star’s life. On the street we would have a horde of fans waiting us, reporters looking to interview, radio offering to participate in its programs. Without mention the ponies who attempted to impersonate her friends just to get me. That harassment would destroy her. I can't let happen that. I have to protect her, she's my best friend."

"And the best way to protect her is breaking her heart like that?"

"What can I do!? I had no choice!" Luna had hit just at the most hurt point, making her jump like a spring. "When it just was my business I could handle it, be with her without look for anymore, but when she kissed me I realized things couldn't remain same. I had to end her hopes of a stroke or she never would have forgotten me. I know Fluttershy, when she takes a decision nopony can stop her."

"I think it looks like the pony I have in front," pointed Luna. "Neither of you want to forget her. You love her so much that you waited her your entire lifetime.”

Rainbow didn't answer and turned her head, feeling blushed.

"I haven't met anypony is more afraid of their own feelings than you, Rainbow Dash." Luna stood up and moved toward Rainbow's armchair. "Don't you think Fluttershy deserve to know the truth and can choose?"

"If she would know she would choose me!" Rainbow shook her head, rejecting that idea completely. "And all end up like I told you!”

"Why do you lie yourself?"

"I don't lie," Rainbow replied instantly, without understanding why Luna said that.

"I've been in enough minds, I've met enough ponies to know when somepony lies shamelessly to me. But you don't lie to me. The worst thing is you trust your own lie. A lie that covers something bigger. A fear far greater than others.”

A shiver ran through Dash from head to tail. She didn't know how, she didn't understand as Luna sensed it , but she knew what she was talking about. Some images tried to jump out of her memory, but Rainbow struggled to contain them, ignore them, pretend they weren't there. Like she had been doing for five years.

"Shut up, that's not true." she put her head between her legs, curling up, running away from Luna's inquisitive eyes.

"It is, and yourself are showing it to me." Luna pointed at armrest of Rainbow's armchair. There, lonely, it laid a single red feather that had appeared out of nowhere. For something so simple, Dash's eyes widened in terror. "Tell me, who is Red Feather?"

"Enough, enough, enough of this game." Rainbow's body trembled, tears she had retained so much time started to shed without control. Memories she struggled to bury were starting to come completely out of control too. Her dream became unstable, beginning to tear. "Go away and never come back."

"You've to face your fears or they will consume you," Luna said, hurrying, realizing dream would end in any time. "You don't make the same mistake I did.”

"GO AWAY!"

Author's Note

Hello, fillies and gentlecolts, here a new chapter for your enjoyment!

Thanks to all my readers, your comments and likes give me forces to continue writting.