Ex-Evils Anonymous

Chapters

Chapter 2 - Luna, Gilda, Babs and Trixie Speak
Chapter 3 - The Flim-Flam Brothers, and Lord Tirek Speak
Chapter 4 - Sunset Shimmer Speaks, but Rainbow Dashes
Chapter 5 - Team of Wild Horses
Chapter 6 - Rainbow Dash's Nightmare
Chapter 7 - Sense and Nonsense
Chapter 8 - Facing your Fears
Chapter 9 - Rainbow Dash Speaks, and Closing Talks
Chapter 10 - Last Minute Business
Chapter 1 - Opening Talks: Discord Speaks

Chapter 2 - Luna, Gilda, Babs and Trixie Speak

Next, the indigo Alicorn Princess raised her head and straightened up. “Luna. Princess of the Night. Formerly known as Nightmare Moon. Not a single night has gone by for me, that I have not felt the tremendous pain and regret, that comes from betraying one’s own sister, and corrupting oneself out of vain jealousy. My sister Celestia’s sunny days were loved and cherished by all, but my beautiful moonlit starry nights were shunned and slept through, instead of appreciated with equal relish. Or rather, that was the view I alone took of the problem. Needless to say, this led to my corruption, my transformation into Nightmare Moon to challenge my sister’s throne, and eventual banishment to the Moon for a thousand years. Since my return and redemption, at the hooves of Princess Twilight Sparkle, her Ponyville friends and the Elements of Harmony, my return to Equestrian society has been, shall we say, less than harmonious. I made a shambles of Nightmare Night, slept through the fight against the changelings at Princess Cadence’s royal wedding, and even failed to master the art of humor & jokes for the Canterlot Chuckle-Lot. Still, I have been striving ever since to make up for my shortcomings, mostly by watching over ponies while they sleep, and guarding their dreams---sometimes entering the dreams when necessary, to help them get through nightmares, by teaching them to ‘face their fears.’…”

All this time, no one seemed to want to interrupt, even though this seemed another mundane history lesson. Luna was speaking with her gaze cast down, with sad eyes and a mournful tone of voice, which seemed to command the group’s attention with rapt interest. After a pause, she continued.

“…Being a member of the royal house in Canterlot, I am fortunate to have the privilege of holding regal office. Still, from time to time, I too have tried to secure a second job in the private sector, if only to help contribute to the royal treasury where taxes alone could not. Only to run into the very same problem: the record of my past crimes counts against me as well, and disqualifies me from numerous positions.”

Now Luna raised her head, as her dark blue face bloomed into purple, particularly around the muzzle, and her eyes and voice took on a sharp edge.

“I, too, have experienced the disgrace and humiliation of being turned away at job fairs and interviews, with the eyes of other eager candidates watching me forced to hastily trot away, empty-hooved. And the embarrassment of having to fly back to Canterlot to report these same failures to my elder sibling every night. You would think my reputation as Nightmare Moon would have scared them into hiring me by royal decree! Not so. In some places, doors would SLAM in my face at the very sight of me! In other places, I would be made to wait all day long, while others were in & out in no time at all---only to be told at closing time: “Sorry, but the position has been filled.” Without so much as an interview! I ASK YOU, is THAT FAIR?? NO, I SAY! IT IS NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR AT ALL!!!” She pounded her chair with a hoof for emphasis, and trembled in suppressed rage! But, having said her peace at last, she lowered her head again, and let out a long exhale to ease her frustration.

Applause burst all around the room again! Twilight wanted to add how Luna once helped save Rarity when the spirit of Nightmare Moon possessed her instead. But seeing how the group’s time was short tonight, she chose to keep it to herself.

All this time hearing Discord and Luna’s testimonies, Rainbow Dash sat stone still, her heart racing, her blood icing over, her face beading with perspiration, and her stomach turning to lead. Suddenly her prospects of returning to a normal life after the Cloudsdale Weather Factory incident seemed bleak: “Does this mean I won’t get my old job back at the weather factory? Are the Wonderbolts going to kick me off the team? Am I ‘gonna lose my throne in the Castle of Friendship----all because of something I can't take back??? Clearly, Tank’s a lot better off than I am right now.” She started biting a hoof as she continued listening, nervously.

The testimonies continued around the room, some shorter than others. With much trepidation, Gilda Griffon confessed to committing numerous acts of “loud and uncivilized conduct" beyond the borders of Griffonstone, and as a result got turned down repeatedly for a job with the Equestrian postal service. She then recounted her bad experiences with the Mane 6 on her first trip to Ponyville, apologized for roaring at Fluttershy, for making a scene at Pinkie Pie’s welcome party, and for getting her old friend Rainbow Dash mad at her for it. “You know...it's really going against my grain to have to come clean on all of this, so don't any of you breathe a word of this beyond this room, after tonight." She then turned to her childhood schoolmate: "Rainbow Dash...If anyone was lame, it was me. I was a poor sport and a lousy prankster. And for that, I’m really sorry. But, you know...I did help Pinkie Pie to save you from the Abysmal Abyss, so I guess that makes us even, right? And...I am getting better at baking scones. I'm even thinking of opening up my very own shop in Ponyville soon! So...no hard feelings, huh Dash: first & best pal of mine?" She managed an awkward beak-smile, and extended an upturned foreclaw in Dash's direction.

At this, Dash snapped out of her daze and said, rather dismissively: “Hm, what? Oh, right…no hard feelings, Gilda…”

A subdued but polite applause followed. Everypony noted how Dash seemed completely blasé to the subject. This set off a quiet alarm-bell in the back of Twilight’s head.

Next, it was Babs Seed’s turn, who before beginning was congratulated by all (except Tirek) for finally getting her cutie mark: a pair of mane stylist scissors. Though still just a filly, and therefore technically not old enough to have a juvenile record, or to apply for a job yet, she explained, she recounted how she did give her cousin Apple Bloom and her Cutie Mark Crusader friends a hard time on her first visit to Ponyville, by siding with schoolhouse bullies Diamond Tiara & Silver Spoon---which also technically made her a bully herself. She then recounted how this was all born out of her own insecurities from being the target of neighborhood bullies herself back in Manehattan, for being a ‘blank-flank’ like the Crusaders. Anyway, she then recounted how the Crusaders saved her life in the ‘parade float incident' that followed, and how in gratitude, she turned the tables on the bullies by threatening to ‘tell der mothuhs about der bad behaviuh!’ The group shared a good-humored laugh at this. Babs summarized by saying the lesson she learned was: “…’ya don’t deal wit' bullies, by becomin' one yerself.” Polite applause followed this.

Now it was ‘the Great and Powerful’ Trixie’s turn. Groans and eye-rolls erupted all around, but were silenced with a sharp-eyed scowl from the white-haired wizard pony. (And simultaneous ones from Princesses Luna & Twilight.) In deference to the hour, she promised not to bore the group with her usual boastful recounts of the Ursa Minor incident or the Alicorn Amulet magic duel, both of which were now public knowledge. Instead she recalled the Rough Diamond burglary case, where although she was working closely with the Manehattan police, and although circumstantial evidence (plus her past record) kept pointing to her as the thief, the Mane 6 and the Crusaders vowed to stand by her and find the real culprit. She recounted how Babs was instrumental to cracking the case at last, and revealing the culprit to be a police insider. As Trixie and Babs exchanged glances from their seats, Trixie summed things up by saying: “…Thanks again, Miss Seed, for all you’ve done. Without you, Trixie would’ve been doing 10-to-20 without parole, for a crime she did not commit.” Babs returned a warm smile.

Technically again though, the stage-magic unicorn recalled bitterly, that same permanent evil record that counted against her in the jewel heist case, has also been costing her numerous show bookings in several cities & towns throughout the land--including schools, children’s hospitals and nursing homes, all of them canceled because their administrations had strict ‘zero-tolerance’ polices against hiring ex-evils, even as entertainment vendors. “Trixie’s had to make do with clients who didn't pry into her past, or by lying to other clients about having no such prior record---only to be tossed out on the street when they found her out!” Consequently, buying a house, renting an apartment, or even applying for grants or other Equestrian government aid, had all proven impossible for her. Trixie’s caravan wagon (the mark-2 replacement model after the Ponyville Ursa Minor incident) remained her only home---and the few bits she earned from uncanceled shows remained her only income---thanks to a past record that wouldn’t go away. A record Trixie wished with all her heart, she could just “make disappear” as easily as a wave of the hoof and a puff of smoke.

“Trixianna Lulamoon must agree with Discord and Princess Luna; reform has been, and continues to be, a very hard trick for this magic show pony to pull off, in front of a very tough and discriminating crowd. Still, Trixie cannot forget Miss Seed’s kind words to her, back in Manehattan…”

Babs followed Trixie’s lead, and said, in her own thick Hooflyn accent:

“Just ‘cause ‘ya done bad things once… it don’t mean yer bad forevuh.”

Cheers and applause permeated the room! Leaning from her chair, Trixie stretched out a hoof to place on Babs Seed’s own, forever grateful to her.

“Sold that one, didn’t they, Brother?” said Flim. “Indubitably.” said Flam.

“Oh, boy…” Spike groaned, “I don’t think I have enough scroll for these guys, Twilight.”

“Said the dragon who’s own song & dance routine is as bad as theirs? Just do your best…” Twilight quipped.

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER...

Author's Note

Back when I was a kid, one of the TV shows most frequently aired was Batman: 1966. An absurd melodrama, yes, but it prominently displayed efforts toward criminal reform & rehabilitation; not just good-evil POW! BAM! ZOCK! and back to jail, all the time. Most Bat-villains like Riddler or Joker refused to reform; some like the Penguin only pretended to while plotting another caper; some like Catwoman flip-flopped between good & evil, but then there were some (Blaze comes to mind) who actually did choose to make that move towards redemption. This new Pony show & comics brings that to mind for me, in its presentation & treatment of former villains. Clearly by this franchise's example, social attitudes in this new century are changing towards baddies in children's fantasy. If only the real world we live in could do the same. Holy reformations, Twilight! :moustache: :twilightsheepish:

Chapter 3 - The Flim-Flam Brothers, and Lord Tirek Speak

Taking this as their cue, the salespony brothers now stood up and took their turn, speaking in tandem…

Flim: “Our time is short, so we’ll be brief…”

Flam: “You’ve heard them talk, now hear us speak…”

Flim: “We’re good salesponies, that a fact…”

Both: “But some things we just keep under our hats!”

Flim: “Sometimes the truth we slightly bend…”

Flam: “But that doesn’t mean we’re bad, my friends…”

Flim: “A little white lie---”

Flam: “---can make a sale!”

Flim: “But at honesty---”

Both: “---we sometimes fail.”

Some groaned and rolled their eyes in disgust; other listened with interest, as the Brothers exchanged positions…

Flim: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave…”

Flam: “Each time we practice to deceive…”

Flim: “Believe me, friends! Yes! this is true…”

Both: “It HURTS US MORE than it does YOU!”

Flim: “So if we have---”

Flam: “---we’re sorry, friends…”

Flim: “It’s not a perfect world---”

Flam: “---that we live in…”

Flim: “Let us try again---”

Flam: “---because, you see---”

Both: "---life has NO money-back guarantee!"

Babs giggled at this. So did Gilda. But no one else did…

Flim: “Once grievance, though, we must report…”

Flam: “What right do others have to make sport…”

Flim: “Of our mistakes from the distant past…”

Both: “And REVOKE our SALES LICENSE super-fast?”

Flim: “Now we’re out of business!”

Flam: “What will we do?”

Flim: “We have as much right---”

Flam: “---as the rest of you---”

Flim: “---to make an honest living…”

Flam: “Stop calling us jerks!”

Flim: “Give us a chance---”

Both: “---TO GET BACK TO WORK!”

Cheers, whistles and applause erupted all around! A hard sell, yes, but another successful one for…

Flim: “Flim…”

Flam: “And Flam…”

Both: “The world-famous Flim-Flam Brothers!

Traveling salesponies, non-parleil!”

“(*Groan*) I think I broke a claw-nail trying to keep up with all that.” the little dragon complained.

“You’re doing great, Spike. Keep it up.” Twilight encouraged.

At last, the Brothers tipped their straw hats, bowed, and returned to their seats.

In the next seat over, the hooded figure of Lord Tirek kept clapping his clawed & shackled hands, in a rather slow, sardonic manner.
Being a minotaur, the quadruped lower half of his body could not take a seat, so he pulled the chair aside and sat crouched on the floor, his upper humanoid half resting on his forehaunches, in a nearly chair-seated position. No longer the big, burly white-haired red & black steer-horned behemoth he was when he last fought Twilight, Tirek was now again the weak and withered, cloaked figure he was before, and croaked with a voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Good show, Brothers…” he croaked passively, “Very good show… you really should look me up the next time you two are in Tartarus. I guarantee you’ll have a captive audience…” He managed a wry grin beneath the hood, as Discord chuckled upon hearing the age-old pun.

“Well… we haven’t heard from you all evening, Lord Tirek. I believe it’s your turn now.” prompted Twilight.

“Oh, well, listen to her…” he softly retorted, “…bests me in combat, strips me of my power to feed on Equestrian magic, cages me and sends me back to Tartarus just like that---and yet she’s still so prim, proper and polite! Heh-heh-heh…”

Incensed, Twilight leapt to all four hooves, flared her nostrils, spread her wings, and firmly pointed a warning forehoof !

“DON'T YOU DARE insult me or try to make me change my mind about you, Tirek!” she spoke quickly. “You're here only on the strictest probation! Behave yourself and speak your mind plainly, or it’s back to Tartarus for you, PERMANENTLY!” She emphasized that last word with a hard stomp of her outstretched hoof on the floor! An icy pause passed between them...

Luna blinked and stared in silent amazement at Twilight. Even she had to admire her reformer's bravery.

“Fine…fine…whatever…” Tirek conceded, “…as if I could do anything now… Frankly, I don’t even know why you had me brought here in the first place, your Highness. I certainly haven’t promised to turn over a new leaf. You really think you can reform ME as you did Princess Luna? Or as Fluttershy reformed Discord? What if I don't turn so easily…what if I just ruin your plans for me by not reforming at all? What makes you think I'm going to be whining for a job or for ‘equal opportunities’ like the rest of you losers, after I get out?”

All eyes glared back at him, but no one spoke. Good… he had their full attention.

“Reform…” Tirek went on teasing, “What do any of you know about reform? Do you want to know what the real problem is with your employer friends? They don’t believe in criminal reform. ‘Once a crook, always a crook,’ ‘No such thing as a reformed ex-evil,’ ‘A bad tree can’t possibly bear good fruit,’ so the old sayings go. They simply cannot tell the difference between a reformed ex-villain and an active villain-at-large, so they treat you all the SAME! The only reason they ask you about your past in interviews or on applications, is to WEED YOU OUT; not to forgive and forget! You think Tartarus has a work-release program or trustee system, or a parole or clemency board? Certainly not. It’s a lifetime sentence of EXILE, even after prison! You’re all outcasts, each and every one of you… hmmmm…”

“…Unless of course…” Tirek went on, “…your crime is merely a misdemeanor. Ho-ho, yes, there's the one exception… that they can overlook. That they’re prepared to forgive. Mizzy’s get all the breaks…. but felons? Hmph, not a chance! Felons are branded for life! Yes, I mean ‘brand’…that’s an ugly mark; not a cutie mark…and once it’s there, you’re stuck with it for life! You can NEVER pass a background check with a felony charge on your record! That's the one thing they can't forgive! The one truth they can't handle! There are NO job placement agencies, or referral agencies, or job fairs anywhere in Equestria, Tartarus, or any other kingdom on this earth for that matter, open to felony ex-evils! Hmmm… you’ve been looking everywhere, haven’t you? Oh, yes… I can tell by the lost looks on your faces… We’re all in the same boat. We are outcasts…social pariahs...searching, begging, pleading, groveling on all fours for acceptance, forgiveness, for equality…but not finding them…anywhere. They only want to hire 'perfect people,’ you see? With no prior evil record at all. But alas, we are none of us perfect, you see? No, not one… for we all have sinned, and fall short of the righteous glory of Celestia. Heh-heh-heh…”

Tirek’s head bobbed as he chuckled, making his nose ring rattle. He was trying to pretend to enjoy this little negative psychology game he was playing with them. Whether or not he was really enjoying it, was not so plain to see.

The others were silent. Stark silent. They simply couldn’t argue with him; Tirek was absolutely right in everything he said. Or at least, there was enough truth in his negative exaggerations for him to be believed as right. Twilight knew there were no prior provisions in Equestrian law (or world law) in any library in all the land, to remedy this problem. Suddenly the future was looking very dark indeed for the entire group. Rainbow Dash sank very low in her seat, her rosy eyes drooping, her stomach churning, and her head getting very heavy, and weary.

“What about family? What about you, Tirek? You do have family waiting for you after you get out, right?” Twilight asked.

“Hmmph, as if I have any kind of home life to go back to, once my time is served…” he continued, now melancholy: “… My father King Vorak certainly won’t want to take me back, not after I overpowered him… Mother Queen Haydon and my brother Scorpan might, but...oh, what does any of it matter now? Yes, I knew what I was doing. I got what I wanted: all the magic in Equestria. (Except, of course, the magic of Friendship. I saw no value in that, until too late.) Yes, I grew big, strong, mighty and powerful, I became an indomitable force, as planned…but to what end… to what point and purpose? I finally achieved what I’d set out to do…I became the mightiest being on earth…but I hadn’t worked out what I was going to do with it. Bend others to my will, and make them my slaves, forevermore? ‘Any fool with power can do that,’ my father once told me. But I didn’t listen… I let all that power go to my head. I got greedy, and wanted more and more of it. With that power, all I really wanted to do was prove to my father that I could be as mighty and powerful a king as he was, and have my own kingdom.” Here Tirek paused again, reflecting, then continued. “…But… but what did I really know about power? I had it… but I couldn't wield it…not responsibly…not as a king would… only as a tyrant would… as a bully would…as a… a monster would.”

Here Tirek hung his weary head, and put a clawed hand to his forehead. His dark eyes blinked sadly. Sunset Shimmer looked over, and felt a tear run down her cheek. Spike paused, too, reflecting on the ‘greedy’ part, and remembered something from his own past…and blushed at the memory of it.

“All I learned that day about power…” he continued, “was this…(*ahem*)...absolute power, corrupts absolutely. Power alone is not enough to rule a kingdom… I realize that now… power needs wisdom, courage, compassion, comrades…and above all…a conscience, to be wielded properly, responsibly, in service to a kingdom’s subjects. They, not the king, not power, they...are the kingdom. Oh, Scorpan, dear little brother…mother, father...why didn’t I listen to you all?” Tirek raised his cloaked head & shackled red clawed hands up to the Heavens, in penitent supplication.

Polite applause, mingled with sniffs and sobs, rose around the room. Even Twilight couldn't help wiping away a tear.
The exiled ex-prince of minotaurs relaxed, and sank back into humble quiescence, his chains clinking to the floor.

(*Sniff, cough, ahem*) Um, yes, thank you, Lord Tirek. And may I say---for the record, Spike---that I personally want to believe, with all my heart, that no one, however terrible… no one... is bad beyond redemption. Not even you, sir. I suppose I should still be mad at you for destroying the Golden Oak Library, my only home in Ponyville at the time. But, in a way, I have you to thank for it. For if it wasn't for you, sir, the Castle of Friendship, and the Kingdom of Friendship, might never have happened. Thank you for your story. Very well said.” More polite applause.

“(*Sniff*) You’re too kind, your Highness…” Tirek complemented.

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER…

Author's Note

Hmm, I 'dunno... Would you want to see the Flim-Flam's sales license re-instated? :rainbowhuh:

And Lord Tirek? Well now... who would'a thunk he could ever have reform potential? Twilight did, apparently. :twilightsmile:

Chapter 4 - Sunset Shimmer Speaks, but Rainbow Dashes

Still sniffling and mopping tears from her eyes, and after checking the hour glass, Twilight noticed Spike’s clawed hands were red and throbbing. “Oooh, my claws… Sorry, Twilight, I don’t think I can continue the scroll tonight…”

“You’ve done a great job, Spike. Go and have a rest; I’ll take it from here…” said Twilight, her magic horn glowing
as she levitated the scroll & quill. Wearily, Spike walked over to an unoccupied corner, and curled up for a nap.

“There’s about 15 minutes left. Two more stories to go. Sunset Shimmer, your turn!” prompted Twilight.

The red & gold maned unicorn who was Celestia’s star pupil and personal apprentice of magic before Twilight Sparkle, now straightened up in her seat. “Thank you very much, everypony…well, so much has been said already, where do I begin? I…guess for starters…” she began awkwardly, “…as some of you know, I don’t live in Equestria anymore, but in another world, in another dimension---accessible by a magic mirror portal---where Canterlot is actually a high school, populated by 2-legged upright creatures called humans...”

Puzzled looks and furrowed brows bloomed on the others’ faces.

“…That would take too long to explain tonight, so moving on…” said Shimmer to save face.

“Umm… basically, I was the popular girl on campus: vain, spoiled, stuck up, a prima donna and proud of it. A bigger bully than most of the boys, perhaps. For three years in a row, I made sure I was crowned Queen of the Fall Formal (the gala school dance) by making sure my contenders looked like fools. I was the self-made expert on put-downs, pranks, embarrassments, smear campaigns, manipulations, insults and accidental injuries. And no one ever caught me or my helpers in the act. Not even Principal Celestia or Vice-Principal Luna!”

At this, Luna sat up! “I am a…a…vice principal in that world?” The way Sunset spoke, it sounded most honorable.
A goofy grin began to spread across Luna’s muzzle.

Likewise, Babs & Trixie were intrigued. Reformed or not, some part of them still had to admire Sunset for her cunning and clever use of misdirection.

As Sunset spoke, she seemed to backslide into her old smug and self-important persona, her aquamarine eyes twinkling with malicious mischief. It made Twilight nervous.

“…Oh, I was indeed the Campus Queen, and no one could stop me! (*Ahem*) Until…”
Here she craned a slow menacing turn of her head toward the group host, and cast a cold squinting stare at her…

“…Twilight Sparkle showed up! Oh, something about how I sneaked back over to Equestria and, um, stole her magic crown to use in the Fall Formal. So to get it back, Twilight ran against me, and organized all the counterparts of her friends here, to help rally the school on her side! Well...needless to say, she won by 'popular demand.' But I soon got my revenge, re-stole the crown, and unleashed its power! It turned me into an all-powerful SHE-DEMON, enabling me to enslave the students’ minds, turn them into a zombie army to invade Equestria, and TRASH all who opposed me! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

By now Sunset had climbed up onto her chair, and was raising her hooves up in GLORIOUS TRIUMPH!
Even Tirek eyed her with admiring amazement.

“THAT'S ENOUGH! SUNSET SHIMMER, STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!! YOU PROMISED!!” Twilight ordered sharply!

Snapping out of her reverie, Sunset blinked with large wide eyes, stared around at the others, grinned & blushed sheepishly, and climbed down back into her seat. “(Heh-heh) Sorry...”

“Well… long story short: Twilight had the Elements of Harmony on her side, and well as her friends’ counterparts, and ultimately, I was defeated. (Sheesh, it’s a wonder I wasn’t expelled for that, too.) That was when I realized, with Twilight’s help, that I was so busy tearing friendships apart, I knew nothing about making friendships. That night changed me. Changed my life.” A hesitant but polite applause issued forth.

“Now for the first time in my life, instead of the alpha girl, I was one of the girls. I didn’t have to be the center of attention to be liked anymore…even if I still was. Twilight’s counterpart friends were okay with me, just being myself. But I kept thinking back to that night, when I became the demon. That frightened me. It showed me what a…a monster I’d really become, even before the transformation... the monster I was to Celestia before I left… I never wanted to become either one of those monsters ever again! Like you said, Mr. Tirek: absolute power corrupts absolutely. Also...” she added: “…with great power, comes great responsibility. I realize that now, too.” The minotaur looked over at Sunset in soft amazement, and half-smiled. Another polite applause…

“In that world I’m still a teenager, with no job yet, or a juvenile record. But I learned there, that you don’t need to have a record, to have a bad reputation. I’ve tried to move on…to put the past behind me and be a good girl from now on… but I still get stared at in the school hallways, and talked about behind my back. The other kids turn and look the other way as I walk by. I can’t even get a new boyfriend, after I broke up with…with my Flash Sentry…” Sunset and Twilight exchanged knowing looks on that subject.

“Now I’m starting to see why most ex-evils go right back to their same old wicked ways again, only to wind up caught again and sent back to prison; what’s in it for them to reform? Why turn over a new leaf, when no one’s buying it? How to do prove that your past does not define you, when your record says it does? How are you supposed to go on with your life, forget the past and put it behind you…when everyone else won't forget, and keeps throwing it right back down in front of you? How can you show everybody…everypony...who you are now, when they can't, or won't, see you as anything more than who you were?”

At this time, even though Sunset was trembling with fury, tears glistened in her eyes, Gilda’s eyes, Babs’ eyes, and even Trixie’s. Princess Luna was fighting back tears, and a lump in her throat. Discord leaned over to comfort her, his eyes as moist as hers. The Flim-Flams clutched their tear-stained straw hats to their hearts. Tirek felt his black eyes begin to water, but he quickly turned away and hid his face under the hood.

“(*Sniff*ahem*) Well…my past deeds are on the school record, so I guess that may well be the one keeping the school turned against me. If only more of the good things I did were on it than the bad ones. You know my student voter's registration card has been revoked? Now I can’t vote in school elections anymore, or run for student office. How will I ever get that back? Worse… I may not even be allowed to graduate with the rest of my class! What’ll I do then; get my diploma in summer school? That’s gratitude for you, after all we did together to beat Adagio Dazzle & the Sirens, and save the school from them!! (*Groan*)”

After a moment of thought, Sunset added: “I’ve learned this much from high school paralegal…not even a full governmental pardon, or a full royal pardon from Celestia herself, can get an ex-evil’s record sealed or expunged. The only thing that will even make an ex-evil’s conviction record 'deemed eligible' for sealing or expunging, is to get the conviction overturned! But that costs a new lawyer, a new judge & jury, and too many other legal expenses that only the idle rich can afford! Hmph, good luck there, guys… Okay, I’m done…” Polite applause again.

With her horn glowing bright, Twilight made the quill scribble like crazy, recording all this new data for future reference.

(*SnooOOOrrrt, wheeeeze… SnooOOOrrrt, wheeeeze…SnooOOOrrrt, wheeeeze…*)

Now that Sunset Shimmer had finished her testimonial, everyone was becoming very aware of the peculiar noises coming from the last chair in the room: Rainbow Dash’s chair.

“Ummm… Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked, now looking up from her notes, “… Are you asleep??”

Evidently so. All her stress from listening to the testimonials and worrying about her future, had triggered the only
sensible response her body had to the problem: Shut out everything and just go to sleep.

Dash lay curled up in the chair, her wings tightly folded to her back, snoring & wheezing, like she did once in her tent on a camping trip to Winsome Falls.

“D’aww…isn’t that adorable? Poor widdle Dashie’s all tuckered out from listening to our campfire stories!” Discord gushed while roasting a marshmallow on a twig over a small fire he conjured up. He offered the marshmallow to Luna, but she just glowered and turned her head away, so he made all three vanish again.

Twilight sighed in disappointment. “There’s only 5 minutes of sand left in the hour glass. Guess we’ll just have to hear Dash’s story at next week’s meeti-----Dash? Umm… Dash? Is something wrong? *Gasp* Uh-oh…”

The Pegasus pony’s body was jerking in spasms. Her wings twitched. Her head thrashed. She started whimpering and beading with sweat.

Alarmed, both Princesses Twilight &Luna sprang out of their seats and urgently trotted over to Dash.
Then the others sprang up and came over, concerned.

“Oooh…this looks bad…” said Luna.

"What? What's wrong with her?" asked Twilight.

“N-NO!!” Dash yelped! “No..no..no.. Oh, Celestia, please, NO!!” she managed to say in short bursts.

“She is having a BAD DREAM! A NIGHTMARE! STAY BACK, EVERYPONY!” Luna ordered.
.
“A NIGHTMARE!?” Twilight shrieked, worried about her friend.

“WE HAVE TO WAKE HER UP! NOW!!” Luna commanded!

Impulsively, the Friendship Princess brushed past the Night Princess, levitated Dash upright in the
chair, and started hoof-slapping her friend across the face! “WAKE UP, DASH! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”

“SLOWLY!!!!” Luna urged!

And in that instant, Rainbow Dash SNAPPED her eyes open, WIDE-AWAKE!

"YES! (*Gasp*) NO..." said Twilight.

But…her eyes were wild…. WILD… WITH FRIGHT!

“Too late…” Luna winced.

Rainbow Dash let out an ear-piercing SCREAM OF TERROR!!

Then the terrified Pegasus pony TOOK TO FLIGHT in a MAD RUSH OF FEAR & PANIC!!!

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER….

Author's Note

Whoopsie... never wake up a nightmare victim too quickly. :facehoof:

Chapter 5 - Team of Wild Horses

The little blue Pegasus pony went BALLISTIC… she darted all around the room, flying like a mad hornet or a riled horsefly, circling, landing, taking off again---desperately seeking a way out of the sealed room, but not finding an opening anywhere! Chairs got knocked over, the quill & scroll got tossed over to Spike’s corner (who surprisingly slept soundly through the noise.) The others kept grabbing at her or waving her away from their heads, but Dash kept on going and wouldn’t come down!

The sub-basement chamber was the deepest and most secure place in the entire castle. An inner sanctum when Twilight needed to read or work in utter seclusion, and the most fortified dungeon or prison cell when holding a wanted captive. Tonight it served as the meeting room for Ex-Evils Anonymous, but was still tightly guarded by a detachment of six Canterlot guards: two at the Castle Door, two at the Stairwell Entrance, and two more at the Chamber Door. A trap door with bars at eye-level with the guards was there for them to look in on whomever was inside, but tonight it too was sealed up & locked, same as the door, with strict orders from Princess Twilight to not interfere under any circumstances, no matter what noises they heard from within. And tonight, right now…there were plenty of disturbing noises coming from inside the door!

The First Guard, unable to hold back any longer, rapped a hoof three times loudly on the door! "HELLO! HELLO! PRINCESS TWILIGHT!!" he called: "WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOUR HIGHNESS, IS SOMETHING WRONG? DO YOU NEED OUR HELP?"

After a few grunts and screams from inside, they heard: “NO-NO-NO! EVERYTHING’S FINE! WE’RE JUST HAVING A…A…THERAPY SESSION!! YES, IT’S JUST A THERAPY EXERCISE; WE HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL!! YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS: JUST KEEP THE DOOR SHUT TIGHT, UNTIL I TELL YOU WHEN THE MEETING IS OVER! (*GASP*) STOP!! WAIT…SHE’S OVER HERE, OVER HERE! GRAB HER---!!”

The two guards looked at each other, puzzled. “YOU’RE QUITE SURE YOU DON’T NEED US, YOUR HIGHNESS?” called the Second Guard.

"YES!! YOU HAVE HEARD!! DO NOT COME IN; STAY AT YOUR POSTS!! YOUR PRINCESS HAS SPOKEN!!"
Princess Luna bellowed in her ancient royal Canterlot voice, to make no mistake. The door even bent outward slightly.

Nonchalantly, the guards turned back around and resumed their posts, guarding the Chamber Door.

“You ‘wanna argue with that?” asked the first guard, with shaky knees.

“Not on your life; she’s beginning to sound like Luna!” said the second guard, with wide eyes.

Back inside the chamber, the scene was pandemonium. As Rainbow Dash zig-zagged about the room like crazy, Discord tried to snap his claw-fingers to conjure up a large butterfly net to catch her with, but was whacked up the side of the head by a hind hoof-kick from her, which knocked his mismatched horns off, and made his eyes pop out of his head and roll on the floor! Gilda took wing and tried to stop her old school buddy, but also got a sound hoof-kick to the face, and went into a fall & sprawl across the floor! Trixie tried to freeze the Pegasus with an immobilizing spell, but a moving target like Rainbow Dash was hard to aim at; the blast ricocheted off the ceiling and hit the Flim-Flams instead! Babs tried a run & leap to grab Dash’s hind hooves and caught hold---only to be unable to do anything else but hold on! She kept twisting, trying to flip up & over onto Dash’s back like a trapeze acrobat, but found she hadn't the agility she thought she had. Babs finally had to let go and drop & roll on the floor, to avoid hitting the immobilized Flim-Flam Brothers.

That was when the Door Guards inquired what was going on. As Twilight turned to speak to them, Luna and the others watched Dash continue her wild erratic zig-zag pattern on the ceiling, trying to get a sense of her timing. Twilight looked back to do the same. “(*GASP*) STOP!! WAIT…” Something inside told her where Dash was going to zoom next. Then Dash made her move---over Tirek! “SHE’S OVER HERE, OVER HERE!” said Twilight, galloping to follow Dash. “GRAB HER---!!”

On command, Tirek rose up, stretched his chained arms up---and quickly crossed them over Dash! The chain wrapped around the Pegasus, snaring her! TIREK CAUGHT HER! Dash shrieked and struggled. “NO, LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” she hollered as Tirek brought her down, held firm by the looping chain, and the minotaur’s arms. Being less strong now, he had to work very hard to keep a firm grip on the struggling pony. Sunset Shimmer rushed over to pin down Dash’s hind-half, as Tirek pinned her fore-half.

Luna bellowed her command to the guards (the one they thought came from Twilight) then with royal poise and grace, walked over to where Tirek & Sunset were holding Dash. But one look up at the Night Princess, and Rainbow Dash’s eyes grew wide as saucers, while her rosy corneas & black pupils shrank to ten-bits. “(*GAAASP*) NIGHTMARE MOON” she moaned in shock, blanching in horror!

“NOT AGAIN!!” said an exasperated Twilight, face-hoofing herself.

“LET HER BE, TWILIGHT…” Luna commanded, “…It is not me she sees…she sees Nightmare Moon.”

Luna approached Dash slowly. “No..NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME…STAY AWAY FROM ME!!
DON’T TAKE ME AWAY!! PLEASE, LEAVE ME ALONE!!” poor Dash babbled in hysterics!

“You’re SCARING HER! STOP IT, LUNA , STOP!" Twilight countermanded!

But before anyone could stop her, Luna quickly lowered her head and pointed her horn at Rainbow Dash!

"NOOOOO!!!! Everyone SCREAMED!!

A BEAM OF LIGHT SHOT FROM THE HORN, bathing Rainbow Dash in a soft, bluish white light.

"SLEEEEP, LITTLE ONE...SLEEEEEP..." Luna softly commanded.

“NO…no….no…(yaaawwn) no….Zzzz…Zzzzz….” Dash slowed her struggling, calmed down, fell limp…and slept again.

The others HEAVED A HUGE SIGH… of relief.

Now Discord rejoined the group, after finishing a silly struggle of groping around for his eyes and putting them back in
his head. “What’d I miss?” he asked jokingly. The others glared back at him. “What!? I couldn’t see!” he exclaimed.

Calmly, Tirek took Rainbow Dash up in his arms, got up on all fours, clopped over to her chair, which Sunset righted,
and gently placed her back into her curled up, sleeping position.

“Hmmm…does this usually happen when she sleeps?” Tirek asked as he backed away, a surprising tone of concern in his voice.

“No…” answered Luna. “Only during the most extreme of nightmares.”

“(*Whew*…) Warn me next time before you do that again, Luna! I thought you were going to kill her!” said Twilight.

“There was no time…” Luna explained, “…nor is there time now. I must do this…” She approached Dash again.

“Do what?” asked Twilight, eyes wide with worry.

“…ENTER HER DREAMS!” The others all blanched and GASPED! (Except the Flim-Flams.)

Not even Twilight had a comeback for this…she too was now blanching in horror.

Then Luna came over to Twilight. “…And this time, you must come with me!”

“WHAT!? ME? Go into Rainbow Dash’s DREAMS?? How? That’s your power; not mine!” Twilight squealed.

“And I can SHARE IT WITH YOU!! Now… touch your horn to mine.” Luna commanded.

The two Alicorn Princesses faced each other, bowed their heads, and touched horns. Both horns glowed bright, then faded.

“Quick…time is running out for your friend. We must hurry!” said Luna.

“’Ey, wait a minute! Why can’t we come, too?” Asked Babs, on behalf of the others.

"NO!!" Luna warned! “This is HIGHLY ADVANCED and DANGEROUS MAGIC! You are NOT READY FOR THIS!
In the wrong hooves, it would surely kill her!”

“Hmph, I’ve heard that before.” Sunset retorted with crossed forelegs.

Luna glared at Sunset Shimmer, who squirmed and quailed under the Night Princess’ hard gaze.

But instead of reproaching Sunset, Luna took a deep breath…and asked: "Please...
I need you all to trust ME now, the same as you trust Twilight Sparkle!”

Not saying another word…the others bowed their heads, and kneeled, signifying their trust.

All except Discord.

Then Luna pointed a warning forehoof to the unpredictable Draconequus, who simply cocked a white eyebrow at her.
“And YOU… STAY HERE. DO NOT INTERFERE.”

The others looked quizzically at Discord, wondering what Luna meant by that. But he just squared his jaw,
and stared back at Luna.

“But if it looks like we’re in trouble, and we can’t wake up on our own…” Twilight added,

“…THEN and ONLY THEN…come to our rescue!”

Now it was Luna’s turn to stare quizzically at Twilight, who just stared back confidently…then winked.

“Very well…” he promised, with crossed forelimbs, “…I will not interfere, until ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.”

That said, Luna and Twilight backed off, and moved toward Rainbow Dash, who was back to sawing logs like before.

“Just…keep yourselves entertained until we get back. Hopefully, this...(*gulp*)…won’t take long.” Said Twilight, nervously.

Luna nodded to Twilight. She nodded back.

The alicorn princesses lowered their horns to Rainbow Dash’s forehead. The horns glowed, and from each one, a thin white thread of light issued forth, and united to touch the sleeping Rainbow Dash on the forehead. Then, the two princesses…seemed to go to sleep on their feet.

The others (except the Flim-Flams) returned to their upturned seats, righted them, and sat back down,
wondering what to do next. Tirek resumed his crouched position on the floor, near Sunset Shimmer’s seat.

“(*Sigh*) So…” said Trixie, after a thought, “…who’s up for a game of cards?”

And with one hoof… the wizard pony picked a deck, right out of thin air!

Some of the group applauded the wizard pony! Others folded their forelimbs in disgust.

Seeing this, Discord snapped his claw-fingers, and conjured up a saloon card table, and a honky tonk player piano.
The piano cranked and plinky-dinked to life, playing "That Old Black Magic" as players pulled their seats up to the table.

“A magician always comes prepared!” Trixie boasted needlessly, as she shuffled the deck.

“’Ey, Trix…what about dem?” Babs pointed a hoof to the still-immobilized Flim-Flam Brothers.

“Oopsie…sorry.” said Trixie, and with a flash of her horn…ZING! They collapsed to the floor, then got up.

“(*Whew*) So…” asked Flim. “What’d we miss?” asked Flam.

Trixie was about to say, but Gilda grumpily cut her off. “Eh...shut up and deal!”

Thus…a grumpy-looking Trixie, shut up and dealt.

Only Discord remained standing, keeping vigil over the sleeping three. He conjured up warm blankets, draped one around each of them, then snapped one into reality for Spike, who amazingly continued slumbering soundly over in his corner. Discord then softly snickered to himself.

“(Hohohoho…) Believe me, Princess Twilight Sparkle… A TEAM OF WILD HORSES
couldn’t keep me away…”(Heheheheheheheh…)”

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER…

Author's Note

Hmm... so, what's this now... Discord can enter dreams, too? :twilightoops:
Hmm... maybe. The question now is... WILL he? :rainbowderp:

(Triple Hmm... no comments yet, whatsoever? :applecry:
Please, don't wait on my account...)

Chapter 6 - Rainbow Dash's Nightmare

"WHOOOAAAHHH!!!" the two Alicorn Princesses hollered as they seemed to plummet through aerial space!

“PRINCESS LUNA! WHAT’S HAPPENING?” Twilight called out in the howling wind!

Even with their wings, it appeared they couldn't fly in the enormous whirlwind! Columns of clouds flew upward all around them. They fell into the mouth of a tornado and spiraled down through the vortex, like bubbles down a bathtub drain! They tumbled end over end, unable to right themselves!

“HELP! PRINCESS LUNA! WHERE ARE YOU?” a terrified Twilight called out!

“HERE I AM, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Luna called, “GRAB MY TAIL! HOLD ON!” she ordered!

The tumbling Twilight struggled in the spiraling wind, but managed to bite and hold on to the Night Princess's starry tail.
They both bucked and rocked in the maelstrom, unable to break free of it, and wondering where Rainbow Dash was.

But soon, the vortex seemed to grow brighter, filling up with…snow. It was a blizzard. A white-out!

Finally, they came bursting out of the tip end of the tornado, and plunged toward the earth below!

PLOOF!! Princesses Luna & Twilight landed in a tall, thick, white snowdrift, which cushioned their impact.

Wind and snow swept over the cold landscape. Where were they? The Arctic North? Or…closer to home?

Princess Luna was the first to surface and shake herself free of the snow. It caked her crown, horn, mane, back, flanks and tail.

Next, Twilight surfaced, having trouble with the snow. Luna lent a hoof, and pulled the purple pony out. She, too, was layered in white all over her topside. “Wh…where are we?” asked Twilight, “I thought winter was almost over!” She was surprised to see both she and Luna were dressed in their winter scarves, wool caps, forecoats and snow boots.

“Not here, apparently…” Luna confirmed. She then spotted something: a figure, some distance away.
"Look..." she commanded, pointing a forehoof.

Twilight looked on ahead, then they both cantered up to see who it was.

(GASP) They both stopped! And soon, they realized what they were seeing…

There was Rainbow Dash, all bundled up again, sitting down on the snow, her head bent forward. Her shoulders shaking.

The two princesses walked up to Dash’s side. Now they could see…Dash’s eyes were pink, her face streaked with tears,
her chin wrinkled and quivering, and her mouth warped into a grimace. Clearly…she was crying.

“Rainbow Dash…it’s all right. We’re here, now. You’re not alone… Dash? Can you hear me?” Twilight tried.

“No…” said Luna. “she cannot. I…I do not understand; this has never happened to me before...”

“What? She can't!? NO! Dash, please, listen! We’re here to help you! Snap out of it, please, DASH!” Twilight pleaded.

“LOOK!” commanded Luna, pointing ahead!

Before them was a bare tree, on a small hill, near a frozen pond.

“(*Gasp*) I remember this place…” said Twilight, “…this is where Dash brought her pet tortoise Tank, to put him in the ground for hibernation. It’s his burrow! But…what’s that on the…(*GASP!*) OH, NO!!” She covered her mouth with both hooves!

Right on the spot where Tank’s burrow rested, a carved granite stone now lay. The inscription read:

"HERE LIES TANK, RAINBOW DASH'S BELOVED PET TORTOISE. DIED IN HIBERNATION. R.I.P."

At this, Twilight crumpled, and sobbed at Luna’s feet. Luna leaned down to comfort her, folding a wing over her.

Rainbow Dash was cradling something in her forehooves… a long-stem red rose.. Putting the rose between her teeth, Rainbow got up, slowly approached the gravestone, and lay the flower gently at its foot, resting in the snow. Then she flopped down on the grave, stone and all, and WAILED in pain and anguish:

(*GASP*) WHY???? (*SOB*) OH, CELESTIA, WHYHYHYHYHYYYYYYYY???"

“(*Sob*) I’m so sorry…” came another bitterly sad voice from a few feet away. A soft one.

Both Twilight and Dash looked up------and saw Fluttershy! “(*Sob*) I had no idea…”

“FLUTTERSHY!!” said Twilight, now brightening up! Good. If anyone could talk sense into Dash, it was her!

Or…was it?

Dash looked up from where she lay, saw Fluttershy, and bellowed: "YOU..." Her rosy eyes turned flaming red!

Fluttershy GASPED and stiffened! Her big turquoise eyes shrank to near pinpoints! Her knees quaked.

Incensed, Rainbow Dash leapt to her feet and flared her nostrils! “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” She neighed!

“NO! WAIT! PLEASE, I DIDN’T KNOW, I SWEAR I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!”
Fluttershy squeaked in her terrified high-pitched voice, and backed away from her furious fellow Pegasus,
falling backwards on the snow.

“YOU AND YOUR LOUSY HIBERNATION BOOKS!!” Dash advanced, stomping through the snow towards
the object of her fury!

"NO, DASH! STOP! IT’S NOT HER FAULT!” Twilight shouted, trying to intervene!

“NO USE, TWILIGHT, SHE CANNOT HEAR US!” said Luna, holding her back.

“DASH, PLEASE…I’M YOUR FRIEND!!” Fluttershy squealed in fright!

“YOU’RE NO FRIEND OF MINE, ANYMORE!! YOU KILLED HIM! TAKE THAT! AND THAT! ANDTHAT!!”
Rainbow Dash emphasized her words by pelting poor Fluttershy with loose hoof-fuls of snow!
"NOOOO!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!" Twilight hollered as loud as she could, but could not be heard by her two friends.

It was no use. Utterly devastated, poor Fluttershy scrambled to her feet, galloped away, and finally took wing, flying and crying all the way back to Ponyville.

“THAT’S RIGHT, YOU FRAUD!! GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK! VETERINARY FRAUD!!!” screamed an irate, indignant, inconsolable Rainbow Dash!

"THAT DOES IT!" a furious Twilight bellowed, flared her wings and tried to launch toward Dash, but Luna bit & held Twilight’s tail! The little purple Alicorn broke free and tried to continue forward, but Luna leapt and landed in front of her!

“NO, TWILIGHT! THIS IS NOT REAL! 'TIS BUT A DREAM!” Luna explained.

“THEN HOW DO I TELL HER THAT? WHY ARE WE HERE IF WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?” Twilight roared back!

But before Luna could answer, they both heard a new voice behind them:

“ARE YOU RAINBOW DASH?” A strong stallion’s voice inquired.

“Yeah, what do you want?” the cranky Dash replied.

The next thing anypony knew, Dash was bound tight with a heavy rope and shackled in hoof-chains!

“YOU’RE UNDER ARREST! FOR VANDALIZING THE CLOUDSDALE WEATHER FACTORY,
AND FOR ASSAULT & BATTERY ON A FELLOW PEGASUS PONY!”

“WHAT!? NO, WAIT, I---“ Dash started, but then her muzzle was quickly bound with a white gag!

“YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!” the arresting officer stallion added,
and his fellow officer ponies started belly-laughing!!

A distraught Rainbow Dash was thrown into a paddy-wagon chariot, and two armed Pegasi took off, carrying the police chariot away, sirens blaring and lights flashing!

It all happened so quickly, all Luna and Twilight could do, was just stare in wide-eyed horror!!

Then the scene changed…

Now instead of a snowy countryside, the two Princesses found themselves standing behind a crowd of onlooking ponies in the winter streets of Canterlot. They cheered, hissed, booed, sneered & jeered, as a wagon pulled by the Royal Canterlot Guard was being paraded about. On that wagon, Rainbow Dash stood in an iron box-cage, still bound, gagged and shackled, as rowdy ill-behaved onlookers hurled insults and pelted the cage with rotten vegetables and other disgusting debris. “TRAITOR! TRAITOR! TRAITOR!” they all chanted, aiming their chant squarely at the prisoner!

“But…but this isn’t right! This isn't what happened on Dash’s trial date! I mean, you were there; I was there, and this is not how it played out! Why is this happening?” Twilight queried.

“Correct, Twilight.” said Luna, “This is not how it really happened. We are seeing it all now from Rainbow Dash’s emotional point-of-view!”

“The dream again…” said Twilight.

"Exactly..." said Luna. “And we still can’t stop it?” Twilight concluded.

“Not one bit…” Luna confirmed. “Then WHY ARE WE HERE??? asked Twilight.

Again, Luna had no answer.

Then the scene changed again…

Now they were standing in the office of Captain Spitfire, the Wonderbolt team leader, at the Wonderbolts Academy. The bright yellow mare with flaming orange mane & amber eyes, and fully-decorated military blue uniform forejacket, got up from behind her government-issue desk and marched toward---Rainbow Dash, in full team uniform & upturned goggles, golden lightning bolt flight pin gleaming on her chest. Dash was flanked by a sore-eyed Soarin’ on one side, and a stern-looking Fleetfoot on the other.

Again, Luna & Twilight were off to a side corner as unseen onlookers; not as participants.

“Why you slimy, no-good, double-crossing swindler!” Spitfire spat, “You’ve sure got a 'lotta guts coming back here, after what you pulled!” (Dash wondered where she’d heard that line before.) “And to think, you of all Pegasi once preached to me about responsible team leadership over recklessness! Some shining example you turned out to be!” Then the team leader and the others on either side, marched menacingly toward the disgraced Pegasus pony.

“No, wait, ma’am…I can explain!” Dash sputtered in a futile effort to defend herself, but to no avail. She quailed, crouched low and trembled, as the Wonderbolts surrounded her.

“No…what are they going to do?” Twilight cringed.

Then , Spitfire came up to Dash, and stripped off her pin, tearing the spot on the uniform, where it was attached!

“Awww… I loved that pin! You gave me that pin at Rainbow Falls, remember?” Rainbow Dash yelped!

“And now I take it back!” said Spitfire. She then turned to the others.

“Wonderbolts…” the leader commanded, “...do your duty!”

The Wonderbolts pounced on Rainbow Dash! In a cloud of dust, they trampled, bit & slashed, and tore Dash’s team uniform to shreds! Her goggles got ripped off her head, and the glass stomped to pieces on the planked wood floor of the office.

Again, Twilight wanted to fly in to the rescue, but again Luna bit & held her by the tail. All Twilight could do was land on all four hooves and glower back up at the Night Princess.

Poor Rainbow Dash staggered to her own four hooves, looking naked without her precious Wonderbolt uniform, in the presence of the others. Then they neighed furiously, reared up, and stampeded Poor Dash out the door, and out to the edge of the practice runway.

Since they couldn’t be seen or heard anyway, Luna & Twilight walked through the back wall of the office building like ghosts, to see Dash spread her wings and take off to get away from the angry aerial acrobats---her once favorite team in all the world. Her heroes.

“THAT’S RIGHT, YOU TRAITOR!! GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK! GO JOIN THE SHADOWBOLTS,
FOR ALL WE CARE! CLOUDSDALE TRAITOR!!!” screamed an irate, indignant, and very disappointed Spitfire.
“(*Sigh*) And to think, she was once our greatest hero…” she told the others, head hung low.

Soarin’ paused, looking back over his shoulder, sad eyes staring up at the Dash’s retreating form.
“SOARIN’!” his captain commanded! He quickly rejoined the others.

“How can they DO THIS to her?” Twilight fumed, “How DARE they? After all she’s done for THEM!!”

“Twilight…” Luna admonished, “…you keep forgetting. This is all a DREAM…”

“(*Groan*) All right, all right, I get it!” said an impatient Twilight, pace-trotting back and forth, “…she’s caught up in a nightmare, brought on from hearing the stories in our Ex-Evils Anonymous meeting, and now she’s living out her worst fears… but why does it keep changing, and why can't we get involved? That’s the part I don't get!”

“I am afraid this is getting way out of hoof…” Luna agreed, “…this is not like any nightmare I have encountered before.
A multiple nightmare, yes, but far worse than any even the Cutie Mark Crusaders ever had. Rainbow Dash clearly has more
innermost fears than the average pony.”

“(*Sigh*) You’re not telling me anything new…” said Twilight.

And the scene changed yet again…

Things went faster now… a sign outside Rainbow Dash’s cloud house read: “FOR RENT: Previous Tenant EVICTED!” A crestfallen Rainbow Dash just sat on a separate cloud and stared with glassy eyes and a gaping mouth.

Then postal Pegasus Derpy flew by and dropped a letter on Dash's head, glowered at her with misaligned eyes, and flew off in a huff! It was from the Cloudsdale Weather Factory. Dash tore open one end with her teeth, and read the letter. "I'M FIRED!?" she gaped again, letting the letter & envelope drop down through the cloud. The cloud turned gray and began to thunder inside...

In the next instant, Dash was wearing a white shirt & dark blue necktie, carrying two sheets of paper in her teeth---a job app & resume’---and wandering down an endless corridor. She went through door after door trying to get a new job. But with each try, she got the same bad result: “NO-NO-NO! WE DON’T HIRE EX-EVILS! NO CONVICTS! NO FELONS! GO AWAY! TRY AGAIN TOMORROW! GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! NO-NO-NO! GO-GO-GO!” In a panic, she dropped the papers from her mouth and galloped toward the end of the corridor…

…and found herself in a jungle thicket!

In the next instant after that, she felt the sting of a cracking bullwhip! She turned and stared up at---Daring-Do, the Archaeologist/Adventurer Pegasus Pony!

“I told you, I work ALONE!” she snapped, “This is no job for AMATEURS! GO HOME!!”

“But I don’t have a home anymore! Where am I ‘gonna go? Please take me with you!” Dash pleaded.

“I said: NO AMATEURS!! GO AWAY!! NO MORE OF MY BOOKS FOR YOU!”

Daring-Do emphasized her last word with another LASH of the whip to Dash’s flanks, which stung the poor retreating pony as she bolted up & away, through a blue sky opening in the jungle canopy! Wild animals roared & slashed at her with their claws as she flew…

“Aww, Rainbow Dash…” a flapping Twilight moaned in sympathy, next to the flapping Luna.

Another change… a THUNDERCLAP! And the two Princesses found themselves on the rainy streets of Manehattan!
They were in a dark and blind alley, strewn with trash. They saw a drunken Rainbow Dash, clad in ragged clothes, stocking cap and dirty overcoat (her once colorful mane now a faded, stringy mess around the cap's edges) and clutching a brown paper bag with a bottle in it. The bag bore the liquor store emblem: "The Tanked Tortoise."

Dash was stumbling along the alley to a pile of garbage bags, old newspapers and cardboard boxes at the far end. "I'm as (hic) awesome as I (hic) 'wanna be..." she tried to sing, but kept hiccupping. Wobbling, she took hold of one big box, lined the inside with newspapers, stuffed a sports section or two into her clothes to keep warm, turned the box on its side and pushed it up against the brick wall, huddled inside through the open end, and bedded down for the night. “(*Sigh*) Home (hic) again…” she said with a slur, “..and (hic) no jobs again. Well, buddy, (hic) I’ve still got you. Heeheehee…” She was talking to the bottle.

Dash took a swig, licked her lips, and let out a long loud *BUURRP* that echoed through the alley, and despite the rain, a pungent odor of fermented apple cider wafted forth, reaching the Princesses’ wrinkling noses.

Twilight began to cry. Again Luna bent down and comforted her with a wing. (*Sob*) I swear, Rainbow Dash…” said Twilight, no longer caring if Dash could hear her or not, “…I’m never going to let this happen to you. No matter what you did, you don't deserve a future like this. Nopony does…(*Sob*) But…I don't understand. I got you off. Why are you still punishing yourself? What makes you think this is your fate? What could possibly have driven you out of Ponyville to come all the way out to Manehattan, for pony sakes?”

As if in answer, another scene change…

Now Dash was in the Throne Room of the Castle of Friendship. Twilight wasn’t present with the others, but standing in the hallway next to Luna. The others of the Mane 6, however, were marching toward a cowering Rainbow Dash, just as the Wonderbolts did a while back:

“So…’ya think after trashin’ Cloudsdale, we’re just ‘gonna welcome you back with open hooves, traitor!?” Applejack warned.

“Party pooper! PARTYPOOPER!” yelled Pinkie Pie, blowing a raspberry with her tongue!

“Since you’re obviously in no mood to do any forgiving yourself, why should we forgive you?” Fluttershy said cruelly.

“Oh, no…not you guys, too?” Rainbow Dash pleaded, “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I had no idea! I’m so sorry…”

“Doesn’t matter anymore, Rainbow Dash!” said Fluttershy, “We’re giving your throne to somepony else!”

“Yeah…like maybe…Discord!” said Pinkie Pie, throwing a sign on Dash’s throne which said: “RESERVED FOR DISCORD!”

Dash stared in horror!

“NO! YOU CAN’T! GUYS, THIS IS CRAZY! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO HER!” said the only voice that spoke up for Dash, standing up on his own throne.

“You tell ‘em, Spike! WOO-HOO!” Twilight cheered! Luna just face-hooved, and shook her head.

“BE QUIET, SPIKE!” said Rarity. And in deference to his favorite of the ponies, Spike shut up and sat down. She then rounded on Dash: “Color yourself...GONE!” And with that, the remaining Mane 6 (minus Spike) CHARGED!!!

Next thing Dash knew, she was hauled up by her former friends’ hooves, carried bodily through the Throne Room double doors, off through the Grand Hallway to the castle's Mane Entrance double doors, and tossed out on her ear over the Grand Golden Steps!
Spike had followed, but could do nothing.

It was still winter outside. Icy winds blew thick drifts of snow all around. Dash left a pony-shaped silhouette hole where she’d landed in a belly-flop in the snow.

Not caring a button for Dash’s discomfort, the others turned and scraped the snow off their hind hooves!
“Hmph! Good riddance to bad company!” said Rarity, “Come in, Spike; it’s freezing out here!”

“Sorry, Dash…” Spike apologized, waving his little claw goodbye, as Rarity’s horn glowed, and the doors SLAMMED shut!
So, too, did every other door, window and shutter on the outside of the castle!

Distraught, Rainbow Dash jumped back up, flew up the Golden Steps to the Mane Entrance doors, and pounded them desperately with her hooves! “NO…GUYS, PLEASE! LET ME BACK IN! LET ME BACK IN! PLEASE…OH, MY CELESTIA, NO…WHAT HAVE I DONE?? NO!! OH, CELESTIA, NO!!! NO…No, no, no…” poor Dash blubbered in misery, and shivered in the cold.

Luna & Twilight took wing and flew up the Central Stairs to the Open Balcony at castle center, ghosted again through the door to the balcony outside, and looked down at Rainbow Dash---who was turning ice-blue in the snow!

“NO!!! DASH!!” Twilight screamed! "HANG ON!! Twilight & Luna took wing and flew with all speed to save their friend!

But instead of finding their friend to save her, they found themselves… in a court room…

Dash was again bound, gagged & shackled, now perched on the witness stand across from the Judge’s bench. Luna, clad in a business skirt & blouse, stood at the Prosecutor’s table, with Twilight in similar dress & eyeglasses, at the Defense Counsel’s table. Hostile onlookers crowded the gallery, all shouting: “GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!”

Added to this cacophony was another chant: “RAINBOW TRASH! RAINBOW TRASH! RAINBOW TRASH!
This was led by a trio of long-maned Pegasus stallions in white safety hard-hats.

Dash recognized the trio from her old flight school days. They teased & taunted her then, too, along with whomever else she befriended; Fluttershy on one day, Gilda Griffon on another. Except these three usually called her “Rainbow Crash,” just to get on her nerves. Now, she sensed, they were out for blood. Seems the Cloudsdale Weather Factory was their only place of employment, and thanks to her little sabotage run, they were out of work. So now more than ever, they wanted to see Little Miss Totally Awesome finally get what was coming to her!

The only ones not joining in the vengeful chants, were Applejack, Big McIntosh and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. AJ & Mac just sat, looking stern, AJ shaking her head, Mac nodding in agreement. But Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle & Scootaloo just stared down at Rainbow Dash with wide eyes. Sad eyes. But Scootaloo’s eyes were the saddest of all. Dash stared right back, blushing, trying to say just with her eyes, how sorry she was…

Princess Celestia, clad in a Judge's flowing black robe, banged her right hoof on the bench like a gavel, and the crowd hushed. “Rainbow Dash… it is my sad duty to announce, you have been found GUILTY AS CHARGED by the Royal Canterlot Equestrian Supreme Court. What sentence does the Prosecution recommend?”

Twilight gasped, and turned to look at Luna. Now they could be seen & heard in the dream, and were participants again!

But Luna froze. Her eyes grew wide! She felt her muzzle quivering, about to speak words that were not her own! She tried to fight it, putting a hoof up to her mouth to keep it shut! All eyes in the court room fixed on her!

“Something the matter, Luna?” Judge Celestia asked. “The Court orders you to SPEAK!"

What came out, was bellowed long, loud, and distorted:

"BANISHMENT, TO THE OUTER-MOST STAR... AT THE FARTHEST REACHES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM!!!"

The gallery crowd CHEERED UPROARIOUSLY!! Twilight blanched, as did Dash.

“NO!!! “ Twilight yelped, “This is all wrong! This isn't how the trial turned out! LUNA, HOW COULD YOU??"

Luna covered her mouth with one hoof, and held the other one out to Twilight, shaking her head vigorously.
Clearly she was in her own mind, but her motor-reflexes were under some other force’s control.

Bewildered, Twilight turned to Dash.
Still bound & gagged, the prisoner shot a red-hot angry-eyed look at the Defense Counsel she trusted to get her off!

Twilight wanted to say: NO, Dash! This is NOT how your trial went! This is JUST A DREAM!
You HAVE to WAKE UP and remember what REALLY happened! WAKE UP, DASH!!"

What actually came out was: "Oh, well...Sorry, kid. Can't win 'em all. Have a nice day!"

Now it was Twilight's turn to cover her mouth with a hoof! What in the hay was going on?

Judge Celestia sounded her gavel hoof again! “SO ORDERED…” she said.
PROSECUTOR…” she turned a cold look down at her younger sibling. Luna quailed…as if she were the one just found guilty.

“…DO YOUR DUTY!" Celestia commanded!

In that very instant, the Night Princess-turned-Prosecuting Attorney began to spark with arcs of electricity!

Wide-eyed, Twilight turned her stare from Luna briefly back to Judge Celestia (as if noticing something) then back to Luna.

The Night Princess twisted and bucked, tried to resist, but to no avail! She grunted in pain, and shut her eyes for a moment…

And when they opened again… they FLASHED BRIGHTLY, like sodium lamps! And her star-spangled mane & tail waved, as though caught up in a gust of wind.

(*Gasp*) OH, NO!! LUNA!!! Twilight screamed!

“NO!!” Luna cried out, “OH, NO…NO, NO…NOT AGAIN!! SISTER, NO! PLEASE, I BEG YOU, AAAAHHHH….”

"YOU MUST!!!” Celestia ordered!

"NO!" Twilight bellowed, "THIS IS WRONG! STOP IT!!"

Up in the gallery upon seeing this, AJ & Mac started head-nudging the Crusaders out the main door. This was getting way too scary
for fillies to watch.

Luna cried out in pain, and fell to the floor, convulsing! More sparks, more writhing, Dark magic began to mix with the small lightning and swirl around Luna, just like the last time. The last time, she….

“Oh, no…” Twilight whispered in shock. Dash started chewing on her gag, trying to break it loose…

More dark swirls, and flashes of thunder & lighting! Then…from the floor, emerged… the darkest of all equines.

All eyes in the court room were on the wraith, as she slowly got to her feet, shook her armored head, and laughed that
same, dark, wicked laugh once again…

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... Ah, so good of you to summon me, Princess Celestia.

And for once, I see... we're on the SAME SIDE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

A hush had fallen over the court room. Even those who had clamored for Rainbow Dash’s blood a moment ago, cowered in sheer terror at the sight before them now.

The spectre then spread her night-black wings, bore her white -fanged teeth, shone her gleaming eyes all around the room…
…then stopped on the bound-up prisoner.

By now Dash had finally broken through & spat outthe gag, and moaned the wraith’s name in horror:

"(*GAAASP*) NIGHTMARE MOON!!!"

The beast then licked her chops hungrily with her red serpentine tongue, and began slowly prancing forward, stalking her intended victim like a tigress, as Dash wriggled like a worm on a fish hook, and cried out:

“N-no, NO! GET WAY! STAY AWAY FROM ME! STAY AWAY FROM ME! DON’T TAKE ME AWAY! PLEASE, LEAVE ME ALONE! NOOO!!!"

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER…

Author's Note

(Hides face) Oooohh... I can't look. Can you? :fluttercry:

Chapter 7 - Sense and Nonsense

"OBJECTION!!" Twilight Sparkle ROARED!

An enormous “HO…” sounded all over the courtroom. Everypony froze in shock, mouths agape, and eyes saucer-wide! Even Nightmare Moon halted her advance on Rainbow Dash, and turned to face the Defense Counsel in surprise! Relieved, Dash swooned and slumped backward off the witness stand, falling to the floor in a heap.

“YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER!!” Judge Celestia neighed reprovingly!

“NO, I AM NOT! Because YOU--” said Twilight, rounding dangerously on the Judge: “--ARE NOT JUDGE CELESTIA!!”

Another “HO…” sounded around the room, angrier than before!

“ORDER! I WILL HAVE ORDER!!” The Judge banged her gavel hoof repeatedly!

"SILENCE, YOU FOALS!!" Nightmare Moon bellowed! “(*Chuckle*) This, I’ve got to hear…”

The noise gradually died down, and Twilight continued.

“I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, your Honor…” Twilight continued, pressing her advantage: “…BUT YOU’RE NOT CELESTIA! First: the real Princess Celestia would NEVER stoop so low as to force her own sister to transform back into the very thing she’s worked so long and hard to get away from! Second: the real Celestia's horn glows with every spell she casts! Even a transformation spell on another pony! YOURS DIDN'T! Which can mean only one thing: YOU’RE AN IMPOSTER!! Who are you really: Queen Chrysalis? King Sombra? Or… (*Gasp*) … NO!!”

Realization dawned on Twilight’s thunderstruck face…

After a pause, Judge Celestia smiled…and raised her left hoof. Except…

Now it wasn't a hoof anymore… but a bird's claw The talons snapped… and everypony in the gallery...vanished in a flash!

Only Twilight, Nightmare Moon and Judge Celestia remained. Twilight stared all around the court room, trying to take in what had just happened.

Judge Celestia chuckled wickedly… then TRANSFORMED… into a Draconequus!

“Hoo-hohohohooo… My, my, my, aren’t YOU just the Mount Cleverest of little cloven-hooves?
It’s about time you finally caught on to what was happening!” the familiar figure mused.

"DISCORD!!!" Nightmare Moon BELLOWED, making Discord hold his ears!

“Owwww---yeeesh! Indoor voice, PLEASE!!!” Discord complained.

And with another claw-snap, Nightmare Moon flashed back into Princess Luna!

“(*Ahem*) Discord… I thought we gave you strict orders NOT to interfere!” the Night Princess retorted.

“UNTIL absolutely necessary!” Discord reminded them, now conjuring up a lifeguard’s T-shirt and whistle. He TWEETED the whistle loudly, making the Princesses wince & quake, crossing their eyes! “And by the looks of things, it’s a good thing for you I finally did come to your rescue!”

Discord then changed to a doctor’s white lab coat, stethoscope, headband & mirror eyepiece, and a medical chart: “In case you haven’t noticed, and you probably haven’t, all three of your bodies back up topside were about to expire from massive coronaries! The stress levels were off the scale! I know, I measured!” He demonstrated by showing three heart monitors with spiking sinus rhythms! “How your little dragon friend is managing to sleep so soundly through all this, I’ve yet to figure out!”

Discord then conjured all the med-props away, replacing them with a nautical captain’s uniform for himself plus a ship’s stern & upper deck railing, and two rope-attached floatation rings for the Princesses. (The name 'HMS Tartanic' appeared on these life preservers.) “So if I hadn’t dropped in to save you just in time…” He let the ship’s stern sink…then replaced all this with flower wreaths, granite gravestones marked R.I.P. in the names of Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna and Rainbow Dash, and clad himself in a black hooded robe & scythe: “(*Sniff*)…time for you, would have been no more.” Then he flashed them all back to normal.

“(*Groan*) Okay, okay…” said Twilight, frustrated again, “…thank you very much for keeping your promise and saving our lives. But why the charade of a false trial? The real one was tough enough on Dash; why make her suffer through a false one with worse results on top of that?”

“What!? You think I did all this? Oh, surely you jest…” said Discord, making a Mardi Gras bell-hat appear on Twilight’s head briefly for emphasis. “This was already in her head before I ever showed up! I simply adapted to what was going on, and, well… had a little fun as I went along.”

“But none of this makes any sense!” Twilight whined, stomping a hoof.

Discord admonished in a mock scolding tone: “Tsk-tsk-tsk, Princess Twilight Sparkle, as I’ve told Celestia and you & your friends before, in our first encounter (a very far point, I might add)...WHAT FUN IS THERE IN MAKING SENSE?? Dreams aren’t supposed to make sense! They’re total nonsense!! That’s what I LOVE about them so much! Honestly, your Highness, must EVERYTHING be LOGICAL for you to accept and believe them? Oh, Vulcan pony?”

With a snap, Discord made a blue Starfleet uniform jersey appear on Twilight! (As her hair was already in straight bangs, and her pony ears already pointed, he didn’t have to do much to complete her Pony Trek cosplay ensemble.) “FASCINATING…” Twilight drawled sarcastically with a cocked eyebrow, not bothering to ask for a mirror to see her reflection. Then with a glow of her horn, she flash-changed back herself.

“But these fears are not total nonsense to Rainbow Dash…” Luna explained, “…they are part of her soul, and therefore very real to her. But how were we to coach her into facing those fears…if she herself could neither hear nor see us before now?”

“Oho, that…” said Discord. “Actually, I have no idea why you couldn’t be seen or heard earlier. But by the time you all reached this little scenario, I simply…you know… corrected it. But of course, horse-horse (*snicker*) … I just couldn't resist the fun of a little pony ventriloquism & disguise! Hoo-hoo!! YOU SHOULD’VE SEEN THE LOOKS ON YOUR FACES! Priceless!! Heeeheheheheehee!!”

Discord laughed himself silly! Twilight and Luna, most decidedly, did not.

(*Groan*) Okay, that’s enough time wasted. We’ve got to get Rainbow Dash and----oops!” Twilight started, but then she noticed…Rainbow Dash was gone from the stand! “Rainbow Dash?” she called, galloped forward. Twilight searched all around the stand, even the spot where Dash had fallen. Not a trace. “Huh? What? Where’d she go? Did she finally wake up? Or is she…(*Gasp* ) IS SHE…” Poor Twilight froze, holding both sides of her head with her hooves!

“DEAD? Phssh, hardly…” Discord scoffed.

“If she were, this entire dream would be fading away by now…” said Luna, thinking…

“What kind of crazy dream is this anyway?” Twilight puzzled.

Discord looked from one pony to the other. “OH…” he interjected, “You mean you don't know? Two of the smartest ponies in all of Equestria, and YOU DON’T KNOW what kind of NIGHTMARE THIS IS??” He placed dunce caps over the Princesses’ horns! “How quickly old knowledge is forgotten by the young…” Discord emoted melodramatically, “…and with a thousand-year head start, I thought at least you would know, Luna!”

"WHAT KIND??" both Princesses shouted, flashing the caps away!

“IT’S A CHAOTIC MULTIPLE NIGHTMARE!! And chaos is MY field of expertise!” Discord explained.

“OOOH, OF COURSE! I should have remembered…” said Luna, face-hoofing herself again, “…the more hightened the dreamer’s fears and imagination, the more chaotic and terrifying the nightmares! Rainbow Dash has really let her imagination run away with her, this time!”

“And if we don’t stop her, she’ll SCARE HERSELF TO DEATH!” Twilight realized!

“Quick, Discord, we’ve got to find her! Can you track her down?” Twilight commanded.

On command, Discord conjured up a bomber jacket, leather helmet (his mismatched horns sticking out through specially cut holes) flight goggles and a long white scarf! His mismatched wings stuck out from a slit in the back of the jacket. “Just FOLLOW MY LEAD, wing-ponies!” He now commanded, lowering his goggles into place.

At that, Luna & Twilight found themselves also in white scarves, goggles and leather flight-helmets (their horns sticking out through a single hole in front.) Discord spread his wings and crouched for take-off. The Princesses lowered their goggles into place, and did the same.

"UP WE GO!” Discord declared, and LAUNCHED skyward----the ceiling of the court room apparently gone now, replaced by clear blue skies with small white clouds. Twilight & Luna also launched, leaving the rest of the court room far below, and followed close behind Discord. “Great…” Twilight thought, more sarcastically than before, “…now we're the Wonderbolts.”

Soon the new trio of flying aces found themselves passing over the Cloudeseum in Cloudsdale! Throngs of spectator Pegasi CHEERED from the bleachers, as the trio circled the floating city stadium.

“I remember this…” Twilight mused, “…the Best Young Flier’s Competition! But, wait a minute…where’s Rarity? Where’s our other friends? And where are the real Wonderbolts? Something’s wrong again…” Twilight reported.

“''Tis a FALSE MEMORY…” Luna called back, “…it ALTERS the real one, but the dreamer cannot tell the difference!”

“LOOK! THERE SHE IS!” called Discord, pointing down to one end of the stadium.

Rainbow Dash was nudged firmly out from behind the curtain. She wore number tags on her flanks… but her wings were missing!

“CONTESTANT NUMBER 15!” said the Announcer.

“NO, WAIT! I’VE GOT NO WINGS! I CAN’T, I…OOF!” Dash was shoved off the edge!

“ OH, NO!” Twilight gasped! Her friend flailed her hooves in mid-air, suspended for a moment…

Then the wingless blue pony PLUMMETED through the skyhole in the stadium floor, to the earth far below!! “AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” she screamed!

“NOOOO!!!!” Twilight hollered!

“AwwOOOOgah!! DIVE, DIVE!” Discord ordered, submarine-style!

In a split second, all three spiraled and power-dove downward like war planes after the wingless Pegasus.

As they closed in on their target, the leader remembered his earlier aborted seizure tactic from the meeting room.

One claw-snap in mid-air, and Discord had his large butterfly net poised & ready! He then imitated a pilot's radio transmission:

“(>Tssh<) I’VE GOT THIS! BREAK OFF!(>Tssh<)” he ordered, and Luna & Twilight veered off in opposite directions.

But just as Discord caught up to Dash and swung the net for a catch…POOF! She vanished again!

“What!?” he puzzled, looking around to see where she went. Not a sign of her. “How does she do that?” Discord puzzled.

This went on for several more scenarios, where at some point Dash had regained her wings; back through Daring-Do’s jungle; back through the hallway of employer doors; back to the Wonderbolts Academy airstrip; even back through the streets of Manehattan…

Then onward into outer space, to a penal colony on an asteroid way out at the edge of the solar system, where Dash was in a striped suit doing hard labor, breaking up strange alien rocks with a mouth-hammer and hoof-chisel, as a stone-faced armed guard Maud Pie kept watch. But each time they caught up to Dash, and Discord tried to catch her, POOF! Gone again. “Seems in her dreams, Rainbow has the power to teleport.” Twilight concluded.

In a more horriflying scenario, the team found themselves over the blazing fires of Tartarus, where Dash was stranded on a lone mesa surrounded by molten lava, and staring up wide-eyed at a towering orange-flamed version of herself, wringing her forehooves, grinning like a Grinch, uttering the phrase: “I’LL JUST HAVE TO STOP WINTER!” and CACKLING like a FIEND!! The trio zoomed over Cerberus (who barked all three heads up at them) as Discord swooped down from above to grab Dash---but she POOFED again! “URGH! This is getting TIRESOME!” Discord complained, as the team soared through the gaping maw of the giant fiery Grinch-Dash…

…And came out soaring over Appleloosa, under a blazing desert sun, where Dash (her wings bound by a heavy rope again, like in the Running of the Leaves race) was being chased by an angry stampeding herd of wild buffalo!

"Shame on you, Rainbow Dash!” bellowed Chief Thunderhooves.

“We’re in a drought because of you!” yelled Little Strongheart.

“With no rain from Cloudsdale, all our crops are drying up! CURSE YOU, RAINBOW DASH!” yelled Braeburn.

“HOG-TIE THAT HOMBRE'!” Sheriff Silverstar called out!

“YOU GOT IT, PARDNER!” Discord drawled as he & the Alicorn Princesses (now changed to cowpony outfits) zoomed over the herd to catch up to Dash.

With their horns, Luna & Twilight shot a series of energy blasts on the ground, diverting Dash away from the herd, as Discord twirled a lasso, about to make a snare! But again, just as he hollered “YEE-HAW!” and cast out a loop around his prey---POOF! No Dash. “Aw, shoot!” he swore!

But then Discord went bug-eyed, seeing something coming up fast dead-ahead! “WUH-OH…” he winced.

It was the Castle of Friendship, and he was headed for one of the stained glass windows flanking the Mane Entrance golden double-doors! Moving too fast to change course, he pulled his hat down, crossed his mismatched forelimbs over his face, and braced for impact!

KE-RASH!!! The cowpoke Draconequus crashed through the window, bounced like a rubber ball off the amethyst crystalline walls of the Grand Hallway, careened through the Throne Room double doors, sprawled across the smooth polished floor, and finally slammed face-first into the crystal base, of the back of one of the Mane 6 Thrones! Sensing his momentum had finally ceased, he raised a weary claw-hand and snapped, disappeared, then reappeared standing up, his face healed and his cowpony duds conjured away.

Strangely enough, the castle seemed to be completely empty. The remaining Mane 6 plus Spike, were apparently all out for the day doing who-knew-what, without Rainbow Dash.

Luna & Twilight flew in through the broken window for softer four-point landings, their cowpony outfits also gone.

“She teleported again, didn’t she?” said Twilight flatly.

“So close!!” said Discord, balling up his fists and shaking!

Then he straightened up, ogling with wide eyes the very object at whose feet he’d just landed… Rainbow Dash’s
Throne! The 'RESERVED FOR DISCORD' sign Pinkie Pie had put on it earlier, was still there!

“AHAAA!!” Discord squealed with childish delight, “HUZZAH, HUZZAH!! So I DO have a throne on the Friendship Council after all!!” Immediately, he took the sign away and sat down in the throne, trying it on for size. “Oooh…I could get used to this!! Oh, and I simply love what you’ve done with the place...” he said, noticing the Golden Oak tree-stump chandelier and other decorum. “...the Old and the New, all together!! You know, maybe we should leave that disgusting Rainbow Dash to her fate, and make me the new Element of Loyalty! Whaddya’ say, kiddies??”

"NO, DISCORD, NO!!" Twilight scolded. “She’s been loyal to us; we should be loyal to her! Now GET OFF THAT
THRONE!”

Discord just sat, evidently not wanting to move.

"NOW!!" ordered Luna, bellowing! Again, it made Discord hold his ears & wince in pain, but he stubbornly held firm.

Softening, Twilight said: “Please?”

A pause… then, disgusted, the sourpuss Discord said: “Hmph!” Then he slunk off the throne, crossed his forelimbs,
said: “Party poopers…” and blew a raspberry with his tongue, same as Pinkie Pie.

Twilight & Luna sighed in relief.

But Discord had more to say on the matter: “Oh, yes, really loyal of RAINBOW TRASH to do just that with the life’s work of her own people, all to avoid kissing her precious pet goodbye for ONE lousy season out of the year? What kind of loyalty is that?”

"Hath thee no heart, thou calloused BRUTE?" whispered a vexed Luna about to rush him,
but Twilight put a hoof up to the Night Princess’ chest, gently halting her.

Twilight took a deep breath, thought a moment, then said: “Rainbow Dash was faced with a very difficult choice to make. She had to choose between two different loyalties: her loyalty to her fellow ponies, or her loyalty to her pet. That’s a tough choice for anypony to have to make. Anytime we’re faced with a tough choice, it drives us…well.. crazy. The stress overwhelms us, tears us up inside, and drives us to do...stupid things. Things we would never do otherwise.”

Hearing this story spill out of Twilight’s mouth, Luna’s features softened. She knew exactly where Twilight was
coming from, and where she was going with this. Luna was hanging on every word, whether Discord was or not.

“And Rainbow isn’t the only pony who did this,” Twilight continued, “We all did at one point or another. Luna did when she became jealous of Celestia…Pinkie Pie did when she thought her friends didn’t like her anymore…Applejack did when she became overly protective of Apple Bloom…Fluttershy did at our first Grand Galloping Gala when the garden animals kept avoiding her…and, well… I did, too, when I thought I’d run out of friendship lessons to learn, so I created a problem in order to solve it. Celestia came down very hard on me for that. Imagine that: one of the few times I actually made Celestia mad at me…”

That admission made Luna smile a little. She & Twilight had more in common than she thought.

“(*Ahem*) You conveniently left out Rarity & Spike, I see…” Discord reminded her.

“Well, just about everything’s a major crisis with Rarity…but there was that time when she dressed up like a country bumpkin, just to impress some fashion big-shot who liked rustic rural charm. And Spike, well…there was the time when greed got the better of him on his birthday, and he…”

“…grew up too soon?” Discord finished the sentence. “Well… aren’t you all Lords of Chaos and ex-evils in your own right?”

“And YOU…” said a now hardened Twilight, pointing a hoof at Discord!

“I know, I know…” the Draconequus interrupted, “…when I turned you all into the opposites of your Elements
back at the hedge-maze…”

“That’s NOT what I mean!” Twilight corrected, “Don’t think I didn’t see how crazy you can get with jealousy,
when Fluttershy chose Tree-Hugger over you to take to last year's Galloping Gala!”

“Oh..(heh) That...” said Discord, looking genuinely embarrassed.

Luna just barely suppressed a chuckle, but Discord raised an eyebrow at her for it.

“It can’t be easy for you, either…” Twilight continued, softening again,“…having to constantly choose
between having your fun as the Lord of Chaos, and having us for your friends. Fluttershy in particular.”

Now Twilight struck a raw nerve.

“Oh, SPARE ME your INSANITY PLEA speeches, Defense Counsel Twilight!” Discord bellowed, conjuring up a black robe, white powdered wig, judge’s gavel & podium. “We’re not in the false trial court room anymore, so it’s no use trying to get me to whitewash that rainbow pony’s crimes from my mind and forgive her, for any reason!” He claw-snapped the judge’s outfit & podium away. “Rainbow Dash did wrong, she got what was coming to her, same as the rest of us, so she might as well stop sucking her hoof like a little filly, pony up and TAKE IT LIKE A MANE!!”

“Umm…guys?” came a voice from across the hallway, accompanied by…hoof clops.

All three paused and turned to look, and saw------Rainbow Dash!

Whether she had teleported or had come flying in through the broken window, none could tell;
they didn’t see or hear her come in.

Slowly…wearily…sadly… Rainbow ambled up to the others. Her head was hung low, and her wings were drooping.

She raised her head a little bit, to see the others directly.

“Can we talk? ” she asked humbly.

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER….

Author's Note

You can tell I've been losing sleep over this one. :twilightoops:

Chapter 8 - Facing your Fears

It was a stand-off, or so it appeared.

The three of them: Twilight Sparkle, the Alicorn Princess of Friendship: Luna, the Alicorn Princess of the Night; and Discord, the Draconequus Ex-Lord of Chaos-----all standing in alliance in the Throne Room of the Castle of Friendship----versus Rainbow Dash, former Pegasus weather pony and self-corrupted misrepresentative of the Element of Loyalty.

Only now… it would seem… the chase had come to an end. The pony in question, appeared to be…ready to surrender.

“Um… as much as I would usually hate to admit it…” Dash began awkwardly, “…and as much as I hate being anywhere near Discord…this time, he’s right. I’m tired of running… I’m tired of being scared all the time. I need to stop running away like a little filly, and…(*gulp*) own up to what I’ve become. And if that means losing everything I thought made me important…my home, my job, my friends, the Element of Loyalty, my place on the Wonderbolts team, or even my throne on the Friendship Council...” she squeezed her big rosy eyes shut, but a tear trickled down anyway. “…so be it. I’ve totally made a mess of everything, betrayed my fellow Pegasi, betrayed you and the others…” she was looked at Twilight, “…I’ve done everything a true and loyal friend should never, ever do.”

“(*Ahem*) Including eavesdropping, I see!” Discord added reprovingly.

"SSHHH!!" The Alicorn Princesses shushed him! He straightened up and folded his forelimbs indignantly.

Rainbow continued: “So… I wouldn’t blame you for, well…not being my friends anymore.”

Here Twilight shook her head vigorously, her eyes soft and moist, her expression pleading.

“…Whatever I’ve still got coming to me for trashing Cloudsdale, I promise…I’m pony enough to take it.
I give up.” Rainbow concluded, bowing low to her superiors.

After a pause…Twilight came forward, lifted Rainbow’s chin up with a hoof, and smiled. “Oh, Rainbow Dash…” she said softly, leading the Pegasus to get up on her own. “We’re never going to stop being friends.” said Twilight, pulling Dash into a warm hug.
“Nothing in earth, sea or sky, is ever going to stop us from being the best of friends.” The two best pony friends embraced long and tight…

But after another pause… Luna came up to them, and placed a gentle but firm hoof on Dash’s rainbow mane.

“You are bargaining again, Rainbow Dash…” the Night Princess declared, apologetically.

“Huh?” Dash queried, her brow furrowing, as Twilight released her embrace.

“She means: you’re still trying to avoid facing something you don't want to face.” Twilight explained.

“And this is never going to stop, until you do face it…” said Luna, removing her hoof and backing away.

At this, Discord conjured up a manacle & chain and CLAMPED it around Dash’s neck!

“HEY!” Dash yelled!

He also conjured up an armored guard’s uniform for himself, and a sharp lance to jab at her flank!

“OW!” she yelped!

“I’m NOT letting you get away THIS TIME!” He snarled!

“All right, all right! Take it easy, will ‘ya?” Dash complained.

Then Twilight touched her glowing horn to the manacle.

“What? Twilight, what are you doing?” asked Dash.

“It’s an anti-teleportation spell. I’m sorry, but it’s for your own good.” said Twilight.

“A what kind of spell?” asked a puzzled Dash.

The three marched forward, until they flanked the Night Princess. Luna trotted forward, then stopped, and stared at the Mane Entrance double doors at the far end of the Grand Hallway. She aimed her horn, flashed it, and made the doors swing wide open! The weather outside was wintery again; now a blowing gale, a BLIZZARD once again!

Dash quailed! “(*Gulp*) Wh-what is it I that have to face?” she asked timidly.

Luna turned and stated sidelong back at Dash. “…YOUR WORST FEAR...” she stoically declared.

Dash’s eyes grew wide, pupils shrinking to ten-bit size again, and her mouth gaping wide open!

One more claw-snap from Discord (he had to lay down the lance first, then pick it up again) they were all
clad in their cold-weather clothes again----minus the armored ex-Chaos Lord.

They marched forward---their hooves clopping soundly on the polished floor---through the Throne Room double doors, through
the Grand Hallway, out through the open Mane Entrance double-doors, and down the Golden Steps, into the raging snowstorm…

Almost instantly, they reached the intended spot, but the blizzard was whiting out everything.
A command from Luna, and another claw-snap, made the storm lessen, but only a little.

Twilight recognized the place. “Hey…we’re back!” she said, brightening a bit.

“B-b-back where?” asked Rainbow in dread.

Then she looked around… and saw where they were. The tree…the hill…the ice pond…

And she froze with fright!

“(*GAAAASP*) NO! Oh, no…NO! N-NOT HERE…NOT AGAIN… NO!!” she squealed in terror!

Dash tried to flee. She forced her wings up & out of the slit in the back of her winter jacket, and flapped them like crazy!

She flew up a short distance, and darted in circles, but the chain & manacle held fast.
She was little more than a flighty bird on a short tether.

“RAINBOW DASH, YOU PROMISED!” Twilight scolded, “YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!”

“NO!!! OH, MY CELESTIA, NO!! PLEASE! I NEVER AGREED TO THIS!!” Dash protested in anguish!

"YES, YOU DID! NOW GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!!" Discord snarled, jerking the chain!

Dash plummeted down and plopped through the snow! “OWW! THAT HURT!” Dash yelled back up!

"DISCORD!!" Both Princess snapped!

Enraged, Dash flew up out of her snow-hole and rushed the abusive Draconequus, shoving him with both
hooves and knocking him on his back!

"STOP YANKING MY CHAIN, 'YA BIG BULLY!!" the irate Pegasi threatened her captor!

BULLY!? Oh, that was it…he’d had just about enough of this spoiled brat of a pony!!

Not giving her a chance to recover, Discord seized Rainbow firmly, got up, turned her about-face in his mismatched paws, marched her forward to the small hill, and slammed her down rear-first, in the snow!

“OOWW!” she whined in pain!

"PONY UP, YOU ZAP-APPLE PEGASUS and LOOOK!!" he ROARED, more angrily than necessary!!

All this time, Luna & Twilight just gazed in shock (first at each other, then back at Discord) livid with rage and wanting to trample the stuffings out of the beast for his brutal treatment of their tantrum-throwing friend, but fearful of prolonging matters any further. So…quivering to maintain their own self-control, they kept stock-still…and silent.

Rainbow Dash cringed and trembled. Discord’s fiery tone had reminded her of her own father, in one of his more
impatient moments with her in fillyhood. For a moment now, she too worried about what might happen to her if
she really made Discord mad. She panted, trying to calm down…trying also to summon her courage.

When steady enough, she got up, her tailbone and bottom stinging from the impact of her earth-spanking…and ran a
hoof over the spot on the small hill beneath the tree in front of her, to clear away the snow. Soon she got into it with
both hooves, until…yes… the burrow grave-marker was readable again:

"HERE LIES TANK. RAINBOW DASH'S BELOVED PET TORTOISE. DIED IN HIBERNATION. R.I.P."

Upon reading those terrible words again, poor Rainbow Dash caved in, and started sobbing anew.

"(*Gasp*) WHYYYY??? WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME DO THIS?? (*Sob*) HE'S GONE, DON'T YOU SEE THAT? (*Sob*) HE'S GOH-HOH-HOH-HONE...AND THERE'S NOT A BUCKIN' THING I CAN DO ABOUT IT! (*Sob*) NOTHING I CAN DO TO BRING HIM BACK! (*Sob*) NOTHING...(*Sob*) I LOVED HIM! (*Sob*) POOR LITTLE GUY... (*Sob*) BUT WHY COULDN'T I SAVE HIM??? (*Sob*) WHYYYHYHYHYHYHYHYHYYYY???"

Discord thrust the lance point-down into the snow next to his feet and balled up his mismatches fists in fury,
desperately wanting to knock some sense into this stubborn little pony’s hard head!

But, instead, the armored guard Draconequus kept still, for off in the distance to his right, he could see---Fluttershy, once again
on her way to apologize to Rainbow Dash, and comfort her if she could.

Fluttershy had seen everything Discord did, and was sitting up, her forehooves crossed, her jaw set, her face furious, and her big turquoise eyes hard as steel! It wasn’t quite ‘the stare’ she was notorious for (not that it would’ve worked on him if it was) but for him, it didn’t have to be. He was already sorry for losing his temper in such a big way. Sorrier still, that Fluttershy was there to see it. And now, as Rainbow Dash poured her heart out, he could see Fluttershy starting to quiver, her hooves uncrossing and moving up to cover her mouth, and her eyes welling up with tears. The Alicorn Princesses also welled up.

Only the ex-Chaos Lord remained dry-eyed. Unmoving. Unflinching.
He just stood still, like the centurion we was dressed as…waiting for Dash to finish her tirade.

(*Gasp*) I WANT TANK!! I WANT TANK!! WHY CAN'T I WAKE HIM UP? (*Gasp*) WHY??"

"(*Sob, Gasp*) I'M NEVER 'GONNA HAVE ANOTHER PET AS LONG AS I LIVE! I DON'T WANT ANY MORE PETS! NOT IF THEY'RE 'GONNA DIE OFF LIKE HE DID!! IT'S NOT FAIR, I TELL 'YA! IT'S NOT! IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT! (*Sob*) WHAT GOOD IS LOVING ANYPONY IF ALL THEY'RE 'GONNA DO SOMEDAY IS LEAVE ME???"

At this, Dash stopped, and stared blankly, with wide red-rimmed eyes…

Luna & Twilight came forward, glad to see she was realizing the truth at last. But not yet were they smiling.

“Oh, my Celestia…” said Dash, in puzzlement, “…That is what I’m really afraid of, isn’t it? To be left alone.
All alone. I always did hate being all alone.”

“Dash…you’re not alone. We're here. And we’ll always be here for you.” Twilight explained.

“Even though we cannot always be there for you…” said Luna, sheepishly.

This made about as much sense to Rainbow Dash as one of Applejack’s countryisms. Which, of course, didn’t.

Twilight came closer. “What Luna means is: even though we can’t always be there for you in pony-person…”
She placed a hoof on Dash’s chest, squarely in the middle. “We’ll always be with you right here...in your heart..”

A grateful Rainbow Dash placed her hoof upon Twilight’s.

“And that’s something nopony can ever take away from you…for any reason.
So you see, Dash…you’re not alone….ever.” Twilight concluded.

Rainbow held Twilight’s hoof in both of hers, held it to her chest, and rested her chin on it, as well.

“Thanks, guys…” she said at last.

Still… stoically… Rainbow Dash turned back toward the cold, hard gravestone.

“But I’m still petless.” she declared wearily, “…and there’s still nothing I can do about it.”

“No, Rainbow Dash, that is not true…” said Luna. Rainbow straightened, and looked back at the Night Princess.

“Huh? W-what do you mean?” she asked.

Losing patience, Discord whacked the little cyan pony up the side of the head!

“OW!” she yelped!

“SHE MEANS IT’S NOT REAL! WAKE UP!!” he snarled!

“Wake up? Dash echoed, “Whaddya mean, wake up? I’d have to be asleep before I can----!

“BINGO!” said Discord, making an electric light bulb appear over Dash’s head, before pulling the chain to turn it off!
It fell right on the Rainbow pony’s head and popped, before vanishing!

“Ohhhh…” Dash realized, “…you mean…I am asleep? That…that this is all…” she turned back around and
faced the granite stone. “…just a dream?”

“You fell asleep during the meeting…” Twilight explained, smiling.

“You were having a nightmare, so I had to come inside to help you face your fear…” Luna explained.

“But it was too big to handle alone. That’s why we're here, too…” Twilight added.

“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!” said Dash, shaking her head, “You mean to tell me I’ve been freakin' out all over the place here…for NOTHING?? That this is all JUST IN MY HEAD? WHY WOULD I DO THIS TO MYSELF? Is it because I’m still grieving over Tank’s de---”

"HE'S NOT DEAD!!" the others HOLLERED at once!

Stunned, Rainbow Dash stood stone still, stunned, wondering…

"N-NOT DEAD??" She cooed, hoping...but then doubting.

"WHOA-WHOA-WHOA! Whaddy'a mean he's not dead? He died right there in my hooves, on the
bed in my cloud house! We all came here to bury him! You were there, Twilight! You saw---!"

"NO DASH!! HE DIDN'T DIE!" Twilight corrected.

"'TIS A FALSE MEMORY!" Luna declared in support.

"YES! YES! Just like at the Cloudeseum! You didn't lose your wings! You made a Sonic Rainboom and saved Rarity & the Wonderbolts! You WON the Best Young Flier's Competition!! And Tank didn't die: he went into hibernation! You broke down crying because you didn't want to let him go! But you learned that love sometimes means letting go! You brought him here not to die, but to sleep! To sleep through the winter, until springtime! That's ALL! You even read him a bedtime story about Daring-Do! Don't you see, Dash? Tank is NOT DEAD! He's FINE! You WILL see him again, in THREE MONTHS! I PROMISE YOU, THAT'S THE TRUTH!!" Twilight explained desperately, nearly breaking down in sobs herself...

Rainbow Dash paused, thunderstruck. Numb. Confused.

“This is making no sense at all…” she concluded, crossing her hooves.

“UUUGH!” Discord groaned in frustration, “DON’T YOU GET IT? DREAMS AREN’T SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE! THEY’RE WHATEVER YOU IMAGINE THEM TO BE!”

“Dash, this is YOUR DREAM! Your OWN IMAGINATION! Isn’t it time YOU took control of IT, and stop letting IT control YOU?” Twilight implored.

Control me?” Dash echoed again, turning back toward Tank’s headstone.

Then Dash stiffened again, as though some thought she’d been working on finally clicked, and turned to see Fluttershy a small distance away. The Kindness Pony just smiled, waved a hoof… and faded away.

Encouraged, Dash turned her gaze back to the stone, and blinked in realization.

The others all stared… waiting to see what Rainbow would do next.

Without snapping a claw, Discord made the manacle & chain disappear, but Dash didn’t notice.

The cyan Pegasus lowered her head, closed her eyes, shook her head clear, blinked her eyes several
times for focus, then squinted…concentrating a hard stare on the carved stone… Seconds passed.

And soon…the writing on the stone…also faded away.

The others leaned forward…staring in amazement!

Encouraged further, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, lowered her head, and raised her right hoof…

In a sweeping gesture, she passed the hoof over the stone… and it too, faded away!!

Dash was entranced… as were the others. Except Discord, who looked smug.

Now it was just a bare patch of earth, covering the burrow.

Rainbow concentrated… brought her right hoof forward, turned it shoe-up, and raised it slowly…

The others leaned in closer, to see what would happen next…

The soil quivered, a little…then shook, and began to fall away…

Dash’s upturned hoof rose higher, and shook harder…

More soil fell away…until all that remained…was a spotted green tortoise shell.

Dash’s eyes grew wide! Her lips parted in a gasp!

The shell was…empty.

“(*Gasp*) NO! No..no...OH, NO! TANK?? OH, MY---! TANK! (*Sniff*) Aw, no… (*Sob*) TA-HA-HA-HANK!!”

Poor Dash picked the shell up in her hooves, not knowing what to make of it, and fretting all over again.

“No, no, please, Rainbow Dash, don’t weaken now!” Twilight pleaded softly.

But then… “Wait! What?” said a puzzled Dash, peering into the head hole of the shell.

“Tank? Buddy? Are you in there? Come on, it’s me…Rainbow Dash, your best pal! You don’t have to hide from me.
Come on, Tank…if you’re in there, please…just ‘gimme a sign; something, okay? Aw, please…please…”

“(*Sigh*) 'Tis not working…” said Luna, softly.

“Hmph, try harder…” said Discord, gritting his single snaggletooth.

Hugging the shell firmly in her embrace, and rocking back & forth in a soothing motion, Rainbow Dash squeezed her eyes shut, raised her head, and spoke bravely: first in a whisper, then building to a holler:

“This is my dream…this is MY dream…THIS IS MY DREAM! TAAAAANK!!!"

Then…. *SHOOP-POP!* The little tortoise’s head popped up through the head-hole, followed by his forelegs,
hind legs, and tail, out through their respective holes!

Dash froze, opened her eyes wide, and beheld her prized pet, yawning & stretching his stubby limbs!

"TANK!!!" Dash CHEERED!!

"YOU'RE ALIVE!!
OMYGOSHOMYGOSHOMYGOSH,
YOU'RE ALIVE!!
YESYESYESYESYES!!
OH, PRAISE CELESTIA,
YOU'RE ALI-HI-HI-HI-HIVE!!

…said a gushingly OVERJOYED Rainbow Dash, gratefully cuddling & kissing her long lost pet!

"YAAY! WOO-HOO! YAAAAY!" Both Alicorn Princesses (in very unroyal fashion)
sprang into the air and flapped their wings in JUBILATION!!

“Well played, Rainbow Dash…well played.” said Discord, nodding in respect.

Then Discord got an idea… and snapped his claw!

(*GASP*) DISCORD…WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?” said an alarmed Rainbow Dash, turning her head in fury on her captor!

“A-tut-tut-tut! Just listen!!!” said Discord, popping off one of his ears, and holding it out to Dash.

Rainbow stared at the detached ear, not knowing what the Draconequus meant, until she heard----

“R-r-r-r-um…r-r-r-Rainbow…D-d-d-dash…” a slow, weak voice croaked.

Dash froze…rosy eyes saucer-wide! The Princesses also froze, wide-eyed!

Dash turned her head back around (as Discord re-attached his ear) and looked back at Tank.

The tortoise’s lips quivered…and parted.

“R-r-r-r-rainbow…D-d-d-dash??” he repeated.

"(*GAAAAAAASP*) TANK? D---did you just...TALK???” said the astonished cyan pony!

“Mmm…w-w-whyy…y-yes…ummm…I t-think s-so…”

His voice was as slow as the rest of him. Whimsical… Humble…

In some other world, it might have belonged to a certain honey-colored teddy bear with a red shirt.
Or a striped Cheshire Cat in another, or a jungle python in still another...

“Omygoshomygoshomygosh, this is TOTALLY AWESOME!" said an elated Rainbow Dash: “I’ve got the awesomest pet tortoise in the whole wide world, and now he can TALK! This is SO COOL! This dream just got 20 PERCENT COOLER! I can’t belie---oop!” A tortoise foreleg pressed on her muzzle, hushing her.

“P-please…not sso f-f-fast…” Tank pleaded: “…I’mm k-kind’a nnew at thisss… tell mme…isssit…sssspring, yet?”

“Huh? OH! Ummm…no, not yet. I…kind’a woke you up early.” Dash explained hesitantly.

Tank raised his neck a little higher out of the shell, enough for him to bend his head down at bit, and sluggishly give Dash a stern look. Rainbow blushed, and gave a SQUEE grin.

“Sorry…” she said sheepishly: “I was just so worried about you. I thought you’d died. I’ve missed you, buddy…my winter’s not the same at all without you, pal…I can’t stop thinking about you. I just want you back so bad…(*sniff*) I’m really sorry… (*sob*) I never knew waiting for spring could be so hard…”

Tank softened, and gently bumped noses with her, in his tender fashion.

“T-there, there, R-r-rainbow D-d-dash…” he continued: “…F-f-funny… I s-s-till r-remember..h-how l-little y-you t-thought of m-me at f-first… unt-til th-the r-race t-through –G-Ghastly G-G-Gorge…w-when I l-l-lifted t-that b-b-big b-boulder off-f-f y-y-your t-t-trapped w-w-ing…”

“Yeah…I remember that…” Dash confirmed. “You saved my life, Tank. I’ll never forget that.”

“S-s-so…” Tank asked, puzzled: “…I’mm…m-more th-than-n a p-p-pet t-to you, Dash-h-h?”

“Tank…” said Dash: “…you’re MY HERO!! More than the Wonderbolts…more than Daring-Do…you're my hero, Tank! I love you! Yeah, I know…I used to think that was sappy. But hey, how else is a damsel in distress supposed to react----when her knight in shining armor comes to the rescue?”

“Great. He's her hero…and what are we; chopped liver?” Twilight thought to herself, but didn’t say out loud.

“I'm in shining armor…” thought Discord: “…and she doesn’t call me a hero! Hmph, lucky reptile…”

Tank smiled, slowly…and a tear ran slowly down his cheek. “C-C-Celestia b-bless y-you, R-r-rainbow D-d-dash…” I l-l-love you, t-t-too…” he said, starting to yawn again. “…T-t-time I w-went b-back t-to b-bed, I g-g-guess… J-just p-promise m-me one t-thing, p-please?”

“Anything, Tank.” said Dash.

“…D-d-don’t b-blow u-up a-any m-more f-factories t-t-o p-prove y-y-your l-l-love f-f-for m-me, ok-k-kay?”
Tank said, with a slow, sly wink.

“(*Chuckle*) Okay, I promise…” said a smiling Dash: “Just you promise to never leave me all alone in the world. You know how I hate being all alone.” She winked in turn.

“(*Yaaawn*) I p-p-promise, R-r-rainbow D-d-dash…” said Tank, feeling himself start to sink back into slumber.

With that, Dash gently put her friend back into his burrow, and he began to wall himself up again, in dirt and snow.

“’Bye, Tank. Still love ‘ya. See you next Winter Wrap-Up, okay?” said Dash, waving a hoof goodbye.

“B-b-bye, D-d-dash…I’ll b-be d-d-dreaming of y-y-you…” said Tank, as he disappeared again, into the mound.

Rainbow heaved a HUGE SIGH… then looked around, noticing her shackle & chain were gone.

She looked back at Discord---who made his centurion armor & lance disappear in a flash!

“BRAVO! BRAVO!” He applauded!

Twilight & Luna were also hoof-clapping in applause!

“Congratulations, Rainbow Dash! You have faced your worst fear!” said Luna, coming forward.

“I am SO PROUD OF YOU!” said Twilight, pulling Dash into another hoof-hug!

“The Force is with you, young Cloudwalker!” said Discord, now clad in Jedi robes and saluting
with an ignited blue lightsaber! And with a claw-snap, the ensemble vanished.

"Okay...as much as I usually hate to say it...." Dash said, nodding: "...thank you, Discord."

"You are most welcome, Miss Rainbow Dash!" said the ex-Chaos Lord, taking a sweeping chivalrous bow.

“Seriously, though…” Dash asked: “…how’d you make Tank talk?”

“Wha---have you forgotten already?” said Discord, pulling Dash aside: "ANYTHING'S possible in dreams!
Besides…I pulled that same little trick on Fluttershy a while back---wide awake, mind you! What a tea party
she had with all her animal friends for a whole day and night on that one…”

“A whole day and night…” said Dash, disappointed: “…you mean it’s not permanent?”

“’Fraid not, Miss Dash. Only temporary.” Discord confirmed.

“Shoot…” said Dash, face-hoofing.

“But as long as we’re being serious, Miss Dash…” the ex-Chaos Lord continued, “…if you really wanted to stop winter, why didn’t you just CALL ON ME in the first place?” With a claw-snap, the weather instantly changed from winter, to spring! "See?" he said smugly. And with another snap, back to winter again.

“OH. Right...(heh) Awkward…” said a blushing Dash, rubbing the back of her rainbow mane with a hoof.

At this, the others all enjoyed a BIG BELLY-LAUGH!!!

“(*Sigh*) Well, friends…” said Twilight, “…come on. We’ve got a meeting to finish!”

And with that, the four friends all joined hooves (or forelegs) and closed their eyes.

“Oh, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…” Discord chimed.

"SHUT UP!!" the others snapped!

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER...

Author's Note

(*Whew*) Biggest chapter yet in the whole story. :twilightoops:

Okay, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz & biblical references aside, anypony catch the reference to Ricky Schroeder in The Champ? :applecry:

Chapter 9 - Rainbow Dash Speaks, and Closing Talks

Groans echoed from the chairs at the end of the room nearest the locked door. Then…gradually, rubbing their heads and staggering to their hind-feet, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Princess Luna all stirred and woke up, groggily coming back to their senses.

Only Discord seemed undisturbed, as he uncurled from his coiled sleeping position on the floor near their seats, and
yawned & stretched himself awake, like when he first re-emerged from his stone pedestal back in the Canterlot royal hedge-maze.

Spike also uncurled awake in his little napping corner, yawned & stretched, and asked: “Hey, guys…what’d I miss?”

In that instant, Discord’s muzzle detached, sprouted legs, and ran across the floor past Spike, making gagging noises!

“Huh?” Spike puzzled, before Discord got up, grabbed his muzzle & re-attached it to his face. “Running gag!” he said.

Spike looked mortified, and face-palmed himself with a claw.

“Oh, I say…” said Discord, pointing a claw-thumb like a hitchhiker: “…who ordered the MAGIC SHOW?”

“WHAT!?” said Twilight, Spike, Dash & Luna all at once, as they all leaned forward with WIDE-EYES!

Sure enough, across the room where the other Ex-Evils Anonymous members were previously seated at a poker table playing cards, there now stood a small Vaudeville-style theater stage, with warm footlights and a short fashion runway... with a pole at the end!

The others had re-arranged their seats into a half-circle audience pit, and were cheering & whistling, as they watched----of all things---the Great & Powerful Trixie, performing a strip club-style pole dance, while doing magic tricks at the same time: card tricks, top hat tricks, an Indian rope trick, levitating a camera to flash & snap instant photos---all while bumping & grinding & blowing kisses in a sassy manner, sweeping her flowing white mane & tail in sensual fashion, making sultry shadows dance on the deep royal purple stage backdrop, as a lone self-lighted spotlight shone on her from the back of the room, and singing:

"Better believe, I got tricks up my sleeve, see me dominate, 'cause I'm Powerful and Great..."

Discord’s player piano was now plinking out the 'Tricks Up My Sleeve' number, and was joined by a self-playing drum set and a self-playing trombone. The combo played to the delight of the crowd, as Trixie now danced in all her medium-blue birthday horsehide glory, clad only in a white feather boa (matching her mane & tail) with her magically animated purple hat & cape dancing separately, creating the illusion of a couple's dance with an invisible partner.

“Dang! I’ve been missing out on THIS?” said Spike, eyes bugging out, mouth panting, and his tongue drooling.
(Not unlike the puppy dog he was, in Sunset Shimmer’s other world.)
He bent thumb & index claws into a circle, raised them to his lips, and BLEW A SHRILL WHISTLE in glee!

Both Twilight & Luna used this to their advantage: they both BELLOWED!

"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?? STOP THIS AT ONCE!!"

At this, all the others froze! Everything Trixie was levitating now fell in cluttered heaps on the stage. Even the music combo stopped & clattered to the floor---the piano sounding its own discord notes as it landed with a heavy THUD!

Suddenly feeling very nude indeed (what exactly is nudity when you’re built like a pony, anyway?) Trixie crossed her hind-hoofs awkwardly, crossed her forehooves and feather boa over her chest, levitated her hat & cape on, and made both ends of the cape cross over her front, like a stage curtain being pulled closed. Her eyes were wide as teacup saucers, her amethyst pupils small as ten-bits, and her cheeks blushed red like roses. The lips of her mouth were sucked into a tight puckered “Oooh…” expression, like a naughty little filly in BIG trouble.

“OOOOH, YOU’RE BACK! (Heh) What a surprise…” she managed to whinny with a SQUEE grin.

From behind the Princesses, an enthusiastic WOLF'S WHISTLE sounded! Twilight turned around to see---and noticed the small barred trap door on the Chamber Door had somehow been unlocked and was wide-open, allowing the two guards outside to peer in and see the lewd & lascivious dance in progress! One flash of her horn, and Twilight snapped the tiny door shut! A muffled "Awww..." could be heard coming from the hallway, as Twilight turned back around and GLARED DANGEROUSLY at Trixie!

Desperately darting her eyes around for an easy target, the magician pony ventured a right hoof out of the cape to point accusingly to
her left---at Sunset Shimmer! "It was all HER idea! SHE made us do it!" she blurted out quickly in a high-pitched voice!

"WHAT!? Why you little---!" said Shimmer, storming the stage to attack Trixie!

A BLUE-WHITE BOLT OF ENERGY, like lightning, struck a stage footlight, right below their hind-hooves!

"ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!!" commanded Luna, shaking the smoke from her horn, out of her mane.

Both wide-eyed combatants shrank away off the stage, and huddled with the others, all cringing together.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA’S BEEN GOING ON HERE WHILE WE WERE OUT?
SOMEPONY’D BETTER START MAKING SENSE AND FAST!!” A stern Princess Twilight ordered!

Upon hearing the “sense” word again, Discord raised a cocky eyebrow at the Princess of Friendship.

Then quickly wished he hadn’t, as she turned and gave him a killer glare that could probably melt solid rock.

“Oh, sure…like YOU had NOTHING TO DO with this, before coming to our rescue, hmmm?” she quipped.

“I swear, I didn't! It was just a poker game before I left! Trixie suggested a game of cards, so, I added a saloon table & piano,
for atmosphere! Then after a few predictable games, everyone got bored with just the piano, so I added brass & percussion!
That was when your vitals went all crazy and I bedded down to go & rescue you! That’s was all I saw! Honest!”

“Hmph, I bet…” said a skeptical Rainbow Dash.

“Ah, yes! It was a bet!” said Flim. “With very high stakes!” said Flam!

“Pray tell…WHAT STAKES?” asked a dangerously stern Princess Luna.

“W-well…you see, Miss Luna… Princess Twilight did say we should ‘keep ourselves entertained…’ an’ you guys were
takin’ an awful long time gettin’ back, an’ we were gettin’…well, kind’a bored just playin’ cards…” Babs stammered,
looking next to Gilda.

“…And we had no bits to bet, anyway, so, we, um…” the griffon claw-handed off to the minotaur.

“…proposed a little wager.” Lord Tirek confirmed, with manacled arms folded.

Twilight and Luna turned next…to Sunset Shimmer. “…WHAT WAGER?” they asked, coldly.

The red & gold-maned yellow unicorn quailed...gulped, but meekly answered.

“W…w…winner of the next game, um…m-makes the loser…do a… (*gulp*)… strip-tease dance."

At this, both Princesses froze, eyes glassy, cheeks twitching, hooves trembling.

“(*Ahem*) Which I thought was rather silly…” Trixie cut in: “…since none of us actually wear that many garments, anyway!
A-ha-ha-ha, I mean, just look at us: a hat here, a coat there, come on! A-heh-heh-heh…” she tried to sound happy & jokey
about it.

“Hey, you lost, fair & square!” Sunset accused!

“No, I didn’t! You cheated!” Trixie countered!

“I DID NOT!” “YOU DID TO!” “DID NOT!” “DID TO!” “DID NOT!” Both countered back & forth, like spoiled little fillies!

All this while, both Princesses were mounting in geothermal pressure, both reaching critical mass!

"A WHAT!???" came their ERUPTING VOLCANO OF A RESPONSE!!

The others huddled around Lord Tirek, trying to dive under his cloak and hide!

All he could do was gather them in like a mother duck, and spread both endsof his cloak over them.

Lightning FLASHED & thunder CRASHED all around the room, coming from both Princesses’ horns!
Their manes & tails flared like the wind, and their eyes gleamed like suns, their faces contorted in wrath!!

Trixie & Sunset threw themselves prostrate on the floor, bowing low.. “WE’RE SORRY!!!” they cried!

Then suddenly… A BURST OF BRIGHT LIGHT appeared in front of them!

It stood between them, and the wrathful Princesses.

The two magic unicorns covered their eyes with their hooves!

Lord Tirek and the others also ducked, shielding their eyes!

If they could see…they might have noticed…the light was ringed with flares…of pastel colors.

"PEACE... BE STILL!!"... a strong female voice commanded, from within the light!

Both the angry Alicorn Princesses froze in shock…then calmed down, and ceased their wrathful magic.

Trixie & Sunset remained flat on the floor, too terrified to look. The others peeked out from under Tirek.

The minotaur himself tentatively opened one eye, squinting.

Soon…the light went from brilliant, to temperate…and out stepped… a tall, elegant equine figure.

Gleaming white coat. Golden crown & royal collar. Majestic dove-soft wings. Gleaming ridged horn.

Deep lavender eyes. Shining-yellow sun cutie mark on her flanks. And pastel-striped mane & tail.

“SISTER!” said the now restored Luna.

“YOUR HIGHNESS!” said the now restored Twilight Sparkle.

They each bent one foreleg, stretched out the other, and bowed reverently to the equine deity.

It was indeed, the Grand-High Alicorn Princess herself… The Sun Princess: CELESTIA.

After the light dimmed futher, allowing herself to be seen more comfortably, the regal equine commanded:
“Arise, my subjects...”

They rose, and gazed upon Celestia’s gleaming countenance. And felt very...unworthy..

Self-conscious, they all looked down at their feet. Even Luna & Twilight.

“For pony sakes, all of you…” said Celestia, reprovingly: “I could hear the noise coming from this chamber, all the way back to Canterlot Castle! I thought this was supposed to be a support group, founded to help each other! Not to trample on each other’s hooves! You should be ashamed of yourselves; squabbling like fillies & foals over such petty concerns! And at your very FIRST MEETING, too!”

Upon the word ‘first,’ Princess Celestia STOMPED her hoof hard enough to shake the very room! Everyone cringed at the jolt!

Celestia stared a cold, hard glower around the room. So cold, even Discord flinched.

“My staff and I are in the middle of preparations for a very important state banquet & 3-day delegates summit in Canterlot for this coming summer, with representatives from 49 other cities across Equestria! The fate of the entire nation, could well be decided then! So I expect no further distubances or interruptions tonight! Do I make myself quite clear?"

Not once did Celestia need to resort to the old royal Canterlot voice. Her tone was stern, but patient, and even-tempered.
Thus: her words brooked no argument, whatsoever.

“Very well. I shall overlook tonight’s disturbance. But I expect better, more civilized behavior from each and every
ONE of you in the near future…” She gazed particularly at Princesses Luna & Twilight. “…ALL OF YOU. Do not force me to
order the disbandment of this newly launched program, before it has a chance to show any promise.
GOOD NIGHT to you all.”

And with that, the Princess of the Sun turned to leave through the same portal she entered through…But…

She paused for a moment, turned back around, and addressed the Night Princess:
“Younger sister, I will be expecting you and Princess Twilight at Canterlot Castle early tomorrow night.
The Planning Committee and I are to decide who is going to be put in charge of organizing the entire
summer event. Please do not be late."

Luna seemed to gulp, but silently. “Y-yes, Tia.”

“We’ll be there, Your Highness.” Twilight hastened to add.

Celestia then turned to gaze at the small footlight stage…raised a golden hoof to her muzzle, and giggled.

“Well, well, well…” she mused, “…who ordered the racy stage?"She asked, giving a sidelong sly wink.

Not waiting for an answer, the Sun Princess departed, and the bright light of the portal winked out.

Pausing, to allow their eyes to adjust back to room lighting again…everyone thought about Celestia’s last words.

After a while, Twilight opened her eyes, and furrowed her brow. “Mmmm, hmmm…who indeed...?"

“Who veeeeerry indeed?” said Rainbow Dash, now stalking towards (and both Princesses craned their necks toward)…

…a veeeerry nervous-looking Draconequus.

“(Heh) My my my…whatever made Princess Celestia draw attention to that?” he asked, sheepishly.

“WHAT is a STAGE with a POLE doing in this room? In this CASTLE?” Twilight demanded: “It wasn’t there before we entered Rainbow Dash’s dream! Somepony had to have put it there deliberately, and I know perfectly well Trixie is not capable of that level of teleportation, to have conjured it up herself!"

“HEEEYYY….” Trixie neighed, hurt, offended, and cross.

“Oh, yeah…what about ME?” Sunset Shimmer challenged.

Twilight nodded. “Okay…what about you? Are you that capable?”

The two former magic apprentice ponies locked eyes in a staring match… for about 5 seconds.

“(*Sigh*) No…” Shimmer admitted, bowing her head in defeat.

“’Ey, what about de Flim-Flams?” Babs suggested. The salespony brothers just looked at each other, dumbstruck.

“Not going there,” Twilight countered: “Their magic only powers machines. They don’t teleport things. or build things instantly.”

“(Hmph) Anyone going to suspect the minotaur?” asked Lord Tirek, manacled arms folded again.

“Nope,” Twilight answered: “You’re not capable of magic anymore! And even when you were, you only used your powers to siphon off other ponies’ magic; not use it to conjure up anything more than destructive fireballs, or confinement bubbles, after you stole Discord’s magic.”

Lord Tirek nodded sagely. He had to admire the purple Alicorn’s brilliant detective skills, and photographic memory.

“So unless Gilda or Babs have suddenly turned magical…” They both shrugged at Twilight’s mock-accusation.

“…that leaves only one likely suspect…YOU, DISCORD!" She pointed a hoof squarely at him!

The Draconequus did a surprised shock-take! But then grimaced, and cocked a white hairy eyebrow, quizzically.

“You didn’t have to see Trixie’s dance happen; YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! So you
conjured up that racy stage before coming after us, to make it POSSIBLE!” Twilight fiercely concluded.

“(Heh-heh) Guilty…” he conceded, shrugging.

The drum set delivered a *BRRUM-TSSH!* comical rim-shot!

Now tired of the obnoxious instrument, Discord snapped his claw, and the music combo & stage all flashed away!

“I knew it! I KNEW IT!” Twilight reared up like a wild mustang, seething with anger!

“Thou CONNIVING, DECEITFUL SNAKE-IN-THE-GRASS!"Luna bellowed, marching toward Discord!

“You tell 'em, Princess!” cheered Rainbow Dash, resuming her own threatening approach.

“Uh-uh-uh, your Highnesses! Remember: no more disturbances! CELESTIA’S ORDERS!”
Discord reminded them, waggling a claw-finger at them!

At this, both Alicorn Princesses paused, and straightened up..

“Aww, not again…” a disappointed Rainbow Dash complained.

Simultaneously, the Princesses then closed their eyes, took a deep breath, let out what sounded like
a mix between a pained moan and a frustrated groan at the same time…and hung their heads..

“Right, again…” Twilight conceded, and started pace-trotting back & forth again to think: “…we came together tonight to try and help each other; not to fight. But clearly, I’m going to have to be more careful about what I say and how I say it around this group… And clearly, had I left somepony in charge while we were out…” she eyed Sunset Shimmer, but wasn’t sure why, “…maybe things might not have gotten so out of hoof.”

Sunset paused, stunned and blinking. She was genuinely touched. But like Twilight, she wasn’t sure why.

“(*Sigh*) It’s getting late, this meeting’s clearly running longer than I’d planned, and we still have one last testimonial to hear…”

At this, Twilight stopped her pacing, and faced Rainbow Dash. All eyes now focused on her.

"Mine??" Dash asked, crestfallen.

Discord snapped his claw again----and instantly, everyone was back in their seats, in the ‘horseshoe’ semi-circle again.

“Yes…yours. Not about the dream… about your trial. The real one; not the one in the dream. Tell us how it really
happened.” Twilight confirmed, matter-of-factly.

“Will I have to resume my note-taking on the transcript scroll?” asked the little dragon.

“No need, Spike. This one’s already on record…. Public record.” said Twilight, dryly.

“Eh, wait a minute…” Babs interrupted: “…Not everypony wuz dere at de trial. I couldn’t come, ‘cuzza school, y’know, but I’d read about it in de Manehattan Times."

“I certainly wasn’t there; serving hard time in Tartarus; nothing to read there…” said Lord Tirek.

“And I could only follow it through "Trans-Dimensional Daily!"said Discord, making a newspaper copy appear right in his paws, and reading glasses appear on his nose. “Which reminds me: I need to renew my subscription…” the headline read: “RAINBOW DASH TRIAL STARTS TODAY! The issue was already 6 weeks old.

“Of course.” said Twilight, “It was a high-profile case, with full press coverage from Manehattan to Applewood. Still… I thought it would be best for the group, to hear you tell it in your own words, Rainbow Dash. Please??"

All eyes fixed on the little cyan Pegasus pony. She blushed, and trembled in her seat.

“D-do I have 'ta?"she asked nervously.

“Yep…’ya have 'ta.. Celestia’s orders.” said Twilight, with crossed forelegs.

Rainbow Dash gulped, as though trying to swallow an enormous oat.

“Why do I get the feeling I was better off asleep?"she murmured.

And so, with much trepidation. Rainbow Dash proceeded to tell the group, the real story of her fateful trial day,
in the Royal Canterlot Equestrian Supreme Court…

(This was, of course, all part of the terms of her sentence…)

Shortly after the catastrophic events at Cloudsdale and Ponyville, whereby said defendant Rainbow Dash was arrested, arraigned, and tried on charges of conspiracy to turn back winter, petty theft of various winter properties including skis and snow-clouds, and willful sabotage & destruction of the Cloudsdale Weather Factory’s Winter Lab---all in a vain attempt to keep her beloved pet tortoise from leaving her to go hibernate for the season.

“I told the Court I had no idea what came over me. All I knew was: I didn’t ‘wanna lose Tank. I didn’t care if it was only for a few months out of the year…I loved him! I couldn’t stand to see him go! I would’ve done anything to keep him with me…anything. If he was your pet, and you loved him that much…wouldn’t you do anything for him, too? The thought of losing him, just…made me all crazy-horse! I thought stopping winter was the perfect plan. But I only worked out how to do it…not what would happen afterwards, or what could go wrong in the process. Or what other Pegasi could do to spoil it. (Heh) Good thing I’m not a full-time baddy; I’d be totally lousy at it! Well…needless to say, I failed to stop winter from coming, and here I am without Tank, anyway… (*Sniff*) I miss him so much…(*sob*) But I guess it’s also a good thing he didn’t have to witness the trial, either. What would it do to him, to have to see me go through a thing like that?”

Princess Celestia presided as Judge, with Luna as Prosecutor, Twilight Sparkle as Defense Counsel, Flash Sentry as Bailiff and Spike as Court Stenographer. It was an historic trial with testimonies from several witnesses, including bystanders caught in the big snow-blast, factory staff and weather pony teams, and of course the Mane 6 as character witnesses---Fluttershy in particular: "Your Honor, I can think of no friend in my life, more loyal than Rainbow Dash. I mean, sure, she can get a little crazy sometimes, but... whatever she does, however crazy it seems, she only does it out of her own loyalty to the ones she loves,, and to the things she believes in.
No matter what happens, I BELIEVE in Rainbow Dash!" The Court applauded the Kindness Pony.

Then after Dash’s own tearful, heartfelt testimony and public apology on the stand, it seemed everypony finally understood what led to her actions, and even found it in their own hearts to forgive her, but knew that not even Dash’s offenses could be overlooked.

“I told the court: 'Honest, Your Highne---I mean, Your Honor--- I'm not looking to get out of being punished for all this. My dad always taught me: if you do something wrong, you can't run away from it; you have to tell the truth and face up to it. Even if that meant taking a horse-whipping, or being grounded. (Literally; no flying for a whole week.) But even then, Dad told me it wasn’t because I was wicked or unloved. but simply because I did wrong, and had to be corrected. I totally get that, now! I was taught to be loyal to friends and family, to love home and country, to stand up for what I know is right, and sometimes, only sometimes... to take matters into my own hooves if and ONLY IF there was no other way. But, I guess…somewhere along the way… I just got used to winning, to getting my own way, to being the hero and being praised & loved for it! And…I got used to not being alone. Not being left out of things. I got all braggy & self-important. In some ways, I guess, I still am, and probably always will be. But I know now…the one thing I’ve never been, and will never, ever be…is perfect. That’s why I make friends. That’s why I compete in sports. That’s why I work as a weather pony. And why I let Fluttershy talk me into getting a pet in the first place. I need to be more of a team player; to appreciate what others do for me, and in turn, do more for them. They need me. I need them. I don’t need to be perfect. I just need…to be needed. And I can’t stop saying how sorry I am for being so selfish and reckless…’cause I’ll never be sorry enough.'"

Up in the gallery, Dash could see Big McIntosh & Miss Cheerilee seated with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The grown-ups nodded sagely at Rainbow Dash's words, but evidently Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle & Scootaloo were hanging on every word---Scootaloo, especially. She gazed down at her hero, and Dash back up to her greatest fan. Scoots did a small hoof-pump in the air, as if to say: "I still believe in you." Dash winked, as if to say: "Thanks, squirt!"

In the end, however, it was not the verdict that was in question: Dash was inevitably found ‘guilty as charged.’ What was in question was the established form of punishment. By Equestrian law, the prescribed penalty was banishment---to either the Moon, the Sun, or to the outer fringes of the solar system! But, while this seemed perfectly acceptable to impose on obviously incorrigible outer threats to the kingdom, no one wanted to see such a stiff penalty carried out on one of their own---not even a fellow Pegasus pony. Celestia was painfully reluctant to pass such a harsh judgment on such a valued member of the Friendship Council, seeing that no good could possibly come from it. So, too, was Luna reluctant to demand it, remembering her own banishment to the Moon, and not wishing that on anypony, let alone the likes of Rainbow Dash. But the law was the law, and had to be upheld. Something had to be done, and soon.

“I can’t begin to tell you how scared I was, right then & there. I didn’t 'wanna be sent away, to a place where I’d never see anypony again. So, I…(yeah, here comes the really sappy part…) I threw myself at the mercy of the court. I said: ‘May it please the court, Your Honor: I may be pony enough to carry my equal share of reward…or blame…but I am NOT pony enough, to face the world…(*gulp*) or the universe…all alone. And I will be alone, out there in space. In exile…far away from all ponykind. Please…
can’t my time be better spent here, than out there?'"

Even poor Twilight couldn’t stand to see one of her best friends shackled & chained any longer than necessary, let alone kicked off the planet forever. It was at this point in the trial, that Twilight delivered the same ‘insanity plea speech’ that Discord got an earful of,
back in the dream.

Finally, with tears brimming in her own eyes, Twilight Sparkle pleaded from the bottom of her heart to the Court for leniency, as this was Rainbow Dash’s first official offense, and urged that she was not beyond reform. Post-sentence deliberations carried on for several more minutes…

Ultimately it was decided, to the satisfaction of even the general public, that instead of being banished, Rainbow Dash would be
sentenced to a term of “supervised community service and probation:”

First: affect supervised repairs to the damages to the Weather Factory.

Second: return all stolen winter properties.

And third: go into social group therapy, to ensure she and others like her, when tempted to act out like she did in such
situations, would never go bad again.

This last term, in part, became the springboard from which Twilight chose to launch her new “Ex-Evils Anonymous” program.

“Before adjourning the Court…” Dash said in closing, “…I remember Celestia saying to me from the bench: ‘Rainbow Dash, I know this has been a rough experience for you, but you obviously need to remember…if you’re ever tempted to act out in frustration again the way you did…remember what it cost you this time.” To which I could only thing of saying: “Yes, your Honor, your Highness…I’ll remember it forever.”

Thus finished, Rainbow sighed…and bowed her head.

A JOYOUS APPLAUSE erupted around the room!! Not because the meeting was finally about to end, but because they were all very happy for Rainbow Dash, for coming clean on everything: the trial, her fears, her virtues & vices, and coming through it all, a sadder but wiser pony. It was this moment, and the ones preceding it, that made the whole effort of their all coming together for this first weekly EEA meeting, worth while. Rainbow Dash leaned back in her seat, and (*Pbpbpbpbpbpbghhh...*) blew a big vibrating horse-lip blow of RELIEF… knowing whatever came next after tonight, she ‘could totally take it on,’ as she so often bragged in the recent past.

“Well done, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said proudly, “And well done, all of you. I think we can declare this first meeting of Ex-Evils Anonymous, an official success!" Enthusiastic applause followed!!

“In closing, I would just like to say, congratulations to each and every one of you, for coming forward tonight with your testimonials. Truly, it can’t be easy for any of you, to be forced to go on living in the shadow of your own past alter-egos. A shadow which, unfortunately, the world-at-large still sees, and refuses to let you walk away from. Most likely, it’s going to continue to be a long, hard battle, for you to prove your reform, and build a new reputation & track record based on your present worth, and to earn the trust & forgiveness of others, in a world still not yet ready to be openly, ‘ex-evil-friendly.’ "

(Heh) You know..." Twilight continued, "...before I was sent to Ponyville to learn about the Magic of Friendship, I , too, used to make it my civic duty, to stubbornly believe that permanent public records about evil-doers, were never wrong; that there was, as Tirek’s said tonight, ‘no such thingas a reformed ex-evil.’ But now, as the Princess of Friendship, I can tell you from experience: every new friendship, begins with trust. And likewise, every old rivalry, ends with forgiveness. As of tonight, no matter what your old records say…I make it my new civic duty, to forgive you of your past wrongs, and to trust you, to do right from now on. An evil-doer is dead to the world…but once reformed, is alive again. I hope you all feel as alive tonight, as you’ve all made me feel, just getting to know you better. Let’s close out now, with Sunset Shimmer’s very own, ‘Ex-Evils Anon Pledge.’”

Here, the red & gold-maned unicorn joined hooves with Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and the rest of the group, and led the recitation of the Pledge. It was the chorus to a song she’d recently written and recorded for the Rainbooms Band back at Canterlot High. This was her donation to the EEA group, and how happy she was now, for this chance to put it to a far greater use.

The members all recited it together now, softly, slowly, and prayerfully:

"Like a phoenix burning bright in the sky...

I'll show there's another side of me, you can't deny...

I may not know what the future holds, but hear me when I say,

That my past does not define me, 'cause my past is not today."

On finishing the Pledge, each member looked to the other in the group. Smiles, hugs, handshakes, hoof-shakes, fist-bumps & hoof-bumps, blossomed like flowers all around. It was good for them to know that from now on, they were no longer all alone, in their ongoing struggle for social & professional acceptance.

Twilight knew this was only the beginning for this group. There would be the weekend charity drives: bake sales, wagon washes,
community dinner sales & deliveries, rummage sales, talent showcases and so on---all designed to show business leaders that ex-evils
were people, too, and deserved an equal chance to prove their new worth. It was going to be a very tough sell, for as Princess Celestia had demonstrated, they were all under closer scrutiny than the average Equestrian creature, to toe the mark and do good. Still…Twilight was confident, just as Fluttershy had confidence in Discord, that this new reform program would be a success; that all of the members (including Rainbow Dash) would at last be able to move on productively with their lives, and find the much-needed closure they all sought.

At last, a full two hours after the meeting started, Twilight ordered the Chamber Door re-opened, and the guards dismissed.

“Gee-willikers! ’Bout dang time y’all let out!” said an exasperated but enthusiastic Applejack: “I dunno’ what all that hullabaloo noise was earlier, but them gooney guards wouldn’t let us come down here to see what in the hay was goin’ on! Well, come on, gang! We’ve got us an apple-smorgasboard waitin’ right upstairs for y’all!”

“Oo-Oo! And I've prepared an X-Party!!” said Pinkie Pie, bouncing her spunky way up the basement stairs: “There’s all sorts of games we can play! Like X-marks the Spot! X-ecutive Decisions! X-tra X-tra Read all About It! Brand-X! Uncanny X-Mare Comics! I’m so X-tra-cited!!"

“You do realize that’s not a word, either. Right, sugar cube?” asked Applejack , following behind Pinkie up the steps.

But Babs squirmed and hopped on her hind-hooves: "Umm, can somepony just..." She whispered the rest into Twilight's ear.

Twilight giggled, and pointed a hoof to the nearest off-door beyond the chamber. Babs zoomed through it---faster than a speeding Rainbow Dash!

“Okay…” said a stunned, wind-blown, bug-eyed Twilight, holding a hoof to her crown to keep it from falling off.
“New rule… Next week: bathroom breaks before the meeting!”

“Got it!” said Spike, making a note with a quill on the meeting scroll. Luna simply giggled!

As the other ex-evils followed AJ & Pinkie up to the Dining Room level, Fluttershy came flying down over them, zooming to embrace her fellow Pegasus friend. “Oh, Rainbow Dash, I was so worried about you. I heard the most horrible screams coming up the stairs from down here. One of the guards said you fell asleep and were having an attack, like a nightmare or something! You weren’t still thinking about Tank, were you? Aww, you still miss him, don’t you? Look, I promise, next Winter Wrap-Up, I’ll see you get to wake him up personally---mmph!”

Rainbow pressed a hoof to Fluttershy’s mouth. “(Heh-heh) Having a Pinkie Pie moment, aren’t ‘cha?” asked Dash. “Look, I’m fine, Fluttershy. Really I am. Hey, um…I didn’t get the chance to say this to you after the trial, but, uh….thanks for stickin’ up for me. That really meant a lot to me.”

“Aww, Rainbow Dash…that’s what friends do.” said Fluttershy. They embraced again.

Sunset Shimmer held back a bit, to meet again with Twilight as she approached the Chamber Door to leave. “Um…did you really mean what you said? About…leaving somepony in charge next time you’re out? Did you mean…me?"

Twilight thought a moment, recalling where & when she said just that. Then, when satisfied, she gazed at Sunset, and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Of course, I did. And I really do mean it. Next week, I’m making you Second-in-Command of the EEA! (I figure it’s the only way to keep you out of mischief when I’m out.)”

Sunset felt herself start to smile & cry at the same time. “(*Sniff*) Gee…nopony’s ever done that for me, before. THANKS!”

The two ex-rivals embraced, warm and long.

“Hmph, great…” said Rainbow Dash to Spike: “I'm the Loyalty Pony…and she's the one who gets promoted?”

Spike shrugged. "Princess's prerogative!" he explained.

“You know..." Spike continued, "...I had the strangest dream, too, during my little nap… I dreamed Rarity and the others
threw you out of the castle! I stood up for you , of course, but...funny, huh? Who’d ever believe she’d do an...un-generous
thing like that?"

“Yeah…who'd ever?" Dash mumbled under her breath.

“ I just hope she didn’t go crazy on decorations again.” said Spike, blushing.

Princess Luna just stood, covering her mouth again with a hoof, to stifle the giggles from all she’d overheard.

CONCLUDES NEXT CHAPTER…

Author's Note

Just one last chapter to go. Mane, what a ride... :applejackconfused:

Chapter 10 - Last Minute Business

As Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike, and Princesses Twilight & Luna were coming out through the Chamber Door, Luna began hastily trotting on ahead. “Oh, dear, ’tis getting late, Big Sis must have lowered the sun by now. Time for me to go and raise the moon!"

“Wait—Luna?” Twilight called. Luna paused, and turned back. “Yes?” she asked.

Twilight gingerly trotted up to Luna, and asked in a hushed tone: “Could Princess Celestia really have heard us,
all the way back to Canterlot Castle?”

Luna blinked a few times…then smiled. “Of course, Princess Twilight…”
Then she bent closer to the Friendship Princess, and whispered: “…but not always with her ears.”

Twilight blinked in confusion. Luna only winked, slyly. “And with that, I bid thee: Good Night.”

Rolling her eyes & smiling, Twilight replied: “Good night, Princess Luna.”

Then as Luna was leaving, a gray postal pony with blonde mane & tail and misaligned eyes came flying into the hallway---too high and too fast! She collided with the wall, then came skittering down to land in a heap on the floor, mail envelopes fluttering down all over the place. After a beat, she got up and shook her head vigorously. “Sorry, my bad..” she said. Spike rushed to help pick up the scattered letters.

“Derpy, what are you doing here?” said Dash.

“Yeah; don’t you run a stationary store now?” said Twilight. “Anyway, mail call was supposed to have been six hours ago. What happened to the regular postal pony?

“(*Sigh*) Sorry again…” Derpy apologized, “…I’m filling in for him today. Out sick. Ate a bad muffin, I guess. And I keep forgetting you guys don’t live in Cloudsdale or Ponyville anymore. But, neigh-ther snow nor rain, nor gloom of night, et cetera, et cetera…” she managed with a goofy grin. Spike handed her the recovered mail, which she took in hoof and quickly shuffled through. “Thanks….Oh! Here’s three for you, Rainbow Dash!”

She came up and stuffed the letters in between Dash’s teeth, then placed a supportive hoof on Dash’s neck. “And for what it’s worth, Dash …I believe in you." “Tharrrnkstth, Derrphy…” Rainbow managed in a muffled tone.

“’Gotta fly!" Derpy saluted, as she took off, and still managed to bump into more walls on her way back up the stairwell.

Fluttershy winced at each bump, hoping poor Derp would make it out all right.

Spike took the letters from Dash’s mouth and opened the first one. Dash exercised her jaws, lips and tongue, trying to get the paper taste out. “I’m never ‘gonna get used to that pony’s strange ways.” Rainbow sighed.

“Hey, Dash! It’s from the weather factory… 'Dear Rainbow Dash: Glad to see you're still going to be working for us, and we want you to know, we forgive you. We're NEVER GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT AGAIN, but we forgive you. And to make sure: we're going to have extra security posted in the Winter & Lightning Labs, to see that you FIX EACH and EVERY piece of equipment you broke. Too bad about Tank, but I'm sure the sleep will do him good. You must've really cared about him to pull off a crazy stunt like that. Just don't ever do it again. No hard feelings, but don't forget to wear your hard hat. See you next week. Signed: Commander Hurricane IV, Chief Weather Pony, Cloudsdale Weather Factory.'"

“(*Whew*) Lucky break there, Dash!” said Twilight.

“Yeah, no kidding…” said Rainbow. “Who’s next, Spike?”

Spike opened the second envelope. “Well, well, well! It’s from your favorite author, A.K. Yearling: 'Dear Rainbow Dash: That must be some pet tortoise you have, for you to go to such lengths to keep from parting with him. Clearly I'm not the only hero in your life. I had a little dog once; named him Indy. Still got lots of fond memories of that dog; I would've done anything for him. Sending you an autographed copy of my next book, once it's published. Who knows: that little factory caper of yours just might make a great children's book someday. You might even get to write it yourself. Oh, one more thing: if you EVER go treasure hunting for that golden idol in Griffonstone again...CALL ME!! I could reach it!! Good luck and take care. Signed: Daring-Do.'"

“Wowww…” Dash said with a dreamy smile. “If you don’t write it, I will.” said Twilight with a smirk.

“Huh, what?” said Dash, coming out of it. “Nothing!” Twilight smiled, quickly turning her head and looking up.

Fluttershy giggled softly, but not wishing to interrupt, kept to one side quietly, and continued listening.

“Oh, hey, Twilight…she’s got a note for you, too!” said Spike. “For me?" Twilight wondered.

Spike passed a folded card within the envelope to Twilight, marked: ‘For Twilight’s Eyes Only.’ She levitated it up to
her eyes, and magically pried it open. She read quietly, intently…then froze! “(*Gasp*) No way…” Twilight whispered.

It seemed Daring-Do was making plans to sign up for the group, too; something about an incident she caused on Hearts & Hooves Day a while back, over her relentless pursuit of a certain box of her favorite rare truffle candies, which resulted in her spending the night in the Canterlot Jail. Although Celestia had pardoned the famous explorer, and her writing career was in no immediate danger, she still worried about it, and wanted to come give testimony at a future EEA meeting, as well as talk things over with the Grand-High Alicorn Princess, regarding her ‘permanent record.’

“Something wrong, Twilight?” asked Dash, seeing her friend appeared worried over the note. Twilight paused, thinking…

Closing the card & slipping it under her crown, the Friendship Princess decided to keep it a secret from the author’s second-biggest fan. “Oh, it’s nothing serious. Just a list of facts she wants me to look up for...story research.” Twilight downplayed.

“Cool… Well, come on, Spike! What about the last one?” Dash nearly whined in eager anticipation.

“And last but not least…” said Spike, tearing open the last envelope. “…Yep! The Wonderbolts: 'Dear Rainbow Dash: Just want you to know, there will ALWAYS be a place for you on the flight team. Soarin' sure was worried about you throughout the trial, but he's happy now to see you didn't get a worse sentence. The end may not have justified the means, but clearly, that pet tortoise of yours must mean EVERYTHING to you. Hope he's having a nice winter's nap, and dreaming about you. Take care my friend, and don't go blowing up any more weather factories. Signed: Captain Spitfire, The Wonderbolts.'"

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh…they forgave me, too! Even the Wonderbolts forgave me!” said Dash, her wings flapping & lifting her up off the floor a few inches.

Fluttershy joined in on the flapping, softly cheering: “Yay…”

“There, you see? Nothing at all to worry about…(*ahem*) just as long as you stick to the terms of your community service and probation!" Twilight reminded.

“Oh, right…” said Dash, landing on all fours, and blushing. Fluttershy landed, too, also blushing.

“Oh, Spike…” Twilight remembered something, “Did you get my dossier?" Twilight ordered next.

“Right here, Twilight.” the little dragon said, handing her the folder---as if from nowhere.

“How does he do that?" Dash asked Fluttershy, but the Kindness Pony just shrugged.

“Umm…what’s a 'dossi-hay?'" Rainbow asked.

“It’s my data file of the next possible candidates I’ll be looking for, to join our support group.” Twilight explained.

“Like who?" Fluttershy asked.

“Well… here, have a look.” Twilight levitated the file and opened it, revealing some files.

Both Pegasi eyed a picture of the first subject; a black & white mouth-sketched head study in pencil
Twilight had drawn from memory.

“Huh? ZECORA?? Wait a minute---she's not evil! We only thought she was, back when she first started showing up in Ponyville…” Dash recalled, remembering their first encounters with the zebra voodoo witch doctor who spoke in rhymes.

“Hohohoho…” Twilight chuckled, “You should’ve heard the tale she told me a while back at her tree hut over tea! Seems she was a wholly terror to other zebras back in her homeland---but, we’ll get her full testimonial next week…”

“Next week?” asked Dash, “you mean she was supposed to show up here, tonight?”

“Yep…but she got called away to Baltimare on urgent business. Before leaving, she did sign up, and she promised to come next week, so I guess that’s one I can check off here…” Twilight floated the quill over and checked off Zecora’s file. As she floated the quill back over to Spike, Dash & Fluttershy eyed the second file:

“What!? KING SOMBRA??" Dash interjected, making Fluttershy jump a little.

“But I thought the Crystal Heart destroyed him…” Fluttershy puzzled.

“It stopped his dark magic, yes, but no crystal pony’s ever found a trace of him. He could still be somewhere in the ice caves of the Arctic North! Oh, I’ll need to send off a letter soon to the Crystal Empire, and ask Shining Armor & Cadence if there’ve been any more Sombra sightings lately! Spike, made a note of that…” Twilight explained quickly.

Not about to encourage the Friendship Princess, as Spike scribbled more notes on the outside of the meeting scroll, the two Pegasi eyed the third file:

“(*Gasp*) Oh, no way… CHRYSALIS?? The Bug Queen? You’ve 'gotta be kidding…” Dash scoffed.

“Well…she and the other Changelings were only cast out by the force field blast, when Cadence & Shining Armor combined their powers. Again, no trace of them was ever found. She could still be alive somewhere with or without her hive, and if she’s alone with nopony’s love to feed on, well…worth a shot, right?” Twilight shrugged.

“Hmph, good luck finding that love vampire…” Dash balked. Fluttershy cringed at the thought.

“Well,,,tell you what, Dash: if even so much as one of her Changeling minions shows up around here, I’m going
to have it either brought in for questioning, or tracked back to its source. Sound like a plan?” asked Twilight.

“Or we could just ask it…” Fluttershy suggested, making both Dash & Twilight stare at her, blankly.

“Yeah, whatever…” said Dash dismissively. Then she eyed the fourth file:

“Oh, whoa-whoa, this is getting weirder by the minute… SONATA DUSK!? You ‘wanna reform a SIREN!?"

But…after a pause, Rainbow shook her head, saying: “Uh-uh, nope, on second thought, I don’t ‘wanna know, never mind…”

“M-me neigh-ther…” said Fluttershy, covering her eyes with her hooves.

Twilight stifled a laugh with her hoof, then shuffled the hovering folder to the fifth and last file:

“(*GASP*) WHAT? Oh, no no no, no way…you CAN’T be serious about THIS one! Are 'ya?" Dash reacted,
making Fluttershy nearly dart for cover.

“Yes, I am… STARLIGHT GLIMMER had very good intentions, even though her methods were…a bit extreme.”
Twilight argued.

“ENSLAVING an entire pony village to HER WILL… a BIT EXTREME!??” Dash re-iterated in alarm.

“Nevertheless, Glimmer believes in total equality for all ponies, and I think she’ll make a VERY POWERFUL ALLY to our cause! WHO ELSE do you think would speak the loudest and fight more strongly in the halls of Equestrian justice, for equal opportunity employment rights for ex-evils, than HER?" Twilight argued most adamantly.

Dash could only blink in stunned silence. She had no comeback whatsoever for this one.

“(*Sigh*) Besides, Glimmer might know a thing or two about Equestrian law that I don't.
Could be, she might know a few things that I’ve somehow overlooked…” Twilight continued.

"So could your old Canterlot friend Moondancer..." Dash whinnied under her breath.

Then suddenly Dash straightened up, as if...remembering something.

“SAYYY…” said Dash, placing a hoof on her own chin: “I just remembered something from one of those law books you showed me earlier in the castle library, Twilight!”

“You mean before the meeting? What’s that?”

“Something about…equal opportunity employment is the law, regardless of race, beliefs, species, color, gender, or national origin…”

“Yes, so?”

“…what about negative legal status? Like…being a reformed ex-evil? Doesn’t equal employment mean everyone? Then why doesn’t it say that?"

Twilight stiffened, stunned…wide-eyed.

“Oh, my Celestia…you’re RIGHT, Dash! It’s NOT INCLUDED! There’s NOTHING in the law protecting THAT! So…there’s no prior provision in Equestrian civil rights law, to prevent employers from discriminating against ex-evils, reformed or otherwise!! Now I know we’re going to need Glimmer on our side! One more thing to go down in my next report to Princess Celestia. Rainbow Dash, you’re a GENIUS!!" Twilight pulled Dash into yet another hoof-hug!

“Yeah… I still have my awesome moments!” Dash bragged. Twilight just rolled her eyes, and smiled.

“Need anything else, Twilight?” said Spike.

“Nope, you & Fluttershy go on ahead. We’ll catch up later.” said Twilight, dismissing the two.

As they headed off, Spike said: “Hmm… you know, I bet if I wrote to Garble about this program, he'd ‘wanna join.
And what about your friend: Iron Will?”

“Ooo, that’s right…” Fluttershy agreed: “…his motivational classes could do wonders for the group. Um…just as long as he doesn’t get too aggressive again. Oh, and I'd better remind Babs to pass the word along to Apple Bloom, and see if she & the Cutie Mark Crusaders can get Diamond Tiara to come, too...” They continued chattering on & on about more potential members to recruit, as they headed up to the Dining Room.

It was then that Twilight heard a conspicuous “AH-HEH-HEM!” coming from the shadows. She turned, and saw a figure emerging, slowly clopping toward her. It was a tan stallion with a dark-brown mane, white collar & green bow necktie (bow ties are cool) an hour glass for a cutie mark, and a rather annoyed expression on his face.

"(*Gasp*) OH! Goodness, I didn't see you standing there!" Twilight managed awkwardly.

"Your Highness…” he said expectantly in his refined Gallopfreyan accent (or Trottingham) giving her a sidelong look
and holding out an upturned forehoof.

“Oh, yes, right...sorry to have kept you waiting…” she managed awkwardly again.

Twilight levitated the antique brass & glass timepiece, and returned it to its owner. “Thanks for letting me borrow your hour-glass
for the meeting, Doctor. And on such short notice.”

“You went into overtime, I see…” Doctor Whooves remarked, with a cocked eyebrow and lowered forehead. “Nothing too serious, I trust?” he continued, eyeing Rainbow Dash, who lowered her head and cracked a rakish grin, in silent apology.

Twilight eyed Dash cautiously, then turned back to the Doctor. “Nope! nothing we couldn’t handle!”
She flashed him a SQUEE grin! Then concerned, she frowned and asked: “You weren’t listening in, were you?”

The Doctor looked taken aback, but said: “Oh! Great wickering stallions, no! Not my place to go prying into royal affairs. Although perhaps, when things are a bit quieter…I would like a word with you about that little time-travel spell you found a while back. Just curious, mind you, nothing urgent…”

Then, rather mysteriously, he lean in closer to Twilight, and softly whispered:
"...Expect Changeling minon sightings early this summer. I'll explain later."

Twilight could only furrow her brow, having no clue what the Doctor meant.

Nor had Dash, who was evidently out of earshot.

Well, the ‘time has come’ for me to bid good evening to you both.” said the Doctor, bowing graciously.

“Good evening to you, too, Doctor.” said Twilight, as she and Dash gave curt nods in turn.

And taking up the hour-glass by its small hinged metal half-ring top-handle with his teeth, the Time Pony started trotting away.

“Wait... Mister Doctor, Sir…?” Dash beckoned.

The Time Pony stopped, turned around and waited. “Hmm?” he uttered curiously, his ears pricked forward, his teeth still closed over the curved handle. Twilight had already gone on up the stairwell to join the post-meeting banquet.

“I just ‘gotta ask…if it’s not too personal or anything…” asked Dash in more of a Fluttershy moment, and soft voice: “…do you think there’s any hope at all in this world for…well… us ‘ex-evils’…to be accepted by employers, and the rest of society…as equals?"

The Doctor paused, thinking… then he blinked, raising his eyebrows. Calmly, he placed the hour glass down on the floor, released the handle from his mouth, and thoughtfully rubbed his chin with his other forehoof. He then quickly started his own bit of pace-trotting back and forth, wrinkling his muzzle and twitching his mouth in concentrated thought, as if trying to remember something… “Hmmm… I used to have a saying for this, now what was it? Think-think-think..."

Then he stopped. He had it. He looked back at Rainbow Dash, softened his face, and drew his mouth up into a slight smile.
Coolly, calmly, he walked back up to her, gently placed a hoof on her shoulder, and began speaking in a soft, hushed tone:

“Miss Rainbow Dash… I just want to know…I think you are a good pony. You’ve done some bad things,
yes, and now you’re making amends for them…but deep down…you are good.”

Now Dash's face softened, with a slight smile, and the Doctor drew her into a warm, soothing hug.

“I remember what the saying was now…” he continued, whispering softly into Dash’s ear: “…I told this to another close friend of mine sometime back, when she needed so desperately to hear it… now I pass it on to you, Miss Dash… 'The way I see it, every life, whatever species, is a hay pile of good things and bad things. The good things...don't always soften or stomp out the bad things...but likewise, the bad things don't necessarily spoil or trample out the good things...or make them unimportant.'"

Upon hearing this, poor Dash seemed to melt into the good Doctor’s tender embrace…and weep.

"(*Sniff*) Thanks, Doctor…that’s the…nicest thing anypony's ever said to me...(*Sob*)" she said.

But then she paused, and withdrew, staring the Doctor in the face.

“…But it doesn’t make one lick of horse sense to me at all! And it doesn't really answer my question.”

At this, the Doctor blushed, his ears drooped, and he SQUEE-grinned awkwardly.

“Okay, um…let me put it this way…” he started again: “…it means that, whatever we say or do throughout our lives, good or bad… we are the end product of every single choice we make. But…for as long as we’re still alive, in this life…” here he paused, carefully choosing his next words, then continued. “…that end product…is not yet permanent. Only after we’re dead and gone does our condition finally become permanent, in the annals of history. Only then, is it truly too late to change…”

“But while we’re still alive..” he went on, “…there’s still time. Life changes constantly, and so must we. We learn from our past mistakes, apply those lessons to our present, and in doing so…change for the better, and continue doing so, well into our future. This is true for employers, as well as employees and job candidates. And so long as that remains true, there’s always hope. Our past does not define us. Our future does not define us. Only our present, here and now… is what defines us. Defines you, Miss Dash. And here and now…YOU... ARE... GOOD."

And Rainbow Dash…upon hearing this new answer… hung her head, blushed… and grinned.

“Okay…That's what I needed to hear. That answers my question.” she confirmed. “Thanks, Doctor.”

They each grinned, and shared a hoof-bump. “Any time, Miss Dash. Any time.” he said.

At last, the Doctor took up the hour glass again, and took his leave of the Castle of Friendship.

Rainbow Dash watched him as he left.

"Awesome..." she said, in a soft whisper.

T H E E N D

Author's Note

(*Whew*) Done, and done. Lots of shout-outs in this last chapter, particularly to some other fanfics I found related to this topic. Magnificent work, everypony!

Chapter 1 - Opening Talks: Discord Speaks

The speaker turned the large hour glass upside down to begin the hour, then prepared to speak.

“(*Ahem*) Attention, please, attention please, fillies and gentlecolts, and...other such creatures…” the speaker began awkwardly.
“…Good evening, and welcome to our first weekly meeting of Ex-Evils Anonymous. Thank you very much, all of you, for responding and signing up very quickly to our membership drive. Um… clearly, this is a social topic that’s in much dire need of representation in our fair kingdom, as your eager response & attendance tonight indicates. I…use the term ‘fair’ loosely, since, as recent history has shown, uhhmmm… Equestria has…unfortunately…not been treating you very fairly at all, um, lately…”

The others seated in chairs all forming a “horseshoe-shaped” row around the room and back to the speaker's chair, listened attentively; some patiently, some impatiently, some relaxed, some figiting, some bored and resting a chin in one forelimb, some stern with their forelimbs crossed. All were not exactly sure what to expect, but likewise, all were very anxious indeed for their own turn to speak. They expected a good turnout, and to meet in some place of seclusion. They never expected it to be the sub-basement chamber of a castle. Or for that matter, the newest castle in all the land.

“As you may all know, my name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship. (Heh) Still not used to that, myself…” she admitted sheepishly. The others all nodded, polite but stone-faced. After an awkward pause, Twilight prompted: “SO.. um, let’s go around the circle. Come on, everypony; please introduce yourselves…”

The intros proceeded in clockwise fashion: “Hello.. my name is Discord, and… I am an Ex-Evil.”

“Princess Luna. Ex-Evil.”

“Gilda Griffon. Ex-Evil.”

“Babs Seed. Ex-Evil.”

“The Great, and Powerful…TRIXIE!! (*Ahem*) Ex-Evil.”

“Flim!” “And Flam!”

“The world-famous FLIM-FLAM BROTHERS!”

“(*Ahem*) Ex-Evils.”

The others shot cold stares at these show-offs, but said nothing. Twilight bade them: “All right, please continue…”

“(*Cough*) Lord Tirek. Ex-Evil.”

“Sunset Shimmer. Ex-Evil.”

“ … … …”

The last one didn’t seem to want to speak, but Twilight nudged her with firm hoof and a scowl.

“ Ow, hey…um... Rainbow Dash, Ex-Evil!”

At this, Dash blushed even redder than the red stripes in her rainbow mane & tail, never imagining she’d have to use the words “Rainbow Dash” and “evil” in the same line!

Upon hearing Rainbow Dash’s reluctant admission, the rest of the group applauded, following Twilight’s example.

“Zheesh…” Dash grumbled in a hush, “I don’t know why I let you drag me into this, Twilight. I’m certainly not anonymous, and I’ve never been evil before, let alone an ex-evil.”

“It’s your own fault, remember?” Twilight sternly reminded her friend. “This was the best I could to get you off. Really. Or would you rather have been banished to the outer reaches of the solar system?”

“Okay, okay, I get the point…” the now paling Dash conceded. “Let’s just get it over with.”

Twilight turned to her aide & trusty sidekick. “Getting all this, Spike?”

“Every single word.” said the little purple & green dragon, with feather quill and a long scroll of parchment.

“Right, let’s open up the floor to personal testimonies and issues!” said Twilight excitedly. "Who’d like to go first?”

“(*Ahem*) First, before we begin…” Discord interjected, “…I would just like to say, CONGRATULATIONS, Rainbow Dash! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, I never knew you had it in you! So much chaos!” With a snap of his claw-fingers, he turned his head into a Grinch-head and started singing: "You're a mean one, Rainbow Dash..."

“DISCORD!” said Twilight sharply, “That’s not what this meeting is for! Please stick to the program!”

Discord paused, then turned his head back to normal and said: “Fine…” and with another quick snap, Twilight suddenly found herself wearing a cheeseburger costume! “Have it your way!” Discord emphasized, before turning Twilight back to normal.

“(*Ahem*) Since you’ve just now opened the talks, you go first, Discord!” All eyes focused on the impish Draconequus.

“Oh, very well…” said Discord, feigning surrender. “As you all may well know, I am the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony. Or at least, I was until our dear Princess Twilight & her friends used those infernal Elements of Harmony to seal me back into my stone prison. Then dearest Fluttershy was given the task of rrrreFORMing me…” He rolled his tongue on the words, “…by actually befriending me. (*Sniff*) Something I’d never really had before in my whole eternal omnipotent existence…a ‘true friend.’ Anyway, next I was charged with finding Lord Tirek--”

“(*Groan*) Discord..we don’t need the whole history lesson…” Twilight moderated, “we’ve only got an hour tonight, so please keep it brief and on point!"

“Tsk-tsk-tsk, picky picky…” Discord admonished. “…Anyway, now I use my powers for good instead of evil.” Here he paused dramatically. “BUT…” he strongly started again, “…thanks to a certain pre-existing record of my ‘wicked’ past deeds, and due to the stubborn insistence of certain pony employers all over the kingdoms to check them before hiring me…” he now balled up his claw-& paw fists and brought them down pounding hard in his lap: “… I CAN’T GET A JOB!!” At this, the others nodded and looked to each other, agreeing wholeheartedly. Twilight said nothing; just sat and listened attentively.

Encouraged by this, Discord now stood up, his voice now rising in anger: "I mean, can you believe it? After all my good hard work & efforts to reform, this is what I get for paying my debt to Equestrian society?" Now he turned himself into a secretary with loud eyeglasses, heavy makeup, a polka-dot dress, curly-haired wig, and a high-falsetto voice: "Thanks for saving our hides, Mr. Discord, but we're sorry; our hooves are tied and you just don't fit the profile, have a nice day?" He snapped back to normal again. "All because of a stupid record of my past that can't be sealed or expunged (or even destroyed: I’ve tried, no good, protected by magic) and SAYS NOTHING of what I’ve done since??" He then conjured a rider's helmet & polo mallet. "Horse-hockey, that’s what it is!" He conjured them away again. "I have skills, I have a resume’, I wear a clean suit to interviews..." In a flash, he wore a 2-piece man's blue suit, white collar shirt, red long tie and brown briefcase, then flashed back again. "I’m as qualified as anypony else! Twilight, Fluttershy, even Princess Celestia have all forgiven me, but they CAN'T?? Why can’t they just leave my past in the past, and just let me get to work? Hmmph!” On that last word, he folded his arms and nodded with a frown.

Applause erupted around the room! Clearly Discord was striking a chord with this disgruntled crowd. Even Sunset Shimmer (now back in her Equestrian unicorn pony form) got up, pumped a hoof in the air and started chanting: “My past is not today! MY PAST IS NOT TODAY! MY PAST IS NOT TODAY!” Soon everyone around the group circle (except Tirek) was doing the same---some even hi-hoofing each other---until Twilight had to stand up, flap her wings, and clap her forehooves together. “All right, all right, all right, everyone, that’s enough! Order! Order!!” said Twilight, but to no avail. She looked over to Princess Luna for help.

"S-I-I-I-I-I-I-LEN-N-N-C-E!!!" the Princess of the Night bellowed!!!

Wind-blown and stunned, the group at last fell silent, and returned to their seats. “(*Whew*) Thank you.” said Twilight.

(*Ahem*) Very well put, Discord. Clearly, employment discrimination against ex-evils is a major issue tonight. Spike, make a note of that. So…who wants to go next?”

CONTINUED NEXT CHAPTER....

Author's Note

This is designed to mirror a very real problem in society today, which I leave to you, dear reader, to decide for yourself what it refers to. :rainbowhuh: