Tamed

Chapters

Chapter 2 - Before the Fall
Chapter 3 - The Little Things
Chapter 4 - Pins, Needles, and Tendrils
Chapter 5 - The Laws That Bind
Chapter 6 - A Date With Destiny
Chapter 7 - Dark Horse Twins
Chapter 8 - Demons That Haunt
Chapter 10 - Birds of a Feather
Chapter 11 - Seeing is Believing
Chapter 12 - Treading on a Bed of Nails
Chapter 13 - Wayward Souls Divide
Chapter 14 - Power Corrupts Absolutely
Chapter 15 - With a Whimper
Tamed II - As Time Went On
Chapter 1 - The Best of Us
Chapter 9 - Born Through Wronged

Chapter 2 - Before the Fall

Act 1 - Broken

Chapter 2 – Before the Fall

*****

It never really occurred how fortunate I was. It seemed all too trivial before. You know that saying: “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone”? Those words will forever haunt me.

*****

Two-thirty in the afternoon. Rainbow was resting on cloud as Twilight had predicted. However, she was determined to prove her wrong. Rainbow was beating back the temptation of a nap. She slapped herself awake several times.

Ah, jeez…You’re always right, Twi, you egghead. If only I’d gotten more sleep last night. It was so strange sleeping in that house. Everything creaking and croaking! The air was humid and…it felt like I was sleeping in a…giant tree…right. She sighed. How much time do I have left?

Rainbow looked to the sky and determined the angle of the sun.

“Just after two. Not bad. I can take a small snooze. No big deal! She underestimates my ability in a being a cat-napper…I mean a…napping cat…ah, she would know the word for it.” Rainbow kicked back and sighed contently. The pegasus revealed a souvenir she kept from the library, the weather pony book. She studied the front cover.

I wonder what she was talking about when she mentioned how we “love to control the weather”. It was such a blunt statement, but I know Twi. She wouldn’t say anything unless it means something else.

Rainbow let out another sigh, but this one was in realization of what’s to come.

So…how am I going tell her? She’s gonna freak out! I know she will! Dash bit her lip. Anypony would… Why did I go to her place? The pegasus turned onto her side and began jabbing at the cloud with a hoof. Just because she was the closest? …or because I thought she would be the only one who would understand?

Rainbow turned onto her belly and groaned, “Dear Celestia! Today, I learned how much of an idiot Rainbow Dash is!” She lightly banged her hooves on her head.

How am I going to handle this? Tell her I’m sorry I don’t want her to visit? She wouldn’t buy it. She’s not one for weak apologies. Rainbow bites the cloud and a chunk just dissolves into her mouth. I could just not tell her. Just stay here and not pick her up.

Dash twirls around onto her back and throws her hooves into the air, “Sorry, Twilight. I got a little caught up reading this awesome book!” She takes the weather pony book and opens it up. “It just had this amazing twist and I just couldn’t put it down! You know how it is…seeing how you read books all the time. Aheheh…ah…” She chuckles weakly before dropping the book onto her chest and burying her face with both hooves. “Ohhh, it’s gonna be awful!”

There was a moment of silence before she removed her hooves. Her face was slightly moist.

“I’m so sorry…”

*****

Twilight was lying in the meadow under Rainbow Dash’s floating cloud abode. She was very fixated on the book she was reading, Pony Age Origins: The Kingdoms of Equestria. She had already managed half the book in the hour she had been waiting. She sighed and closed the book. Her head spun as she looked everywhere for Dash, but she was nowhere to be seen.

How is it when you set an alarm, you always manage to wake up before it goes off? Sometimes, I think my body does these things just to spite me. Ugh, what a boring book…wish I hadn’t misplaced that weather pony one. I swear I had it…Spike probably filed it in a random place while I wasn’t looking. Wish I had asked him before I left.

It wasn’t these petty inconveniences that were really upsetting her. She would soon find out the meaning of the colorful drama she took part in the previous night, and she was tired of waiting. This didn’t prevent her from speculating what it could possibly be...

She said she failed someone…then said she failed her dream. What a vague lead. It has to be something she’s just over-dramatizing, right? Like that time I went completely bonkers. …but Dash came to me of all ponies. What does that mean? How am I connected to all this? Why was she so docile towards me? It was strange, because it felt like it was Fluttershy who had visited me that night. The soft voice, the timid appearance, and the constant fidgeting. Oh, Celestia, this had better not be some elaborate pr…

Crack!!

The unicorn yelped and popped up onto her hooves. An earth-shattering boom had startled her. Frantically, she scanned the skies to see what was happening. Large gray clouds began to envelop the world around her. How could this happen? She couldn’t have been this engrossed in her reading to have overlooked the coming of a storm! A raindrop pelted her on the nose as a subtle augur of what’s to come. She hurriedly gathered her belongings into her saddlebag and wildly scanned for something to hide under.

No trees close enough…besides, when I was a filly, I was taught never stand under a tree in a lightning…

Boom!!

“Eeek!” She fell to her knees and covered her head. “Oh…Dash, where are you? I wish I had my lightning rod back home…” It was then the showers hit her. She was just around a hundred yards from being directly below Dash’s house. Perhaps, it would be dry under there. She stood and bolted into full gallop towards her overhead savior. However, by the time she arrived, she was soaked to the bone. She let a disgruntled bark.

If Rainbow would just show up for a change this wouldn’t have happened! She sighed. What else can go wrong?

As if fate itself was sick of her whining, rain began falling from Dash’s house as well. She slowly sat in defeat and stared a hole into the ground.

“Of course…” Her eyes began to well up. “Fantastic…”

Problems or no problems. The sheer reprimand I’d give that pony if she came right now…

“Twilight!!” A familiar scratchy voice pinged in the unicorn’s ears. Immediately she smiled.

“Thank Celestia you’re here!” The light-blue mare joined Twilight in the rain.

“I’m so sorry, Twi! Get on already!” The pegasus knelt and motioned her on with a buck of her head.

“You’re lucky I’m in a forgiving mood, Dash!” She hopped onto her aerial savior’s back and wrapped her forelegs around her neck. In a flash the two ponies were on their way up to the cloud house.

*****

That quirky unicorn was giving her a scornful glare. Dash rubbed the back of her head and chuckled nervously. They had made it safely inside. However, Twilight was completely soaked and standing miserably just inside the front door.

“Okay, Twilight…” Rainbow tried to hold in a laugh, “…just wait here one second!” The pegasus dashed upstairs. Twilight sighed. With a flick of her horn, she removed the dripping saddlebags off of her and placed it near the doorway.

“This is not my day.” She huffed as she examined the interior of her friend’s house. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of cloud. She had thought way ahead and had casted her cloud-walking spell just a moment before arriving. “Look at all this…” Paraphernalia. Everywhere. Wonderbolts posters, trophies, tickets enclosed in glass casings, and random clothing scattered about all bearing some form of the Wonderbolts’ trademark.

I wonder why she rarely wore any of these in public. You know, from the outside this place looks like a dream, but inside it’s like a runaway train hit Cloudsdale’s souvenir shop. Twilight chuckled and made her way further inside. Her eyes scanned the pegasus’s home until a gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes caught something familiar on the couch. She trotted carefully over and gave a delighted sigh of relief. The weather pony book…she did take it after all. I mean, of course, she did…was there any reason to mistake it?

She lifted it up with her magic and examined it closer.

“…wet?” She muttered before something suddenly wrapped around her head. Twilight let out a squeal.

*****

Rainbow giggled and began drying the soaking mare.

“Hey, Twilight. Déjà vu, huh? It looks like the towel is on the other hoof now! Hehehaha…” With a sudden whoosh, Dash was silenced and she found herself on her back. Twilight quickly pinned her front legs down and glared at her friend. Dash’s surprise couldn’t even warrant a yelp. Her eyes were fuller than the moon and she could feel her chest tighten in fright.

“Where were you, Dash?!” Twilight snorted steam from her nostrils. “I was waiting out there for over an hour! You may think that watching a helpless pony being completely soaked is hilarious, but I assure you, it’s the last thing you want to do when...”

“Whoa whoa whoa! Just calm down, Twi!” Dash interrupted, “I didn’t make it rain, and I wasn’t late!” She motioned to a clock on the wall. It read five minutes before three. The anger in Twilight’s face melted away as she panted. “You need to relax, egghead.” The unicorn didn’t let up, however. She could see her eyes shifting, trying to find another reason to stay angry.

“Well…why didn’t you say it was going to rain?! I could have at least brought an umbrella…or even a hat.” Honestly, the pegasus didn’t know either. Dash shrugged.

“I’m sorry, Twilight. Ever since I’ve been out of the loop, these things surprise me as much as they surprise you. Now could you relax? You’re hurting me.” Twilight’s pressure on her legs was quite immense. She could sense some pent up emotion behind those hooves.

I thought I had problems…what’s eating her? You can’t honestly tell me that some silly rain’s got her in this mood.

In a few seconds, Dash watched as the anger in Twilight’s eyes faded. The unicorn eased off and stepped away, clearing her throat, “I’m sorry. I…just hate…getting wet…a lot.” She blushed and held out a hoof to the pegasus. Dash took it and pulled herself up. “Please forgive me. I completely over-reacted.”

“It’s all in good fun, Twi. It’s not it’s the first time I left you soaking in the rain.” Dash tried to change the mood, “Besides, I got wet too. Nothing to get your mane in a twist about.” She glanced at Twilight’s mane which had coincidentally been curled upward from the drying session. “Figuratively speaking.” Dash chuckled.

Twilight grasped the towel in lavender magic and began to dry herself off. A sense of duty in those unicorn eyes. She really must hate getting wet.

“You said you needed help with something today, Dash?” Rainbow really wasn’t ready for that question. Her heart skipped a beat as her mind scrambled around for an answer.

Too soon! Not yet…I can’t tell her yet.

“…Hey! I’m starving! How about you? If I’m gonna leave my friend out in the rain, I might as well be courteous enough to feed her. Besides, I know how you are when you’re hungry…you get a little…testy. Haha!” Dash had clumsily avoided the question and was heading upstairs where her kitchen was. “What was it you ordered before? Daisy and Daffodil sandwich?” Twilight arched a brow.

“Sounds…delicious?” The unicorn was catching onto Dash’s weak attempt to avoid her question. It wasn’t even what she was really going to ask her. It must have something to do with why she came to her library in the first place.

Rainbow smiled and whinnied, “Perfect! Just make yourself at home, Twi! It’ll be just a quick sec!” She poked the unicorn on the muzzle before she took off into a random doorway which she assumed was Dash’s kitchen.

*****

Twilight had good reason to be suspicious of Dash’s behavior. It most likely had something to do with her breakdown. She could just be anxious and trying to avoid it.

She’ll break it to me soon…at least I hope she will. Now, that book…something was odd about it.

The unicorn lifted and cracked the book open. Immediately, she noticed something on the very first page. “Rainbow Dash <3”

A signature? Why would she… Twilight flipped some pages in. There were scribbles on almost every page…not doodles but… Corrections? Was she correcting the book? Wait…did she actually read this? Twilight was baffled. She shut the book. It seems she hadn’t given her friend enough credit.

“Rainbow…” She laid the book back on the couch and to her surprise followed a cyan blur that landed on top of it. “Bwaah!” Twilight yelped in surprise. Dash was propped on the couch nonchalantly, holding a dinky paper plate in her muzzle.

“Hey, I got your sandwich!” Her voice was muffled. By this point, Dash had gone beyond the boundaries of peculiarity and was just becoming plain silly. “Hope you like it.” Twilight looked at the flowers that were sticking out between the pieces of bread. They were fresh…wouldn’t doubt if they were picked just an hour ago. She ignored the observation for now and inched her face closer to grip it.

“Oh, thanks, Dash. I was feeling a bit famished from walking here.” She carefully clenched the opposite side of the plate with her teeth and found herself staring into those large magenta eyes. Something tugged at her chest for a moment. Dash was staring right back at her.

What are you doing? Why won’t you let go? Are your eyes…quivering? I really wish I could read your mind, Rainbow…

Twilight was quick to break the silence when she let out a muffled giggle, “Dash…you can let go of the plate now. I got it.” Her own voice was muffled this time. Almost immediately, the pegasus released it and shifted to an embarrassed position. A tint of red grew in her cheeks and as she rubbed her left leg with a hoof.

She cleared her throat, “Heh…sorry, Twi. I was just making sure you had it. Look, you eat; I’m gonna go take a shower. Long day and all.” It hadn’t been that long. It was barely after three. Dash’s skittish demeanor was getting to her. Guests were obviously something Dash didn’t have to deal with on a daily basis.

Before she knew it, the pegasus had jetted upstairs and an uncomfortable silence weighed on the unicorn’s ears. She placed the plate delicately on the couch and sniffed the sandwich. The aroma was intoxicating. She wasn’t sure if it was a result of hunger or just a craving for some fresh flowers. It was such a simple dish, but she knew it would tasty all the same. Without a single thought more about the meal, she began digging in. However, her mind couldn’t resist the opportunity to assess Dash’s behavior.

That was incredibly awkward. It seems neither of us is brave enough to see this through. Well, you know what? I’m just going to ask her instead of delaying the inevitable. She’s obviously looking for a way to break it to me. I can see it in those eyes of hers. I just need to keep the pressure on…if she won’t break it to me willingly…then I may just have to force it out of her. Even if I have to confront her…

*****

The pattering of water against Dash’s ears was soothing. She found that falling water was the sanctuary where nothing could touch her and her worries were soothed. Feeling every drop running down her neck, chest and all the way to the tips of her hooves, she felt once again she could think clearly. Being around Twilight had a strange effect on her. Immediately, she felt dumber…and every movement from that unicorn felt like criticism. It was a frustrating aura of eggheadedness that she couldn’t stand…yet it felt like a challenge she was eager to overcome.

Having calmed her senses, Dash began to search for a way to tell Twilight about what’s been bugging her. It wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped.

“I have something to tell you, Twi…and it’s not easy to break to…you. Ugh!” She started over, “Twilight…don’t get angry…but I have something I have to do...grrr! You’re beating around the bush, Dash. Just say it to her.” The pegasus flapped her wings slightly to disperse the water. “Ahem…Twi, I…”

“Are you calling me?” The voice hit her like thunder.

Crash!!

Everything just collapsed. Dash slipped and her wings caught the curtains. They pulled them down over her and in seconds she was just a heap of curtains and feathers with hot water pouring on her. Twilight blinked and blushed.

“Oops…”

“Twilight! Don’t scare me like that!” The pegasus attempted to crawl out of the disaster she’d just created. She was twisted tightly in the curtains and it wasn’t going to be an easy feat getting out of it.

“I’m sorry! Hey, let me help you.” The unicorn’s horn flared.

“I-I got it, Twi!” Dash interrupted, “It’s no big deal! Really! Just a little slip was all. Happens all the time! You wouldn’t believe how good I’ve gotten when it comes to untangling myself.” Dash thought back to the Iron Pony challenge and then chuckled at her situation. Ultimately, she didn’t mind the intrusion.

“All right, Rainbow. Again, I’m so sorry…but if you can’t get yourself out of that, just call me up.”

“No need! Just…knock next time, okay? You don’t sneak up on ponies. You know that.” Twilight nodded and slowly backed out of the room.

“Yeah, you’re right. I just though I heard you calling me so I rushed up here. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“It’s nothing, Twi! Just…I need a little time…” Dash trailed off as she began carefully fixing the situation. Twilight sat in the doorway for a moment. She had initially come up there to finally ask her about the failure. However, she was quickly regretting that decision. Perhaps impatience was going to win this one. “Twi? Weren’t you leaving?”

“O-Oh! Right! Leaving!”

“W-wait! Don’t go. This…this might not be the best time, but I don’t think I can do this any longer. I want to tell you…” She hesitated for a moment, “…tell you what’s going on.” Twilight felt something grip her chest…as did Rainbow. The unicorn made her way back over to the fallen pegasus and gently brushed a section of curtain that was obscuring her face. She looked defeated…she looked as she did one night ago.

“So you’re finally going to tell me?”

“Yeah. I never consider myself a coward…but I never consider myself the bravest pony either. It’s not easy, Twilight. For the longest time…I thought everything would be easy as long as I gave my best.” Dash’s eyes sunk as she sighed. “Time and time again…I found I was wrong. The time with Mare Do Well, the tornado and even the Young Flier’s Competition.” Twilight was a bit off-put by Dash’s glumness.

“But you did well in the competition! You got hordes of recognition and even a prize!” Dash groaned as she knew she would answer that way.

“I know…”

“You got a night with the Wonderbolts and you even did your fabled Sonic Rainboom!”

“I know! It’s just…it wasn’t enough.”

Twilight rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Not enough? Really? What more could you possibly want than all that?”

“I mean it was a fluke, Twi. If Rarity hadn’t been there…I may never have pulled it off. My talents…they’re never my own.”

“Of course they’re your own! You’re amazing! You do stunts that any pegasus could only dream of! You are an amazing pony!”

“Yeah, but at what cost?! I’m more trouble than I’m worth. Even last night I couldn’t be brave. I was just a sobbing filly looking for comfort.” Twilight’s face was hurt as she could now agree with her…it was a pathetic sight. “I need a wakeup call…I’m a show-off with hardly anything to show. I’m like Trixie.”

Twilight wasn’t exactly wanting to remember that annoying memory. Before Twilight could say anything, Dash continued, “I’m…I’m going away.”

The unicorn couldn’t even register that the first time she heard it. She chuckled and shook her head, “What?”

“I’m leaving Ponyville…and moving back to Cloudsdale.” This time she heard Dash correctly…and was stunned to say the least. “I already booked a place there and everything…should be settled in by noon tomorrow.”

She could see Twilight’s mouth hanging open. Her lower jaw was quivering slightly. “That’s what I meant when I said you could help me…help me pack. I-it’s a lot of stuff and it would take me forever. I just…” The pegasus’s eyes finally looked up at the shocked unicorn. “…please, Twilight! Don’t look at me like that! I…I know I’m awesome and all…but I really need your help right now.”

Twilight’s silence dug into her soul. Nothing was more terrifying than seeing that face for five minutes it seemed. Dash just wanted to crawl away. She knew now more than ever that this was a mistake.

The unicorn’s face eventually normalized and she regained her composure, “So that’s it, huh? That’s what this was all about? You’re moving out?” She was more calm than Dash had expected. It slightly relieved her.

“Yeah. It wouldn’t be forever or anything. I just…have to do this.”

“Moving out and abandoning your friends…” She sighed in frustration. Dash immediately could feel Twilight’s growing anger.

“No! I’m not abandoning anypony!”

“Then what are you doing, Rainbow Dash? Because it sounds like…you’re sick of Ponyville dragging you down or something!”

“That’s not it at all! I…I failed something.”

“Failed what? Why don’t you just tell me? If you want to brave, then…”

“I’m…I’m trying to rectify a mistake…a mistake I made a long time ago. It’s nothing to do with you guys!” Dash was fighting back tears at this point. Her teeth clenched in anger.

“Then what was it then?! Rainbow Dash?! Tell me already!” This was quickly getting out of hand for the pegasus. She looked away constantly…trying not to face her verbal assailant.

“I…I failed the entrance exam for the Wonderbolts!” With the confession, there was a brief silence between them. “They…they wouldn’t take me, because…because they said I was too “unrefined”! That my skills were not only self-taught…but sloppy. So…I want to go back to flight school! I want to go back…and finish what I started. Prove them wrong! I know I can be an excellent flier…even if I have tough it and go back to school.” She gave a moment or two to let the words sink in. Dash’s voice calmed a little, “And to do that, I have to move to Cloudsdale…there’s no way I could commute every day. I have to be there...live there.”

Dash waited for Twilight to say something. During the silence, she managed to free herself from the shower wreckage. She stood and looked Twilight in the eyes. She could see something different in them. Something was changing in her usual behavior. She’d never seen Twilight this serious before.

“Selfish.” She said calmly. “You’re so selfish, Dash.

Rainbow was taken aback, “Yeah! I’m selfish! For chasing my dreams and buckling down to do what I have to do achieve it!” Dash’s voice rose a bit in agitation. “You couldn’t understand…you didn’t have to work as hard as I did to get where I am. You were spoon-fed your fame and the Princess made sure that you got the best possible treatment!”

Twilight wrinkled her brow and leaned her head forward, “Excuse me?! Spoon-fed?! For your information, I studied very hard to get where I am! It wasn’t because of the Princess…or even the classes I took. Me, myself, and I got where I was through perseverance and diligence!”

“And I’m the same! I’m not backing down with one failure! I will keep pushing and pushing until I have what I want…even if it means leaving my friends behind.”

Twilight growled, “This is not how the Element of Loyalty should act! You have to stick by your friends…you put them before anypony else! Even if it means sacrificing your own ambitions! You did it when we first met! I saw it!”

“Things have changed since then! You never thought I’d be reading books, did you? Maybe I’m tired of it all! Maybe being the element of loyalty isn’t all that great!”

“H-How could you say that?!”

“Twi…I thought you would understand…because you’re so smart, but now I see that was a mistake too. I’m taking you back to the library…”

The dismissive response was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Twilight tackled the mare to the floor with a growl. The two rolled for a second before the unicorn had her pinned again to the floor. There were tears flowing down Twilight’s cheeks. Her heart was obviously broken. She was taking her leave way out of proportion. Twilight raised a hoof above her head as if to strike the pegasus. Dash shut her eyes in anticipation.

“Do it, Twi! If that’s what it takes!”

There was a long pause, and then something unexpected. Rainbow opened her eyes to identify what had occurred…the pony was embracing her. Very tightly, in fact. Dash wasn’t sure how to react. She didn’t return it, but rather froze in shock. The unicorn was sobbing.

“You can’t leave…Dash! We’d all miss you! I’d miss you!” She was blubbering. Dash could feel her neck getting wet from the tears even though it was already wet from the shower. Rainbow gave in and hugged the crying pony. Seeing her like this hurt the pegasus. It was incredible how different Twilight was. Her calm, logical demeanor was broken down to an emotional cluster of anger and desperation.

“Twilight…I didn’t think this meant that much to you.” She admitted curiously. “Why? Why do you want me to stay?” Her legitimate question ringed in Twilight’s ears.

Silence. She couldn’t think of anything. “I…I don’t know, you stupid pegasus!”

*****

Around ten minutes later, things had calmed down. The two were sitting on the couch and facing the front doorway. Twilight’s eyes were red from the crying and Rainbow was disheveled as ever, but she was dry now. The silence was again killing them. Twilight inhaled softly.

“I’m going with you.” She demanded. Rainbow whipped her head to face her.

“What?! No! You can’t! No way! You can’t come with me! Why? What about Spike and the library? What about Celestia’s orders?” She brought up a good point.

To study and report on friendship in Ponyville. She hadn’t forgotten, but Dash leaving? I’ll admit I’ve grown fond of seeing you. It feels like a day wouldn’t be as bright with you gone. Besides…what if everyone else started to leave? My best friends…I don’t want a single one to go…I’ve never been so blessed in my life.

“Forget the orders...” Twilight was surprised by what she had just said. She felt immediately horrible for saying that and winced.

“What?! What do you mean ‘forget them’?” Rainbow was just as surprised it seemed. She jumped off the couch and was now facing the unicorn. Twilight couldn’t look her in the eye.

“Never mind. I mean…they’ll understand.” They had to, right? To accompany her friend in her time of need? To assist her in achieving her dream?

“Will they, Twilight? Are you sure? I don’t even understand why. You’ve completely lost it!” The pegasus put a hoof on her shoulder. “Just stay here in Ponyville, they need you. They can’t live a day without you.” Twilight was angered again and she faced the pony.

“What about you?! You’re the town spirit! You make any horrible day feel like a dream. Make any frown turn upside down.” She can’t believe she uttered that terrible phrase. However, this got a giggle out of the pegasus.

“You sure you’re not talking about Pinkie Pie, Twi? What I have done recently that’s made anypony happy?” Twilight could hear that angst in her voice again.

“You…you…” She had some trouble thinking of something. “You kept me company! Despite the luxury of a wet floor, bed, and blanket…I…I enjoyed that night you came over. Felt like I actually mattered to someone. It felt like you chose to come to me because I had something to give you.” She spilled some of her heart. She’d just admitted she enjoyed spending time with Dash.

Jeez, talk about being mushy. Dash, you’re going no matter what I say, aren’t you? This lingering feeling my heart is just going to haunt me for months while you’re away becoming famous…while I’m stuck here reading the same thousand books over again. Trapped in everlasting guilt thinking that I could have somehow made you stay…now who’s being selfish, Twilight?

“Now who’s being selfish, Twilight?” Dash asked. The unicorn perked up as she had just thought that at the exact same time. Twilight smiled as did Rainbow. The two laughed quietly.

Twilight slid off the couch onto the floor, “Rainbow, I…” Twilight felt something odd…she noticed that Dash was…slightly taller than her. She glanced down at her hooves…they were sunk into the cloud floor beneath her. They both looked at each other in horror. “Oh no…”

Whoosh!

…

“Twilight!!” Dash watched as Twilight fell through the floor. She could hear her screaming. Rainbow desperately tried to punch through the floor but to no avail. She growled in frustration and took off towards the door, bashing through it. Wood splintered into the stormy sky.

She dove under her house as fast as she could. She had no idea how much time she had. The house was barely a few hundred yards above the ground. Within mere seconds…Twilight would hit the ground. Rainbow had never been quicker in her life. Time seemed to slow down as she caught a glimpse of the falling pony. Her heart racing as she bee-lined it toward where she believed Twilight would land.

“No!!”

…

I never felt so betrayed in my life…foiled by my own magic. I feel…scared. Was this it? Would I go out this easily? There was…so much more to do…so much more to see…feel…and embrace.

She wasn’t even sure if she was falling anymore at this point. She felt as if something was tearing her apart. Something was pulling at her chest. Her breath escaped her and her vision blurred.

“Don’t forget about me…” Twi heard a voice. “Be strong…be brave…be the best…you can be.”

It was then Twilight felt something strike her violently. An enormous explosion deafened her senses as she instantly blacked out.

…

“Awaken…Twilight Sparkle. She’s waiting…”

Chapter 3 - The Little Things

Act 1 - Broken

Chapter 3 – The Little Things

*****

Realizing your own weakness can bring unto you a greater strength.

*****

“Twilight Sparkle…” That warm, familiar voice made the purple mare jump with glee. She closed her book with a hoof and turned to find a large white-coated alicorn smiling down at her.

“Princess Celestia!” She couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the large mare. No other pony had that towering presence. That glow and that power could make even the strongest pony bend to her will. But she pushed all of that away for she knew, as her number one pony, that a visit from her could only mean something special.

“How is my esteemed protégé?” The alicorn peeked at the book she was reading. “Wanting to learn magic this early, Twilight Sparkle?” The unicorn blushed and sunk her head. She fiddled with grass beneath her and giggled.

Grass? No…I was…

“Hm, Twilight?” The unicorn looked around her. She was in her personal library given to her by the Princess. She was standing on stone flooring.

“I know I can do it, Princess Celestia! All of the other ponies can do magic already…” Her voice softened gradually as she trailed off. The glowing mare let out an amused chuckle. Twilight looked up at her hurt at the alicorn’s enjoyment.

“Those ponies you study with are at least two years older than you, Twilight Sparkle.” The alicorn slowly lowered herself onto the floor so she could be eye-level with the unicorn. “All in good time, my beloved student. You must be patient.” Her voice soft and warm to the unicorn’s ears.

“But watch this, Princess! Hurgh!” Twilight shut her eyes and focused all of her power into her horn, which shone a soft amethyst. The room began to darken and it began to rain.

BOOM! The alicorn’s eyes flashed white. “NOOO!!” The Princess screamed in a demonic voice.

Rain? No…it was…

“Oh?” She could hear the alicorn giggle, which provoked Twilight to open her eyes. The unicorn gasped. “This is…interesting, Twilight.” She had just given the most powerful pony in all of Equestria, the being that could literally raise the sun and moon at will…a moustache.

“Oh, no! I’m so sorry, Princess Celestia! I did what the book told me! It was supposed to make you a pair of sunglasses! At least…I think that was it.” The unicorn picked up the book again and opened it with her hoof.

CRACK! A flood of color burst from the book in a brilliant halo. The power of the ring shattered the glass-like walls around her. Frightened, she looked up at Celestia for answers. “What’s going…?” Celestia was gone. In her place was a bleak void with a single mass of white in the distance. A solitary ray of light shone through the center and hit her directly in the face.

Suddenly, a figure rushed right up to her face. Her vision completely obscured by two large magenta eyes. “Twilight…?” A whisper…

*****

“Waaaah!!” Twilight sat up and screamed. She had no time to collect her thoughts. She was dripping with sweat and breathing heavily. She fumbled out of what she gathered was a bed and began reaching at the ground to get away.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Somepony was calling her name, but she wasn’t listening. A large pressure pins her to the ground and the unicorn begins to panic and cry.

“Let go of me! Celestia! HELP! I need your…your…” Twilight felt a pain in her left thigh and the world faded to darkness…

*****

Voices…they were so distant she could barely hear them.

“Is she gonna be all right?” A voice with a suspicious country accent. Twilight could barely feel her hooves. Groggy was an understatement. Her vision was a complete blur of bright lights.

“She should be fine for now…just don’t let her out of your sight. She seems to have suffered a very traumatic experience.” An unfamiliar voice spoke with a sense of duty and was very blunt.

“Traumatic ain’t the half of it. Ah’ve never seen a pony get so worked up.”

My forehead is killing me…what…? What did they hit me with a hammer? Applejack…is that you?

“Twilight?! Are you okay? Can you hear us?”

Barely…speak up a little. We’re not in the library…

“How…how she doin’ that?” Applejack asked with a tone of bewilderment. What? What was she talking about?

“I have no idea…” Another familiar voice…it sounded closer, but softer.

What are you talking about, Applejack? She felt a pressure on her chest.

“Stop doin’ whatever is yer doin’, Twilight.”

“I’ll handle this, Applejack. Alright, Twilight Sparkle. I just need you to stay calm…and slowly raise your left hoof.” That voice…only one pony she knew had that voice…Celestia? The pressure on her chest disappeared.

“Princess she won’t be able to mo…” The unfamiliar voice was suddenly cut short.

“Raise your left hoof, Twilight.” Celestia commanded.

My left hoof…? She dug around her consciousness to retrieve such a simple command. She secured it and put all of her energy into it. Th..there!

“Try again, my student. I know you can do it.” Twilight was distraught. She knew she had done it right. How could she have not lifted her hoof? The unicorn let out a stressed sigh. She strained as much as she could to lift it. In her mind, she was punching a hole through the sky.

She could only hear a sigh. Twilight was frustrated beyond reason. I don’t know what you want me to do! The unicorn screamed as she sat up in bed. Her vision suddenly and completely returned, and she found herself in a white room…a hospital room? She could see Princess Celestia, Applejack, and another pony, an orange stallion wearing a doctor’s coat staring at her with looks of shock on their faces.

Twilight was panting with tears in her eyes. Celestia smiled at her student and moved closer to comfort her. “Well done, my student. You are quite talented.”

Talented? At what? Raising my hoof?

“How? How is this even possible, Princess?” The doctor asked in disbelief. The alicorn turned to answer him.

“Magic has its ways of bending and skewing anything imaginable. It’s only a question of how far reality is willing to allow it.” Twilight could tell the orange pony didn’t understand. She herself wasn’t grasping it to well herself.

What’s going on exactly? Why is the Princess here? What is she…

“Twilight, I need you to listen to me carefully.” Celestia interrupted her thoughts, “I require that you remain as calm as you can manage because what I’m about to tell you is very important, and it may shock you.” She knew to trust Celestia and nodded immediately.

Of course, Princess Celestia. Twilight glanced at Applejack who was standing a good distance from her and giving her a funny look. Was she…afraid?

What’s wrong with Applejack?

“Twilight!” Celestia again popped. “I need to you to concentrate on me.” Twilight didn’t know what to think. This was all confusing her immensely. “Now don’t…get…upset. Your horn…has been broken.” Twilight’s eyes widened. What?! She reached up to touch it, but her hooves were suddenly bound by magic. “Twilight! Don’t touch it. I’m not lying to you.”

The unicorn’s eyes began to well up. Is it true? Is my horn…gone?

“It’s only broken in half, my student. Now a unicorn’s horn breaking is incredibly rare. It takes a great deal of force to remove one much less break one. In fact, I’m not certain how you’re still alive, Twilight.” The purple mare could only choke, unable to form questions. Her hooves were released, but the temptation was still there eating at her. She couldn’t stand to look at Celestia, the bearer of the worst news anypony could possibly give her. Her eyes darted around the room. She wanted to escape to get away from this horrible nightmare.

Then something she had forgotten had finally hit her. Where’s Rainbow?! Is she okay?! I don’t know exactly what happened. Applejack nodded to her.

“She’s fine, Twilight, but I reckon’ you should see her fer yerself. She’s been wantin’ to see ya.” The orange mare smiled weakly. Twilight read her like a book.

Why couldn’t she just see me herself? What’s wrong with… Crackle! Sparks flew from her broken horn. Ow!! The unicorn yelped as a searing pain overwhelmed her forehead. She lifts her hooves to reach for it again, but Celestia stops her.

Celestia spoke up, “Twilight, before you go see Rainbow, I have a very important piece of advice…no an order. You are…forbidden to use magic for whatever reason. The state of your horn is dangerous. From what I’ve seen, the damage to your horn has put your powers in a permanent state of flux. You see…a unicorn’s horn is merely a catalyst for the raw magic you have inside you…and when that catalyst is damaged, so is your ability to safely use that magic.” Twilight felt like she was in school again. She already knew all of this. “Also, you may not have noticed, but haven’t been speaking to us…at all. At least, not with your mouth, my student.” Celestia’s implications perplexed Twilight.

Of course, I’ve been speaking. How else would they be talking back to me? Why is Celestia being so weird?

“Weird, Twilight Sparkle? Hardly the way to talk to your mentor.” Celestia smiled as she watched Twilight finally realize the situation.

I’m…talking to you with my mind?! Then…what else have I been doing without realizing it?

The pony in the white-lab coat spoke up, “Well, you broke through one of my strongest paralytics for one. Never seen a pony do that.” Twilight was slightly perturbed.

They…I mean…you paralyzed me? Why would you do that?

Applejack came closer to the unicorn, feeling safer to approach the mare. “Well, you woke up in such a fit. We figured you’d break down these here walls to get out.”

“Actually, Twilight is still paralyzed.” Celestia smiled. All ponies turned to her in confusion with a simultaneous, “What?”

“Naw, I reckon she’s moving fairly well, yer Highness.” Celestia shot an amused look at Applejack.

“Has she? She can’t speak. She hasn’t been moving THAT much. She’s simply using magic to move herself. Now, the fact that she’s been doing this unintentionally is what frightens me.” Twilight gasped, but then again, she didn’t. She was realizing it. She couldn’t move anything. It began to frighten her as tears slid down her cheeks. “Now try not to get upset, Twilight Sparkle. It’s when you’re upset that you begin using magic inadvertently. That’s why I provoked you earlier when I told you to raise your hoof. Starting to make sense now?”

I…I guess. I…I just want to see Rainbow. I want to know if she’s okay.

Celestia put a hoof on the unicorn’s chest and slowly pushed her back into a resting position, “In good time, Sparkle. Just rest for now until it wears off, and then you can see your friend.” The alicorn turned and stepped towards the door. “Now, I have an important event I must attend to in Canterlot. So I bid you all a fond farewell. Oh, and Twilight. Do take my order to heart. Even the smallest use in magic could be disastrous. I’m saying this for your safety and the safety of everypony around you.”

Can it be fixed? Will I get my horn back?

The look in Celestia’s face was one of doubt, and it immediately sliced short any hope the pony had. “Not that I’ve seen…but don’t let that discourage you. You may find an answer if you put your mind to it. I’ve seen you overcome greater odds, Twilight.” The alicorn left her with one final closed-eyed smile before she departed.

The tears continued to run down her cheeks. She didn’t even want to think any thoughts right now lest her horn spilled them to her friends. She just concentrated on the lights overhead. Recalling everything she knew about them.

“We should leave her alone for now. It will be about an hour before the paralytic wears off.” The orange stallion motioned Applejack towards the door. She didn’t object.

Applejack, tell Rainbow I said “hi”…or rather thought it. No…don’t tell her that. Just…

“I’ll let you tell her, Twilight. She’s only one room to the left. No doubt she’s overheard us anyhow.” The pony took the chance to give the unicorn a tiny embrace before she headed towards the door.

Ah…All right. Thanks, Applejack. She heard the door shut soon after. She wanted to burst out into a full cry, but her body wouldn’t let her. This is horrible! How could this get any worse?! How did it come to this?!

Crack! Bang! The lights above her shot out. Ah! Her vision was plunged into darkness. She could feel her heart race in her chest. It was night outside so there were no other light sources. How…how am I gonna do this?

*****

The next room over. Rainbow was in bed with the blankets up to her neck. She was lying on her side and staring out a nearby open window. There was a tiny blue bird cleaning itself on the window sill. After about a minute, the bird had caught onto how long Rainbow’s been staring and it jumped inside to investigate.

It wasn’t a grown bird. Probably only a few days out of the nest, ready to explore the world and its splendor. The bird hopped onto the pillow next to Dash and gave her a curious eye.

“Lucky you…” The pegasus turned over to face away from the bird. Her mind turned to that fateful moment. The event kept playing over and over in her mind. She wasn’t aware of what happened to Twilight yet. She could only speculate.

She’s broken her back! I know it! Ah, come on, Rainbow. That’s a little grim…she’s probably perfectly fine….maybe just a little traumatized. I would be if I fell that far from the ground with no wings. But…did I really save her?

~ Twilight! Hang on! ~

She could remember the rain stinging her face as she dashed for Twilight. That familiar warp in the air around her just before she broke the sound barrier. She tried as hard as she could to remember if she actually caught her.

Well, she is alive, Rainbow. You did something right.

Did she? Her mind was now fixed on the argument they had last night.

~ I…I enjoyed the night you came over. Felt like you chose me… You’re the town spirit! Screw them. I’m going with you. I’d miss you! Selfish. I…I don’t know, you stupid pegasus! ~

Rainbow groaned and covered her head with a pillow.

I’d rather suffocate than have to face her again. I’m selfish? Look who gave up flying to save your pretty purple butt.

Rainbow swallowed and removed the pillow.

Did I just think that? She sighed. The consequences of a tired brain. This place is sooo boring! I never thought I’d be stuck here again. At least last time I had Daring Do to keep me company. But now I have nothing, but this stupid bird.

She turned to face the bird which hadn’t moved since. “Well, what are you looking at, featherbrain?” Of course, the creature didn’t answer. It just gave her that same dumb look. “Got any good jokes?” No reaction. “Got anything at all?” Still no reaction. “Awesome…”

The door creaked open and Rainbow jumped up, scaring the bird out the window. She was careful to cover her body with the blanket. “Hey, have you ever heard of kno…Twilight!” A wave of glee seemed to hit the pegasus as the unicorn entered the room.

“Rainbow!” She galloped over to the cyan mare and jumped onto the bed into a soft embrace. “I’m so glad you’re okay!” However, the pegasus was immediately distracted by what was on the head of the unicorn.

“Twi? What’s with the hat?” The mare had fashioned or rather stole a surgeon’s cap. “You look ridiculous.” She giggled.

“I thought Rarity told you…these hats are the latest trend!” The unicorn playfully adjusted the green-domed cap. The pegasus laughed and rolled her eyes.

“Wow! You are such a horrible liar, Twi!” She quickly reached up and pulled the cap off.

“Wait! NO!” Twilight had been too late. Her secret was revealed. The pegasus’s face was almost a perfect mimic of Twilight’s when she had discovered the truth.

“Twilight…” She backed up into the headboard and put her hooves over her mouth. Her eyes began to water. However, Rainbow’s motions had revealed something else, a set of wings in complete casts except…there was something more wrong with them. The mare quickly realized her state and covered herself up. She wanted to fly away.

“Rainbow?! What’s….what happened?” Twilight’s expression was beyond horrified. “Your wings…they’re…”

Rainbow’s face tensed and blurted out, “Pinioned! Is that what you want to say?” The pegasus bursts into tears. “I’ll…I’ll never fly again!” The pony covered her eyes. Twilight backed off to give her space. “They told me the bones had been completely shattered…you know…beyond repair! Then they offered to remove them…just told me they were dead weight.”

That conversation with them…it took me almost a full three hours of crying to get over that. Flying…that’s my passion…that was my life, but…considering the alternative…what would have happened if I didn’t bust my butt to save her.

Tears had collected in the unicorn’s eyes as well. She didn’t know what to say or do at this point except… “I’m…I’m so sorry, Rainbow…” The pegasus uncovered her eyes and could see the guilt. She obviously had taken the fault, but Rainbow wasn’t having any of it.

Not again…I won’t see her like this again!

“No, Twilight! You would have died if I didn’t come! Wings or no wings…I couldn’t have lived knowing that there was a chance to save you…and I didn’t take it.” The unicorn let out a quivering sigh.

The determined mare jumped up and practically tackled the unicorn. She embraced her and pressed her nose into her neck. “I don’t want you saying sorry to me. I made my choice…and…I’m most definitely, positively sure!” She looked up into Twilight’s eyes. “That I made the right one!” The two stared at each other nearly nose to nose. “Now…stop crying…you don’t know how much it hurts me to see you this way!”

*****

Twilight couldn’t answer. She could only feel the hot, heavy breathing against her face.

She’s so…brave and…infallible…

“What the…who said that?” The pegasus turned her head and the magic of the moment had been killed. The unicorn internally cursed her broken horn.

“I-I said you’re right, Dash, and…I’m grateful…eternally in your debt. You saved my life…” The pegasus’s stare had returned although it wasn’t as intense as before. “For somepony who said they’re not a saint…you have a really poor way of displaying that.”

Rainbow let out a laugh, “Ha! You’re as snarky as ever…egghead.” She smiled, but it went away quickly as her attention returned to the horn. “You’re horn, Twi…is it…”

“It’s definitely broken. But I can still use magic…to some degree. I just have to be careful apparently. It’s having a lot of weird side-effects that I have to learn to control.”

Rainbow tilted her head. “What kind of side-effects?”

Well, we have this one… Rainbow shot back slightly and looked around. Weird, huh?

“So you were the one who said that…how are you doing that?” The unicorn shrugged. “Hey…is it like when Daring Do got a hold of that skull thing and it started talking to her? Are you speaking with your skull-mind powers?!”

I guess? She tilted her head and chuckled. The pegasus’s face brightened up.

“That’s totally awesome! You could totally trick ponies with that! Like one those ponies that can do the thing with the puppets…what was…”

Twilight sighed and sported an annoyed grin. A ventriloquist?

“Yes! A venturquest!” Rainbow’s butchering of the word irking the poor mare.

“Look, Dash…It might be all fun and games to you…but the fact that I can’t think of anything without everyone hearing me is going to be horrible! I’m not even sure I want to go out in public anymore because of this.”

“Well, there has to be a way to control it, Twi. If anyone can figure it out, it’s you.” The mare gave her a reassuring hug. “Until then…I’m going to enjoy being called brave and infallible…among other things.” She giggled.

The unicorn flushed and cleared her throat, “Well, I’m glad one of us is enjoying themselves.” Rainbow poked the mare’s chest with a hoof.

“It’ll be fine, Twilight.”

How can she be so optimistic? Ah, horseradish! I mean uhh…hi, Dash. Ugh…

The pegasus burst into laughter. “What’s so weird is that you sound so different when you talk that way! It’s so deadpan!” Rainbow held her sides as she fell onto her back.

“Har har, Rainbow Dash, the blue ostrich.” Her insult immediately silenced and upset the pegasus.

“Hey…low blow…”

Twilight grinned and chuckled. Rainbow followed suit as they both laughed away that cloud of grief.

*****

The two mares walked out of the hospital side-by-side. Both were sporting a smile despite their injuries. Twilight may not have felt as optimistic as Rainbow, but the pegasus’s faith in her was all she needed to carry forward.

“So are you sure you don’t need to stay?” The purple mare queried about the condition of her wings.

The rainbow-maned pony sighed. “Can you believe this, Twi? They actually said that “I should be fine if I wanted to return home.” Easy for them to say! How in Ponyville am I supposed to get up there now?!” She hung her head.

“Well, we can always take the balloon or I could always give you those monarch wings…oh, wait.”

Had I forgotten so quickly? Don’t use magic for any reason! As the smallest spell could be disastrous!

“That serious, huh, Twi?” Twilight had also forgotten again that she could hear her. “Well, don’t worry about it. I’ll find a quick way to get up there soon enough. Even if I have to build a mountain of dirt!” She raised a hoof to illustrate her plan then smacked it back down on the ground.

She could stay with me, I guess…oh! Not again! Twilight collapsed to the ground and held her head between her hooves.

“I’ll never get used to this, Dash! It’s too easy to think!” The horn crackled. “Ow!” She shot back up to her hooves. Her face bewildered.

“Twilight! Are you hurt?!” She rushed to comfort her.

“Yeah! It’s just…” Crackle! “Gah! Grrr!!” The horn sparked again. “Stop it! Stop it! Ahh!!” Twilight wrenched her head from side to side.

“Wha…What’s going on?!” Rainbow stepped back slowly.

“Stupid…guh! Horn is…hah!” Twilight desperately search for the answer.

~ Now try not to get upset, Twilight Sparkle. It’s when you’re upset that you begin using magic inadvertently. ~

“Just calm…zzttt!! Down…zzttt!!” She slowed her breathing as the shocks slowly weakened. It took a great deal of self-control, but she managed to stop it completely.

“Are you…okay, Twi?” The pegasus had slowly inched forward toward the purple mare.

She was very soft when speaking, “Yeah…I think so. It’s another side-effect. I can’t get upset…apparently…or to be more accurate…angry.” She closed her eyes and stood there silently for a moment.

“Well, this is going to be very tough for you, Twi.” She closed in and nudged the unicorn under her chin.

You’re telling me…Anyways, I’m going back to the library. I’m starving.

“Sounds like a plan. Can I join?” Rainbow stepped back and smiled. Twilight could recognize that false giddiness in her demeanor again, but she almost instantly brushed the thought away.

“Ah…of course, Dash! You’re always welcome!” She gave Dash a cheesy smile with her eyes shut.

“Awesome!”

*****

The two had returned to the library and they were just finishing up with their meal. Twilight had a book on her mind she wanted to look over.

Where’s that book you took, Dash? Twilight had walked over to one of the shelves and was trying to reach a book, but it was just out of her grasp.

“It’s probably still at my place. But you don’t need that book anyway, Twi! You got me!” She boasted from across the room.

Yeah, but still…I need to check something…ugh…I can’t reach…grr! She gave up and flared her horn in attempt to grab the book.

…

Ringing…in her ears. She quickly realized she was on her back. She couldn’t hear anything. She slowly flipped over and turned to face what had happened.

…

Both ponies’ eyes were wide. She just created…an enormous hole in the library.

Chapter 4 - Pins, Needles, and Tendrils

Act 1

Chapter 4 – Pins, Needles, and Tendrils

*****

Sometimes talent comes from the heart. Only when you least expect it, do you discover your true brilliance.

*****

The two ponies continue to stare through the gaping hole in Twilight’s home. Books and wooden debris were scattered everywhere inside and outside the library. They could see Ponyville off in the distance.

What just happened? Did Twi do that? Where did she get that kind of magic…and with a broken horn?!

“I…I was just trying to get a book and…” The startled unicorn began explaining. She turned to face the frightened pegasus. ~ Dash? Is she scared…of me? Ah! ~ Twilight turned away, realizing Rainbow would have heard her thoughts again.

Dash began backing up away from the pony, “I-I’m fine, Twi! I just don’t get it. I thought your horn was broken!” She hit the wall behind her and immediately sat down. Her eyes were fixed on the unicorn, fearing that something else might happen if she isn’t careful.

That hole is as big as a tree! What if I was there when that happened?! The pegasus spotted a torn up book on the ground and she winced.

“Rainbow…” Twilight’s eyes began to water.

“What happened here?!” A familiar child dragon voice emanated from the new doorway. The two ponies turned their attention to him.

“Oh! Hello, Spike. Heheh…What’s up?” Twilight’s weak greeting made the dragon suspicious.

The dragon poked a hanging piece of wood with a claw and it immediately fell. “Are we remodeling, Twilight?”

The unicorn blinked then chuckled nervously. “Uh, yeah! That’s it! Gotta get rid of these walls if we’re gonna add that new room for our new guest…right, Rainbow?”

Dash had briefly gotten over her cowardice and had slowly made her way back towards her. “Uhhh, yeah? I mean yeah! Since, I might be staying a while, thought it’d be nice to have a room of my own…you know, for privacy. Twilight couldn’t be a better pal!” The pegasus threw a leg over the unicorn and gave a big smile.

A moment of silence had killed the mood. Spike was staring up at Twilight…or rather her horn. “Twilight! Your horn! What…what happened to it?! Are you okay?!”

Just mentioning the state of her horn got her down. “Yeah, I’m fine…but…it may be the end of my magic as we know it. There was an accident at Rainbow’s…” Twilight shot a glance at the pegasus’s ‘wings’. “…and she…”

“You should have seen me, Spike! Nopony could have saved her like I did!” She beat her chest with a hoof and turned her nose up.

“Well, it doesn’t look like it went all that well to me.” The dragon was eying the pegasus’s bound wings.

“Oh, what, this? Ha! I’ve been through worse believe me. I’ll be back in the air like that!” She smacked her hoof against the ground.

~ Who are you fooling, Dash? Uh… ~ Dash gave a momentary look of hurt at the unicorn. Her heart stung by Twilight’s harsh remark.

“Uh…anyway, Spike…” Twilight interrupted her thoughts. Spike was looking for the voice he’d just heard. “It’ll be fine. Celestia said that there may be a way to fix my horn. I just have to do a little research. Should be no problem!” The pegasus pulled back the leg around Twilight.

She didn’t mean it, Dash. You know she can’t control her thoughts…it was just a slip of the tongue…or I guess the mind. She didn’t mean anything by it. Dash smiled having easily convinced herself of her friend’s mistake.

The dragon lifted one of the scattered books and dusted it off, and then realized a decent penetration through the center. “Well…as long as you start taking the books off the shelves before you make a big hole in them…we should have what we need here, right?” Spike shrugged and threw the book aside.

“I think we may need to take a peek into the restricted area of Canterlot again to find what we need.” The pony examined one of many burnt books lying around: Slumber 101. She let out a sad moan. “But for now, I’ll look through these to see if I can’t find something.” Twilight put a hoof to her forehead careful not to touch her horn. “There’s got to be some way…”

“Well, I guess I’ll start cleaning this mess.” The dragon looked around annoyed then began walking towards the basement. “Oh, and nice try covering up your mistake, Twi. An extra room for Dash…” Spike mumbled to himself. “Does she think I’m stupid?”

The two ponies smiled nervously at each other and Twilight rolled her eyes. “I tried.”

“Don’t worry about it, Twilight.” The pegasus ruffled her mane. “We’ll get somepony to fix it later.”

Twilight sighed, “If I had my magic this hole would be patched up in no time.”

“Well, it looks like you can make them. I bet my tattered wings you can get rid of them too!” The unicorn gave the mare a grateful grin.

“Thanks, Rainbow. That means a lot to me…I just hope you’re right. I don’t want my problems causing other ponies grief.” Her own words caught her attention to something she had forgotten.

~ Now who's horseshoe is on the other hoof? ~

Dash burst into laughter and hugged the mare, “Don’t worry about it, Twi. It’s all in the past now. No way am I getting into the Wonderbolts now with these things. Maybe I could become a coach or something. Just because I can’t fly doesn’t mean I can’t tell other ponies how to.”

“You’ve really come to accept this, haven’t you?” Twilight returned the embrace, and then the two ponies separated shortly after.

“Of course! I’m not gonna let this bring down the magnificently awesome Rainbow Dash! I’ll just have to be awesome at something other than flying. Like you said…I’m infallible!” She puffed out her chest and grinned smugly.

“Well, I wish I was as tough as you, Rainbow. I don’t know if I can handle it. I’ve grown up with magic my entire life.” Twilight slowly walked over to one of the giant bookshelves.

“What…you think I haven’t been flying my whole life, Twi? Like I said before, I think we should count our blessings. At least we’re not…well, you know.”

~ Dead? ~ The unicorn shivered. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, Dash. No sense in moping about the past. What’s done is done…just gonna have to live with it.” Twilight attempted to look up at the horn.

“That’s the mare I know!” The pony reared. “Now, come on! Let’s start your research thing. Maybe I’ll learn something.” She lightly hit the unicorn’s shoulder.

Twilight gasped. “Rainbow wanting to study?! Next you’ll tell me you’re into fashion.”

The pegasus rolled her eyes and shoved the mare. “Don’t push your luck, Twi. I’m doing this for you, because I know it means that much to you.”

Twilight’s eyes softened. “Aw…that’s so sweet.” The unicorn leaned her head toward the pegasus.

“Hey!” Dash planted a hoof on the unicorn’s nose and lightly pushed her away. “I said don’t push your luck with me. You’ll never know when I’ll sprout new wings and jet out of here like that!” She snapped her tail and removed her hoof. “So consider yourself lucky!”

Twilight wrinkled her nose for a moment, and then sneezed. A moment of silence, then the two mares chuckled. “All right, Rainbow. I get it. Thank you. So let’s start with something simple.” She looks up the giant shelf to a book on the very top. “Unfortunately…”

Dash followed her gaze and her jaw dropped slightly, “Great…”

*****

That’s at least 25 hooves high… Twilight shivered.

“Well, Twilight. You’re in luck! Because you have the greatest flier in all of Equestria!” Rainbow bent down into a pouncing position. Twilight sat to the side confused at what Rainbow had in mind. The pegasus launched herself upward. “Rainbow!...” Crash! Twilight winced. The pony pounded into the ground face first, sending the pegasus into a daze. “Dash? Ugh…”

Twilight shook her head and chuckled. “What? Did you already forget, Rainbow? We’ll have to do things the way the earth ponies do them now.” The unicorn trotted over to a nearby ladder and gripped it with her teeth. Slowly and painfully she slid the ladder over to the appropriate place. “Ugh! See? Now we just gotta…” She followed the rungs of the ladder all the way up to the top…then gulped. “…climb…”

“Afraid of heights, Twilight?” The pegasus teased, which got Rainbow a scornful glare.

“Way more than I was before…especially after falling from your place.” Twilight sighed as her attention returned to the ladder. “Why don’t you do it then, brave and infallible?”

“I will! Easy! Watch!” The pony zipped up to the top of ladder in only a few seconds. “See, Twi?! As I saaa…” The pony found herself looking down. A bead of sweat trailed down her cheek. “Omigosh…” She whispered to herself as she wrapped her hooves around the ladder.

“You all right up there, Dash?” Even from this high, Rainbow could see the smug look on her face.

“I-I’m fine…where’s this stupid book you’re looking for?” The pony began scanning the shelves.

“The “stupid” book I’m looking for…is called Elementary Magic for Unicorns. It should be a blue book with a star pattern on it.” The pegasus looked carefully for the star pattern and spotted it pretty easily.

“Got it! Catch!” Dash pulled the book and let it fall. The unicorn blinked and leaned her head forward a bit as if she was about to use magic, but she caught herself and just let the book hit the floor. Boof! The pegasus giggled. “Nice one, Twi…”

“Aheheh…thankfully it’s just a book this time. I almost used magic again.” The thought immediately terrified Rainbow. That feeling of safety washing away again especially now that she was stuck on the top of a ladder.

“Almost?! I'd better not be hearing that!” The pony looked downward. “Oh…curse my wings…” The pegasus slowly made her way down the ladder.

After a moment, Dash felt the ground on her hooves and she immediately bent down to kiss the wooden flooring. “Oh, thank you thank you!” She glanced up at Twilight who was giving her a “what in the world” look. Rainbow snapped up and flushed, “Ahem…so what’s the book for?”

“I’m gonna try some magic…and see what happens.” The pegasus backed up in a flash.

“Woah! Hold on! Is that gonna be safe?! I thought you were gonna read about unicorns. Not blow the house up!” The cyan mare immediately acting hysterical.

Twilight rolled her eyes, “I’m not going to “blow the house up”. These spells take almost no magic to do.”

Dash’s eyes shifted from side to side. “I don’t know…maybe we should do it outside…you know, just to be safe?”

“You are so paranoid, Dash.” The pegasus eyed Twilight’s horn which began to glow. The unicorn was trying to open the book. Rainbow put her hooves over her head and hit the deck. She only halfway opened the book before a miniature bolt of lightning shot out of the unicorn’s horn and struck a chair next to Rainbow. The chair comically disintegrated and the pegasus shot upward and screamed.

Twilight became annoyed and looked up, “What’s with all the yelling?” She spotted the pile of ashes. “What happened?” She scanned the room to find the missing pegasus until she found her tucked in one of the shelves. “Dash?”

“Y-You did it again, Twi! I told you it was dangerous!” The pegasus genuinely terrified.

“Did what? I just opened the book. What’s with the pile of ashes?”

“Are you telling me you didn’t notice that? You just zapped that chair and turned it to dust!”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do that! …Did I?” A concerned look roused on the unicorn’s face as she examined the terrified pony.

I must have…she wouldn’t be acting this way. Am I….casting spells without realizing it? I didn’t even get upset that time…right? Is it just always this dangerous? The unicorn sighed and looked down at the open book. Maybe Rainbow’s right…

The pegasus let out a sigh of relief and slowly climbed out of the hole she was in.

I should take this outside. The pegasus froze.

“Well, then leave me out of it, Twilight. I like my mane the color it is now.” The unicorn frowned and sank.

Twilight again rolled her eyes. “Ugh…all right, Dash. I’ll be back in a bit. Tell Spike I’ll be gone around ten minutes. It shouldn’t take me that long.” The unicorn shut the book with a hoof and picked it up with her teeth.

“Okay, Twi. Just be careful, okay? I like the way you are now, and if come back a crispy pony, I wouldn’t be able to recognize ya!” This got a giggle out of the purple mare as she trotted towards the exit.

“Dr wrry Dsh. Ah beh fi!” The unicorn mumbled with the book in her mouth.

Dash tilted her head. “Uhh…what?” Twilight groaned and went outside through the big hole.

*****

Twilight had made her way about a hundred yards from the library to an open-area well away from things she could possibly destroy. She noticed it was late afternoon and sky was becoming a light shade of red.

What exactly happened at Dash’s? I fell…I screamed…and the rest…is blank. Obviously, Rainbow caught me. She told me that part. But how was she injured? Was it a close call and she somehow broke both her wings in a crash landing? She would have told me if she knew, right?

The unicorn found a good spot and dropped the book on the ground. She sat next to it and opened it with a hoof. She hadn’t done that in so long. There was something slightly rewarding about physically opening the book. She did it again three more times. She stared at the table of contents and sighed.

Why was Applejack there? Or more importantly…Celestia? Why hadn’t I asked these questions before? Well, they did leave in a hurry and I was paralyzed thanks to that stupid doctor. I should go visit Applejack and ask her. She turned a couple pages with her hoof. Rainbow…she was acting so differently…so normal actually. For a pegasus who has lost the ability to fly…and possibly permanently…she was acting like nothing had mattered. That she was going to trudge on regardless of what brings her down. That or she’s faking it.

“Ugh! Why am I so hard on Rainbow? She’s actually the better pony for moving past it. I’m stuck here wanting everything to go back to normal.” She looked down at the page she had turned to: simple levitation. Every unicorn could do this fairly early into their magic years. It may be one of the only spells that is universal among all unicorns. “Easy!” She tried to imitate Rainbow. She stood up straight and looked around with a determined attitude.

She spotted a rock and she turned towards it. “I’m not gonna let a rock beat me.” She leaned her head forward slowly and closed her eyes. “Now rise…” Her horn glowed softly…crackle! “Eep!” That familiar shock hit her body and got her heart racing. She opened her eyes to see if the rock had moved. It was gone.

Twilight looked around for the thing and found it on her book. “How did you get there? Okay, I may need to keep my eyes open if I want to see if it works.” She leaned her head forward again. “Slowly…” As her horn glowed, the rock began to slowly rise up. She smiled in absolute glee. “Yes!” BANG! “Ahh!” She looked away as the rock suddenly exploded. Luckily none of the shrapnel hit her. “Oh no…it’s useless.” She lifted a hoof and examined it. “All of my magic has become destructive in some way. Even the slightest thing like lifting a rock makes things explode?” Realization hit her. “I really had almost hit Rainbow with a spell.”

I can imagine how she feels. Being around a ticking time bomb isn’t exactly something anypony would be okay with. Her eyes welled up with tears. Maybe…maybe I should leave. Go somewhere I couldn’t hurt anypony. Live like Zecora out in the Everfree Forest. Forever alone…

She slammed her hoof down, “No! I’m gonna beat this thing! What’s next?” She turned the page: Minor object teleportation. Twilight located another rock and casted the spell…making the rock grow fifty times its size and crash onto the ground next to her. Failure.

Plant growth. Twilight fixed her horn on a small flower causing it to burst into flames. Failure.

Failure. Failure. Failure. Again, again, and again. Twilight tried, for what seemed like hours, every spell in the book.

Twilight let out a groan. Her body was twitching slightly from all of the shocks she was receiving each time. Her forehead burned and the landscape around her was tattered with all of her mishaps. “It’s…zttt! Hopeless…zZTT! Ahh!” She fell on her haunches. Her body wrenching involuntarily. She breathed in heavily through her nose as the shocks slowly stopped. She was getting used to the horn’s retaliations. The shocks didn’t really hurt, but sometimes made some of her muscles seize up.

This obviously isn’t healthy for me. All of my magic is either backfiring or amplifying dramatically. I need to find some way for my magic to focus. It’s just causing random effects centered somewhere around the original purpose of the spell. When I levitated the rock, the spell was amplified and it simply just tore the rock apart. The teleported rock was simply a boulder replacing it. It was all logical, but about halfway through casting the spell, it seems to lose its original power and purpose.

The unicorn sighed and closed her eyes. Zzzap!! “Ahhh!! Screw this!!” She angrily grabbed the book with her teeth and threw it as far as she could. She turned and ran back to the library in tears.

*****

Rainbow Dash looked at a clock hanging near the front door.

Ten minutes, Twi? It’s been about five hours. I wonder if she’s okay.

“Checkmate!” A snide dragon boasted. Dash turned her head to look at the board.

“What?! Not again! Where?! Show me!” She frantically scanned for all possible moves.

“Well, if you try to move your Celestia here, I’ll just take it with my pegasus. You also can’t move her here because…” Rainbow half-listened to the dragon explain his victory. A grin slowly crept up on the pegasus face as she sneaked a hoof under the board. “…you could move your Luna, but then my unicorn would easily…” Crash! Pieces flew everywhere as Dash flipped the board over. The dragon was shocked.

“Oops! Heheh. I guess no one wins! Sorry, about that…butterhooves and all.” She waved her hooves in front of him.

The dragon shot her a disappointed glare. “Sore loser.” The two hear some rustling from near the big hole, which Spike had the time to hang a large curtain or blanket to protect the inside from the elements. Twilight had returned. Just from the slow entrance, Rainbow could tell it didn’t turn out well.

Oh no…Twilight. Why do you do this to yourself?

“Twilight! You’re back! How’d it go?” Rainbow jumped up and galloped over to the mare. Twilight was gloomy. She just looked at the pegasus and sighed. “That bad?”

She shook her head. “No, not bad…horrible! I can’t use even the simplest spells!” She pounded the floor with a hoof. “It’s not…not…” A couple tears fell from her already swollen eyes.

“Hey! Hey…” Rainbow leapt up and embraced the pony around the neck. “Don’t worry about it, Twi. It’ll be fine. So what if you can’t use magic. You still have a lot of things that make you awesome!” The unicorn gave her a skeptical look.

“Yeah, Twilight! Like, no one can organize things like you can.” Spike jumped in.

“Nor is anypony as smart as you are…” Rainbow added.

“I’m positive nopony complains as much as you do.”

“You have pretty eyes…”

“Nopony can beat you at Word Jumbler.”

“You have those cool stripes in your mane and tail!”

Twilight waved her hooves, “Okay! Okay! Look, I appreciate your compliments. I just want to eat and go to bed. I’ll figure this entire thing out in the morning.” The unicorn began trotting away pathetically.

“Actually, Twi.” Rainbow put a hoof against Twilight. “We have something special for you.”

“Something…special?” She tilted her head.

The dragon stepped in. “Since you’ve been having such a bad day, we decided we’re gonna have you eat something great tonight! We want you choose what to eat from…” Spike pulls a book from the nearby table. “…this cookbook!”

“Top 100 recipes of Ponyville…” Twilight read the cover.

“Anything you want, Twilight! Spike said he can make anything in that book.”

Twilight wasn’t very enthusiastic, but she nodded. “All right, that sounds great.”

“Yes!” Rainbow hopped in joy. “Spike, give her the book so you can prep the kitchen.” The dragon gave a salute, tossed the book, and headed out.

Twilight sighed as the book was thrown in front of her. She knelt down and started flipping through the pages. Rainbow joined the unicorn and pressed up against her side so she could take a look at the book as well.

“I haven’t been hearing any of your thoughts lately, Twi. Have you got it under control already?” She whispered to her.

The unicorn didn’t look up to answer her question, “Uh…not really. I just resist thinking about talking by focusing on actions and keeping my mind busy. Has it been working?”

“Yeah, but I kinda miss it.” She threw a foreleg over the pony.

Twilight sighed and hit her hoof down on one of the dishes. “Sweet Apple Omelet, can you make that?” She glanced over at the busy dragon.

“Yeah, no problem! I just need you to read me the directions. Leave the cooking to me!”

“I thought you said you made all of these already!” She propped her chin up on a hoof.

“Well, I don’t have your memory, Twilight! Besides, we can make it faster if we work together!”

The unicorn groaned and gritted her teeth a bit, “Okay, fine! First the ingredients…” As the mare read from the book, Rainbow noticed something odd about her horn.

Is…is she using magic?

“You need 2 apples, 5 eggs, 3 tablespoons of…” The unicorn rambled due to exhaustion and frustration. Her horn was glowing as she spoke.

Twilight? What is that…coming out of your horn?

Spike found himself dumbfounded as things in the kitchen began flying around, organizing themselves quickly. “You got that?” As Twilight finished reading.

“Uhh…yeah?” Spike shrugged to the ponies.

“Okay, good. Well, first you’ll need to peel and core the apples, cut them into quarters…” The unicorn sped up her reading. In no way allowing Spike time to even react. But it didn’t matter as everything seemed to unfold by itself. Rainbow could see it now: three deep, dark purple ribbons were coming out of her horn and were glowing amethyst. Twilight wasn’t even aware of what she was doing. After a few moments of chaos, the unicorn finished reading. “All right, done. You got everything? Good. You two eat that, I’m gonna go make something that doesn’t take an hour to make.” The mare slammed the book and made her way towards the kitchen. The ribbons from her horn vanished in turn.

“Twilight, stop!!” Rainbow shouted and ran in front of her. “Didn’t you see what just happened?”

“What are you talking about?” The unicorn was getting fairly agitated.

“When you were reading these freaky things came out of your horn and everything in kitchen started cooking itself…like you were using magic to do it!”

“Dash! I know how much you want to cheer me up, but I just want to go to bed, okay? I’ve lost my appetite.” Twilight walked past her and headed for the stairs.

Rainbow clenched her teeth and jumped over the pony and halted her advanced once again. “Just listen to me, Twi!”

The unicorn slammed a hoof to the ground and flared her nostrils, “Dash! I’m getting really tired of your constant badgering!” Twilight shouted. Rainbow saw those same ribbons begin to emerge from the horn again.

Oh no…

“I just wish you would…” Twilight shut her eyes and gritted her teeth, feeling those shocks hitting her. “Buzz off!”

Rainbow felt a strange power circle around her for a second. She tried to step away but the magic seemed to bind her down. She struggled, but it was no use. All of her hair stood on end and her skin began to tingle. She gave one final frightened look at the pony. “Twilight?”

Zap!...She was gone.

Twilight opened her eyes and looked up. “What?!” The anger in her eyes faded almost immediately when she lost sight of the pegasus. She looked around curiously. “Wh…Where’d you go?”

“Twilight! What did you do?!”

“What do you mean what did I do? I didn’t…” As she looked over at Spike, her eyes caught something on the kitchen counter. She felt as if her eyes deceived her. The pony gave them a rub and then looked again.

Dash! What have I…? Her voice faded and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. She hit to the floor with a sickening thud.

Chapter 5 - The Laws That Bind

Act 1

Chapter 5 – The Laws That Bind

*****

Truth can be alluring and repulsive. Either one can sometimes be too much to handle.

*****

Zap! Rainbow reappeared inside her cloud house. Her coat, mane, and tail were singed. It took her a moment to fully recollect herself. She comically fell onto her side and began breathing erratically.

Am I alive? She looked around her house. She…teleported me home. Did she…do that on purpose?

The pony climbed to her hooves and shook her mane in tail a little. She took a glance around her home. “Huh...Look like nothing’s changed since Twilight fell. Not like any place in Ponyville gets robbed.” Rainbow noticed the busted front door. “Gonna have to get that replaced.” She briefly looked outside, and then slowly made her way over to the couch. “Ugh…I’m too tired to think about what just happened…”

Though I’m thinking about it anyway. She can use magic! She’s found some kind of solution to it…though it’s still seems uncl…

She tripped on something. “Woah! Oh…you…” She put a hoof on the Mazes and Manticores box. “Heh…It’s funny she actually wanted to play this…though she would just probably bore me to sleep with exposition.”

Rainbow’s ears twitched. Imagine if I hadn’t told her…if I didn’t agree to let her come over. If I had just left without a word…if I hadn’t visited her that night. Rainbow shut her eyes for a moment, and then opened them to take a look at her wings still in casts. I miss flying…even though it’s only been a few days. It’s felt like months. I still can’t believe it…

“I told Twilight I was past it. I told her I would move on...that dwelling on “what if” was just a waste of time.” She pushed the game box away and dragged herself over to the couch to which she delicately plunked on.

I shouldn’t have let her go out there alone…I should have been brave and went with her. She probably needed me more than ever…even if I was in danger. It’s not like danger and I are far apart anyway. Can’t believe I was such a coward…

Rainbow turned onto her belly and dug her nose under the one pillow on the couch.

She was completely stressed out and her eyes were red. I couldn’t imagine how frustrated she was. She hummed into the cushion and smiled. I remember being so impressed when she subdued that Ursa Minor. It was…actually the first time she looked so…awesome.

She giggled and pulled her head out, and then laid it on top of the pillow. She let out a big sigh into it. “Twi…I just wish I could have told you…that I really would have preferred to stay in Ponyville. If it wasn’t for that one thing…” The pegasus closed her eyes. She felt for a moment that she would drift to sleep, but then her curiosity came rushing back.

Why was she snooping in my closet anyway? Dash slid off the couch and made her way over to the closet. She saw, with all the other junk packed in there, the dress that she had worn to the Grand Galloping Gala. Memories of that event flashed through her mind.

Ha! How embarrassing all of that was. I didn’t get to see Twilight that often during that, but her dress was pretty wicked. Aw, jeez…is that all I can think of now?

She shut her closet gently. “Twilight Twilight Twilight. Ugh!” She pulled down on her eyelids and they snapped back. “You’re such a cancer to the mind! Great…now I’m using words she would use…what would I say? A…bug? Yeah…A really annoying one!”

Twi…I hope you’re all right. Even if you teleport me to the moon, I want to be by you again. When I’m around you…everything just seems right. When I’m alone…

It hit her. She was so deep into her thoughts that she was completely oblivious to the situation she was in. It was partly from exhaustion, but eventually the pegasus realized something terrifying.

I’m home…home and with busted wings! I’m…stuck here! A wave of panic hit her as she darted towards and out the front door. Dash continued running as her natural instincts hit her, she tried extending her wings but they wouldn’t budge.

DASH! What are you doing?!

Rainbow caught herself moments before jumping off the edge. “You have no wings, you idiot!” She breathed heavily and her heart pounded. “Dammit!” She pounded on the cloud.

How do I keep forgetting it?! I’ve accepted it! She wriggled and struggled to get her wings free. But I just…want to fly! Why won’t you let me?! She hit the cloud one more time.

“Rrrraaaahhh!!! Twilight!! Anypony!! Help me!!” Her voice echoed into the night. Her chest heaved from the screams. She stepped closer to the edge and looked over. She could see the ground in the moonlight. The long drop made her dizzy and she fumbled backwards.

“I hate this…this is so uncool! No wings! Stuck in a floating house! Separated from the pony I care about!” Dash stared into the night for a moment or two. She gradually fell over on her side and sank slightly into the cloud beneath her. The moisture from the white puff was soothing on her coat. Her face was already wet from crying. “It…it really happened, didn’t it? The whole thing…it’s not just something I can ignore anymore. Rainbow Dash…the flightless bird. A grounded pony…forever.” She dug her face into the cloud and let out a bunch of muffled cries. She pounded on the cloud a couple more times.

Her head surfaced and she stared at her wings for a moment, and then she popped onto her hooves and walked inside. She went upstairs to the kitchen and swiftly jumped onto the counter. She found what she was looking for…a knife. She stared at the set for a couple seconds then took the sharpest one of the bunch in her mouth and pulled it out.

She made her way into her shower and turned the water on. The knife was still in her mouth.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

The hot water began pouring on her at full blast. She knew it was too hot, but it didn’t matter to her. Whatever it took to get those casts wet. She was soaked in a couple of seconds. She stood completely still with the knife still gripped tightly in her mouth.

They wouldn’t do it…would they?…I told Twilight…that I agreed to it…

“As if…” She closed her eyes and slid her right hoof back and forth on the tiling.

Truth is…I don’t know what they did. Pinioned was what I said…it was what I thought out of my hysteria. They just told me I couldn’t fly anymore…that it would have been painful if they had left them the way they were. I blocked out everything…but now…I remember it…

*****

“…Dash?” The pegasus groaned as she awakened. “Rainbow Dash, can you hear me?” Her vision slowly came into focus…white everywhere.

“Twilight? Is that you?” She mumbled out.

“No, but your friend is fine. How are you feeling? Any pain?”

Pain? No...

“No…but I feel weird…did something happen?” She leaned up slowly, but something pushed her back down.

“Woah, Rainbow. I need to stay still. You’ve been through a serious accident, and it isn’t safe to move around just yet. You’ve just been through some surgery.” This got her attention.

“Surgery?! What surgery?” She shot up again, but was immediately pushed down by a stronger force. “No! What’d you do to me?!”

“Dash, calm down, you stubborn pigeon!” An orange face came into view. A wave of relief hit Rainbow just from seeing a friend.

“Applejack! Oh, am I glad to see you! Tell them! Tell them I’m fine! Nothing Rainbow Dash can’t handle with a few days of rest.” Applejack didn’t answer. “I’m…I’m fine, right?” The mare sighed as Rainbow sat up.

“Ya took a mighty big plunge, Dash. Yer lucky to be alive. It’s just…” She trailed off.

Rainbow couldn’t take the suspense, “Just what? Tell me already!” The orange mare became annoyed.

“You lost yer wings, Dash!” The country pony could see the pegasus’s eyes slowly widen. “You busted them up real good in that fall…at least, that’s what Ah assume happened out there below your house.” Dash didn’t answer. “Ah heard your sonic whatchamathingy all the way from Apple Orchards. It was a big one…not like the one ya did in that competition up in Cloudsdale.” Rainbow was still shocked. “Well, talk to me, ya blue bird!”

The pegasus swallowed and seemed to collect herself. She spoke in a low, calm voice. “Uh…yeah yeah…sure, Applejack. I…a big one, huh? How big?”

“Well, if Ah could see it, Dash…it had to be pretty darn big.” She tried to smile at Rainbow.

Dash let out a fake giggle, “Awesome. Real awesome.” She put on a fake smile, she wasn’t even looking at Applejack. “And Twilight? You said…she was okay?”

“Yes, Rainbow. She’s out right now. It looks like whatever ya did…” Applejack looked off to the side to find a way to finish that sentence. “…y-ya did good, Dash. Real good.”

Dash’s right eye twitched, “Ha…of course. Look at…who you’re talking to.” She looked at Applejack which made the mare blink and move back slightly. “My wings…they’re fine, right? Just battered a bit? A broken bone or two?”

“Y-yeah. No problem at all. Let’s just say yer pinioned…all right? You know what that means?”

“No. What does it mean?”

“It…it means yer fine, Dash.” The mare sighed. “Look, Ah’ll check up on Twilight, okay? Just try to relax and uh…okay, bye.” The mare left quickly.

Rainbow fell back against the pillow. A couple of tears fell from the corners of her eyes. “Rainbow, I’ll let you rest.” An orange stallion began talking to her. “Just try not to move. Don’t want you hurting yourself further, all right?” The pegasus nodded. The doctor exited quickly and Rainbow was alone.

Her bottled emotions suddenly shot up like a rocket into a neat ball in her throat. She pulled at the covers and she squeezed her eyes shut.

She knew everypony in Ponyville heard that scream.

*****

Rainbow gave a jaded stare at the tiling beneath her. “She lied…” Her voice was muffled by the knife.

She tried to break it softly to me…but being that stupid element that she was…she couldn’t help but be blunt. It was shortly after that they returned and told me that they really did it. I still didn’t believe them…I didn’t want to believe them.

“And now…” She slowly stepped out of the shower dripping wet. “…we’ll find out.” She sat on her haunches and tried to stretch out her left wing as far as possible. She bent her head as far as she could to get a good angle, then placed the knife on the cast. It was a challenge, but nothing Dash couldn’t handle.

Ugh…stupid knife isn’t long enough.

She picked a serrated one to make it slightly easier, but the strain was hitting her neck hard. She took constant breaks to loosen her neck muscles. She was getting deep into the cast with the knife when… “Ah!!” The knife fell on the floor as did droplets of blood. “Stupid! Stupid!” She banged on her head with her hooves. She let out a frustrated sigh and picked up the blade again.

About an hour into it, she finally managed to slice open the cast. She wriggled and pushed to get it off when finally her wing was free. She ran over to the bathroom mirror and looked. She groaned, “Stupid mirror’s fogged up.” She put a hoof on the mirror and wiped it down as best she could.

She slowly saw it come into view…and she fell backwards. “No…nonono! It’s not real…it’s not real! I don’t know if I can handle this! I don’t know!” She bit her hooves and didn’t even try to look at her wing. She slowly mustered up the courage once more and went to the mirror. “Ahem…I’m ready…” The fog had mostly cleared and she could see it clear as day.

The wing was basically halved…all of her feathers were gone. Only bone, muscle, and flesh were left. It was a pink, deranged mess of a wing. The cut and blood running from it didn’t make it any more appealing. She again felt that ball in her throat and tears streamed down her cheeks. She swallowed. “No…It is…It’s as real as it can get…No…It’s worse!” She took a deep breath, and then turned around to buck the mirror, shattering it everywhere.

Everything I ever dreamed… She stumbled over to the shower and fell into it. She turned the hot water back on and then her eyes locked onto the knife. She crawled over to it and took it into her mouth again. …taken away by a stupid mare…

Another hour, she managed to get the other cast off, but this time without cutting herself. She threw the knife aside and walked over to a shard of glass. She could barely see her full reflection in it. She stretched and extended her ‘wings’ out. The right one had been cut shorter it looked like.

“It’s hideous…” Rainbow’s eyes were dried out and she was talking in that calm voice once more. “Heh…disgusting.” She pushed the shard away and exited the bathroom.

*****

Dash found herself on the couch again. She lay inward facing the couch. Rainbow stared intently at the fabric that made it up, studying every thread and counting them.

So many things to make up one big thing…what’s one less gonna do?

She fumbled off the couch and landed hard on her hooves. She was extremely tired and weak, but she suddenly bucked up and took a deep breath. Her eyes fixed on the door. Outside it was early morning.

“The world is one pony less awesome without Rainbow Dash!” She stomped the ground. “Junior Speedsters are our lives, sky-bound soars and daring dives.” She knelt down and extended her wings. “Junior Speedsters…” She tightened her whole body. “…it's our quest…” A moment of silence as she hesitates. “I’m coming, Twilight!” She bursts into full gallop towards the front door. She mumbled slowly to herself, “To someday be the very…best…”

She hit the very end of the cloud. Her heart jumped practically into her skull. All of the motions seemed to slow down for her. She bent her forelegs and her head downward. She extended her wings upward fully. She pushed as hard as she could and jumped. She twirled a soft 180 and dived straight towards the ground.

If Twilight could beat it…so can I!

She flapped her ‘wings’ hard. They were stiff and, of course, weren’t catching any wind. She did everything the same regardless. When she felt it was time to pull up, she extended her wings slowly lent upward.

Moment of truth…

~ I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat! You should see the look on your face! ~

~ What do I do? Everypony is gonna see me fail! The Wonderbolts will never let a loser like me join! Princess Celestia will probably banish me to the Everfree Forest! MY LIFE IS RUINED! ~

~ Danger's my middle name. Rainbow "Danger" Dash. Thinking back on it, I acted pretty awesomely heroic that day. ~

Rainbow closed her eyes and a sudden force hits her.

~ Oh, thanks Twilight. I'm sorry I made such a big deal about all of this. I thought reading was just for smart ponies like you. Yeah, I get it. I shouldn't knock something until I've tried it. ~

…

Rainbow opens her eyes and she gasps. She smiles. “I’m…I’m flying!” She looks at the ground below her as it zooms past. “I’m flying?” She takes a look at her wings. Those pink ugly things were still there, but there was some sort of translucent blue outlining of all the parts that were missing. “Impossible…” She stops and hovers to look at them more, but then she hears a scream. She looks in the direction it came from.

Twilight?

*****

Rainbow landed near the fallen pony. She was twitching constantly and sparks were shooting out of her horn. “Twi?” She put a hoof on the pony but was instantly electrocuted by something, causing Dash to fall backward.

“D…D…D-Did it w-w-work? R-Rainbow?” Twilight began to speak, her voice stuttering from the shocks. Rainbow got back on her hooves.

“You did this, Twilight?" She looked at her wings again. " Yeah! It…it did more than just work! You’ve…” They glittered and shone brightly in the rising sun. “You’ve given me my wings back…” She dived to the unicorn and embraced her tightly. She felt the shocks, but she was more determined to thank her friend.

After a minute, the shocks faded and the two ponies were lying there quietly. Rainbow turned the unicorn over so she could see her face. “Twi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine…just tired. I’ve been up all night.” She spoke very softly and didn’t even open her eyes.

“Hold on, Twi. I’m gonna take up to my house.”

“I kinda like it here actually…”

“You’re being stupid, egghead. Come on!” She wrapped her hooves around the unicorn and flapped her wings as hard as she could. It was surprisingly easy as her wings felt much stronger than ever before.

Once inside, she placed the pony down on the couch and Rainbow landed on the ground next to her. She still couldn’t believe it…Twilight had saved her.

How did she even know I was here? How did she know what I was going to do…It’s all…

~ Impossible? I thought impossible was no more than a one-hoof hurdle to you, Rainbow Dash…the best flyer in all of Equestria. ~ Twilight smiled at her.

The pegasus jumped up and hugged the mare around the neck…placing a kiss on the unicorn’s cheek.

Chapter 6 - A Date With Destiny

Act 1

Chapter 6 – A Date With Destiny

*****

Life has its ways of coming full circle. You just have to know what to do when the opportunity presents itself.

*****

“Twilight Sparkle!” Her head shot up as a blue unicorn called her name. Her cheeks flushed as she felt a hundred eyes staring at her.

“Y-Yes, Professor?” She nervously shuffled the papers on her desk. Many of the papers had different constellations and planets on them.

“You may be the Princess’s personal protégé, Twilight, but while you’re in here, you follow my rules. No sleeping in class.”

“Yes, Professor…” She hung her head and yawned. Twilight might have been studying for too long last night.

“Now, you all know that the constellation of Orion is composed of seven main stars and…”

“Psst! Twi!” The unicorn heard a voice to her left. She resisted the temptation to respond. “Psst!” Her ear twitched.

“What?” Twilight whispered as she turned her head. From what she saw next, the world seemed to pull inward. “R-Rainbow?”

“Am I alive?” Dash was younger, a mere filly.

Twilight furrowed her brow. “Of course you are. W-Why wouldn’t you be?” She chuckled nervously.

“I want to be by you again. When I’m around you…everything just seems right. When I’m alone…”

“Alone? Why would you be alone?” Twilight reached for the filly. She felt the world tilt out of balance, and Rainbow melted away.

*****

“Waaahh!” The unicorn shrieked as she fell out of her bed. “Oww…” She put a hoof on her head.

“Twilight, are you okay?” A familiar purple dragon attended to the mare. Twilight climbed to her hooves and shook her head of her daze.

“I think so. My head’s thumping, but nothing new.”

“You were talking in your sleep.” The dragon had brought her something to drink.

“Was I? Ugh! I’ve become an absolute weirdo the past few days!” She sighed and turned her head towards the drink he was carrying. “What’s that?”

“Oh, this?! I-It’s tea that’s all. Hey, you know, Twi. You said Rainbow’s name while you were sleeping.”

Twilight gasped and scared Spike, causing him to drop it. How could she have forgotten? “Where’s Rainbow?! What happened to her? I can barely remember anything!” She began pacing.

Spike groaned and pulled out a washcloth from seemingly nowhere. “You’ve been out for a couple hours. You need to relax, Twi. We’ll find Rainbow tomorrow.”

“But I don’t know if she’s okay!” She gave a concerned look at the lizard. Spike rolled his eyes.

“Trust me. I think she’s safer as long as you’re not around her.” The blunt remark stabbed at the unicorn. She looked at the floor.

“You…You don’t mean that.” The dragon came into her line of sight and he put a claw on her right hoof.

“You know your broken horn seems to be causing a lot of trouble. From what Rainbow told me…she was frightened to death of your magic. That’s why she didn’t go with you.”

Twilight squeezed her eyes shut in guilt, and then she changed her gaze to the window. It was pitch black outside. A moment or two later she spoke, “So she really was afraid…”

“She had every right to be! You got angry with her when she was just trying to help out! And now she could be anywhere thanks to you!” Twilight’s heart tugged from each word. She felt horrible. “Rainbow also thought that you should stop trying to fix everything and just enjoy being an earth pony for a while. What you’re doing isn’t helping either of you, you know?”

Twilight couldn’t believe she was being coached by Spike of all things. She sighed and gave in, “You’re right, Spike. I have been pushing my luck. It’s not fair to Dash.”

“Thank you. There, you see? Now go and get some re…”

“I’m gonna find her and apologize for everything!” The pony trotted away.

“W-Wait, Twilight! Where are you going? You don’t even know where she is!” The thought hadn’t seemed to occur to Twilight. She stopped in her tracks and sat down. She put a hoof to her chin.

He’s right…I’ve got no leads. Rainbow…why do I feel that you’re in some kind of danger?

“So you can talk with your mind. Rainbow told me about this.” The unicorn shot him a curious look.

“How much did she tell you anyway?”

“Pretty much everything she could. It’s like she really wanted to vent. You know she has some kind of fascination with…”

“Spike! I need to know where she is! I don’t think she’s safe right now!”

~ When I’m alone… ~ Dash’s words from that dream entered her mind again.

“You don’t think she’s safe? What makes you think that?” The dragon argued.

“I-I don’t know! Call it a mean hunch.”

“Well, I have no idea! Like I said, she could be anywhere!” Spike looked around briefly. “We could gather everyone and search for her!”

“At this hour? We’d be lucky to get anyone out of bed.” Just the mentioning of a bed caught her eyelids and made them fall slightly. She was still exhausted. Even the few hours of sleep didn’t help. She shook her head and sighed, “We have to look ourselves. I…I don’t want to leave her alone for too long.”

“It will take days for us to scour Ponyville with just us two. We’d have a better chance of finding an Ursa Minor!”

Suddenly, something seemed to hit Twilight right in the middle of her forehead.

~ I remember being so impressed when she subdued that Ursa Minor. It was…actually the first time she looked so…awesome. ~

“Ahh!” Her horn sparked and shocked her. The unicorn fell to her knees and her eyes cringed.

“Twilight?! Are you okay?!” The dragon rushed over to her and put a claw on her cheek, which immediately shocked Spike. “Ow! Woah!”

Did you hear that, Spike? It…It sounded like Rainbow.

“Stop using magic, Twilight! You’re hurting yourself!”

It doesn’t hurt…it… Another shock to her forehead. “Aahh!”

~ I’m home…home and with busted wings! I’m…stuck here! ~

Twilight gasped and painfully stood up, “Stay here, Spike! I may have...just figured out where she is.” The unicorn gathered her strength and bolted for the front door.

“Wait! O-Okay?” The door slammed. The dragon groaned again as he went to go clean up his mess. “I’ll never understand that pony.”

*****

She’s at home! Of course she is! I teleported her there! It’s all making sense! She wasn’t lying to me!

Twilight was galloping at full speed towards Rainbow’s house. It was far, but she knew she had to get there no matter what.

She told me that I was doing magic…while I was reading from that cookbook. My mind was fixed on irritating Spike, while my horn was doing what I ‘asked’ it to do. It’s not even making that much sense to me, but my horn is obviously acting on my emotions. The telepathy…my desire to speak my mind…the bookcase blowing up…my desire simply being the absence of a bookcase…teleporting Rainbow home…that one second of desire to be alone...and now I think I can hear her thoughts…because…well, everyone wants to know what she’s thinking.

She bit her lip. “It still doesn’t explain everything! If it worked on what I desired…then why won’t it…” She stopped fully and looked around. The sun was rising. She looked straight up…Rainbow’s house.

How did I…

“Whatever!” She pounded the grass with a hoof. “Rainbow! Are you there?!” Twilight gasped suddenly as a blue figure leapt from the house…twirled…and dived straight down. “No!”

What do I do? What do I DO?

She flared her horn and tried to catch Rainbow with a levitation spell. Crack! “Ahh!! No! I can’t use magic! I have to feel it! That sounds so stupid, but it’s my only chance!” She panicked regardless…her brain was scrambled and her teeth were clenched.

Okay! Calm down! Just think… She breathed in heavily. “Rainbow! You stupid mare! I…wish you didn’t…break your wings in the first place so you could just leave me alone!” Her heart cringed as she lied through her teeth. “Ahh!!” Her horn shocked her again. She fell to her knees and spasmed for a moment. This time it felt more severe…they were getting worse?

Rainbow was literally seconds from hitting the ground and nothing had happened. Twilight shut her eyes and covered her head, jerking back and forth slightly from her broken assailant.

Dash…I want you here with me…I don’t want to be alone with this stupid thing!

Twilight let out a blood-curdling scream as a huge jolt of electricity surged through every part of her body. Her horn glowed and the familiar ribbons shot out towards Rainbow, encircling her. The unicorn’s eyes flashed open and shone a bright white. However, her eyes quickly went back to normal and the mare slowly crashed onto her side.

*****

“Mm…” Twilight was slowly awakening and she could feel something warm wrapped around her. Something tickled her nose. “Huh…?” She blew it away, which resulted in somepony giggling. This got her eyes open. Two magenta eyes, half-opened, were staring straight at her.

“Morning, sleepyhead. You know you really do sleep forever.” Rainbow and Twilight were both lying on the pegasus’s bed. Dash had the unicorn in a tight embrace with the covers over them.

“Waaah!” The unicorn let a surprised yelp. She pushed her away and nearly fumbled off bed.

Rainbow quickly grabbed her and pulled her back. “Hey, cool it, Twi! I don’t want you falling again. That would be so uncool to have to save you again.” The unicorn eyes met with Rainbow’s.

Twilight’s heart jumped as she realized something. “May I ask how we got up here in your house, Dash?”

Rainbow smiled. “Don’t you remember?” The pegasus left the embrace with Twilight, that soothing warmth leaving the unicorn almost immediately. Dash stood on the bed and extended her magnificent set of translucent wings.

The unicorn couldn’t believe her eyes so she gave them a rub. “They’re not real…are they?”

“As real as the pony standing right in front of you! Aren’t they awesome?!” Rainbow grinned widely and flew into the air, soaring around the small room. “You gave them to me, Twi!”

Rainbow left her trademark rainbow trail as she flew around, but now there was also soft blue trail left by her new wings. “They’re…beautiful, Dash.” She smiled, but then frowned as several realizations hit her. “Dash why was I lying in bed with you?” She stood up on the bed.

Rainbow flushed and hovered in place. She looked at a nearby wall, “Well, you were really conked out so I carried you up here, but then I was afraid you’d fall again so I didn’t want to leave you alone…” She nervously rubbed her front hooves together. “Nothing happened, Twi!”

Twilight was already forgetting about it as something else bothered her, “Dash! Why did you do it?!”

The pegasus landed next to her. “Do what?”

“You jumped off your house with no wings! You could have…died! If I wasn’t there to save you…I…” Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

“Hey! I’m sorry! Really! I didn’t know what I was thinking! I just wanted to fly so badly!” She sat and crossed her arms.

“You knew you couldn’t, you stupid pegasus!” The unicorn stomped on the bed. “You know, if I hadn’t heard your thoughts, I don’t think I would have made it here on time to save you!”

“Heard…my thoughts? What are you talking about?” Rainbow tilted her head.

“I’m not even sure myself, but I think I could hear you thinking about being stuck at home…it’s how I knew to come here.” She looked to the side and sighed. “I guess it doesn’t matter.” She ran up and embraced the pony. “I’m just glad you’re okay…even if you are a bit stubborn.”

Rainbow snorted. “Me? Stubborn? Look who’s talking!” Rainbow grappled the unicorn and flipped her onto her back, pinning her to the bed. “You tried to practice magic even though you knew it would backfire! By your logic, you’re just as guilty as I am!” The pegasus was yelling right into her face.

The unicorn was shocked. Her aggressive behavior was uncanny. “I-I-I know! I shouldn’t have tried…I just couldn’t accept it…I couldn’t accept it like you…I’m not as strong as you, Dash!” Twilight began sobbing.

Rainbow stared into that unicorn’s eyes for what seemed like minutes. Dash sighed as she calmed down. “I’m not that strong…I couldn’t accept it either. I was just saying I did…I didn’t want you to think I was...pathetic…” The pegasus looked away as her lips quivered.

“Dash?” The pegasus looked back. “You’re such a stubborn, stupid pegasus.”

Rainbow gritted her teeth and leaned her head closer. “Well, you’re such a boring, selfish know-it-all.” Dash grinned. They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Twilight blushed and shuffled a bit under the mare. “So? At least I’m not a…”

Rainbow kissed her mid-sentence. It had all been sudden and the pent up rage between the two ponies melted away as they did in each other’s embrace.

Twilight at first couldn’t fully grasp what was happening. It felt very right to her, but slowly it felt very wrong. About a few seconds into it, the unicorn pushed Rainbow away. “Stop! I can’t do this! We can’t do this!”

Rainbow was breathing heavily. Twilight could see the longing in her eyes. “You..you sure? Because if I recall…you kissed back.” She chuckled and put a hoof on the unicorn’s chest. Twilight looked as if she was about to say something. “Even still, Twi…I owed you that…I owe you everything that I have. Not once have you ever let me down.”

“But, I started all of this…I denied you your chance to attend flight school…I denied you your apology….I basically took away your wings!” She paused. “Now, I denied you this…how can I be even worth it?"

“But you gave me wings! You gave me so much more than you ever took away!” Dash stared at her for a moment, and then sighed. “But you’re right…we shouldn’t do this…” Rainbow removed her hoof and crawled off of her. “It’s wrong in every way, right?” She sat down with her back to her. She hung her head, but she was hiding a grin. “I really am stupid…”

Twilight jumped up and moved in beside the pegasus. She placed a small one on the mare’s cheek. “You might be…but you’re also damn irresistible.” The pegasus could only briefly smile before she found herself on her back being embraced by the unicorn with their lips locked.

*****

Rainbow woke up first. It had gone well into early morning when they fell asleep again. Dash stroked the unicorn’s mane, which got an amusing grunt out of her. The pegasus nipped at the mare’s ear next, which made her shuffle and the ear twitch. She leaned closer to Twilight’s left ear and whispered into it. “I want to go to flight school.”

“What?!” A muffled, deadpan voice vibrated against her chest. Twilight pulled back and looked at the mare. “After all this, you still want to try to get into the Wonderbolts?”

“It’s…it’s my dream, Twi.” She smiled at the unicorn and ran a hoof through Twilight’s mane.

Those drowsy purple eyes stared at her for a few seconds, “Okay.” She buried her face into the mare’s chest. “Whatever you want, Rainbow. I know you won’t change your mind so I’m not going to get in your way again.”

“Really?! Oh, I’m so glad! For some reason, I really thought you were going to stop me. I wanna pack right away!” She squirmed her way out of the unicorn’s grasp and started darting around the room.

Twilight giggled and slowly sat up.

I can’t believe this pegasus…she really is unstoppable…infallible if you will. Oh! She had still forgotten that Dash could hear her, but oddly enough she didn’t respond. Wait…Dash, can you hear me? The pegasus continued to zip around, gathering things in a couple suitcases. The telepathy…it stopped? She sighed.

“You know, Dash. I’ll never understand my horn. It just does whatever it wants.” Twilight sneered.

Rainbow stopped and flew over to her. “Why? What’s it doing now?”

“Well, not really ‘what’ it’s doing more than what it ‘isn’t’ doing. You can’t hear my thoughts anymore can you?” She rubbed her forehead.

“Now that you mention it, it has been a while. Maybe when you zapped me and gave me wings you wore it out or something.” The mare held out her arms.

“Maybe?” Rainbow shrugged and the unicorn smiled. “Well, at least I have some privacy now. It’s been trying to say the least.”

The pegasus tilted her head, “Trying what, Twi?”

This caught the unicorn off-guard. “Trying…I mean…oh, never mind!” She laughed and the pegasus had a confused smile on her face.

“You’re so weird sometimes.” The pegasus went back to packing.

Twilight grinned wide. Eeee! I’m so glad I can think again without somepony interrupting me every five…

Rainbow flew in and kissed her again, and then quickly broke away to continue packing.

The unicorn blinked and let out a happy sigh. Well, I guess it isn’t all that bad sometimes. You’re such a fleeting thing, aren’t you, Dash? So finally it feels like things have settled. I’ve come to accept and somewhat understand my horn, Dash has her wings back, and now she’s going to go fulfill her dream as the greatest flyer in Equestria. She blushed. Oh, right…and I guess we’re sorta together now. It’s so odd how it didn’t repulse me as much as it did.

“Twi! Do you think I need my ball?” She held out a small red ball with a couple white stars on it. “I think I need my ball. Studying is gonna be sooo boring!” She continued.

I’ll admit at first I didn’t feel a thing for her…or…did I? It’s just so…odd! What would the others think?! It’s not common for this sort of thing to happen! Twilight let out an exasperated sighed, which caught the eye of the pegasus.

“Is something wrong, egghead? I can just see on your face that you’re worried about me. Well, don’t be! It’s Rainbow Dash you’re worrying about! Nothing can stop me!” She did a few mid-air back flips and then extended all of her legs outward.

The unicorn giggled. “Of course, how silly of me to doubt you.”

Rainbow sat next to her. “Well, I think I’m done packing most of my things.” She waved her hoof towards the three bulging suitcases. “Just some necessities.”

Twilight moved closer and brushed up against the mare. “That’s great, Dash. Hey, do you mind if you take me to the library? I need to pack a few things as well.” The pegasus unexpectedly moved away at hearing this.

“Woah! Woah! You’re coming with me?!” Rainbow raised a brow and pointed at the mare.

“Well, yeah! Why wouldn’t I?” Twilight raised her brow as well.

“How about being unable to walk on clouds for one! Plus even if you could…what would you do there?”

The unicorn drew circles in the covers. “Well…I can help you study! I can also be your personal cheerleader!” She threw her hooves into the air.

“Yeah, but you’re forgetting one thing, Twi! You can’t use magic…you can’t cast your cloud-walking spell.”

“Well, I gave you wings, didn’t I? I bet if I just tried…”

“Do we really want to go through this again?! You fell through clouds even when your horn wasn’t broken.”

Twilight was beginning to get upset. “I just…don’t want to be alone again…I don’t want YOU to be alone again!” She lunged at the mare and hugged her. The pegasus slowly returned the hug.

“Twi…I know how much you want to go…but I just don’t think it will be safe…for either of us.” The unicorn’s anger grew.

She separated from the mare. “So…all of those feelings you spilled to me. All of those kisses…were just one final insult to me before you bail on me?!”

“N-No!! I really meant it! I hadn’t even considered pursuing my dream again until I just woke up! Look! I really do…like you, Twilight! I just want to do this one thing…this one thing and then it’s nothing but you!” The pegasus nudged her head under the unicorn’s chin.

She really means it…but so do I, Dash. Like I said…I don’t want to be alone with this stupid thing on my head. I don’t know if I can deal with it. I guess I’m going to have to play hard-ball…I’m gonna hate this…

“Okay, Dash. I get it. I understand.” She pulled the mare’s head to her neck and breathed in the scent of Rainbow’s mane. Twilight separated from her and sighed.

Rainbow smiled. “Thank you. I know it’s hard, but I really need to do this. I know you can wait for me. I know you’re stronger than you think you are.”

“No, I’m not…that’s why I have to do this.” Twilight’s horn glowed and in an instant…Dash’s wings vanished.

Rainbow gasped and looked at her once again ugly wings. “You…You didn’t!! Twilight!!” Tears immediately formed in her eyes. “Give them back!!”

“Not until you let me come with you. Look, if I can give you wings…I can easily take them back. I can use magic, Dash. You just have no faith in me.”

“I have all the faith…in the world!” Tears fell from her eyes as her whole body tensed up. “Okay!! Okay! Okay…you can go…just please give me back my wings! You don’t know what it’s like!”

“Oh…I have a vague idea.” She smiled and almost instantly returned the wings without any repercussions from her horn. “Wow…I can use magic better than I thought. See? No problem!”

Dash spread her wings and took them into her hooves, kissing them. “Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!!” The unicorn cleared her throat and the pegasus looked at her bashfully.

“All right. You win…but you’d better not cramp my style. Or I’ll just let you fall next time!” She put a hoof on the mare’s nose.

Twilight giggled and kissed it. “I promise.”

“Pinkie Pie promise?!” She pounded her hoof on the bed.

The unicorn sighed, “Cross my heart and hope to fly…stick a cupcake in my eye.” She put a hoof to her left eye. The pegasus giggled.

“Didn’t think you’d actually do it, but all right! I’ll take you to the library. Hop on!” She turned to her side and knelt down.

Twilight cautiously climbed onto the mare’s back and wrapped her hooves around her neck.

“Holding tight? Great!” She took off in a flash out of the nearby window. Twilight’s grip got a lot tighter and started to choke the mare. “Gack! Not so tight!”

“Not so fast! Slow down, will ya?” The pegasus did as she was told as did Twilight. “Just stay at a decent…relaxing speed, please?”

“Aw, you’re no fun.” A few moments passed, the pegasus was having no trouble keeping the mare afloat. The pegasus tried to look behind her. “Twilight did you lose weight?”

Twilight wrinkled her brow. “Uh…I don’t think so. Though I haven’t eaten for a long time.”

“Hm. I think these wings you gave me are a lot stronger than they were before. I can’t even feel you back there. It’s like I’m carrying nothing!”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Umm, sure! I do like my ponies thin.”

“I’m not that thin…”

“Hey, will you just accept the compliment? At least I’m not saying you’re a fatty!”

Twilight chuckled nervously. “Deal. Oh, and by the way, we should probably tell Ponyville that we’re leaving.”

Dash stopped in mid-air and swung her hooves from side to side. “No way! I can’t tell everyone that I’m going back to school! They’ll laugh at me for sure!”

“Don’t worry! We’ll just tell them you’re visiting family.”

This caught the pegasus off-guard. Apparently, she had struck a chord. “Twilight. I don’t have a family…”

“Oh, sorry…not even a sibling?”

“Twilight…we’ll just tell them, okay? I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay, okay...” The sudden change in Dash’s demeanor had frightened the mare.

The pegasus continued her flight and the two mares didn’t speak another word to each other.

That was…unexpected…what about her family doesn’t she want to talk about?

End of Act 1

Chapter 7 - Dark Horse Twins

Act 2

Chapter 7 – Dark Horse Twins

*****

In every being lies a parasite eating at morality. It only hurts more when they pretend it’s not there.

*****

The two ponies had returned to the library where the unicorn, Twilight, began packing for the trip to Cloudsdale. It had only been a few days, but Twilight and Rainbow have both transformed physically and mentally. Twilight Sparkle, plagued by erratic, dangerous magic from a broken horn, felt very cautious with every thought and with every move she made. She feared for her friend, Rainbow Dash, who had recently wrecked her flying capability, but now, thanks to Twilight, flies with wings created by her twisted magic. Everything seemed to repair itself gradually, but unfortunately stability advents further ill-fated tragedies as the two ponies could only speculate what lies beyond the threshold of their trip to Cloudsdale.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Twi?” Rainbow approached the unicorn and gave her an affectionate nudge with her muzzle.

Twilight turned to kiss the concerned pony. “Yeah. I’m sure. I’m not worried. I know you’ll be there for me. I put all my trust into that soft heart of yours.”

The pegasus pounded her chest with a hoof. “Hey! This heart is solid gold! Being soft is something I would expect from you, egghead.” She threw her nose up and grinned.

The unicorn giggled. “You do know that gold is a pretty soft metal, right?”

Rainbow snorted. “You would say something like that, Twi.” The two ponies laughed.

“Anyway, I just finished packing, Dash. I’ve told Spike to gather our friends so we could tell them of our venture.”

Dash’s face cringed, “That’s all good, Twi, but please don’t tell them anything they don’t need to know, okay?” She tapped the ground repeatedly as she spoke.

The unicorn took Rainbow’s nervous hoof in her own. “Of course. I’m just gonna tell them we’re on official business from the Princess to Cloudsdale. If they ask why…”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Something was hammering at the door. The two ponies separated and collected themselves. Twilight spoke up, “It’s open!”

The door swung open and trotted inside were all of their pony friends: Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, and Fluttershy. Spike didn’t show for some reason. Rarity was the first to zip up to Twilight with a mouthful of speculation.

“Twilight?! Is everything alright, dear? Spike made it sound so urgent, I couldn’t dare think of the possi…” Rarity gasped as the white unicorn’s eyes caught a glance of the broken horn. “What happened? And Rainbow?! Your wings!” Rainbow’s stance became a little sheepish and did her best to hide her wings.

“Look, Rarity. It’s a lot to explain. I need everypony to listen whilst I shed light on the situation.” The white mare nodded and joined with the others who had just now gotten over to the group.

The rest of the ponies had similar expressions in discovering the two damaged ponies. Fluttershy couldn’t help herself as she approached Rainbow. “Oh…dear! Rainbow!” Her voice as soft as a cloud. “Your wings…they’re…”

Rainbow interjected by spreading her wings which wowed the yellow pegasus, “Pretty strange, huh? They’re magic…I think. Twilight, you should go ahead and explain.”

The purple unicorn nodded, “It’s pretty obvious, but Rainbow and I were in an accident a couple days ago. I’m actually surprised that everypony didn’t know that already.”

“I knew, Twilight!” Applejack stepped forward. “I mean I was the one who got y’all out of that mess below Rainbow’s. I was gonna tell everypony about it…but I figured y’all pull something like this. So I did the respectable thing and waited.” The orange mare gave a guilty smile to the rest of the ponies who gave her an array of irritated looks.

“I appreciate it, AJ. Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy…” They turned their heads one by one. “My horn is indeed broken and Rainbow had lost her wings. You see, it started when I visited Rainbow’s to discuss a particular book with her…”

Twilight began explaining the bare minimum of the story. She left out the initial stormy night, all of the emotional moments with Rainbow, and their newfound love. She didn’t tell them about Dash’s failure with the Wonderbolts and that she planned to attend flight school. She explained the mishaps with her horn and how they granted Rainbow new wings by sheer chance. She told them that Rainbow had fallen, not leaped from her house. It was cleverly crafted, and Rainbow was very happy with Twilight for being so thoughtful of her pride.

“…and that’s pretty much how it happened, right, Dash?” Twilight finished her explanation and the pegasus nodded. The ponies had listened intently. Their minds brimmed with questions.

“So she told you there’s no way to fix your horn?” Rarity touched her own horn, cringing.

“Well, Celestia told me there was no known way to fix it. She’s tasked me to find one.”

The white unicorn sighed with worry. “Well, this is just utterly dreadful!”

Pinkie butt in, “But look on the bright side!” She hopped over to Rainbow and pulled on the pegasus’s left wing which made her grit her teeth. “Rainbow wouldn’t have these cool super duper wings!”

Rainbow pushed the silly pony away with a hind hoof. “Easy, Pinkie! They’re not indestructible! I think…” Twilight shrugged.

“So all this over some silly book?” AJ pound a hoof into the floor. “I reckon there’s more to this story than yer lettin’ on, but those injuries are real enough for me. So I won’t question it.”

“Well, if I were to tell you every detail we’d be here forever. Besides there’s…”

Fluttershy cleared her throat and the group turned her heads. She sunk a little and smiled sheepishly.

“What’s up, Fluttershy?” Rainbow moved closer.

“Oh…it’s nothing…sorry, Twilight. You can continue.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “I’m not gonna play this game today, Shy. Just spit it out!”

“Eep! Oh…Okay, it’s just that…well, I was just wondering…how come you didn’t come to me…when you were stuck on the ground? I could have flown you home…I mean…I would have been more than happy to…” She ran her hoof across the ground.

“Oh! Well, you see uh…I was going to! Of course that thought crossed my mind, but like Twi said, I got zapped there before I got the chance to ask you. Don’t think I hadn’t thought of that, Fluttershy.” She gave the canary-yellow pegasus a cheesy smile.

“Oh! Okay…I guess that makes sense…sorry…”

Rainbow sighed loudly. Twilight cleared her throat and smiled, “With everything said, I initially called this meeting to announce that Rainbow and I are going to Cloudsdale on official business from the Princess.”

Pinkie jumped in immediately, “Cloudsdale?! Why aren’t we invited for the party? Oo!! Is it like a top-secret mission? Do you get cool sunglasses and wristwatches that fire laser beams?! Because I would be so totally jealous!”

Everypony rolled their eyes and Twilight chuckled, “No, Pinkie Pie. It’s nothing crazy like that. Just a simple request.”

“And what, might I ask, is this ‘simple’ request?” AJ tilted her head in skepticism.

Twilight had feared this. She took a deep breath, “It’s nothing to worry about! Just a couple of months of personal training from the legendary Wonderbolts!” Rainbow shot her a look of shock and everypony else gasped.

“The Wonderbolts?!” Rarity exclaimed. “Rainbow Dash, my dear, that is simply marvelous! You’ve always dreamed to become one of those famous ponies!”

Dash laughed nervously, “Uh, yep! Living the dream!” The pony reared in false excitement. Fluttershy’s eyes sparkled as Rainbow spread her wings. The beauty of them a little intoxicating.

“Oh, Rainbow…I’m so happy…for you.” Fluttershy smiled.

A pink pony popped up in front of Dash. “All right, Rainbow! You’re gonna become one of the Wonderbolts! Hooray!!” Pinkie Pie sprayed confetti over the bashful pegasus.

“Thanks, guys…you don’t know how much this means to me.” Rainbow chuckled.

Whilst the other ponies were busy praising Rainbow, Applejack was giving Twilight a skeptical stare. The unicorn caught wind of this and tried to look away. “Twilight, can I speak to ya fer a second?”

The mare’s back hair stood on end, “Um, of course, AJ. What’s up?” The two ponies met in seclusion off to the side.

Applejack whispered, “You may have them other ponies fooled, Twi, but I can see that there’s more to this.” Twilight cringed. “But anyhow…it’s none of my business so I won’t stick my hoof in. I just want to let y’all know…that I’m here for ya anytime anywhere.”

Twilight grinned with a few tears in the corner of her eyes. She jumped up and embraced the mare. “Thanks, AJ. That means a lot. You’re the best friend a pony could ask for.”

“Aw, shucks. Just try to be careful, ya hear? I don’t want to find y’all under Cloudsdale one mornin’.” The thought made Twilight’s heart jump.

“Don’t worry, AJ. I’ll be more prepared this time.”

“What are you two ponies talking about?!” Pinkie Pie butt in between them. “Applejack, are you Twilight’s informant or something?! Do you have the room bugged?” She zipped around looking for something.

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Oh, fer Pete’s sake, Pink. Ya sure do know how to get under a pony’s skin.”

Pinkie jumped up right in front of the mare and surprised her. “Under your skin?! Ew, that’s just gross! I would never do that! Is that where they’re hiding the bug?!” The orange pony groaned.

Twilight was chortling to the side. The other ponies joined in and Rarity spoke up again, “So Twilight, why is that you have to accompany Rainbow to this occasion?” The purple unicorn shifted her eyes around, looking for an answer.

Dash attempted to answer her question, “She’s…gonna help me train! You know it isn’t all about learning tricks and flying fast. You gotta be smart too, and there’s nopony I’d rather teach me more than the most smartest pony in all of Equestria!” The unicorn blushed and hung her head.

“Oh, come on, Dash. You’re making me blush…but she’s right. Celestia has asked me to…”

Pinkie interjected, “I think this calls for a celebration! A farewell party! Oh, we’ll have punch, cake, and balloons! Oh, it’ll be so much fun!”

“Actually, Pinkie. We won’t be able to stay for a party.” Twilight hated to rain on her parade.

“What?! Not even long enough for cupcakes?!” The unicorn shook her head.

“We’re actually overdue as it is. All of these crazy events that have happened recently have kinda made us late.” She poked her head in front of all the ponies and grinned. “And you know how I get when I’m tardy…” Everypony winced.

“I-I think a party is a bit excessive, don’t you think, Applejack?” Rarity fluttered her eyes toward the pony with a concerned smile.

“Uh…yeah. I need to get back to Sweet Apple Acres anyhow. No need to pester these ponies any further seeing the mess y’all already in.”

“Will we be able to visit…Twilight?” Fluttershy beat her wings.

Rainbow threw a leg over Fluttershy, “Of course you can! Just don’t show up without some kind of warning though. I don’t want an earful from the Wonderbolts.”

Fluttershy clopped her hooves together and smiled. “Yay…”

“How are you two going to travel there? Do you need any assistance?” Rarity inquired.

“I can carry her there!” Rainbow boasted. “With these new wings, I can carry anypony anywhere.”

“Just don’t go dropping her now, ya silly pigeon.” Applejack put her hoof down.

“What was that, AJ? You need to look at who you’re talking to! I was the one who simultaneously saved four ponies in a single dive.” The cyan pegasus beat her chest with a hoof and puffed it out. “The last time with Twi was just a fluke. It won’t happen again!”

Twilight interrupted the two, “Actually, AJ. We’ve packed quite a few things so we’ll have to take the balloon there.” Rainbow let out a sigh that pretty much said “Oh yeah.”

Rarity briefly embraced the purple unicorn. “I do hope you’ve packed everything you ponies need for your trip.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! You don’t need to obsess over everything, Rarity…”

The white unicorn was taken aback. “Oh! Well, someone has to. What if you ponies forgot to pack warm? It is fairly high up there in Cloudsdale. I don’t want you two catching a cold!”

Twilight could only laugh. “Don’t worry, Rarity. We’ll be fine. We’ve packed for all circumstances.”

Applejack interrupted them. “Uh huh…well, come on everypony. Let’s say our goodbyes and leave these two to their mission.”

Pinkie pointed at the orange mare. “Mission?! See I told you it’s some kind of secret spy sortie! They wouldn’t believe me!”

“Come on, Pinkie!” AJ nabbed the pony’s tail and began dragging her out of the library.

As she was dragged, Pinkie gave the Twilight and Rainbow a terrifying glare. “I’m watching you two…” She pointed to her eyes with a hoof, and then pointed it at them. The two mares laughed awkwardly.

Fluttershy approached the two. “Please don’t do anything dangerous, Rainbow…I wouldn’t know what to do if…you two got hurt…”

“You worry too much, Fluttershy. You forget who you’re talking to…” Rainbow turned her head. “It’s weird how I keep having to remind everypony…”

“We’ll send letters to Ponyville weekly, Fluttershy.” The unicorn reassured her. “We know better than to leave you ponies hanging…right, Dash?” She nudged her.

“Well, yeah! Just don’t be surprised if one’s late or something. Training with the Wonderbolts isn’t exactly a cakewalk.”

“Did someone say cake?!” Pinkie Pie had barged back in. An orange blur tackled the pony. The group winced at the crash.

“Well, come on, Fluttershy.” Rarity turned to leave. “I need a model for my new dress. Those mannequins are sometimes just too bland to properly judge beauty.”

“A model?!” Fluttershy cringed, but sank. “Okay…just please don’t put me in a…fashion show.” She accompanied the mare towards the door.

“Bye, everypony!” Rainbow waved to them. They each gave their goodbyes as they piled out. Once they were all gone, the two mares looked at each other and sighed with relief.

“That went well, actually.” Twilight sunk to the ground. “And yet I feel horrible…”

“Come on, Twi.” Rainbow sat right next to her. “I’m really happy about what you did back there. So what if we kept a few things and changed some stuff around? It’s better that they don’t know.”

“But they’re our friends, Rainbow! They probably would have been accepting regardless of what we told them.” The unicorn looked away from the mare and at the floor.

Dash leaned close and kissed her cheek. “How about we tell them everything once we come back?” Twilight turned her head, nodded, and returned the kiss to her lips.

“Ew! What are you two doing?” A high-pitched voice immediately separated the two ponies from each other. They thought they were alone, but they had a few more visitors…three to be exact.

Twilight and Rainbow jumped to their hooves. Twilight coughed. “Oh! Girls! I didn’t think you would come!” She looked at the famed Cutie Mark Crusaders accompanied by Spike.

Spike spoke up, “Well, I thought since this was important that they should know too, Twilight!” The two mares shot him looks of contempt and he sank.

Scootaloo hopped in front of the rest, “Rainbow Dash! I saw your wings and I think they’re totally boss! I want a pair just like them!” The little filly fluttered her wings.

Rainbow laughed nervously, “Trust me, kid. It’s not worth the trouble. You should appreciate the ones you have now. I sure didn’t…” She gazed achingly at her wings.

Sweetie Bell and Applebloom surrounded the two mares on both sides. They both backed up a bit. “Does it hurt, Twilight?” Sweetie Bell asked. “Your horn I mean. It must have been a pretty nasty fall!”

“No, but how do you three know about what happened already?” As Twilight asked, the three fillies sank then looked at Spike. His eyes shifted to each pony.

“What? Those ponies can be very persuasive, Twi!” He shrugged and the unicorn sighed. “Plus they spied on you two while the others were here.”

“Hey!” The three fillies yelled in harmony.

Applebloom spoke up, “It was Scootaloo’s idea!”

“What?! It was totally Sweetie Bell’s idea.” The pegasus bounced the blame away.

“Huh?! I was the one who said we should just go inside!” The unicorn stomped the floor.

Twilight stopped the argument, “Girls! Girls! It’s fine, really. I’m glad you all came to visit us on our last day here. It’s just Rainbow and I have a lot of preparing we have to do and we’ll fall behind if we say goodbye to everypony.”

All three girls moaned disappointedly then Applebloom whispered something to Scootaloo who nodded. “Twilight! Rainbow! We the Cutie Mark Crusaders…wish to join you on your quest to Cloudsdale!” The two mares gasped.

“Yeah!” Sweetie Bell agreed. “We thought if we followed you on this important uh…thing! That we finally might discover our cutie marks!”

“Yeah! Like professional balloon operators!” AB cheered.

“Or pegasi trainers!” Scootaloo leaped.

“Or secret agents!” All heads turned to Sweetie Bell. “What? Pinkie Pie said something about it…”

“Girls, as much as we would enjoy you coming along…” The crusaders were already hanging their heads as Twilight spoke. “…oh, girls…it’s just that it’s already dangerous going just by ourselves.”

“Besides!” Rainbow added. “We’re staying there for a long time. There’s no way we could look after you for that long.”

“Oh, please! We won’t get in the way! Promise!” The three fillies saying each line in turn.

“I’m sorry, but it’s a trip we have to make alone.” Twilight saddened the whole group.

“Well, hey!” Spike lifted the cloud of guilt. “You three could help me watch the library while they’re away!”

“Cutie Mark Librarians?” Sweetie Bell asked as the three tilted their heads.

“I actually would appreciate that immensely if you did that for us, Crusaders.” Twilight smiled and clopped her hooves together.

“Are you sure, Twi? These three aren’t exactly known for their upkeep.” Rainbow whispered to her. The three fillies were already roaming the library.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Crash! “Ahem…or something I can fix when we get back at least. Aheh…”

*****

The two mares had decided to sleep for the night and take off in the morning. The crusaders had gone home. Their goodbyes had taken longer than expected and the balloon took half the day to set up. The two were sleeping in separate beds in fear of a walk-in. Twilight was staring out the window, pondering about that stormy night Rainbow fell into her room. It was all still vivid in her mind…the trembling pegasus and the care she had given her. It seemed to dawn on her the longevity of Rainbow’s affection for the unicorn.

“Rainbow?” She asked hoping she was awake.

“Yeah, Twi?” She answered immediately. Twilight was ecstatic to find her friend still awake.

“How long?” Her question simple yet vague.

“How long what?”

“How long did you…you know.”

Rainbow fell silent for a moment. Then something poked the unicorn’s back. She turned and found a sleepy pegasus who immediately climbed in bed with her. “I don’t know…a while. It was kind of a gradual thing really. It wasn’t something I just decided one day.”

Twilight cuddled with the pegasus, burying her face into the mare’s neck. “I see. You know to be honest…I still don’t know what to think of this. It could be a result of a long, secluded life…or the fact that a relationship never really occurred to me as a path I wanted to pursue.”

Rainbow could only chuckle which vibrated the unicorn’s face. “Not everything needs a reason to happen, Twi.”

“Maybe you’re right…which is rare, mind you.” Twilight smiled, thinking this would aggravate the mare.

Rainbow’s voice suddenly got serious. “It’s fun poking at other ponies’ flaws, isn’t it?” The response a bit unsettling for the unicorn.

“W-What do you mean? I was just playing, Dash.” She tried to apologize.

“I know, Twi.” The pegasus giggled. “You’re way too easy to upset, you know?”

“Ha ha.” She poked at the pegasus’s side which made her flinch.

“Hey, don’t do that.”

Twilight did it again. “What? This?”

Rainbow laughed. “Don’t! You’ll wake Spike up.”

“Not my problem.” She continued to tickle the mare.

The pegasus let out a small squeak. “Stop!” She pinned the unicorn down and kissed her. This stopped Twilight’s teasing almost immediately. The moonlight bled in from the nearby window, which half-way illuminated the two ponies’ faces. They separated as heat began to build up between the two. Twilight was slightly gasping for air as she stared up at the cyan-colored mare. Their eyes were locked on each other as each tried to decide what to do next. “You’re horrible, Twi…”

The unicorn giggled, “Maybe just a little.”

“That’s what I like about you…on the outside you’re a preppy know-it-all…but now…you remind me of myself…that adventurous side craving the unknown.”

“So I’m Daring Do is what you’re saying…” She gave the pegasus a cynical look.

Dash blushed. “I guess so…” She giggled. “So what about me, Twi? What’s so special about me?”

The unicorn hadn’t really thought about it. It was a question she constantly asked herself since their first kiss. “Well…you’re the doorway that allows me into that unknown. I feel that together we are unstoppable force ready to conquer the world of its lore and mystery.”

Rainbow responded with a deadpan look. “That may have been the corniest thing you’ve ever said, Twilight.” Twilight blushed and looked away, and then Rainbow burst into laughter. Twilight smiled and joined in.

“Hey!! Quiet, you two! A dragon needs his beauty sleep!” They could hear Spike from downstairs. The two mares blushed and grinned.

“We should probably get some sleep anyway.” Twilight suggested.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” The pegasus reluctantly climbed out of the bed and headed back over to hers. “Big day tomorrow.”

“Very big…dream well, Rainbow.”

“You too, Twilight.”

*****

“All right!” Twilight exclaimed. “Is that everything?”

The two ponies had woken up early and were packing their belongings into the balloon, which they had set up the evening before right outside the library.

“I think so?” Rainbow shrugged. “All my stuff’s in there.”

Twilight pondered for a moment, scanning her internal list of everything they needed. “Oh, horseapples! I forgot my brush!” She ran back inside. Rainbow shook her head.

“Rainbow Dash?” A small voice called to her. The mare turned to face the voice.

“Scootaloo?” Dash found the filly hanging her head with her saddlebags on her back. She was dragging her hoof across the ground.

“Rainbow? Are you sure I can’t go with you? I really want to go.” Dash could see small tears in those little eyes of hers.

“Kid…uh…I don’t know. I’m not sure if Twilight wants to be responsible for what might happen to you.” Rainbow was trying not to look directly at the filly.

“I don’t care!” The filly pegasus yelled. “The crusaders…it’s a totally lost cause. I know if I go with you…that I’ll learn so much! I’ve never been good at flying…so maybe this is my chance.”

“Kid…I mean Scootaloo…I would be more than happy to…”

“No!” The demanding voice of Twilight burst from the doorway. “It’s too dangerous!”

“Oh, come on!” Cried the filly. “You won’t even know I’m there! I just want to watch Rainbow in action! I brought my own food and everything!” The small pegasus motioned to her saddlebags.

“This is not a field trip, Scootaloo. I can’t be asked to fulfill the wishes of the Princess and watch over you!”

“Fine! Then I can’t be asked to keep you two kissing each other a secret either!!” This got their attention.

“What?! What are you talking about?” Rainbow asked before the unicorn could.

“I saw you two after everyone left!” She pounded her hoof to the ground.

“Wait! You two kissed?!” Spike came walking out the front door.

“Of course not, Spike! She’s just trying to get us to take her to Cloudsdale with silly fibs.” Twilight tried to explain.

“But I saw it! And I’ll tell everypony about it!”

The two mares stared at each other for a moment. Rainbow tilted her head and smiled, giving the okay. The unicorn still wasn’t convinced.

"But what about your parents, Scootaloo? Or your schoolwork? Or your friends? There are still important things you have to do here." The unicorn smiled at the filly.

"Yeah, but..." The filly's mind raced for a solution, but then she stomped her hooves on the ground. "I don't care about those things! Those things will always be there when I come back…this…this is a chance of a lifetime!”

“Scootaloo…”

“It’s a filly’s dream, isn’t it?” The pegasus turned around and gazed at the grass. "You won’t let me…”

Twilight sighed. “You can come with us.” She was very unenthusiastic in her delivery.

“What?! YES! Awesome!” The filly bounced excitedly around the two mares.

“On one condition!” The unicorn continued. This silenced the small pegasus. “You have to agree to everything we tell you to do…and if you don’t…we’re sending you back home immediately.”

“Okay!” Scootaloo didn’t hesitate and she continued her bouncing.

Twilight sighed and Rainbow slapped a leg around her neck. “It’ll be fine, Twi. We’ll keep a close eye on her. No problem!”

“I just hope you’re right, Dash.” She watched the filly continue to bounce.

Scootaloo stopped. “So when do we leave?!”

Chapter 8 - Demons That Haunt

Act 2

Chapter 8 – Demons That Haunt

*****

Forever from your past you try to hide, you’ll find it alive right by your side.

*****

“Come on, Twilight! Let’s go already!” The filly was bouncing in the balloon basket.

Rainbow popped her head out beside the pegasus. “Yeah, Twi. We probably need to get going soon so we get there before it’s dark.”

The unicorn was still unsure of herself. “I know, you two, but I can’t stomach taking Scootaloo with us.” She looked at the grass, and then looked back up at the filly. “Are you sure your family’s going to be all right with this? Maybe we should tell them before we go. I don’t want to leave them worrying about you.” She began leaving the two ponies towards Ponyville.

“Wait, Twilight!” Scootaloo called out, fumbling out of the balloon. She raced over to the pony and stopped her. “You don’t have to. I’ve…I’ve already told them about it.”

“Oh! You have? And they were okay with it?” Twilight tilted her head in disbelief.

The filly fluttered her wings and gave the unicorn a big smile. “Yep! Well, you know…big emotional scene and all, but they said as long as you two stayed with me, they were fine with it!”

“Uh huh…” Twilight still wasn’t satisfied.

“Come on! We won’t make it in time if we go talk to my parents!” Scootaloo was begging with her hoofs together. The unicorn let out a big sigh and turned back towards the balloon. “Yes!”

Rainbow flew in beside her. “Don’t worry so much, Twi. If Fluttershy can handle all three of them by themselves, we can handle just one.”

“Again, Dash. I just hope you’re right.”

*****

“Wow, Dash! I’ve never seen you do that one before!” Scootaloo looked over the balloon railing to watch Rainbow fly around.

“Oh, that ain’t nothing, kid! Check this out!” The pegasus careened upward, did a series of flips and twirls while she fell, and then abruptly shot downward then up with a magnificent set of trails following her.

Scootaloo’s eyes sparkled. “Woah…” The filly bounced up and down. “What else can you do?! Do more! Do more!!”

Twilight was sitting across from the filly reading a book. The balloon was a tad crowded with the baggage they had taken with them. The bouncing began to shake the craft a bit too much. “Hey, Scootaloo. Calm down a little, all right? I don’t want anypony getting…”

“W-Woah!” The tilting of the basket caught the filly off-balance and caused her to fumble backwards into the baggage.

Crash!

Twilight winced. “…hurt.”

The unicorn sighed as the small pegasus popped up from the mess. “Sorry, Twilight. This thing is pretty wobbly.” She attempted to disentangle herself. “How long until we get to Cloudsdale?”

Rainbow flew in closer to the two and hung her front legs over the side of the balloon, causing it to drift downward slightly from the weight. “By this thing? Probably four or five hours.”

The filly’s jaw dropped. “Four or five hours?! Ugh!” She dived back into the baggage. Rainbow caught Twilight rolling her eyes and sighing.

The pegasus hovered over to her. “Something the matter, Twi?”

The unicorn looked up from her book. She whispered, “It’s nothing, Dash…just…are you sure it was a good idea to bring her along?”

“Come on, Twilight. I’m practically her role-model. It’s like going to see the Wonderbolts for her. Besides, I think it’s cute that she admires me so.”

Twilight glanced over at Scootaloo trying to pull a brush out of her mane. “Cute, huh? I dunno, Dash. I kinda wanted to just spend time with you.”

Rainbow sighed. “Well, if you really want her gone you can just teleport her back, you know. You said it yourself she had to be obedient.” A spark seemed to light in the unicorn’s eyes and she grinned.

“What are you two talking about over there?” The filly finally managing to get out. She moved closer to the two.

“Scootaloo!” Twilight addressed her in a commanding voice as she stood up.

“Uh…yes?” The pegasus sank as the unicorn towered over her.

“Remember our agreement?” Twilight threw her nose up and closed her eyes.

“Uh…yeah? What about it?”

“I’ve always been curious…” The unicorn began pacing a bit. “There’s an anomaly that needs a bit of clarification.”

Scootaloo tilted her head. “Uh…what?”

A hint of annoyance in Twilight’s face. “I need to know something that’s been bothering me since I’ve met you.”

The filly sighed. “And that would be…?”

Twilight opened an eye to look at the filly, and then she dived quickly downward to meet Scootaloo face to face. The quick motion made the pegasus pull back a little. “I must know more about your family. You never talk about them!”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and slowly pushed the unicorn away with a hoof. “Like I don’t get that question a million times. I’ll tell you what I tell everypony…”

A hint of excitement in Twilight’s face. “What? What?” She leaned closer again.

Scootaloo paused for dramatic effect. “Buzz off!”

The unicorn hung her head for a moment before stepping back. “Well, I guess that means I’ll have to send you home for not doing what I asked.” The filly’s eyes widened. “It’s a shame…you didn’t even make it to Cloudsdale.” Twilight flared her horn.

“Wait! Wait!” Scootaloo held out a hoof. The horn’s glow went away and the unicorn smirked. “I heard you were sadistic, but I didn’t actually believe it.”

Twilight sat down. “I’m glad you came to reason.”

“Jeez, Twi. Ease off the kid, will ya?” Whispered Rainbow as she lightly jabbed the unicorn’s side.

“I-I’ll…tell you what I know.” The filly started.

Twilight furrowed her brow. What she knows? What does that mean?

Scootaloo sighed. “My dad…he left me when I was young…well, younger. I can barely remember him actually.” Scootaloo sat down and tried not to make eye-contact with the ponies.

“Wait, I thought you said you lived with both of your parents.” Twilight interrupted.

“Look, I never told anypony this. I tell everypony that I live with two…it’s just…do you want to know or not?” The filly was getting a bit upset.

Rainbow flew closer to the pegasus. “Just let her tell us, Twi.” The unicorn nodded and Scootaloo took a deep breath.

“All I remember of him was yelling and this loud bang…like a door being slammed or something. My mom told me later he went on an important trip and she wasn’t sure if he would even come back.” She hung her head. “Can’t say I really had any connection to my dad at all.” The two mares could see she was uncomfortable with the subject. “So I lived with my mother for a few years…” The pony trailed off.

“…where is she now?” Twilight egged her on.

Scootaloo looked at the mare with a surprised/saddened face, and then looked away, sighing. “My mother…she’s…”

“Okay, Twi. That’s enough I think.” Rainbow interrupted the filly. Twilight could see tears in both of the ponies’ eyes. “Give her a break, will ya?” The pegasus embraced Scootaloo, which got her spirits up a little.

Twilight was a bit shocked from the sudden shift in their mood. “Right. I’m so sorry, Scootaloo. I wasn’t being sensible.” Her apology seemed to lighten up Scootaloo further.

There were a few moments of silence, and then the filly realized something quickly and her eyes sparkled. “Omigosh! I’m being hugged by the Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo squeezed the mare. The cyan pegasus laughed and pushed the filly off of her. “Aww...”

“You know, kid. Twilight said to do everything we tell you to do. So I tell you to ignore this grumpy unicorn’s silly questions!” Rainbow nuzzled Twilight and placed a wet one on her lips, which got an annoyed, muffled groan from the unicorn.

Scootaloo turned her head. “Aw, yuck! Come on, don’t do that while I’m here. You’re making me sick…” The filly hung her mouth open and pointed a hoof to it.

Rainbow began laughing which got the other two to join shortly after.

*****

…

“It seems as though we’ve reached an end…Not in a hundred years did I expect this to happen. Despite everything…you still failed…”

…

*****

Twilight awoke coughing. Her vision was blurry as an immense heat surrounding her body. The library was on fire. “What…what’s going on? Rainbow? Scootaloo? Anypony?!” She slowly dragged herself across the floor. Debris was falling all around her. She coughed more and more as the very air she breathed was poisonous.

“So now that you’ve thrown away it all…what’s your next objective…?” She heard a voice somewhere.

“Who’s saying that?” Her eye caught a glint on the ground a couple hooves from her. She slowly began crawling her way to it. She climbed over a fallen beam and heard something cracking above her. She leaped from the beam as a pile of debris fell behind her. She was trapped on all sides by fire, but the glint she had seen was still there in front of her.

A picture frame? Me and Rainbow…where?

Twilight gasped as the picture cracked. She found her hoof had involuntarily stomped on it. It cracked further and further. Large fissures shot out of it from every direction, tearing the library apart. The ground beneath began to crumble into a white abyss. She tried to hold onto a final wooden plank before it gave way.

“Waaaaaa!!”

Splash!

She found herself underwater. Twilight surfaced as quickly as she could. She coughed out water and wiped the moisture from her eyes so she could see. Unfortunately, it didn’t help. The entire “room” she was in was covered in steam. Her ear twitched as she heard something submerge. She turned her head towards it and saw something underwater coming towards her. She attempted to swim away, but it was as if the water was gripping her. She began to panic, but in a few moments… a familiar colorful mare surfaced.

“Now, isn’t this just fantastic? See, Twi? There’s always a time for this.” Rainbow began making her way over to the unicorn. Her coat was glistening, her posture seductive, and her eyes glittered with that familiar longing. She forced Twilight to a wall in this pool of water she was in. The pegasus placed hooves on either side of her and leaned in for a kiss. Twilight’s body moved against her will, melting into Dash’s affection and pulling her body closer. They kissed deeply and treated each other with various affectionate gropes.

Just as it all seemed like a perfect moment, instantly the pegasus jerked away and took to the air. “It doesn’t matter what I do, does it?! The world will always be unsatisfied with me!” The pegasus dived into the pool and a huge rainbow-colored wave erupted, edging closer and closer to engulf the helpless unicorn. “Dash?! What’s going on?!” Just before the wave hit, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Huh? She thought. She opened her eyes and everything had changed. She was staring directly into the sunset. She tried to look away, but her head seemed locked in place and her eyes wouldn’t shut. She could feel a few tears trail down her cheeks. She was unable to understand anything that was going on. Fortunately before she felt her eyes burn to a crisp, a silhouetted figure stepped into view.

“I barely knew them.” The figure laughed. “You know…if it wasn’t for them. I probably would have never met you.” The figure’s head seemed to turn towards her and two purple eyes opened, completely enveloping her view. “I think she’s dead…”

…

*****

“She’s not dead! She’s just being stubborn!” Rainbow shook the sleeping unicorn. “Wake up, egghead…we’re there.”

Twilight’s eyes slowly opened and she immediately moaned. “Wh…Where am I?”

Scootaloo answered her. “Only the greatest city of all Equestria! You know you’re harder to wake than Granny Smith!” The unicorn gradually got to her feet. She felt exhausted and her legs were a bit wobbly.

Rainbow helped her up. “That must have been some nightmare, Twi. Are you all right?” Twilight nodded.

“I’m fine, Dash.” The unicorn looked up at Rainbow and smiled weakly.

Why do I get this sense of dread when I look at her? That dream was so vivid…and…

“Ow!” She put a hoof to her head. It was throbbing in pain, which usually happened when she overused her horn. Her ears were ringing and she could feel her heart beat throughout her body. She collapsed onto her side, but she was still conscious.

“Twilight! You’re not fine! We need to get you to a hospital!” Rainbow stomped her hoof and began attempting to get the pony onto her back.

“No! Nono, I’m fine, really. Look…” She pushed the pegasus away and tried to collect her thoughts. “Go ahead without me and get signed up at the academy. I’ll watch the balloon and see if I can’t scope out someplace to stay.” She was breathing heavily. “This has happened before, remember? When I saved you?”

Rainbow stared at the pony for a few moments, and then sighed. “You’re such a drama queen. You rest, Twi. I’ll go sign up real quick.” Dash flew out of the balloon. “Just when I thought this sort of thing was over…Come with me, Scootaloo. She can handle this by herself.”

“Are you sure? She doesn’t look too good.” The filly poked at one of Twilight’s hooves, which popped up and took a weak swing at her.

“Go with her, squirt…That’s an order.” The unicorn sighed and closed her eyes. “I just…need some…” Twilight trailed off and began snoring.

“Wow. Out like a light.” Scootaloo poked her hoof again, but was suddenly lifted by magic and placed on the clouds outside of the balloon.

Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle. “She’s just faking it. Come on, kid. She’ll be fine. I’ll show you some stuff on the way.” They began trotting away.

The small pegasus gasped and smiled, “A personal tour of Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash?! This is gonna be totally awesome!” Rainbow giggled at the easily excitable filly.

As soon as they were gone, Twilight opened her eyes which were bloodshot. “Ugh…what’s going on?” She coughed loudly, hurting her insides. “Maybe I do need help…”

*****

“And in here, we have Cloudsdale’s greatest…” Rainbow and Scootaloo were standing outside of a doorway. “…the most expensive…” Dash was pausing constantly for dramatic effect. “…the most professional…” The pegasus looked to the side and grinned. “…and undoubtedly the coolest flight school in all of Equestria…” The excitement in Scootaloo’s eyes grew and grew. They both stepped inside. “…Cloud Nine Academy!” Scootaloo gasped as she looked inside.

Nothing. Just a series of blank cloud hallways going in either direction. Doors were dotted periodically as they went down each way and there was a reception desk immediately in front of them with a pegasus behind it. “Uh…thrilling?” Scootaloo chuckled awkwardly.

“That’s what I said too when I first saw this place. But the real exciting stuff is behind those doors. It just looks this way on the outside.” The two ponies made their way to the reception desk.

Not a very cool place to end on. Scootaloo thought. I mean I was just shown the cloud coliseum where Dash won her Best Young Flyer trophy. She hasn’t even introduced me to the Wonderbolts yet. I thought I heard she was going to be flying with them! Wait…maybe this is it! Scootaloo smiled in anticipation.

“Excuse me?” Rainbow had to fly up to look over the reception desk which was unusually large. “Where does a pony go to sign up for this place anyway?”

A young, navy-blue pegasus with a yellow mane looked up at Rainbow with an uninterested glare. “Oh, you’ll have to wait in line. I hope you don’t mind.” The pegasus looked back down at a newspaper she was reading.

Rainbow looked around for this “line”, but then realized what the pegasus was pulling and groaned. “Look. I’m Rainbow Dash. I have a personal recommendation from the Wonderbolts to sign up here.”

The pegasus again looked up and sneered, “The Wonderbolts, huh? That’s rich. Why should I believe you?”

Dash slammed a piece of paper she was carrying with her down onto the desk. “Read’em and weep.”

The pegasus didn’t even read it and she pushed it back. “Look, we’re really busy right now and we don’t have time for solicitors.”

Scootaloo somehow jumps up onto the edge of the desk and climbs up on top of it. “Rainbow Dash is not a solister! She’s the greatest, fastest pegasus around!” Rainbow was slightly touched by her little defender.

“Yeah! Look, if you don’t show me the boss around here. I guess I’m gonna have to barge into every one of these doors to find’em!”

The receptionist rolled her eyes and held up her newspaper, “Be my guest. It’s not my flank if you get kicked out.”

Rainbow huffed and stomped on the desk. “All right, then!” She knelt down to take off.

“Rainbow Dash?” A voice called to her from her left. She turned her head. A brown pegasus down the hallway a little was addressing her. “Can you come join me in my office?”

“Wha…?” Dash was confused. “Uh…a-all right.” She picked up the paper she had into her mouth and heard a giggle behind the newspaper. Dash rolled her eyes and walked away followed by Scootaloo.

“Ah, messing with newcomers is always a riot.” The receptionist hummed as she turned the page.

About halfway to the brown pegasus, Rainbow spoke up. “Hey, kid. You might have to wait outside until I get done with this. Kinda important.”

“What? How long are we talking?”

“I’m not sure. But it won’t be long, I promise.”

*****

One hour later. Right outside the door Scootaloo was trying to fly. She flapped her tiny wings as hard as she could, but couldn’t seem to lift herself. “Rrg! Unh! Ugh!!” She collapsed and sighed. She propped her chin up on her hoof.

What’s taking her so long?! If I knew it was going to be this boring, I would have stayed with the crusaders. At least we did exciting stuff. Not wait outside a door for forever. The filly poked at the cloud flooring. Rainbow seems so different than she did when I last saw her. Before those magic wings and all. Which are pretty awesome, but she doesn’t seem happy. Or I mean she is but…ugh, I dunno. Her belly rumbled some. Man, I haven’t eaten in forever either! How long could this possibly…

The door creaked open and on the other side was a cyan pegasus with the largest smile on her face. “Rainbow Dash? Are you…okay?”

Dash flew out and took the filly into her arms, swinging her around. “Whoo, yeah!! All right! Come on, kid, we gotta go talk to Twilight!” She zoomed out of the building with Scootaloo.

“Woooaahhhkay!!”

*****

“Twilight!!” Rainbow flew towards the balloon with Scootaloo, who was having a great time being flown around. “They accepted me! It was amazing!” She looked inside the basket and couldn’t find her. “It was so much…” Something gripped Rainbow’s heart and she dropped Scootaloo with a thump. “Twilight…?” She looked more carefully inside the basket, then around the balloon and she still couldn’t find her. “Oh no…Oh nononono! Please…” She dug a hole in the clouds and tried to look below. She shot her head back up and looked around the immediate area. “Twilight!! Twilight!!” Tears began to form in her eyes.

“Rainbow?! I’m up here!” The pegasus’s heart jumped and she flew up to the top of the balloon where Twilight was comfortably resting.

“Twilight! You scared the feathers out of me! Uh…figuratively speaking…”

The unicorn giggled, “I told you, I was gonna scope the area. So I thought I’d get a bird’s eye view.” She had binoculars around her neck. “Oh, and no luck by the way. How about you?”

“Well…I totally got in! No hassle whatsoever! Except for that receptionist…”

“That’s great, Dash! When do you start?” The unicorn stood and moved closer to the pegasus, who in turn flew closer to embrace her.

Rainbow kissed the mare and smiled, “Next Monday, can you believe it?! Whoo!!” The unicorn giggled at the excited pegasus. She calmed down and stared into the unicorn’s eyes. “You look a lot better, Twi. You looked so horrible only a few hours ago.” The unicorn shrugged.

“Hey, what are you two doing up there? I’m getting hungry over here!” The filly yelled up to the two mares.

Rainbow rolled her eyes with a grin. “Hey, babe…er Twi? Uhh…do you need a lift?” The pegasus blushed and she was already leaning down to give her a ride.

“Babe? Expanding our pet name vocabulary, are we?” The unicorn teased as she climbed onto her back.

Rainbow slowly took her down to the “ground”. “Hey, if the kid weren’t here, I’d…”

“If I wasn’t here?” Scootaloo interrupted as the two came down. “What? Am I getting in the way of you two’s lovey-dovey stuff?” She stomped her hoof.

Twilight giggled. “Nono, Scootaloo. Dash was just kidding…you said you were hungry, right? Well, I’m starving too.” The unicorn slowly slid her way off of the pegasus.

Rainbow gasped. “Twilight! Wait!” Dash was too late.

The unicorn landed softly on the clouds. “What’s wrong, Rainbow?”

“You…you can walk on the cloud?” Rainbow was surprised.

“Well, yeah. You of all ponies should know that.” Twilight began happily trotting away from the two.

“But your horn…” Rainbow and Scootaloo followed her.

“I told you I would be more prepared this time. You need to stop worrying about me so much, Rainbow.”

Rainbow tilted her head. What happened while I was gone? She seemed so…sick when I left. Now she’s hopping around like a filly.

The pegasus sighed. “So where are we going?” She flew up next to the unicorn.

“I saw a nice restaurant down this way a bit. I say we eat and talk about a place to stay.”

Scootaloo jumped and fluttered her wings. “Great idea! I can’t wait to eat!”

The unicorn smiled at the filly. “So you’ve never been to Cloudsdale, Scootaloo?”

A stern look of thought came over the filly. “I think I was here when I was younger. But you know…too young to really go out and see it.”

“I see…with your mother, right?” Scootaloo stopped for a second.

“Nope! Under Dash’s orders, I can’t answer any questions from the “grumpy unicorn”. That would be violating our agreement.”

Twilight turned her head towards the filly. “Big words for a small pony, wouldn’t you say, Dash?”

“She just knows who’s boss around here, Twi.” The pegasus snickered, which got a glare from the unicorn.

“Whose side are you on anyway, Dash?”

*****

“Come on, guys! This way! Come on!” Rainbow was trying to lead the two ponies somewhere. They had just finished eating and were now following the pegasus on some wild goose chase.

“I swear if this is a surprise party, Dash…” The unicorn was trying to speculate the pegasus’s intentions.

“No! Nothing like that. In fact…it’s sooo much better!” She took off around a corner.

“Rainbow!” Scootaloo whined. “I’m starting to agree with Twilight. How long until we see this ‘great thing’?”

The two turned the corner and what they found was a sharp drop-off in the cloud-ground. They immediately came to a halt, and then the two ponies looked straight ahead.

“Ta-da!” The cyan pegasus threw out her legs.

“Oh, come on. You’ve got to be joking!” The unicorn laughed.

Just off in the distance was another cloud shaped like a house. It wasn’t as colorful or elaborate as Rainbow’s back in Ponyville, but it was certainly elegant. It looked a bit out-dated compared to some of the other houses around the area.

“What’s that place?” Scootaloo asked with a bit of confusion.

“It’s where we’ll be staying! Isn’t it awesome?! Actually, it was way more awesome in my mind, but nothing a little rainbow stylization can’t fix.”

Twilight’s horn glowed slightly and she teleported the filly and herself over to the house. “How did you come upon this place, Rainbow?”

The pegasus blinked at the unicorn’s casual teleporting. “It’s a…well, it’s where I used to live. You know…back when I was a filly.”

“How could these clouds have stayed intact this long? I know they must deteriorate at some point.” The unicorn examined the building.

“I had an old friend keep it in shape. It looks like he’s been doing a pretty good job.” Rainbow poked some of the pillars around the outside.

“He?” Asked Twilight.

“I’ll…tell you later. Let’s go in! I’m bushed.” She zipped to the front door and dashed inside. The two ponies followed her.

Rainbow gave a quick, small tour of the house. The kitchen, study, and washroom were on the first floor while the bedrooms and a nice balcony were on the second. It was actually roomier than Rainbow’s house.

“…and that’s pretty much it.” Rainbow finished.

“I’m taking this room!” Scootaloo barreled into a room.

“Hey! That used to be my room, kid!” She flew in to speak with her. “You’d better treat it with resp…”

The filly was bouncing on the bed, fluttering her wings. She stopped when she noticed Rainbow looking at her with arms crossed. “Sorry…” She patted the bed. The pegasus sighed.

Twilight walked in giggling. “I guess we’ll take the other bedroom. Rainbow, we need to talk about our plans for Monday.” The unicorn affectionately brushed up against the mare.

The pegasus nudged her a bit with her head. “Yeah, you’re right. But we should grab our stuff from the balloon. Do you want to help me with that, Twi?”

The unicorn nodded. “I can teleport us there. But we’ll have to physically move the balloon back over here.”

“All right.” Rainbow turned her gaze to the filly, who was bouncing again. “Scootaloo!”

The filly froze and blushed. “Uh, yeah?”

“Hold down the fort. We’ll be back.”

Chapter 10 - Birds of a Feather

Act 2

Chapter 10 – Birds of a Feather

*****

The heart and the mind can prove to be a fickle couple. Their differences in rights and wrongs can drive any soul to madness.

*****

Dash tossed and turned in bed. Her mind was plagued with thoughts of her recent, immediate failures in flight school. How she was basically babied through her first day by another pony. Would she have to rely on her every time? Did her incompetence stretch so far? Would she ever be able to overcome her “weaknesses” as Midnight put it?

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all. I’m not really known for being an academic…I just want to fly…and maybe the way the Wonderbolts do things…wouldn’t be my style anyway. What if the Wonderbolts meant every day I would get up at a certain time and be forced to fly for hours in practice…where’s the fun in that? Maybe, I’m just fooling myself…chasing a pipe dream…some sort of…

~ Is there something the matter, Rainbow? ~ The pegasus gasped in surprise…completely forgetting that Twilight could read her thoughts. ~ You’ve been doing a lot of brooding the past hour. ~

Rainbow turned to face her in bed. She was wide awake and staring right at her. “Wow…I’m so sorry.” Dash whispered, “I completely forgot you could do that…”

“Well, it’s not all the time. Only when you do it at length does it seem to sink in.” The unicorn sat up as did the pegasus.

Dash pulled a pillow over to herself to mess with while she spoke. “I must seem like a total bummer to you. I’ve been doubting myself ever since I left my first classes.”

“You know, Dash, you’re a lot brighter than I think you give yourself credit for. You may just need some help…every pony does once in a while.” Twilight put a hoof over Rainbow’s.

“You’ll…help me?”

“You said it yourself back at the library. You knew it wasn’t just going to be skill…you’d have to be a brainiac too.”

“I don’t think I’ll never be as smart as you, Twi.”

“Well, I’m sure you won’t have to be…maybe a few pointers, and a little more determination and optimism should be enough.” The unicorn smiled…though the pegasus didn’t. She was just sitting there staring at the pillow she had. “Dash?”

“We’ve been through a lot recently haven’t we? Heh. It almost feels like a dream…all the things that have happened. I’m not sure how we’ve survived.”

Twilight sighed softly and kissed Dash’s hoof. “It’s been quite the ordeal, but I think it’s been more beneficial than harmful.”

She caressed the unicorn’s cheek. “I always keep thinking…what if I had just said no to you…when you asked if you could visit my house? Everything would be different…such a small decision. It’s scary, Twi. What if the next thing I say…ruins everything?” She pulled her hoof back to the pillow.

She scooted closer to the pegasus. “You shouldn’t think like that, Dash. It’s not something you can control…it’s just how things are. You just have to deal with it the best you can.”

“Maybe you’re right.” She smiled at the unicorn. “You always know the answer, don’t you, egghead?”

Twilight giggled. “What happened to ‘babe’? I was kinda liking that one.” She lightly poked the pegasus.

“Well then…how about ‘sugar lips’?” Dash chortled.

“Eh…it may be a bit too suggestive…”

“How about just sugar?” Rainbow started crawling towards the mare. “Come here, sugar…so I can make sweet love to you.”

Twilight burst out laughing. “No! Nonono…come on. Go grab your books. You need to study.”

“Aww…you’re such a buzz kill. Don’t think I’m gonna give up tonight though…” She winked at the mare as she flew away to grab her stuff.

“You wouldn’t be Rainbow Dash if you did.”

*****

A couple hours into their studying, Rainbow was getting incredibly drowsy. Her thoughts of Midnight seemed to creep on her. A guardian pegasus sent to care for the mare it seemed.

“Rainbow? Who’s Midnight?”

The pegasus froze, “Um…you know it’s a little unfair that I can’t think to myself. A pony needs some privacy.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s just…those thoughts are the ones that keep standing out…like you want to tell me.”

“Oh…well, maybe I should. She’s a pegasus that helped me get to class. She was really nice to me. She defended me when a higher-up singled me out for my wings…she even sneaked me an answer to a pop quiz. I’m not sure how I would have handled it if she wasn’t there for me.”

“Hm. Sounds like you made your first friend…and she just approached you?”

“Yeah…she recognized me from that competition eons ago. I think she might be a fan.”

“Ah, a fan-girl. You need to be careful around those, Dash. You might have to sign an autograph or two.” Twilight giggled.

Dash grinned. “She’s been pretty reserved so far. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The smile on the unicorn’s face faded slowly. “You know…I wish it was me who was in class with you. Getting you out of binds…if only I was a pegasus.”

“Oh, Twi…”

“At least I get to help you with your homework!” Her smile returned. “It’ll be so much fun!” She clopped her hooves together.

“Aheh...fun…right.”

*****

“Rainbow? Hey, wake up! You don’t want to be late.”

Dash groaned and turned around in bed, pulling the covers her head. “Just five more minutes, Scootaloo…”

“Scootaloo? Who’s that?”

Rainbow furrowed her brow and pulled the covers down to see who’s talking to her. She looked around…no one. “What the…who’s there?” She noticed something else. “Twilight, where are…” Something from behind her slipped its hooves around Rainbow’s waist. The pegasus froze momentarily before leaning back into it. “Oh…” She giggled. “There you are.”

Dash swiveled in those arms to face her. “Hey, Dash…”

She gasped. “M-Middy?!” It most certainly was that indigo-maned mare.

“Shhh…” Midnight put a hoof to her mouth, and then drew Rainbow in for a kiss. Dash tried to pull away, but the pegasus just pulled her back. After a few moments, Rainbow guiltily sunk into the mare…entranced by those sexy violet eyes. She pushed Midnight onto her back and deepened her kissing.

The oxford blue pegasus giggled. The guilt in Rainbow’s heart melting away into the night.

*****

Twilight was awakened by a strange noise. She yawned and turned to face Rainbow who was…making out with her pillow.

The unicorn laughed quietly. “Dash…what are you doing?” The pegasus’s eyes opened…glowing white. This killed Twilight’s laughter as she began shaking the mare. “Hey…wake up!”

It didn’t take much effort. The glow faded away and she was awake. Rainbow pulled away from the pillow and looked around. “Wha…What’s going on?”

“It seemed to me you were having a very weird, but enjoyable dream.” Twilight giggled and pointed at the pillow.

Dash eyed all the saliva and sweat that had accumulated on it. She blushed and threw the pillow away. “Yeah…aheh…very weird. Hey…I’m gonna grab something to drink.” She slipped off the bed and left. Twilight let out one more giggle before she went back to sleep.

Well, that was…unexpected. Rainbow, instead of getting a drink, headed into the bathroom and climbed into the shower. I don’t even have feelings for that pony…what’s with the dream? She stood in a safe place and turned on the water. She slowly adjusted the knobs until it was the right temperature, and then stepped into its streams. She let out a relaxing sigh as the warm water soaked into her.

It felt so real…her voice…her scent…her looks. I must be going crazy…I can’t be thinking about this! I love Twilight! She closed her eyes and faced the warm water…letting it patter against her face. That cute smile…those freckles…ah! She slapped herself and looked at the tiling beneath her. I can’t stop thinking about her! It’s just a stupid dream! I’m sure she doesn’t even feel that way towards me! She stomped her hoof. Dammit!

*****

“All right, guys! I gotta go!” Rainbow was packing up her stuff, getting ready for her next classes. Her mind was still plagued with thoughts about Midnight even through her early morning study sessions, which Twilight helped her through. Rainbow had memorized most of the routines and had brushed up on simple aerodynamic concepts and arithmetic. Other than Zephyr’s class, Dash was having two other new classes today: Pegasi History and Group Flight. The latter of which was essential for her chance with the Wonderbolts and so happens to be one of the major factors that failed her. The former was a requirement by Dean Jet. “Twilight, bring Scootaloo around 1:50 p.m. We’ll see if she can sit in on Coach Zephyr’s class.”

“Got it. Oh, and thanks for the map…” Twilight held up a sheet of paper with a very crude line-drawing of where the class was. “Should…” The front door closed…Rainbow had left already. “…help.”

*****

Way to start off the day with a boring history class. Rainbow was sitting in a larger lecture room than the Aerodynamic class. It spanned several hundred seats. At least I have a larger crowd this time. It won’t be so easy to get called out. She was scanning the room for her friend, but she couldn’t find her. Maybe she doesn’t have this class…and maybe it’s good she isn’t here. I’m not sure how to deal…

“Hey, Dash.” Rainbow’s wings shot out and she jumped. She looked behind her to see Midnight standing there.

“Middy…hey!” Dash smiled.

“That’s three classes I have with you, huh? What are the odds?” The pegasus sat down next to her. Midnight laid out her stuff. “Looks like this semester is going to be fun!” She clopped her hooves together. “Did you bring your book this time?”

Rainbow grinned and pulled it out of her bag. “I’m not making that mistake again. I may have weaknesses, but I sure know how to overcome them.”

The joy in Midnight’s face seemed to die. “Oh, hey, I hope you didn’t take that the wrong way yesterday. I felt so guilty afterwards for saying it.” Those violet eyes stared at her. Images of Rainbow’s dream flashed in her mind.

She turned her head. “Nono! You were right to say it. Words like that make a pony think harder about who they are.”

“Whew…” Midnight sighed in relief. “Friends are hard to come by here…That would have sucked the big one to lose one this early.”

Rainbow giggled and pulled out the rest of her stuff. “Well…you can be sure you won’t lose me.”

Midnight’s eyes watered. “Wow…thank you!” She dived towards Rainbow for a hug. This completely caught the pegasus off-guard. As much as Rainbow wanted to enjoy the hug…Midnight’s legs were cold…freezing almost…and her long mane tickled Dash’s face. She tried to blow the hair out of the way.

“Ever think to get a manecut?”

This made Sun jump back. She blushed and pushed her hair back “Is it too long? I always thought it was.”

“Well…actually…” Rainbow looked over that indigo mane…the style was pretty similar to her own…just much longer. So long it covered her right eye. It reminded her of Fluttershy…and Ponyville. Her heart sank…and her face showed it.

“Is it really that bad?”

Rainbow blinked. “Oh! No, I was just thinking of something else…you remind me of a friend I had in Ponyville. Just thinking of that place gets me a little homesick at times.”

“You’re from Ponyville? Interesting… you know I heard they had the largest apple orchard in history there.”

“Ah, yeah…Sweet Apple Orchard…I know the pony that owns that place. She’s a bit of a pain in neck though.” Rainbow chuckled.

Midnight chuckled herself. “I’d love to see it. But, you know…” She sighed. “Stuck here for another two years.” She twirled a pencil with her hoof and rested her chin on the other.

“Well, there is a break isn’t there? Maybe I can show you then. It’s not that far from Cloudsdale actually.”

The pegasus perked up. “You would…take me there?”

“Sure! Why not?”

“That sounds awesome! I…usually study during the break, but I guess I can take a few days off.”

Rainbow raised a brow. “Didn’t really take you for an egghead.”

“An…egg…head?” Midnight put her hooves to her face, feeling the shape.

Dash rolled her eyes. “You know…a bookworm.”

It connected with the pony that time and she blushed. “Oh, right. Well, my parents are very vigilant. ‘Your wings will take you high, but only your mind will take you higher.’” Midnight quoted in a funny voice which got a giggle out of Rainbow.

An egghead that can fly… She shook her head and sighed. Come on, Dash…Twilight is better in every way…Midnight can fly but she can’t do magic.

“Looks like class is starting.” Midnight whispered to her. Rainbow watched as the instructor walked in.

Here we go again…

*****

“Wow, Rainbow…you shaped up since yesterday.” Midnight and Rainbow were talking on their way to Zephyr’s class. “I didn’t have to help you this time…well, not as much.”

“Yeah, Twilight helped me out a little. She gave me some study notes.” Dash smiled, but Midnight was giving her an odd look.

“Who’s Twilight?” The two stopped.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you about her? She’s my…uhh…she’s a really good friend of mine. Came with me to Cloudsdale.” Rainbow was a little nervous talking about her.

Midnight stared at her for a moment, but then she suddenly perked up. “Oh! Twilight Sparkle! She’s one of the elements too, isn’t she?” The pegasus continued flying and Rainbow followed suit.

“Yeah. Of magic, and trust me, no pony is better at it than she is.”

“I heard she studies under Princess Celestia…what an honor…wish I could be so lucky.” Midnight sighed. “So…is she the one who gave you your wings?”

“You got it. Sort of a fluke, really. It’s why she came with me…to make sure they don’t disappear suddenly.”

“I think they’re spectacular…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” The pegasus smiled at Rainbow.

“Thanks…it means a lot. You know Twilight’s visiting me today in class.”

“Oh, she is? What for?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”

*****

They arrived at the field where other pegasi were gathering. The two meandered over to them when… “Rainbow!” Dash’s ears perked up as a little orange filly came galloping over to her. She dived for the mare’s leg and hugged it. “We made it!”

“Hey! Where’s Twi?” Scootaloo pointed to Twilight behind her. She was busy reading a book.

“I can’t wait to see your stuff!” The orange pegasus bounced.

“Who is this little filly?” Midnight kneeled to get eye-level with Scootaloo.

The tiny pegasus puffed her chest. “The name’s Scootaloo! Rainbow Dash’s one and only apprentice flyer.” Rainbow put a hoof to her face and blushed.

“Apprentice? How cute!” Sun squeed and ruffled the filly’s mane.

“Heeey!” Scootaloo batted away the mare. “It’s not cute! It’s awesome! Who are you anyway?”

“Just a friend of Rainbow’s. So what’s the occasion, Scootaloo? Why are you here?”

“I’m here to watch Rainbow fly! She’s only the greatest pegasus in Equestria!”

Rainbow pushed the little filly behind her. “Oh, come on, kid. You’re embarrassing me…”

“So… you’re Midnight Sun, huh?” Dash heard Twilight behind her and spun around.

“Oh, hey, Twi! I’m glad you two made it.”

Middy stood up and stepped forward. “And you’re…Twilight Sparkle?” Her eyes glittered. Twilight was taken aback.

“Uhh…yeah, that’s me…aheh…in the flesh. Am I well known here?”

“Um…well, you are the Princess’s personal protégé. It’s made headlines a couple times. Plus, I’ve heard stories from other ponies about your exploits…did you really defeat Discord, the bringer of chaos?”

Twilight cleared her throat as her face reddened. “Yeah, I did. But not without the help and courage of my beloved friends.”

“What are you talking about?” Rainbow interrupted. “You basically did all the work. We got hypnotized from the start!” Dash imitated by swirling her eyes.

“Hypnotized? Sounds interesting.” Midnight grinned at Dash.

“Oh, trust me.” Twilight sighed. “It was not a very pleasant experience.”

“Well, I’m envious. You two doing all this adventuring and saving the world. I’ve basically been holed up here for all my life.” The pegasus sighed. “What a bummer, right?”

Rainbow and Twilight looked uneasy…unable to come up with an answer.

“Hey! I thought this was a flying class not a drama one!” Scootaloo squeaked at them from below.

“Oh, right! We should get in line, Dash. Don’t want to upset Zephyr.” Midnight flew off towards the other pegasi.

Rainbow looked at the filly. “I know it’s not the Wonderbolts…but I’ll try to make it fun for ya.”

“You’d better do some cool tricks! I’ll be watching!” The filly stomped her hoof and smirked.

“You got it, Scootaloo.” She flapped her wings as if ready to take off.

“Rainbow?” Twilight spoke softly.

“Hm?” She stopped. “What’s up, Twi?”

The unicorn moved closer. “She’s a nice mare…but…be careful, okay?”

That’s three times now I’ve been told to be careful…why is everypony so weirded out by her?

“I’ll be fine, Twi…” She leaned in a kissed her cheek swiftly. “I gotta go.” Rainbow took off towards the others.

Just as Rainbow landed next to Midnight, Zephyr flew in cracked down on all of the talking pegasi. “Welcome back, ponies! I hope you’ve all had sufficient beauty sleep, because from here on out it’s only going to get tougher! Are you ready?!” Midnight sighed softly. Zephyr caught her and immediately approached her. “What was that?”

“Y-Yes, sir!” She straightened up.

“Do I hear some hesitation in that voice? I said, ‘are you ready’?!”

Midnight stomped the ground. “Yes, sir!!”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Once the coach walked away, Midnight let out another sigh. “I want all of you to give me exactly one hundred wing push-ups no more no less! You have five minutes! Go!” All of the ponies stared at him for a few seconds. “Four seconds and not a single one! Slackers! Get pushing!” Immediately they all fell to the ground and started. The stallion smiled, but then something caught his eye. He spotted Twilight and Scootaloo. “Who in the…” He flew off towards them. Sun saw where he was headed.

“Oh, no…Dash, he’s seen them.” Midnight whispered. She stopped her workout and was ready to follow him.

“No! Don’t worry about it. Twi can handle it. She’s tougher than she looks.”

“I know but…”

Zephyr approached the mare and filly with an irritated look. “Now what do we have here?! This is not some tourist attraction.” Scootaloo hid behind the unicorn.

Twilight shrunk a bit in the stallion’s presence. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Coach Zephyr. We’re here to watch.”

“How is that a unicorn is in Cloudsdale? Some form of magical trickery I expect, and who said you could watch the pegasi train?”

Twilight sneered. “Well, only the Princess herself. I’ll have you know you’re talking with one of Canterlot’s finest students.”

“Celestia, huh? Hm.” He began to walk away. “If you’ve come this far…I would have no reason to doubt you. Just stay away from the pegasi…they have enough to do than think about why a unicorn’s here of all things.” He was ready to take off back to the others when he saw Scootaloo move back into view.

Twilight caught his gaze and quickly reacted. “This is my…niece, Scootaloo. She wanted to…”

“Well, isn’t that something…?” Zephyr whispered to himself.

The unicorn titled her head, “Excuse me?”

While Zephyr was dealing with Twilight, Rainbow had been receiving some heat.

“You’re a cheat.” As she was doing her push-ups, Dash heard a voice from her left…a yellow pegasus stallion was eyeing her. “How can you call yourself a pegasus…with wings like those?” Rainbow couldn’t believe he just said that to her…a random pony she’s never met.

“Hey, leave her alone!” Midnight stopped her workout to confront the pegasus. “She lost her wings in an accident…it’s not morally correct to judge her that way!” This made Rainbow and several others stop as well.

“Where did she get’em? They don’t look real to me.”

Rainbow spoke up. “They’re magic, all right? They don’t feel different than my old wings! It’s no big deal!”

“Magic wings?!” Another pony complained. “A unicorn gave you those?! Ha!”

Midnight turned towards the voice. “You got a problem with unicorns?!”

“She’s obviously performing better than us because of those!” Yet another pony complained.

Rainbow was getting infuriated. “Oh, yeah?! I could have beaten all of you even with my old wings! You’re nothing compared to me!”

“Dash, no…” Midnight whispered a warning to her. “Don’t antagonize them!”

“Midnight, these ponies don’t know who they’re talking to! I, Rainbow Dash, challenge every single one of you to a race!” She stomped the ground.

“Big talk coming from a pony who gets her wingpower from a unicorn!” It was the yellow pegasus again.

“I wouldn’t doubt she used that power to win the Best Young Flyer Competition!”

“I wouldn’t doubt if she was a pegasus at all!”

“She doesn’t belong here!”

Every harsh remark was digging into her heart like nails. Rainbow was struggling to resist her urges to pummel every pony in her vicinity. She still couldn’t believe how similar Cloudsdale was when she first left. It seemed her peers always found something to hammer the stake in. All of her anxiety faded and she just wanted to prove to the world that she was the best. Her early memories of flight school dug into her mind and festered. Nothing had changed at all. Nothing…

“Rrrr!!” Rainbow growled and extended her wings. Her eyes, full of rage, were fixed on the yellow pegasus. She snorted and kneeled in ready to tackle him.

“Rainbow! Don’t do it!” Midnight tried to warn, but she was too late. Dash charged at the pegasus. Middy made the split second decision to intercept the pegasus mid-air. The two tumbled along the ground for a moment, and then Dash had her friend pinned beneath her hooves.

Midnight’s coat was cold…just like before. Regardless, Dash’s rage didn’t fade. “What are you doing? Don’t get in my way!”

“What in Equestria is going on?!!” A booming voice silenced the whole disturbance. It was Zephyr…having just returned from talking with Twilight. “I leave for one minute and you’re at each other’s throats?!”

“It was Rainbow Dash, sir!” The yellow pegasus spoke up. “She nearly attacked me because I asked about her wings!”

“You liar!” Dash defended. “You all ganged up on me! Called me a fake!”

“She’s lying, sir! I never called her that!”

Zephyr stomped his hoof. “Enough! Both of you! Cloud 9 does not tolerate these petty fights!” He looked at Rainbow…his demeanor changed slightly in almost an instant. “You!” He turned his head to the yellow pegasus. “Or any of you ponies for that matter…you will be punished for harassing this pegasus! I want to see two-hundred from all of you, and if I hear a single peep out of you…it’s two hundred more!”

All of the ponies’ jaws dropped. Did Zephyr...just defend Rainbow? Nobody could grasp what had just happened. Dash just now noticed that Twilight and Scootaloo were only a few yards away…obviously having witnessed the fight and investigated.

“Well?! Get started! All of you!” They all dropped and started going. No questions asked. Rainbow had gotten off of Midnight at this point and was following Zephyr’s orders as well. The coach approached her. “Except you, Dash. I want to see you in private.” Zephyr walked away from the rest. Dash’s anger faded and was now replaced with a heavy guilt…she had possibly just thrown her only chance away…what could he have to say to her?

Dash sunk and followed the stallion who suddenly spun once they were a decent distance. “You need to be more careful. You’re treading on thin ice as it is.”

“I-I’m sorry, Coach…I don’t know what came over me. I just couldn’t believe it.”

“Believe what? That a pegasi with wings made of magic would be put through the ringer? You shouldn’t be so naïve.” His words made her sink even more…she sighed and tried to contain her anger. “But don’t worry, Miss Dash. You’re more welcome here than you know…I didn’t put those ponies through the workout of their life if we didn’t. Just don’t go picking too many fights. Dean Jet wants you to succeed.”

His reassuring words uplifted the pony a bit. “Wow…he does? I didn’t know you all cared that much. I’ll…” Feeling a little guilty. “I’ll try a little harder to be nicer.” Her lips found a weak grin.

“What’s that?” His voice picked up. “You say you want to do fifty laps around the track? Well, that’s too bad, because I want one hundred laps! Get to it, Rainbow! Hut hut!”

Dash smiled. “Yes, sir!” She took off and zoomed around that track faster than she ever did before.

Scootaloo ran closer to the track to watch the pegasus…however, Twilight was more interested in another mare. But before she could reach Midnight, Zephyr intercepted her. “Remember what I said, Miss Sparkle.”

“Oh, right…aheh…of course.”

*****

A few hours passed and the class had ended. “Whew…what an ordeal, am I right?” Twilight and the other three gathered together after the rest had dispersed.

“I’m so sorry, Midnight.” Dash drug her hoof across the ground. “I sort of lost it there for a second.”

“I-It’s fine!” Sun chuckled nervously. “No harm done.”

The filly bounced in front of Rainbow. “Dash, you were awesome back there when you did all those routines! You really out-classed those other pegasi.” Scootaloo flapped her wings rapidly and zoomed around in circles, trying to imitate some of stuff she had seen.

The cyan pegasus giggled. “Let’s just hope they don’t hold it against me. It looks like I might be deeper into this than I had thought.”

Twilight eyed Midnight, and then brushed up against Rainbow, kissing her cheek. “You haven’t told us why Zephyr pulled you over.”

Midnight turned her head slightly and cocked a brow at the unicorn. A hint of realization dawned in her eyes as she sighed. “Yeah, I was for sure you would be expelled. I was really afraid.”

“It was the opposite actually. He told me that Jet himself was going to help me through this.”

This drew Middy closer. “Dean Jet is going to help you?! Wow…”

Twilight slowly broke away from Dash and moved closer to Midnight…who backed up slightly from her advance. “So…Midnight Sun…what’s your deal in all of this?”

The pegasus was taken aback. “W-What do you mean?”

“Twi, she’s a really good friend. Don’t do this…” Dash could see the interrogation starting.

“Do what?” The unicorn protested. “I just want to know why she’s been so attached to you…that’s all.”

“Well, uh…” Middy thought for a moment. “Rainbow…she looked like she needed somepony to keep her company…when I saw her all alone in that lobby…I knew somepony could use some help.” Midnight was satisfied with her answer, but Twilight was not.

“So you just randomly decided to help out a complete stranger? No strings attached? No ulterior motives for hanging with one of the most famous pegasi around?”

“Um, look…I’m sorry if I seem like a complete weirdo. I just wanted to help…” Middy’s eyes became a little watery. “If you’re not okay with it…I’ll just…”

“Just tell me why, Midnight! Why are you helping Rainbow?”

“I-I don’t know! Okay?!” Her response made a couple tears fly.

Twilight could see her sincerity, but before she could apologize Dash jumped in between them. “Come on, Twi! That’s not fair! Why do you have to be so mean to her?!”

“No, it’s all right, Dash…” Midnight backed away. “I understand completely. I-I’ll see you tomorrow!” She suddenly took off…faster than Dash had ever seen.

“Wait!” Twilight called to her, but she was already gone. “I’m sorry!”

Rainbow advanced on the unicorn. “Now what was that for?!”

“I-I just wanted an answer…” Dash could see that Twilight was upset about it as well. “I didn’t mean to…”

Rainbow huffed. “I didn’t forget the kiss, Twilight. Are you…jealous of her? Do you think she was trying to make moves on me?!”

“No, I’m not jealous! I’m sorry, but I just had my suspicions! I wanted to be sure!”

“Hey!!” The fed up filly flew into between the mares and put her hooves on their noses…hovering a good distance from the ground. “I didn’t want to go with you guys to see you fight all the time!” The two mares calmed down a little.

Twilight sighed. “I was going to apologize, Dash. You just stopped me before I could. It’s just…you don’t feel a slight bit uneasy around her?”

Dash felt the urge to yell more…but then her memory of the cold touch Midnight had filled her mind. “Well…yeah, now that you mention it…but…”

“Let’s go home, Rainbow. We’ll talk more.” The unicorn moved closer and kissed her lips.

Dash pulled away. “I can’t…I still have one class left for today. My group flight class.”

“But it’s in an hour, isn’t it? We can at least grab something to eat…can’t we?”

“I…I’m not hungry, Twi. We can eat after class…I’ll talk to you later.” She turned and took off. Twilight held out a hoof…slowly letting it drop as a wave of guilt hit her like a hammer. She had just alienated her love…and harmed a potential friendship…all because of her silly desire for truth. She slowly sighed…

“Hey, Twilight…” Scootaloo hugged the hoof. The unicorn faced her. “I’m hungry…if you’re interested.”

The unicorn’s eyes watered…she hugged the filly, and then nodded. “Yeah…let’s get something to eat…just the two of us.”

*****

She searched everywhere for her. Rainbow wanted to find her and relay Twilight’s apology. If she just wasn’t so harsh…I wish that pony would just think before she acts. Then Rainbow remembered her tiff with that yellow pegasus. Actually…I guess I’m not that much different. Where are you, Middy? Where do you live? Where do you go when I’m not around? She entered an alleyway…surely she wouldn’t be here of all places, but she was running out of ideas.

Of course, it was then she heard some kind of commotion. She silently flew further down the alleyway.

“What do you see in that fake, huh? You’re not so tough when she’s not around, huh?”

“Just leave me alone! You’ll be in trouble if Jet finds out about this!”

That voice…it couldn’t be. Rainbow peeked her head around a corner. Midnight?! No! It certainly was her…and she was cornered by none other than the yellow pegasus and two other stallions.

“Oh, I’m so afraid of Dean Jet…the old codger couldn’t even face his own family…what makes you think he’ll care about you?!” The pegasus advanced on Middy and pushed her up against the wall. He looked her over. “Huh…so it’s true…you freak.” The other two pegasi chuckled.

Rainbow gritted her teeth…she had to stop this….no. She must. “Hey! You three!” She jumped out into view. All four turned their heads.

“Rainbow!!” Midnight smiled.

“How about you cowards try your hooves on me?” Rainbow flared her nostrils and scuffed the ground with a hoof.

“Well well…look who’s come to pick up where she left off, unicorn lover.” The yellow pegasus let go of Midnight, but the other two kept an eye on her. He began advancing towards Dash.

“Say another bad thing about unicorns and I’ll trash you!” She extended her wings and stomped the ground.

“Ha! That unicorn that was here today…she your fillyfriend? Figures…no stallion would want look at those ugly things every day.” The stallion was about twice Rainbow’s size…he was looking more intimidating every second.

“Dash! Please don’t do something you’ll regret!” Midnight hollered. Her mouth was subsequently covered by one of the pegasi.

Rainbow whispered to herself. “This will be one thing I won’t regret.”

“What’s that, phony pegasus? It better be a prayer to Celestia…because she’s the only thing that’s going to help you now.” He took a charging stance and flapped his wings.

Midnight tried to struggle out of the ponies’ grasp, but she was quickly subdued with a quick hoof to the face. The blow had knocked her out. The two pegasi laughed.

Rainbow gasped...a surge of anger encapsulated the mare. “Midnight! You bunch of sorry bastards!!” She stomped both of her hooves on the ground and the clouds beneath them trembled. Dash gritted her teeth hard…her wings began to glow a soft amethyst. “You’ll pay for that!” Her eyes flashed white. The three pegasi were quickly intimidated by this turn of events.

Before the yellow pegasus could even react, Rainbow charged at him with a brilliant flash and tackled the pony. They tumbled down the alleyway a couple yards before Dash had him on the ground. She planted a hoof right down on the stallion’s right wing. Crack! The stallion let out a scream. The mare wasn’t satisfied…she stomped on the other one…breaking it as well. Another scream erupted from the wrecked stallion.

“That makes two of us now…doesn’t it?!” Dash hovered above him and her wings glowed brighter. She grinned. “See ya, loser!” She drew her wings back as far as they would go…then flapped as hard as she could towards the stallion. An incredible gale of wind blasted the stallion through the cloud-ground, creating an enormous hole and sending the unfortunate stallion towards the awaiting earth. She could hear the pegasus scream as he fell.

She turned to face the other two pegasi and her wings glowed once more. Immediately, they screamed and took to the skies, leaving Midnight on the ground. Rainbow flew to her, the ominous power leaving the pony on the way. “Middy!” She shook the mare who flopped around in her grasp. “Wake up!” Her skin was stone cold…why?

“Ugh…” She began to come around. “Rainbow? Is that you?” She put a hoof to her face where she had been hit. “My face hurts…”

“It’s me, Middy…Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

“Home? You’re…too kind, Dash.” The mare was still groggy and wasn’t responding very well.

“Yeah, just tell me where.”

“I…I don’t have a home…”

Chapter 11 - Seeing is Believing

Act 2

Chapter 11 – Seeing Is Believing

*****

Going beyond the boundaries, new pains and new paths emerge. It’s a difficult choice to make because…can you ever go back?

*****

It was afternoon. Rainbow made her way home…with Midnight on her back. She was still shaken up and didn’t have the strength to fly.

Ironically, the comfort and safety of her home didn’t seem to accommodate the gut-wrenching fear that Rainbow was feeling. She was fully aware of what just happened and it was taxing her mind to exhaustion. The dark and gloomy atmosphere of her house didn’t help. Just from looking, Dash could tell that no one was home, but she had to make sure.

“Twilight?!” Dash called out as she entered through the front door…no answer. “Scootaloo?” She called…still no answer. She considered investigating the cause right away, but she was worried more for her new friend. “They’re not here, Middy.” The pegasus shivered. “Why are you so cold? Come on.” She set her down.

“T-Thank you, Dash…and I feel fine. What happened back there? Where did those ponies run off to?”

Rainbow stood still for a moment staring at Midnight. It wasn’t a question she wanted to answer at the moment. “I…I don’t know…but it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you’re okay.”

Midnight eyed her suspiciously. Rainbow’s heart jumped a little. That look…why does it look so familiar? Her eyes were piercing…trying to find truth. Those weren’t the only set of violet eyes that have tried to do that.

“If you say so…” She surrendered her petrifying gaze and looked around the house. “Is this where you live?” Midnight began exploring into the kitchen. “Not too shabby.”

Rainbow sighed and halted her little runaround. “Look…Midnight. I think you should stay here for the night. I don’t want you to be alone again.”

How did she get into that situation anyways?

“You don’t mind?” A smile crept over her face.

Dash was beginning to show her exhaustion. “Of course. I’m pretty sure Twi won’t mind either once she learns you have no place to stay.”

“Thank you, Dash. You’re too kind.” Midnight slowly advanced towards the pegasus.

“Now, do you need something to drink? Eat? I’m not much of a cook, but I can make something simple for ya’.”

“I’m fine…Dash, are you okay?” She suspected Dash was masking something with her questions. Their faces were only a few inches from each other.

She turned her head away and sighed. “Yeah! Yeah…I’m fine. I think I just need to lie down. Make yourself at home, Middy. I’ll be upstairs…” She began climbing the stairs without another word. Midnight watched her as she disappeared into the floor above.

Rainbow dropped her bags onto the floor and plopped onto her bed. She let out a moan of relief and snuggled into the covers. Grabbing a pillow and nuzzling into it. Ugh…finally a moment to think…what an afternoon. So…what does this mean? I think I may have just killed somepony…

Her rueful heart cringed…a few tears soaking into the pillow cover. Why did I go so far? I should have just smacked him around a bit…It’s just I felt something…some kind of adrenaline…something that just made me want to tear into the guy. Now what…a life in prison? No way…a pegasus would go mad in there. I’ll just run…run far away. I’ll just take Twilight and just hide away with her. Her heart began to beat rapidly…the thought was appealing. Her interest in her dream began to fade…she just desired to be safe with the one she loved.

Midnight poked her head into the room. She saw Dash pull up from the pillow and sniffle. She ducked around the corner so Dash wouldn’t see her. You’re not okay…something terrible happened in that alleyway…I’m gonna find out one way or another.

Dash sat up and hugged the pillow. She had her back against the doorway and was looking out the bedroom window. The sun was beginning to set. Dash never cared for the interior of the place…but she was desperately looking for something else to think about. Her eyes danced around the room to examine its various artifacts.

In one corner was a small red ball with a yellow stripe next to a bigger, purple, starred ball. Several different memories hit her at once…especially the time she spent in the hospital reading Daring Do…or trying to read rather. What if that guy was in a hospital now? Coming up with a way to seek his revenge against me? She sighed hoping, ironically, that this was the case as opposed to the alternative. The alternative…

In another corner, it looked like Twilight had set up a little area for reading with a lounge pillow and a stack of books…typical. I wonder where Twilight is…she said something about eating…probably went with the kid. How long has it been since then? It had to be a couple hours. What could she be doing? How would she react to what I’ve done?

“Twilight, where are…” Rainbow gasped…she felt something slip around her like icy tongs. She pivoted in place to face whoever was gripping her.

“Hey, Dash…”

“M-Middy? What are you…?”

“Shhh…” The mare put a hoof to her mouth. “I don’t want to be alone again.” She slipped the hoof away and dived for a kiss. Midnight’s eyes shut and she wrapped her forelegs around the mare’s neck. Midnight’s cold lips chilled her own…the cyan pegasus didn’t know how to react…she didn’t kiss back…how could she? What is happening?! What are you doing…?

Midnight opened her eyes and saw tears trickling down Dash’s face. Immediately, she felt horrible. She pulled away from her. “I’m so sorry!” She whispered. “I don’t know what came over me. It just felt right for some reason…I’m such a…” This time is was Dash who silenced her with a hoof. The oxford blue pegasus just stared noiselessly.

Don’t… She leaned in closer to Middy. Don’t do it… She slowly embraced the mare. I’m sorry, Twi! She touched lips with the mare and kissed. A wave of guilt struck the pegasus…but she didn’t care. She just wanted comfort…someone to hold and love. Midnight seemed to share her desire…deepening their kiss and pressing the cyan mare against the bedspread.

*****

A large wooden door creaks open as Twilight and Scootaloo step through it. Sunlight spilled through and illuminated the dimly lit interior of what appears to be library. The two ponies began making their way inside. Spotted throughout the library were various ponies reading books with small candles next to them.

“Strange how every other place we’ve been to has a least some light.” Twilight spoke.

Scootaloo was sticking rather close to the mare…looking around cautiously. “Why are we here again?”

Twilight spotted an unused candle, lit it with her magic, and levitated it close by her. “That pony…Midnight Sun. Doesn’t she seem a little strange to you, Scootaloo?”

“She was a little I guess…I didn’t talk to her much. But what does she have to do with a library?” They turned a corner. The filly spotted the sign “Fiction” as they passed by.

“I’ll tell you why once we find what we’re looking for.” She began to levitate the candle around as she examined each book.

“And what exactly might that be?” Scoot poked at a book with her hoof. This caused a small row of books to collapse and shoot out a cloud of dust at the filly. She coughed stepped away from the shelf. “Bleck!”

The mare chuckled and levitated the candle in front of Scootaloo. “It’s called Adventure into the Stars: The Tale of the Moon Siren.” The filly took the metallic tray holding the candle in her mouth. “Go ahead and take a look on the other side of this shelf. I’m going to look here.” Her horn began to glow…illuminating the area. Scoot nodded and Twilight watched as the filly pranced around the corner.

This is such a silly investigation…but I have to be sure…Midnight Sun. It just had to be a coincidence. She began to rifle through the hundreds of books on the shelf. The entire shelf devoted to the letter ‘A’. It was going to be a tiresome search because the mare soon discovered that these books were not very well organized and hardly alphabetized.

Great…who made this mess? I wouldn’t be surprised if Spike did the shelving. She picked through the ‘ad’ section to no avail. I wonder how he’s doing…probably at his claws and knees begging those crusaders to leave…I wonder how the crusaders are taking Scootaloo’s absence. We kind of took the filly without a word…hm. Speaking of…I wonder if her mother is worried. She never did talk about her. She stared at a single book titled “Abjuration of a Child” while she was distracted with her thoughts. She blinked and shook her head. Her eyes were showing signs of weariness. She yawned and continued her search.

She pulled a nearby ladder over and began searching the higher shelves. Gotta find this book. It has to be here somewhere. Twilight heard some noises on the other side of the shelf. It seems Scootaloo hasn’t given up yet. I just hope this venture is worth it.

~ Come on, Twi! That’s not fair! Why do you have to be so mean to her?! ~

She heard Rainbow’s voice in her mind. The line she yelled at her before she left. It stung her guilty heart. She never wanted to hurt Rainbow…she just wasn’t aware of how attached she was to Midnight.

I should have been more careful. I just hope Dash hasn’t done anything stupid. Like the last time she was alone…Her friend’s suicide attempt replaying in her mind. She’s reckless…careless. I need to get back to her!

“Ugh! Where is this blasted thing anyway?” She banged her head against the shelf.

“Hey, Twilight! I found it!” She heard the filly cry up to her. Twilight lit up and descended the ladder quickly.

“You did?! How did you find it?” She looked at the book Scootaloo had in her mouth. Indeed, it was the book.

“Well, I couldn’t find it on my own…so I asked somepony to help me look for it. It was in the children’s section…not fiction.”

“The children’s section?” Was it really that childish? The filly nodded to her. “Well, good job! You saved us a lot of time.” The mare sat down right there and opened the book. “Tale of the Moon Siren…did you know this my favorite series as a filly.”

“You’ve been reading for that long?” Scoot sat next to her and looked at the book as well.

“Yep, and I’m still as vigilant as ever. I didn’t always read books about magic and lore. Sometimes I would indulge in some fiction too.”

“Like Daring Do?”

The unicorn giggled. “Yes yes, Daring Do and many others. But my most favorite of all was the Adventure into the Stars series.”

“I can’t imagine why…” The filly was well aware of her hobbies.

“You see, I had a really fancy telescope back in Canterlot that I absolutely fell in love with. I used to stargaze every night…I always wondered what it was like out in space among the millions upon millions of stars.” She flipped a couple pages. There are a lot of pictures in here…but there’s one specific one… She stared at the book intently as she flipped through it.

“Wait! Go back a page!” Scootaloo stood and pointed a hoof. “I thought I saw something.” Twilight turned it back and…

“That’s it! Look!” It was a picture of a mare…a very familiar one.

“That isn’t…is it?!”

“Yes, Scootaloo…it’s her…it’s Midnight Sun.” She pointed to a caption under the picture which confirmed it.

“What does it mean? Does that mean this story isn’t a filly’s tale?”

“No…it means I have to apologize to Rainbow Dash…a lot.”

*****

The two pegasi collapsed into each other…sweating and exhausted. Dash was surprised by how vigorous Midnight was…much more than Twilight. That cold aura from the pegasus had completely vanished. Every touch and kiss was warm and pleasing.

Midnight kissed her neck and tightened her embrace. Dash couldn’t help but giggle…she was still going at it. “Please, Middy. Twi will be home any minute. I have to clean up or she’ll suspect something.” She pushed her away and the pegasus gave her a longing look of desperation. “I mean it!” Rainbow chuckled.

“Dash?” She put a hoof on her chest.

Her giggle slowly died. “Uh…yeah?”

“Tell me…tell me what happened in that alleyway.”

The question gripped the pegasus like a vice. “I-I told you…I don’t know what happened.” Midnight stared at her…doubtful. “Okay okay…look, you can’t tell anypony.” She paused. “I…I think I might have…” Creak! The two ponies gasped as they heard the front door open downstairs.

“Oh no! What do I do, Dash?!” Midnight loudly whispered. She made her way off the bed.

“Out the window! Should just slide open! Go go!” Dash pushed the pegasus. Midnight quickly flew over to the window and made her escape. Rainbow quickly closed the door to the bedroom. She straightened all she could and tried to fix her mane and coat. Dammit! What have I done?! She’s totally going to find out. She’s not naïve. I shouldn’t even try to hide it… There was a silent knocking on the door.

“Rainbow? Are you in there? Is everything all right?”

“Yeah! Come on in! Door’s open.” None other than Twilight entered. Before she made it into the room, Dash noticed a purple feather on the ground. She gasped and dived for it, stuffing it into her mouth. Twilight saw the pegasus on the floor and gave her an understandably skeptical look. She shook her head and brought a book in with her. She dropped it onto the bed.

“Dash, I’m so glad you’re here. Look…I’m so sorry about Midnight and…” She stopped mid sentence and sniffed the air. “Is it…musty in here to you?” Rainbow answered with a meek nod. “Uh…Are you all right? You’re acting a little weird…more weird than usual.” Rainbow rolled her eyes and turned her head away from the mare. Twilight was taken aback. “Still mad, huh? I understand but…I can’t stress how sorry I am!” Rainbow teared up as she painfully swallowed the feather.

“Bleck! Nono, Twi!” She turned to face her again and got up to approach her. “I just got back from class and it was a bit uh…grueling. Here…let me open the window.” She walked towards the slightly ajar window and opened it fully. “Ahh…much better.” She took in the nightly breeze. The sun had finally set.

“O-kay…Dash, I have something really important to show you. It has to do with Midnight. She may not be as innocent as you thought.” Her last line irritated the pegasus.

“Please, Twi. Can you just leave her alone? She’s a smart…and wonderful pony.”

“Just hear me out. I’m just concerned…I found something that might change your mind.”

Dash was getting a bit upset…but she was becoming a little interested herself. “All right…what is it? Where have you been anyway? You should have been home hours ago.”

“Well, you see…” The two mares gathered at the bed and Twilight put a hoof on the book. “When I heard your friend’s name…it struck a chord…a very old one. So after Scootaloo and I ate dinner, we stopped by the public library to search for a book.” She pushed it towards Rainbow. “This one…take a look.” Dash put a hoof under the cover and began to open it. The unicorn quickly stopped her. “Before you open it…I just want to apologize in advance…I only did this because I care about you.”

“What’s got you so worked up?” She opened it and read the title. “Adventure into the Stars: The Tale of the Moon Siren…is this a children’s book, Twi?”

“Yes! So it should be easy to read…even for you.” This got a mean look from the pegasus. “Aheh…sorry.”

Dash sighed and continued, “Chapter one: The Myth of the Moon Siren. Among many space ponies, there lived a tale of a creature whose beauty was like none other. She was said to be the fate of anypony who strayed off the main space highways…come on, Twi. Tell me why I’m reading this!” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Okay okay…I’ll spare you the suspense…turn to page twenty-seven.” Rainbow was quick about it. “Look at that picture carefully…and read what’s under it.”

Dash’s eyes widened…she mouthed “Midnight Sun”. She stared at it for what seemed like minutes until she slammed the book shut. “Is this some kind of joke, Twi?!” She burst into anger.

“No! Look!” She opened the book back up to the page. “It’s her, Dash. Even you can’t disagree. It’s a spitting image!”

“Yeah?! So? What does that mean? Why is she in a children’s book? Was she the writer or something?”

“No…even better. I think she actually is Midnight Sun, the Moon Siren, a creature that seduces the hearts of innocent ponies and devours them!” Twilight got excited as she explained the myth.

“What are you talking about?! She’s no creature! How could you say that?!” She growled.

“What I’m saying, Rainbow, is that she may not be real. She…”

Dash grew tired of the unicorn’s nonsense and lunged at her. “Enough!” She shoved the mare to the ground. Twilight hit the nightstand behind her and knocked over a lamp. She was shocked…she fell silent as Dash towered over her. The pegasus was breathing heavily…she was legitimately furious. However, in a moment it faded and she ran out of the room leaving Twilight alone and stunned.

Rainbow headed out the front door and tried to open her wings…they didn’t. “Come on! What’s wrong with you?” She strained and struggled to get them to move.

“Where do you hope to go, Dash?” The pegasus heard Twilight behind her and turned. “To Midnight? Do you even know where she lives?”

Rainbow realized that the unicorn was holding her wings down with magic…she could see that horn glowing. “No! She doesn’t have a home…she told me!”

“No home? Doesn’t that strike you as odd?” She moved closer only to have Dash step backward.

“It doesn’t matter! I’ll find her anyways. Now, let me go, Twilight! You can’t keep me grounded!”

“Just remember who gave you those wings, Rainbow!”

“Oh, yeah?! Just remember who took my old ones away!”

“I didn’t take them away! You lost them when you saved me!”

“Well…then…maybe I shouldn’t have saved you!”

The unicorn gasped. She was crying at this point. “Maybe you’re right!!” Her horn sparked and she teleported away. The hold on Dash’s wings gave way. She opened them up, but then she saw Scootaloo standing in the doorway.

“That was so uncool, Rainbow Dash.” The filly approached her.

Dash gritted her teeth. “Stay out of this, kid! She had it coming!”

“I may be a filly, but even I know that was uncalled for! I don’t know who you are…but you’re not the awesome, loyal Rainbow Dash I remember.”

“You cheeky little…” She stopped herself…it slowly dawned on her. “But…I was just defending a friend! Midnight is…”

“Midnight Midnight Midnight. That’s all you two talk about! If she really is a Moon Siren like that book said…she’s doing a good job pulling you two apart.” Dash sunk. She was starting to become convinced. Maybe she was… She remembered the love they shared earlier. Cheating...killing...Why am I doing these things? What’s happening to me?

Scootaloo continued, “I’m gonna ask Twilight to send me home. I didn’t want this…” She turned and headed inside.

“Wait, Scoot! I-I’m sorry! You’re right…I can’t believe it took you to see it…but I have been acting like a…” She couldn’t think of the word.

“Like a total jerk? Yeah, you could say that.” The filly smiled.

The two headed back inside and found Twilight in her room crying in that little corner she read books in. She had a wall of books obstructing their view.

Dash sighed and approached the wall. “Twi?”

She could hear the unicorn collect herself and she spoke softly. “What is it?

She tried to look through the wall and found a small crack where she could see Twilight. “Nice book fort you got here.” The unicorn rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I…I think you’re right. Let me talk to her tomorrow…No, wait…let me bring her over. We’ll find out together.”

“What will you do if she is…you know.”

“I don’t know…let’s just deal with that as it comes.”

“And if she isn’t…?”

Dash fell silent for a few moments. “Let’s just get some sleep…I’m bushed.”

*****

Wednesday morning. Dash was on her way to class. She hadn’t seen Midnight yet…and couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe something else happened to her. However, as she was about to fly onto the field for her first class, that “seductress” flew in front of her.

“Good morning, Dash!” The pegasus was as giddy as ever. She wasn’t aware of what transpired last night. Rainbow was a little hesitant. She needed to act normally around her…like her talk with Twilight never happened.

“Hey, Middy! How’s it going? I had a great time last night.” She put on a teasing smile.

The dark blue pegasus giggled. “Dash, come on…not in public. Let’s get to class.”

“Y-Yeah. Let’s hope today is a little more peaceful.”

The two pegasi reached the line and got into their positions. Midnight looked around a little and she sighed. “Dash.”

“What?”

“He’s not here.”

“Who? Zephyr? He’s always late.”

“No!” Middy fell into a whisper. “The one who attacked me last night…he’s gone.”

A huge knot grew in Dash’s throat. She looked where he usually stood and…she was right. A perfect gap where he should be. Rainbow fidgeted a bit. No! He’s fine…he has to be!

“What happened, Dash?” There’s that question again.

“Not now, Middy!” She hushed her. In her peripheral, Dash could see two pegasi approaching them…the two she let go from last night. They had grins on their faces. “Oh no…”

Wham! A savior in the form of a green stallion landed in between Dash and the two pegasi. “Good morning, slackers!” He eyed the two pegasi. “And what are you two doing out of line?!” He stomped his hoof and the stallions quickly returned to their spots. “That’s better!” Okay, is he a coach or some sort of military trainer…? “Now I was severely disappointed in you ponies yesterday! I had better not see another hoof out of line or you’re gone! You got that?!” He eyed one of the ponies.

The pony stopped his talk and looked around a bit. He noticed the gap where the yellow pegasus should have been. “Class! We have a little sad story to tell. It appears one of your mates has taken a turn for the worse. Sometime yesterday, our poor Grinder broke both of his wings in some sort of bizarre accident. He’s now staying at Mammatus Hospital. Nopony knows who’s responsible for the assault.” Just hearing that, Dash felt a huge weight on her shoulders vanish entirely.

The two witnesses stepped up. “We know who did it, Coach Zephyr!” Dash’s heart sank.

“What?! Get back in line, you two! How would you know who did it?” He glared at the ponies.

“I-It was Rainbow Dash! She broke both of his wings and sent him flying towards solid ground…uh, sir!” Zephyr turned his head to Rainbow who immediately froze. He walked over to the pegasus and eyed her for a while.

“You’re telling me this petite bird-brain took on Grinder?” He put a hoof on her head. Who’s he calling a bird-brain?!

“Yes, she did!” The other of the two spoke. “He didn’t even touch her!”

Zephyr continued to stare at Rainbow as if trying to find something in her eyes. Suddenly, however, he burst into laughter and fell backwards. Dash chuckled a bit as well…unsure what was going on. She looked at Midnight who just shrugged. The coach got to his feet. “You can’t be serious! You two probably could have picked any stallion in this line and I would have believed you. But Rainbow Dash?!” He cackled.

“But it’s true, coach!” The two pegasi said in unison. Zephyr’s laughter immediately died and he confronted the ponies.

“Don’t think I forgot about yesterday, slackers! I hope you haven’t either. Any more attempts to harass Miss Dash and you both are out of her faster than you can say Cumulus! Is that clear?!”

Reluctantly the two ponies nodded. I can’t believe it…No way did I just dodge that one. However, Zephyr shot a glance at her. It was about two seconds long…enough to tell Rainbow he was on to her. She sighed. At least he’s alive…Oh, Celestia thank you…

“Now all of you! I want all of you to stretch those wings! Stretch them till they dislocate! I want a minimum…of eighty…slaloms through those cloud pillars in half an hour!” Rainbow Dash grinned and started right away with her stretches as the rest just stood silently. Zephyr smiled. “Aha! Now see there’s some initiative! Get cracking! You’ve wasted…” He looks at his watch. “Ten seconds…eleven…twelve.” The rest followed suit.

*****

“Twilight?” Scootaloo called to her. The two were relaxing outside.

“Yeah, Scoot?” She was reading the book they got from the library while the filly was practicing her flying.

“I’m so bored! When does Dash get home?” Scootaloo did a couple of miniature loop-de-loops. She hadn’t mastered flying yet…so her attempts often landed her face-first into ground.

“Hm.” She looked at the sky. “About three more hours…”

“Three hours?! You’ve gotta be kidding me!”

“Well, she left about fifteen minutes ago, Scoot. Even you know classes last longer than that.”

“Ugh!” She collapsed onto the ground and began tapping the ground impatiently.

Twilight shook her head, but then got an idea. “Hey, Scoot…want to see something cool?”

“Huh?” She turned to her. “What is it?”

“Think of an animal. Any animal…try to pick a small one.”

“An animal…?” Twilight nodded. “Uh…Okay, I thought of one…now what?”

“Keep it in your head. Now imagine it’s right in front of you.”

“Imagine it? Uh, okay?” She stared at the ground in front of her for a few seconds. “Um…nothing’s…” She gasped. Out of seemingly nowhere…a chicken! She jumped back. “Woah! How the…?”

“Ta da!” Twilight smiled. “Is this your animal, Scoot?”

The filly nodded. “It is! But that’s more weird than cool…you did that?”

“Yeah. Actually, I wasn’t even sure I could do something like that.” The chicken vanished. “Ever since I gave Dash her wings…I’ve been wondering what else I could do with this crazy horn.”

“But how did you know I was thinking of a chicken?”

“Oh! I read your mind…it’s something else I can do.”

“Woah! So you’re like some kind of psychic pony?”

“Nono.” She chuckled. “It’s just magic. If somepony is thinking too hard about one thing…I can sort of hear it.”

“Wicked…so do you think you can give me wings too?” The filly became excited at the idea.

“Oh no…you’re getting your wings the natural way…with patience. Besides, I’m not even sure I can.”

“Aw…” She sank in disappointment.

The unicorn rolled her eyes and her horn began to glow.

Chapter 12 - Treading on a Bed of Nails

Act 2

Chapter 12 – Treading on a Bed of Nails

*****

Confrontation is a gamble. What unfolds is always a mystery…be it pleasant or horrifying. Confrontation is a necessary evil…even if it means staring directly into the face of death…

*****

“Well, it looks like today our time together has drawn to an end.” Instructor Sophie Fokker was packing her things as well as her students. “I will see you all Friday.” The pegasi began filing out of the tiny classroom.

“Hey, Middy.” Rainbow was quick to catch Midnight as she was ready to bolt for her next class. “I was wondering if…oh, right…you still have another class, don’t you?”

“Huh? Yeah, I do. Why? What’s up, Dash?”

“I was just gonna ask…if you could come over to my place. You know…if you have nothing else to do.”

Midnight’s face lit up. “Your place?! Wow…Of course! Let’s go right now!”

Rainbow chuckled. “But I thought you had class? Surely you can’t…”

“I’ll just skip it…hey, I already know everything about Pegasus anatomy anyway.” She grinned suggestively. “I’m sure I can miss one session.”

“Hey! Shhh…” Dash blushed. “Well, if it’s all right with you…let’s go.” Rainbow gathered her things and the two were already off towards Dash’s home.

“Rainbow Dash!” Someone called to her. The two ponies stopped and turned. “Wow, you two are fast…” It was none other than the Dean…Rip Jet. The stallion’s black mane was disheveled and he was wheezing. “You must forgive an old man…can’t keep up with you young ponies anymore.”

“Dean Jet…” Midnight was frozen. “Dash, I’ll see you at your house…I’m sure it has nothing to do with me.”

“Wait, Middy?” The pegasus was already gone. What in the…

“Don’t worry about her, Rainbow Dash.” The brown stallion straightened his glasses and cleared his throat. “How have you been enjoying your classes, Rainbow Dash?” Dash never thought how much her name popped when repeated so often.

“Please…just call me Dash, and I’ve actually been enjoying myself. There’s so much I’ve learned in the past few days.” She tried to keep her language appropriate for the stallion.

“Excellent. Listen Dash, can you meet me in my office at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning?”

“7 a.m.? Sure, no problem. Can I ask why?” She tilted her head.

The stallion seemed startled by the question. “I-It’s a surprise. I’m sure you’ll be excited.” He had a genuine, honest tone about him. It was a bit uncanny…how comfortable Rainbow felt around him regardless of his acute mannerisms.

“A surprise, huh? Yeah, okay. I’ll be there!”

“Awesome!” The stallion tried to imitate Rainbow. “Be no later than seven. I know how you are.”

That last line crept up on her…what? “What does that m…”

“I’m sorry, Dash…” He interrupted. “…but I have to go. Enjoy the rest of your day.” The stallion flapped his wings twice before he took off. He was actually faster than she thought.

‘I know how you are’? How would he know anything about me? I’ve only met him twice. She blinked back into reality and shook her head. I’ve got to get back to the house…hopefully Twilight hasn’t zapped her or something.

*****

Knock knock knock!

“Hey, Twilight! Rainbow’s home!” Scootaloo yelled from her room upstairs.

Twilight emerged from the study. “Yeah, but why is she knocking?” She mumbled to herself as she approached the door. She swung it open with her magic and gasped. “Midnight?”

Midnight smiled and nodded. “How are things, Twilight?”

Twilight peered behind the pegasus and furrowed her brow. “Where’s Rainbow?”

“Oh! She’ll be here in a minute or so. She got stopped by Dean Jet on our way over here.” The pegasus made her way in despite Twilight’s skepticism.

“Dean Jet? Is she all right?” The unicorn closed the door. She followed Midnight into the kitchen/dining room, the general meeting area. It was strange…Twilight suspected the pegasus had been here before by her “right at home” demeanor.

“I hope so. The Dean didn’t seem upset…” She gave Twilight a questionable look.

Twilight wasn’t comfortable at all staying in the same room with a horrible mythical creature…or at least she believed Midnight was. As long as I don’t look into her eyes or get close to her…I should be all right. She drew her knowledge from the myth told in the book. She realized she was looking right at Midnight and she averted her eyes. Instead, she looked at her flank…the cutie mark to be exact. A circle with a four-point star…what could that mean? By this moment, her attention had strayed from Rainbow’s absence.

“Uh, Twilight? Is something wrong?” Midnight caught her stare and blushed.

“Hm?! Oh…” The unicorn shook her head and smiled sheepishly. “…it’s nothing. Midnight…what does your cutie mark mean? How did you get it?”

“You mean this thing?” She turned her head to look at it. “It’s a…kind of a long story.”

Twilight sat down. “Well, we have to wait for Dash…so there’s time.”

Midnight frowned a little. “You really want to hear it?”

The unicorn nodded. “Of course! I’ll get you something to drink while you tell it.” She went a few paces from Midnight to the kitchen.

“Hm.” The pegasus fell silent for a few moments as if gathering her thoughts. “Well, it was…a very, very cold night in…uh…Cloudsdale. My father was with me and…”

Twilight stopped what she was doing. “Your father? You never said you had a father.”

“Who doesn’t have a father at some point, Twilight?” The unicorn rolled her eyes in embarrassment as she grabbed two glasses from a cupboard. Midnight took a deep breath.

“Anyways…he took me out onto a cliff side where he showed me this beautiful night sky. You could see all the stars and the moon was brighter than ever. I was very chilly and I wanted to stay close to him…however, he pushed me away…told me to ‘embrace the night’ and ‘show no fear’. I’ll admit I felt a little discouraged. I wasn’t even sure why I was there in the first place. So I turned back to the night sky and saw one star shining brighter than all the rest…”

As Midnight told her story, Twilight felt some sort of strange aura around her…everything around her seemed colder. The drink she was pouring seemed to fall slowly into the glass. She looked at the pegasus to see she wasn’t looking back, but staring out a nearby window. She felt a sensation in her chest…one that just wanted her to tear out her heart and give it to the pony. Twilight shook her head at the thought. What in Equestria am I thinking about?

The pegasus turned her head to look at Twilight. She stared at her…and Twilight stared back. “It was a very beautiful star…almost entrancing. I stared at it for several minutes…when I heard a scream. It was then…when I turned my head to see my father was gone…and so was everything else.” Her voice had become deeper…even a little menacing. “All I remember…was the air rushing against my mane…and the slow…agonizing pain in my chest as I realized my true reason for being…”

Twilight’s eyes had widened…she was becoming incredibly terrified of the pony. This isn’t the moon siren from the story…I don’t know what this is. Twilight felt something grip her throat…she couldn’t breathe!

Creak! That familiar door opening sound. “Hey, everypony! I’m home!” She heard Rainbow’s voice, but Midnight’s stare persisted as did hers.

“I’ll tell you the ending another time…” Midnight whispered to her.

When Rainbow entered the room, Middy spun her head and smiled at the pegasus. “Hey, Dash! Took your time, huh?” She giggled.

“Well, I was held up at…Twilight?” Dash noticed the petrified unicorn. There was no answer from her as she just stared at Midnight.

“Twilight?” Midnight asked. “Are you all right?”

Twilight shook her head of the daze and coughed. “Yeah!” She smiled. “I’m fine! I was just a little uh…I was just thinking about something. That’s all.” She was still a little shaken up.

“Uh huh…” Dash took the unicorn’s weak excuse. “So, Twi…”

“Rainbow Dash! Look!” The pegasus jumped at the familiar squeak of a voice behind her. She turned to face it. “Don’t I look awesome?!”

Dash gasped at the sight. There was Scootaloo in all of her innocent glory with a rainbow colored wig on her head and two orange magical wings extending out from her normal ones to make wings about the size of grown mare’s. “What in the…” Dash tried to hold in a laugh. The spectacle was a bit overwhelming.

Midnight giggled. “Oh, my…well, isn’t this cute?”

“Hey! Stop with the cute stuff! I’m totally awesome like Rainbow now!”

“You are indeed something, kid!” The cyan mare chuckled.

Twilight cleared her throat. She hid her horn with a hoof and flared it. Scoot’s magical wings suddenly vanished and left the filly feeling a little less cool. Scootaloo gasped. “What happened? Twilight?!”

The unicorn blushed. “I guess the magic ran out. At least you got to show Rainbow though, right?” The filly shot her an angry glare.

“Besides!” Rainbow interjected. “You look awesome even without them!” The mare ruffled the rainbow wig on the filly’s head. Scootaloo grumbled and flew meekly back upstairs.

Twilight chuckled nervously at the two mares and sighed. “She really wanted to try it…thing is, she really couldn’t use them that well anyway.”

Rainbow smiled at the unicorn and there was an uncomfortable moment of silence between the three ponies. “So…” Midnight began. “What did the Dean have to say?”

“Oh!” Dash seemed to jump at the question. “Apparently, he has some sort of surprise for me tomorrow…not sure what it was all about really. I’m supposed to be in his office at six…or was it seven. It was very strange talking to him. I sorta zoned out when we talked.”

Twilight was zoned out herself. She couldn’t drag out of her mind what just happened. It was all so quick…but it left a harsh impression on her. Who is this mare? Her presence feels so intimidating…so much like Nightmare Moon when I combated her. Like Princess Celestia…she carries this aura around her that I can’t explain. What is her deal?

“I’m sure he has something incredibly important to tell you. I wouldn’t be late.” Midnight was talking so normally…Twilight didn’t imagine it, did she? It couldn’t be her horn playing tricks on her again… A kiss. The unicorn blinked. Dash had just kissed her while she was dazed.

“Twi, are you all right? You’ve been acting odd since I came home.” She nudged the mare and kissed her cheek.

“Yeah! Yeah…I think I just need to lie down. I think my horn is acting up again. Aheh…such a pain.”

“Okay, Twi, but don’t forget what we need to do today.” Dash was of course talking about revealing the book to Midnight…which Twilight wasn’t even sure of doing now.

“Do you two have something planned? I don’t want to intrude.” Middy walked closer to the two.

“Oh, no!” The unicorn chuckled. “It’s nothing like that. You’re more than welcome to stay.” Twilight made her way to the staircase. “You two chat for a while. I’m going to rest for a bit.” She climbed the steps without another word.

“All right, sugar babe!” Rainbow called out to her. Midnight giggled at her. “What? She really is sweet once you get to know her.”

“Ah…but so are you…” Middy whispered to her and snuck a kiss on Dash’s lips.

“Hey! Cut it out…” She pushed the mare away. “Not now…” Middy smiled and nodded. Rainbow sighed and cleared her throat. “I’m starving, Middy. How about you?”

“Oh no, I’m fine. I’ll help you though!” Midnight took off her bags and placed them near the doorway as did Rainbow. “For what I lack in manners I make up for in cuisine!”

“Really? Didn’t take you for a cook…” Dash grinned.

“Ah, it’s just something I do every once in a while. Come on! What are we making?”

*****

Later that evening, Twilight awoke to the smell of food and began making her way downstairs. She bumped into Scootaloo at the top of the staircase. The filly was back to her normal look and she was sniffing the air.

“What are they making down there?” Scootaloo asked.

“No idea. Identifying food by smell isn’t my field of expertise.”

Scoot sighed. “Do you ever speak like a normal pony?” She started making her way downstairs and Twilight followed.

“Sorry! It’s a bad habit of mine…”

There was a pause. “I want to thank you…for the wings. It really was a cool thing you did…I kinda know how Dash feels now.”

“It’s nothing, Scootaloo, but appreciate what you have…I really don’t want to give another pony replacements…” She looked away remembering that crushed look on Dash’s face when she removed her wings. “It’s not…oof!” Something clung to her neck. She turned her head to see the filly hugging her.

“You’re a lot cooler than you look, Twi, but you would look much cooler if you’d stop being so down all the time!”

“I’m not being down! I just…don’t want to ignore the past.”

Scoot pulled away and rolled her eyes. “Okay, whatever…let’s just get something to eat. I’m hungry.” The filly zipped down the staircase and into the kitchen. Twilight let out a sigh. She’s right…stupid unicorn stop being so sentimental! She wore a smile and descended the staircase.

The ponies all gathered around the dining table. A decent but not robust selection of foods was prepared. There was a garden salad including a variety of different flowers, a bowl of hay fries (Rainbow…), several cornsticks, and an apple pie for dessert. Well, they went all out didn’t they? Now I just wonder who cooked this…certainly it wasn’t Dash. She looked at her smiling friend.

“I hope you guys like it.” Dash began. “Midnight’s a pretty good cook…I helped a little.”

“Don’t be so modest, Dash.” Middy blushed. “You were an awesome moral support...just careful on the fries though…they may be a little burned.”

Twilight eyed the hay fries and couldn’t see a single thing wrong with them. “They look fine to me, Midnight.”

“Okay, you three keep talking…” Scootaloo started. “…I’m gonna chow down!” She dove for the corn, grabbed one, and began munching away. The three mares giggled at the silly behavior of the filly and began collecting plates of food for themselves.

“So Midnight…Dash told you don’t have a place to stay…is this true?”

“Oh! Yeah, it’s kind of embarrassing actually. A few weeks ago I was kicked out of my apartment for uh…disturbing the neighbors. So I got into one of the dorms at the academy.”

Twilight waited for more. “And…?”

“Oh, right. They kicked me out of there too…nopony appreciates my company it seems.”

Dash swallowed a hay fry. “I’ve always wondered that…everypony keeps saying you’re weird or strange or something along those lines. Why is that?”

“Ponies just don’t appreciate the things that I do…” The pegasus trailed off and stared into her plate.

Twilight was again waiting for more. “And that would be…?”

Midnight looked right at Twilight, and then Rainbow. “Medicine. I-I practice medicine…you know…dealing with ponies’ lives and all that.” She chuckled nervously.

“As made obvious by your…cutie mark…” Twilight said that very slowly.

“Well, our cutie marks don’t always point out exactly what we do, Twilight. Look at Rainbow’s. She isn’t exactly shooting rainbows out of clouds like lightning bolts.”

“You know, I tried to do that once,” Rainbow added.

“Midnight…” Twilight changed the subject. “…what’s your family like? I heard about your father, but what about your mother? Any siblings?”

“I have one sibling…she’s passed on. My father and mother actually didn’t speak to us much.”

“Oh?” Rainbow was intrigued. “What were their names?”

“Uh…” Her eyes shifted a bit. “You know, I forgot about drinks. Let me get some real quick.” She jumped out of her chair and flew over to the kitchen.

Twilight and Rainbow looked at each other. They knew this was getting more and more suspicious with every question. Rainbow leaned in closer to her. “Let’s not ask about family…” The unicorn nodded. The mare returned with a couple drinks and handed one to each pony.

“It’s just water, but I can get something else if you’d like.”

“Oh no…water’s fine.” Twilight smiled and took a drink. “Thank you.”

“You know, Twilight…” Midnight started. “Creating wings that are not only sustainable but actually function as normal, if not better, ones is one of the most difficult spells a unicorn can cast. Only because several studies in Canterlot have proven that a pegasus’s wings are actually a type of magic themselves…recreating that magic has always proved extremely difficult if not entirely impossible.”

“Uh, well…sometimes you get lucky I guess. Aheh…actually, I think it’s because of this messed up horn. It has the tendency to amplify certain aspects of spells…Rainbow’s wings are probably just an amplified version of the monarch wings I gave one of my friends a couple months ago.”

Midnight laid her chin on a hoof. “Amazing…A unicorn’s horn breaking is rare too. Usually, it ends up killing the pony…it’s not a mere boon that you’re still alive. To top it off...you can do magic beyond the normal capability of most unicorns. Crazy…” Midnight stared at Twilight…that familiar feeling of emptiness bathing the unicorn.

Rainbow was getting a little peeved by all the fancy talk. “Hey, I get enough this in class. Can we not talk about my wings?” The two staring mares broke away and poked at their food.

“Well, what should we talk about?” Twilight asked.

“Um…hey, Middy…you haven’t touched your food at all.”

“Oh…you’re right.” She blushed and picked up one of the sliced tomatoes from her salad. She chomped it and swallowed. “Mm…delicious.” She smiled.

The unicorn raised a brow. If that wasn’t the most forced gesture of satisfaction...

~ Twi! Twi! Can you hear me? ~

Twilight’s ears perked up and she looked at Dash. “Hm? What is it, Rainbow?”

“What?” Rainbow looked away. “Oh, could you pass the corn?” Middy looked oddly at the two mares.

~ Twilight, you have to tell her about the book. ~ The unicorn floated the corn over to her.

Oh, right. Twilight blushed. I’ll tell her after dinner. I was hoping to show it to her alone.

~ Why alone? Why not show her together? ~

Trust me…she acts differently when you’re not around…I might get more out of her if it’s just us two.

~ She acts differently? ~

Middy took a bite of one of her hay fries. The silence was getting to her and she stood up. “You know…I’m actually not that hungry. I’ve had a great time, but I should probably be going.” She extended her wings.

“Wait!” Twilight approached her. “You still don’t have a place to stay…you really should stay here until you’ve found your own place…or at least for tonight.”

“I-I couldn’t…” She folded her wings. “I don’t want to intrude. I have no right to stay here.”

“No right?” Dash approached her as well. “You’re only the most helpful and kind pony I’ve ever met in Cloudsdale…that’s more than enough in my book.”

Scootaloo, who had been eating away this entire time, finally spoke up. “Yeah! That would be awesome…we could have a sleepover!”

“Yeah!” Twilight smiled. “I think it would be fun, don’t you?”

Midnight was flustered. She looked back and forth between the three ponies and she rolled her eyes. “I guess I can stay one night…”

*****

A few hours after dinner, the four ponies had made their way outside. The sun would be setting in less than an hour. Dash was giving Scootaloo some more flying lessons. Twilight was lounging with Midnight and a couple of books…not the one she needed to show, however.

Dash had Scoot at ready while she paced back and forth. “All right, Scoot! Just like Coach Zephyr told me: ‘You only need a minute to win it!’ So I want to you to do as many laps as you can around the house in sixty seconds! This exercise will help you keep balance as well as teach you to how to better maintain your speed! Now…go!” The filly took off.

“So I’ve been thinking about your story…” Twilight was talking with Midnight while she flipped through a book.

“My story?” The pegasus tilted her head. The unicorn put the book in front of her and pointed a hoof at it.

“The one about your cutie mark…I think the star you saw was the Northern Star, Polaris…or it could be Sirius, the brightest star. It depends where you were looking.”

“I…can’t remember what direction it was.” She smiled sheepishly.

“Oh…Well, anyway, I think the star on your cutie mark correlates to one of these stars…and since your star is cross-shaped…it somewhat relates to medicine, your talent, which is often symbolized by a red cross.” The unicorn sighed as she finished. “Well, am I close?”

Middy chuckled softly. “You have it all figured out, don’t you, Twilight?”

“Well, maybe if you told the rest of your story it might help.”

She looked away. “I told you I’ll tell you later…Dash is doing some crazy stuff over there.” The two mares looked over at the pegasi. Rainbow was spinning around a cloud very fast. So fast she began shaping it like potter’s clay, and in a few seconds she was done.

“Tell me what this is.” Dash leaned against the cloud which was now about her size.

Scootaloo leaned her head from side to side trying to analyze it. “Is that a…trophy made from a cloud?”

“Yes, and it’s only yours if you can perfectly imitate one of the routines that won me the Best Young Flyer’s Competition, Cloud Doughnuts!”

“Cloud… ‘Doughnuts’? We just ate, Dash.” Rainbow smacked a hoof against her face.

Midnight giggled. “That filly is so cute…it’s adorable. Is she Rainbow’s sister?”

The unicorn chuckled. “Sister? Oh, no…she’s from Ponyville. We brought her along because of her strong adoration towards Rainbow. It looks like it’s paying off a little. That filly has been trying to fly for ages…”

“Dash is a better teacher than she thinks…she’s taught me some things as well.”

“Hm? Like what?” Twilight furrowed her brow. Midnight turned her gaze to the unicorn…she gave her sly grin. Her…her eyes…they are so beautiful… Those cold, piercing violet eyes were entrancing…Twilight was so fixated she couldn’t move her head. The pegasus’s head was haloed by the setting sun. Her face was completely silhouetted except for those eyes. The unicorn’s skin and breath began to feel chilly. Twilight gasped…this experience was all too familiar. Her horn sparked and shocked her as she created a small wooden door between the ponies.

“Oh?” The pegasus jumped a little. “What’s this?”

“Sorry, Midnight. It was a reflex…” Twilight made sure to look down at her books when she got rid of the door. I need to be more careful…she reminds me of a medusa. I can’t look at those eyes! “Look, Middy.” She sighed heavily. “I would like to show you where you’ll be staying tonight.”

“Oh, you already have a room prepared?” The pegasus smiled. “Show me!”

“Okay!” Her excitement a little contagious. “Come with me.”

*****

Twilight brought Midnight to the study. She had created a bed in there earlier after the discussion at dinner. Midnight was thrilled and plopped onto the bed with a giggle.

“This is perfect! I can’t thank you enough, Twilight.” She sunk into the covers. “Ahh…”

Twilight forced a smile. “Unfortunately, you shouldn’t thank me yet.”

This killed the pegasus’s excitement. “Huh? Why’s that?”

Twilight floated a book next to her and set it down in front of Midnight. “I have something to show you. I want you to read this book for me and tell me what you think. I can’t seem to wrap my brain around it…maybe you can…you know…figure it out.”

“Uh…all right? I’ll see what I can do. What book is this?”

“It’s a special one.” The unicorn turned away. “Well, I’m gonna keep an eye on Rainbow and Scootaloo…read it and come out when you’re done. I’m very interested how you’ll react.” The pegasus nodded and opened the book to the first page. “Hope you like the room!” Twilight blurted before leaving.

“What a strange mare…” Midnight whispered to herself. “What could this be about? Adventure into the Stars: Tale of the…” She gasped and shut the book. Midnight threw the book aside and stared at the doorway. “Hm…You’re cleverer than I thought, Twilight Sparkle.” She giggled and crossed her hooves. “Perhaps…you’re too smart for your own good…”

*****

Dash was waiting at the front door for Twilight. As soon as she appeared she approached her. “Did you show her?” Twilight stuffed a hoof against the pegasus’s mouth and pushed her away from the doorway. She closed the door behind her.

“Yes, I did. She’s reading it now.”

“And you left her alone in there? What if she does something stupid?”

Dash pushed her way towards the door, but was stopped by a flare of Twilight’s horn. “Relax, Dash. We’ll check on her in a minute. I have to tell you something important.”

The two mares brought down their volume to a whisper. “What? What is it, Twi? Is it bad?”

“Dash, calm down. You’re acting like a child…but it is kinda bad. It’s a warning. Whatever you do…don’t look into her eyes for too long or touch her.”

Dash’s heart skipped a beat. “W-Why?”

“I can’t explain it, but…do you feel cold when she’s around…like an emptiness?”

“Well, maybe…” She stopped herself and rolled her eyes. “Come on, Twi!” Breaking the whispering. “She’s not a monster! Look! Let’s just go talk to her about it!” She shoved the mare aside and opened the door.

Twilight stumbled a bit. “Wait! No!” The unicorn tried to stop her with magic, but it wasn’t working for her.

“Midnight?” She called out…she wasn’t sure where the pegasus was. “Middy, you in here?” She wandered into the study. She couldn’t see anypony in there. “Twi, where is she?” The unicorn caught up with her.

“She should be…” She looked around the room. “Oh, no…”

“Oh, no?”

“She was just in here!” Twilight looked around and found the book on the floor…with a note on top of it. “What’s this?”

“Twi, you ran her off! You should have…”

“Quiet, Dash!” She levitated the note and began reading it.

A few moments later… “Well? What does it say?” Rainbow spoke up.

Twilight sighed and read it aloud. “‘I just wanted to thank you all for letting me stay, but unfortunately something just came up and I had to leave. I hope you will understand, but I wish to see Rainbow tomorrow.’” She paused. “‘P.S. I read the book. I think it’s an amazing story, but I wish the antagonist wasn’t so single-minded. Yours truly, Midnight Sun.’ That’s all it says.” I was gone for less than two minutes…there’s no way she read that book.

“Twilight, there’s some sort of weird drawing on the back of it.”

“Huh?” She flipped the page over. “Oh…this is…it’s a constellation! Ursa Minor.”

“Ursa Minor? As in that creature that attacked Ponyville?”

Polaris is the brightest star in that constellation. Is she telling me that’s the star she saw?

“Twi?”

“Hey! Where’d you go, Rainbow?” The two heard Scootaloo from the other room. “I finally did your trick, but you ran off.” She entered the study and the two mares turned to face her. “What’s going on in here?”

The mares looked at each other. Twilight smiled at the filly. “Nothing. Great job on your feat, Scootaloo! Come on, let’s see it.”

Chapter 13 - Wayward Souls Divide

Act 2

Chapter 13 – Wayward Souls Divide

*****

Fate has its twisted fingers around the frail idea of destiny. A gentle squeeze will drain the lifeblood of all those naïve enough to follow it. Fate feels no remorse…never has…never will…Remember this…because one day…I won’t be there to remind you.

*****

That night, Dash waited for the unicorn to fall asleep. She was ever vigilant about watching for more nightmares. However, her mind was clouded with thoughts about Midnight Sun. Their night together was permanently etched in her mind. She was surprised Twilight hadn’t picked up on it through her telepathy. Maybe she knows…she’s just not sure how to approach it. Maybe I should just tell her…what’s the worst thing that could happen? She leaned in to give the pony a kiss, but Twilight shivered and turned away from her. Rainbow bit her lip and turned away as well. She sighed. Twi talked about her cold “aura” or whatever…did something happen before I walked in that door? Twi was acting a bit odd when I showed up.

Rainbow slipped out of bed and stretched. She approached the nearby window and stared into the beautiful night sky. She rested on the window sill and propped her chin up on both hooves. “Midnight…I can’t stop thinking about you…” Everyone wants to antagonize you…the world just seeks to smother you…

“Dash…” She heard a whisper behind her. She whipped her head around.

“Hello?” She whispered back. “Twi?” She could still see she was sleeping in bed.

“I’m here…” The voice…felt like it was in her head much like when Twilight used telepathy. Dash walked over to the door and left the unicorn alone in her room. She approached Scootaloo’s room and saw it was closed. “Rainbow…the study…” She descended the stairway as quietly as she could.

Meanwhile, Twilight felt the warmth of her covers leave her and she shifted around uncomfortably. She turned onto her back and opened her eyes as she slowly awakened. Once she got glimpse of what was looming over her…a gasp barely escaped her lips. A hoof gently pressed against her chest. “Hello, Twilight…” It was Midnight. “I have quietly waited for this moment for so long…” Her voice was deep and threatening. Twilight couldn’t move…her whole body frozen like ice under that cold hoof. “I wanted to tell you the rest of my story…”

Twilight breathed in as much air as she could. “W-Who are you?” She whispered out.

“Don’t struggle now, Twilight Sparkle. No being can escape my grasp…it’s been this way for over a thousand years…” Twilight’s eyes widened. “My true reason for being…” She grinned. “Is death…” She pressed harder on the mare’s chest and stared deeply into her eyes. “Your friend is very naïve. Her loyalty swayed by respect and adoration for her weaknesses.”

“No…it was swayed by your…evil!” She clenched her teeth and tried to flare her horn…proving unresponsive.

Midnight giggled. “You need to relax, Twi. Embrace the darkness…” She placed both hooves on her chest. “Just as I have…” Twilight was completely frigid…she could barely breathe. “When I learned you defeated both the returns of my mother and father…I felt it only fair…to show you the same courtesy!” Her attitude shifted suddenly to one of anger as she sent some kind of shock through the mare’s body. Starting at Midnight’s hooves, Twilight’s body slowly began to turn to stone.

The pegasus calmed back down and smiled. “You’re probably wondering where your love has run off too. You’re probably wondering why she’s so infatuated with me…and why she defends me so much.” She leaned in closer to Twilight and exhaled her chilly breath against the mare’s face. “Ever since the loss of her wings…she’s been craving her own demise. She just couldn’t stand to live in a world in which she would be never be able to fly again. You managed to sway her heart just a little with your cheap magic trick, but once any pony has given me permission to take their lives…there’s no escaping it!” She chortled in her throat.

“Midnight?!”

The pegasus gasped and turned her head towards the doorway. “Rainbow Dash!” She smiled. “Just in time. Twilight was having trouble sleeping…I just wanted to help.”

Dash quickly took in what’s happening. “What are you doing, Middy?! Let her go!” She stepped closer.

“Oh, but Rainbow…isn’t this what you wanted all along? To shed the burden of this weak, little unicorn…so that you may forever be with me? A pegasus who loves you and wishes nothing more for you than to succeed…” The petrification slowly reached all of Twilight’s legs and began crawling up her neck…it would only be moments before it has completely encapsulated her. Dash was hesitant…she didn’t know what to think or do. “I can see you’re torn…”

“Rainbow…” Twilight managed to let out.

“Quiet, Twilight!” She sent another shock through her, speeding up the process. Dash gasped and furrowed her brow. Midnight bore a toothy grin…showing enjoyment of her revenge. “Die nobly...”

Rainbow cringed and spread her wings. “I can’t believe this…I trusted you! Why would you do this, Midnight?!” Midnight only answered her with a menacing chuckle. Rainbow stomped her hoof. “I won’t say it again, Midnight!” Her eyes and wings glowed…that familiar power surging through the mare’s body. “Hooves off my pal!” She snorted and clenched her teeth. She crouched down ready to attack.

Twilight began to feel a warmth in her chest…Rainbow was finally on her side. Be it the love they shared sparking once more or some other reason…she began to feel some control once more. Midnight realizing Rainbow’s betrayal, she dropped her kind facade. “It’s too late! Goodnight, Twilight!” The mare sent a final shock through the unicorn’s body.

Twilight felt the last tiny breath of air she had escape her. There was a sudden ringing in her ears as they became petrified. The world fell deaf to her…fell cold to her…then finally everything fell dark…

*****

“No!!!” Observing her friend’s last whimper, Rainbow charged Midnight and tackled her. The two mares tumbled briefly before Dash bucked her hind legs against her chest and sent the pegasus crashing outside through the window.

Midnight recovered in mid-air and saved her fall with her wings. She shook her head of her dizziness. Before she could do anything, she was tackled again by Rainbow from behind. Dash slammed the pegasus against the outside walls of the house. Crack! Midnight felt her chest cave and screamed. Rainbow continued by head-butting the back of the mare’s head, and then gripping her mane with her teeth and throwing the mare behind her. Midnight tumbled along the ground outside the house briefly before ending up on her back. She could taste the blood in her mouth from her injuries.

Before there was much chance to recover, Dash was already on top of her. She swung a hoof towards Midnight’s face, and then another one towards one of Midnight’s exposed wings. The pegasus screamed and tried to kick the mare off of her. Dash remained steadfast and unstoppable as Midnight’s feeble kicks and struggles did not even phase the mare.

Rainbow swiped again at her face, and then began repeatedly stomping on her wing. The air resounded in various crunches, screams, and squishing noises as she broke the poor thing to pieces. Midnight yelled. “Stop!! Please! I’m sorry! No more!”

Dash wasn’t satisfied. Saliva dripped from her snarling muzzle as she lifted her other hoof ready to deal the same punishment to her remaining wing. “Give her back, Middy! Or I’ll crush the other one!” Midnight only responded with pathetic sounds of pain. “Give her back!!” Without giving the mare a chance, Dash slammed her hoof on the wing and snapped it as well.

Midnight reared back and screamed. Tears flew from her eyes. She had no chance against Dash…Midnight’s power over her had completely diminished. “I-I can’t!! She’s already gone!! Stop it!!”

Dash’s eyes widened. “Liar!!” She yelled in the mare’s face. She head-butted Midnight’s nose adding more to list of the mare’s broken body parts. “I saved you! I trusted you! I brought you here and this is how you repay me?!” She placed a hoof on Midnight’s neck and began to gradually press. “Rrrrr!!!” Tears from Dash’s eyes pattered against the mare’s face. “You made me betray her!! I should have listened to her!!” The force of her hoof growing and growing…Midnight let out various sickening, choking noises as she struggled to get loose. “I loved you…”

“Dash!! What’s going on?!” Rainbow turned her head to see Scootaloo. The filly was shocked.

Dash gasped as her eyes and wings went back to normal. Midnight saw this was her only chance and bucked her hind legs. Rainbow was launched away and she came crashing down on top of the filly. Midnight climbed to her hooves coughing and ran towards one of the edges of the clouds leaping off.

Rainbow fumbled to get off of Scootaloo. “Stop! Come back here!!” She took to the air and gave chase. Rainbow went straight downward but couldn’t see Midnight anywhere. Once she was able to see the ground, she looked all around her and couldn’t see a single thing other than moonlit trees and grass. It was far too dark. A seething rage enveloped the mare. “Coward! You coward!! Come back and fight me!!” She wept…breathing heavily. She sucked in as much air as she could and roared out a final scream into the night.

*****

Dash’s scream pierced the night’s solace. Midnight was a fair distance away from the pegasus…luckily her wings weren’t her only means of saving herself. She sat down against a tree and groaned in pain. I never expected this…What was that power in Dash? How did she break free of my spell? No being has ever done that…Was she even under it to begin with? Did she…she really have affections for me? She scoffed. “It doesn’t matter…what she wouldn’t do now to have her hooves on me.” She tried to chuckle, but just ended up coughing up blood.

Midnight stared up into the night sky and sighed. She closed her eyes. “Father…I succeeded…I’ve killed her. I wish you weren’t stone yourself…so you could laugh in that unicorn’s face.” She laughed quietly for a bit…opening her eyes to look at her busted wings. Her eyes began to water at the sight...the damage was irreparable. “I…I really hope you’re pleased…” Midnight closed her eyes one last time before she passed out.

*****

After about half an hour of a useless search, Rainbow returned to the house. Scootaloo was waiting for her. She rushed up and hugged the mare…unsure of what just happened. “Dash! Are you okay?! What happened?!”

The mare didn’t answer. There were still tears running down her cheeks. She shrugged the filly off of her and went inside. Scootaloo followed her up to Dash’s room. There she discovered a petrified Twilight. She gasped and flew over to her. “What’s wrong with her?!” She had seen this once before…in the Everfree forest. “Did a cocka-thing get her?”

Dash gave her a confused look and then ignored the filly. She approached Twilight and pressed her nose against Twilight’s stone cheek. It was freezing to the touch…feeling more like ice. “Wake up, Twi…you’re having another nightmare.” She shook her shoulder with a hoof. “Come on, Twi…I need you.” She placed a kiss on her cheek. “Stop kidding around, babe…”

“Dash…I don’t think uh…” Scoot whispered. Dash knew what she was going to say and she gritted her teeth.

“Shut up!” The filly jumped back and cowered. “She’s fine! She’s just being stubborn!” She kissed Twilight’s lips…multiple times. Tears welled in her eyes. “Wake up, Twilight! I demand it!” She shook her harder. “Midnight’s gone! I beat her to a pulp! Isn’t that proof enough that I don’t love her! I never did! It was always just you…only…you.” Dash stared at the frozen mare for a reaction…none. She slipped off and collapsed onto the ground, bursting into tears.

“Rainbow?” Scootaloo brushed up against the mare and pressed her nose against her cheek.

“I’ve lost another one…” Dash whispered. “Mother…father…and now you, Twilight…does it ever end?” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m so horrible!”

“No! You’re a great pony! It wasn’t your fault!” The filly hugged the mare’s neck. “Please stop crying!” Dash fell silent with the occasional sniffle. Scoot’s words weren’t enough to quell the guilt in her. “Let’s go tell the Princess! I’m sure she can bring Twilight back! There has to be a way to do it!” Rainbow pushed the filly off of her.

“Kid, please…I’m sorry…but I think it’s time I took you home…the fun’s over…”

Scoot sunk in disappointment. “But we have to do something, Dash! We can’t just leave her like this!”

“Please, Scootaloo…I’ll handle it. It’s not safe here anymore…I don’t want to lose you too.”

“Okay, fine! Let’s go back to Ponyville and tell the…”

“I’m not going to risk any other ponies’ lives, Scootaloo!” Dash interrupted her. The filly was beginning to annoy her. “She’ll come for me…and when she does…I’ll be more than ready. I don’t want any other pony to be in my way…She’s my problem.”

Scoot stomped her hoof and looked away. “You’re the one being stubborn, Dash…” The filly ran off to her room.

Rainbow tried to move Twilight’s body. It was incredibly heavy. She examined her...she looks so frightened…so helpless. If only I was there…if only I hadn’t hesitated…I want to move her out of here…but without her magic…she’ll just fall right through the floor. I won’t be able to catch her this time. Dash sighed. I guess I’ll leave her here. She looked out the window. I think I’ll rest up a bit…take the kid home…and come back. I’m going to devote every day to finding that mare…I don’t care about the Wonderbolts anymore…nothing matters now…

*****

Next morning about half past five, Scootaloo had packed and Dash was flying her back to the library. For time’s sake, she made the filly ride her back. Scoot was enjoying the ride as she always did, but couldn’t help but feel empty. Her idol had lost all of her spirit and wouldn’t even answer anything the filly asked.

The two landed a few hundred yards from the library. Rainbow wasn’t interested in meeting with anyone at the moment. Scootaloo climbed down and looked at the mare. Dash spread out her wings to take off. “Wait!” The mare obeyed…almost as if she wanted to be stopped. “I know how it feels…to lose those you love. My mother…she’s gone too.” Dash just stared gloomily with no reply.

“When I first came to Ponyville…it was with my Mom. We traveled from Cloudsdale, because she said she no longer felt welcome there.” She hung her head and dragged her hoof against the ground. “Ever since I was old enough to understand her…she never stopped talking about how she failed somepony. She never told me who she failed…I always just assumed it was my father. She was always down in the dumps…till the day she got sick. That’s why I didn’t tell you two before…that’s why I didn’t care if I went with you…”

Rainbow sighed and approached the filly. She sat down right in front of her and brought Scootaloo into a hug. To Scoot it felt more like a squeeze. Fortunately, Dash let up in a few seconds and kissed the filly on the forehead.

“You got a good future ahead of you, Scootaloo. Spend that time with your friends…learn new things. Have fun.”

“Aren’t you going to return to Ponyville?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. I still have to finish things in Cloudsdale. Don’t worry though. I’ll see you in a couple months…who knows?” She smiled. “I just might come back a Wonderbolt.” Just saying that lifted her spirit a little even though she wasn’t planning to go back to class. She set her down and spread her wings once more. “Tell me…one more thing before I go…what were the names of your parents?”

Scootaloo was hesitant, but she felt Dash deserved to know. “My father’s name was Raven Lockheed…” Dash’s eyes grew wide. “…and Golden Gale was my mother.” The filly began to walk towards the library.

Dash was in shock. “Wait!” Scootaloo stopped. “You don’t mean the Raven? As in…the single fastest pegasus in Equestria? The former greatest Wonderbolt?”

“I-I told you I didn’t really know him that well.” Dash approached the filly with an intimidating glare. Scootaloo stepped backwards.

“You…you’re the filly they had…You’re the reason I got kicked out of flight school in the first place!” Dash was furious.

“What? What are you talking about?” Scoot was trying to understand her confusing accusation.

“I can’t believe this! Under my nose the whole time…the very thing that brought me here to Ponyville.” Scootaloo shook her head in bewilderment. “Raven Lockheed…he took me in after my parents died in a horrible accident…he taught me everything I know. He’s the stallion who made me want to become a Wonderbolt in the first place! He was a true father…then…” She glared at the filly.

Scootaloo was having a tough time taking it in. “Wait a minute…so you’re my sister?”

“No…never!” Rainbow looked away from the filly…torn. I would have never left if they didn’t have her…They never told me…they never cared about how I felt! She looked back at Scootaloo…she was saddened and backing away. They always told me how many times they wanted a kid of their own…they told me that I was the answer they were looking for. Then…

“I’m sorry if I did something to upset you, Rainbow. I…”

“Shut up…it’s…it’s perfectly fine. To be honest…It’s them I should be mad at…not you. I never thought I’d meet that filly they had…I figured she disappeared along with them. It’s just part of me wishes that you were some rotten…spoiled brat, but you’re not. You’re a cool kid with a big heart…much like me when I was young. I always regretted it…I was stupid back then. I was so selfish and big-headed. Only when I met Twilight did I realize that…she’s humbled me so much.”

“Well, I forgive you…I’m sure they would too, Dash.”

Rainbow scoffed. “Yeah, I hope so. They’re gone now…I guess I should just forget about it. But you said Raven left you, right? Couldn’t that mean he’s still alive?”

“I guess? Why? Do you think he is?”

“Hm…I don’t know.” She smiled at the filly. “Thank you, Scoot…for telling me this. Maybe…maybe now I can concentrate on what’s important. You don’t know how long that moment in my life has left a hole in my heart. I finally now can apologize for it…and move on…despite Twilight. She wouldn’t want me to be this way anyway!”

“Yeah!” The filly flew up to her. “Go knock’em dead, Dash! Uh…not for real though.” She and Dash giggled.

“I know what you meant…thank you. I’ll see you later…Scootaloo.” She felt like saying “sis”, but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Bye, Rainbow.”

Dash took off into the air…she never thought she’d smile again. I can’t let this get to me…Midnight knows she can’t fight me head on. I think I’ll still attend classes…I don’t want to let this opportunity go to waste…but when I’m off…Middy better be hiding. She stopped in the air as she realized something. She knows about Scoot…what if she goes after her…what about the others? Dash wasn’t aware of Midnight’s motives…she wasn’t sure if Twilight’s death would be the last. She turned around and flew back to Scootaloo.

“Hey, kid!” She called out.

The filly jumped in surprise. “Oh, I thought you were…”

“Listen to me…you were right. We might need some help…tell Spike to send a letter to Princess Celestia. Tell her about Midnight Sun.”

Scoot smiled. “You got it! What should I tell her?”

“You know how she looks. Tell her to send some guards to protect my friends here in Ponyville. Say she’s attacked the library or something, but don’t say anything about me or Twilight.”

“Okay, but what if Spike doesn’t believe me?”

Dash stomped her hoof. “Then make him believe! I’m counting on you, Scoot.”

“A-all right. I’ll do it.” The filly saluted.

“Thank you…sis. I gotta go…I have to meet the Dean in a couple hours.”

Scootaloo was embarrassed by the name. “Just be careful…and good luck!”

*****

“I’m glad you could make it, Dash.” Jet was speaking with her in his office.

“Of course, sir. I wouldn’t let you down.”

“I want you know that…we know about what happened to Grinder.” Dash’s heart sank and she gulped. “Two eye-witnesses and even Grinder himself testified to your assault.”

“I was just protecting a friend, Jet! Honest!” She couldn’t believe she called Midnight her friend…

“Your friend? Who? Twilight Sparkle?”

Dash’s eyes shifted slight. “Y-Yeah! She was on her way home from uh…watching me in class. She got caught in the alleyway when I heard her screaming…Jet, I only did it to protect her!”

“Look, Dashie…It’s okay. I completely understand.”

“But…wait, you do?”

“All of the necessary actions have been taken to make sure you have no fault in it. It was purely self-defense. The damage isn’t permanent and it’s been paid for. You’ll be fine.”

Dash just stared in amazement. “I’m…‘fine’?”

“Yes! Now, I hope that lifted that obvious ten ton boulder off your shoulders. I want you to enjoy your time here and get your training done. Just please try not to cause more trouble. This old stallion has a lot of important things to think about than tiny scuffles in alleyways.”

He’s…so…weird! Why is he helping me so much? Telling Zephyr to brush off any fights I get into…saving me from going to jail…personally giving me attention and protection.

“Now, run along. Your classes should be starting soon. I wouldn’t miss them if I were you.”

“Okay…thank you, Dean, but…I just have to ask…do you know me?”

“Well, since that you walked in carrying that personal letter from Wonderbolts I have. You’re no stranger around here, Dash. Your presence here is an honour.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Huh…all right. I’ll catch you later then, Dean.”

“Please…you can call me Jet.”

“Jet…”

*****

“Listen up, you pathetic pack of pegasus ponies!” Zephyr was being a little unusual today. His tone wasn’t as harsh with the line. “We have a special guest today. One of the greatest pegasi in the world and makes her living being a total showoff! We have the captain of the Wonderbolts…Spitfire!”

The entire line gasped as lightning streak arced across the sky, twirled, and then landed right in front of all of them. Spitfire, clad in her Wonderbolt uniform and goggles, wowed the crowd of pegasi. “Total showoff, Z? We do other things in addition to air shows, you know.”

“Well, it’s the only thing you do well.” Spitfire pulled down her goggles to look at Zephyr. “It’s the truth.”

Spitfire sighed and rolled her eyes placing the goggles above her face. “Anyways, hello everypony! I’m pretty sure you know me so there won’t be a need for an introduction! I’m here to assess the quality of our next generation pegasi! I’m here to see…if Z hasn’t been slackin’ off himself!” She shot a grin at the pegasus. “You will continue your class like normal except…in the last fifteen minutes I will ask all of you to partake in a simple race! As a professional racer myself…I know that competition is the fuel for fervor and determination! The winner will receive a personal recommendation from me to Princess Celestia herself…and be added to the possible list of candidates of being…a future Wonderbolt!”

The class gasped and whispered among themselves. Rainbow caught Spitfire looking at her for a few seconds. Zephyr cleared his throat. “This doesn’t mean you’ll get any special treatment from me or any praise. I will continue to hammer into those thick bird-skulls of yours the fine art of flying!”

“Such a buzz kill, Z.” Spitfire jabbed his shoulder which got a mean glare from the pegasus. “But…this is your territory. You may begin.” She smiled sheepishly and took off.

Wow, Spitfire…why don’t I feel as excited as I should be? Dash tried to hold back the grief she was still feeling. She felt like bawling in front of everypony almost constantly…it was eating at her heart, but thankfully she was an expert at hiding these sorts of things. She wanted to return home to her very badly. This is important! I have to show Spitfire what I’m made of! I can’t…let everything Twilight has done for me be in vain!

“Rainbow!” Zephyr called her out. “Stop being star-struck and start your forty laps! No make it fifty!” Dash just nodded and took off.

She began her laps, but everything felt so empty. Her head was constantly in the clouds and couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened last night. I can’t believe she got away…but…would I have killed her if Scootaloo hadn’t interfered. I would have killed her…what am I thinking? I have I completely lost it? It was all such a blur of fury and resentment. It felt like before…in that alleyway.

“Hey, Rainbow.” A voice to her left spoke. She turned her head…Spitfire was flying beside her. “You look awfully chipper.”

“Spitfire…” She said in awe. She shook her mind of the daze. “Uh…what’s going on?”

“What happened to your wings? I don’t remember them being so…glassy.”

“I don’t really want to talk about it right now…it’s a long, painful story.”

Spitfire was wearing her goggles so Dash couldn’t see any reaction in her eyes. “I understand. I want to wish you good luck in the little race...I know you won’t need it since you’ll trash all of those other pegasi…right?”

“Of course! I wasn’t even worried about it.”

“Good! Good. You know, I’m actually surprised you took up our offer. I figured you too proud to go back to pushing pencils and doing what others tell you.”

“You really underestimate how much I want to be with you guys. Though it seems, you never take me seriously anyway.”

“But we do, Rainbow! In fact…it’s one of the reasons I came here.”

Rainbow shot her a shocked look. “You don’t mean…”

“I’ll talk to you after the race, Rainbow.” She zipped away into the clouds.

A tiny spark was set off inside her. I have to prove myself to her…now more than ever! She sped up tremendously to finish her remaining laps.

*****

“Okay, whelps! I guess it’s time for you to participate in Spitfire’s fruity little race. So I’ll let her take over.” Everypony was back in line…all panting and exhausted from the workouts.

“Fruity, Z? Is that the best you got?” The two ponies glared at each other before she smiled at the line. “All right! Simple rules! It will be a four lap run around Cloudsdale which is about five miles per lap. Make sure you follow the special markers I’ve placed because if I see any of you try to cheat…well, you’ll be less than disqualified. Just remember to play fair, do your best and most of all…have fun with it!” She reared. “Okay! Follow me!” She took off into the air in a flash.

Everypony followed her to the starting line which was a gate with two lightning bolt-shaped clouds as poles. It was pretty big and easy to see. “Here we are! Look closely everypony. This is the marker.” She pointed a hoof to a cloud with a flag on it bearing the Wonderbolt symbol. “I trust you can see these. I placed one about every half-mile.” She looked at watch she had on. “Okay! This is a ten minute race…if none of you can finish in time…well, it would be disappointing. Everypony line up!”

All of them placed themselves at the starting line which had enough clouds to support them. This is easy…too easy. All of the pegasi were crouched ready for flight, but Rainbow was calmly standing there checking her hooves.

Spitfire lifted her hoof. “All right! Ready! Set…” Dash sighed and smiled. “Go!!” The Wonderbolt swung her hoof. Whoosh! Every pegasi including Dash zipped away in an instant. “Wow!” Spitfire chuckled.

Rainbow knew she couldn’t care about any of the other racers…she had to focus on those markers. She zipped past the first one and saw the next one dipped a little. It wasn’t going to be a completely horizontal race thankfully. She saw the next one dip even further. She tucked her wings slightly to her sides and dove straight down towards it. Next to this marker was an arrow pointing upward. She’s going to make me a Wonderbolt, I know it! This is it! Finally…finally. In the dive downward, she could feel the air bend around her in that familiar way. Before she could do a rainboom, she zipped back upward towards the next marker.

She continued to follow the markers…not once see anypony pass her. She couldn’t tell how far she was ahead, but in only a few minutes she had reached the finish line for the fourth time. It was too simple.

“Congratulations, Dash!” Spitfire commended her. “I would expect nothing less. You got here…” She checked her watch. “Five minutes and three seconds. Not bad!”

“It was nothing really.” Dash tucked her wings and pushed her mane out of her face.

“I feel bad for the others. Having to race against you of all ponies. I actually expected you to do a sonic rainboom at some point.”

“I was going to, but I didn’t…” Whoosh!

“Great job, Gray! Second place at five minutes and thirty seconds!”

She continued to call out names and times as each passed through. The last pony got close with only twenty seconds to spare.

“I want to congratulate all of you on an awesome race. I hope you all had fun…Rainbow Dash is our winner!” Everypony had mixed reactions. Some rolled eyes, some sighed, some cheered, and others didn’t react at all. “She’ll get the recommendation and be added to the list of candidates. Now we only have a few seconds left of your class so I won’t hold you any longer. I want to thank you all for playing…it was fantastic!”

After she was done, a couple of them left, but a lot of them stayed for autographs and whatnot. Rainbow remembered the promise of a talk and waited patiently for everypony to leave. I wish you were here, Twi… Every time she thought about it…it crushed her heart. She lied down on a nearby cloud as she waited. Her victory was empty…she buried her face in the cloud and did her best to hold back her tears.

A few minutes later, somepony tapped her shoulder. “You all right there, hotshot?” She recognized Zephyr’s voice. She pulled her head out of the cloud and nodded. She saw two others with him…Spitfire and…Jet?

“Good job on the race, Dash,” Dean Jet spoke. “It was much too easy for you, wasn’t it?”

“Uh…yeah, way too easy.” She perked up and tried to look confident.

“Dash…” Spitfire began. “Z told me about your wings as did Jet…They’re magical wings?” Rainbow nodded. “I’ve never seen it before…it’s truly amazing. Never before have I seen you go so fast with so little effort. I would be foolish to say I was faster than you…even Fleetfoot would have a tough time keeping up.” Spitfire approached the mare and place a hoof on her shoulder. “After the race…” Jet smiled at Rainbow…he seemed to know as much Dash what was coming. “I was going to make you into a bona fide Wonderbolt…” That smile faded quickly…Spitfire looked away and sighed. “But I don’t think I can…now.”

There was an awkward silence…Jet was the first to speak up. “What?! What do you mean?”

“I can’t make her into a Wonderbolt now that I know about her wings! Her speed is not her own, Jet!”

Zephyr was next to say something. “Spitfire…you can’t be saying that because she has magic wings that she doesn’t qualify!”

Dash was silent…she simply observed the three fight as she felt her whole soul sink…an eye constantly on her wings.

“Can you imagine the controversy? Many pegasi and unicorns still have a deep-rooted hatred for each other. The Wonderbolts are a pegasi-only tradition…to reveal that a unicorn was what got her in…”

“You can’t be serious…” Jet sighed. “You can’t just come out and crush her like this! Not again!”

“Jet! It’s not like that!” Spitfire was getting angry, but so was another mare. Rainbow felt it boiling in her chest. Dammit…Dammit! “I want her to be in more than anypony…”

“There’s always some excuse isn’t there, Spitfire?!” Dash yelled. She got the attention of all three ponies. They could see that glow in her eyes. “I’m too sloppy…I’ve got magic wings! It’s because of you that Twilight Sparkle now lies dead in some old dusty house! If you would have just taken me in before…and not sent me back home a wreck! She would have never offered to help me! She would still be alive!” Tears flung from her eyes as she vented. The three ponies didn’t know how to react…they couldn’t tell if she was being truthful or delusional.

Zephyr whispered, “Twilight’s dead?”

“Screw this! Screw all of you! I knew it was a stupid idea in the first place. I knew I should have just stayed in Ponyville…I knew I should have appreciated what I had…instead of chasing after some stupid goal!”

“Dash…you have to understand…” Spitfire tried to explain.

She gritted her teeth. “Just shut up!! It doesn’t matter what I do, does it?! The world will always be unsatisfied with me!” She crouched as a magical aura surrounded her. She shot directly upward into the sky. Boom! In about two seconds, she flew fast enough to scar the sky in brilliant colors.

*****

“Nurse?”

“Yes, what is it, Grinder?”

“How long am I going to be stuck here anyway?”

“It’s going to be a few weeks. You got pretty banged up. We don’t want you flying with those things for a while.”

He groaned. “I’m going to lose it!”

“Well, next time don’t pick a fight with one of the elements of harmony, all right?” The nurse rolled her eyes as she left him.

“Elements of Harmony…pfft!”

“That’s what I said…” Grinder heard a voice from the other side of the room.

“Huh? Who’s there?” He scanned the room for anypony…then he saw her. “Y-You!”

The mare who approached him laughed softly. “Yeah…me…I just came to pay my respects…”

“Get away from me, you freak!”

“Is that how you talk to the lover of Rainbow Dash? You don’t want her to break those precious wings of yours again, do you?”

“Lover? You sick little…gah!”

“I think it’s time for you to sleep…forever.”

End of Act 2

Chapter 14 - Power Corrupts Absolutely

Act 3

Chapter 14 – Power Corrupts Absolutely

*****

Harmful acts always feel correct when justified. In the name of someone, to protect those you love, to punish for a horrible act, or to prove your dominance…of course, we never see beyond the veil of our own actions…how our own actions spawn more justifications…to spread like wildfire the very thing we strive to undermine and suppress. This, however, is a necessary evil…to sustain the order of everything we know…we must continue this malicious cycle…until the day we die.

*****

Abysmal…pure awfulness…

“Spike, your painting looks…very nice. Where did you learn how to do it?”

“I taught myself, Twilight…and I also took a couple pointers from some of these books.”

A painting of Rarity…so elegant. Her face was almost spot on, but the rest…could use some work. “It has some good points, but you need to work on it a little.”

“What do you mean?” Spike gave her a woeful look.

“U-Uhh…nothing! I’m sure you’ll improve with practice!” She looked away embarrassed, but she tried to change the subject. “Spike, I need to go Canterlot on the weekend. I have to talk to Princess Celestia about the nature of the Elements of Harmony…I’ve always wondered who the previous element users were…if there were any.”

“Couldn’t you just write her the question?”

Twilight’s eye twitched.

…

“Luna?” An oxford blue filly asked. “Don’t you ever feel betrayed?”

“What do you mean, child? You will also address me as Princess Luna!”

“Oh…sorry. Princess Luna…do you ever feel the night has always been the lesser than the day? That all life seeks to shun the night for its gloominess? That Equestria always fears the coming of the moon?”

“I…do have some suspicions…”

…

“Sister, I demand you give the night a greater purpose! Why is it that Equestria sleeps through my time of glory?!”

“Luna, you must calm yourself. Everypony appreciates the cool and quiet moments of the night as does all life. Your role is just as important as mine…you must understand this.”

“But I…” Luna sighed. “Perhaps…”

“No!” The oxford blue filly jumped in from hiding. “You need to give Princess Luna the respect she rightfully deserves, Celestia!”

“Who…who is this, Luna? A…an alicorn filly?!”

“Sister! I can explain!”

…

Deeply bound in the harsher stages of regret…a thousand years to silently wait…to see my mother…

“You see, Night Mare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the...the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of...magic!”

Crushed…curse you, Twilight Sparkle. Midnight wept. I just wanted to see her again!

She’s not dead, Midnight! Visit her in Canterlot! Why are you so upset?

I’m tired of you...just go away…

…

“Father?”

“Yes yes. What is it?”

“Why can’t I use magic?”

He sighs. “Not again…I told you a thousand times! Your mother sealed your power!”

“Why?”

“To protect you! Her sister has some freaky way of detecting magic from alicorns. If she were to find out, she’d destroy us both!”

The filly sighed. “Maybe that’s not such a bad idea…I wish I was dead…”

“Hm…interesting…come, child. I want to show you something.”

…

“How…how am I alive?”

“There…now without that silly horn. There’s nothing holding you back! Wreak chaos in my name, sweetie! Enjoy it!”

…

It worked…Celestia couldn’t sense it…my horn was gone…but I felt dead. Nothing felt warm and everything looked grey and dreary. I could use magic…but at what cost?

“All right, ladies, let's show him what friendship can do!”

Again…what do you have against me? What does the world have against me?

He was going to change the world as we know it! Nopony could sit back and let him continue his evil!

Evil…it’s the word I’d use to describe you…and your friends. I hate you…I hate you so much! I don’t just want you dead…I want you to feel the thousand years of pain I’ve suffered! Always hiding! Always trying to eke out a living as a normal pegasus! I just wanted to be by my mother’s side!

…

A large, endless white room. I don’t see anypony here…wait. I see somepony…

Twilight walked straight towards a white column and behind it was an oxford blue filly. As she approached her, the column transformed into a tree, in the distance a village erupted into view, and Twilight found herself on a hill with the filly. “Oh! Hello, there. What’s your name?”

The filly sniffled…it looks like she’s been crying for hours. She wiped away her tears and stood up. “I-I’m Midnight Sun, the honorable daughter of the great Princess Luna! You shall address me as Princess Sun!”

Twilight giggled and sat down to be level with the filly. “Wow! I’ve never been in the presence of royalty before! Well, Princess Sun…why are you crying?”

She’s so adorable…I wonder where her parents are…

“I wasn’t crying! I was…practicing my drama act! For when my lovely prince comes and takes me away from this place!”

“Oh? Hehe. I think you are a very convincing damsel in distress. Now…where do you live, Midnight?”

“It’s Princess Sun, and I live in Canterlot! Haven’t you been listening? I’m Princess Luna’s pride and joy!”

“Honey…Princess Luna? It sounds like somepony’s been reading too many books.”

Boom!

The two ponies gasped. Twilight turned to look…some kind of crazy colored shockwave. The filly squealed, “What is that?!”

“I don’t know. But it’s so beautif…Ah!!” Twilight put a hoof to her forehead. A sharp, irresistible pain pierced her head. She screamed as she heard a crack and part of her horn fell silently to the ground. The pain went away almost instantly…she stared for a long time down at the broken piece of horn…she began to feel cold…her thoughts began to slip away from her…her emotions and feelings jaded. She gasped as she looked back up. “Rainbow Dash?”

Everything was now pitch black and nothing felt familiar, but nothing felt frightening either. All the fire and passion in her soul doused with darkness as her eyes glazed over and her heart beat slower.

Now there’s nothing to hold me back…I’ll do what I must…to fulfill your final wishes, Twilight Sparkle. It’s time to wake up…

*****

At the library…

“So hold on a minute!” Spike interrupted Scootaloo as she was trying to relay to him the message Rainbow had given her. “You want me to send a letter to Princess Celestia to send royal guards to Ponyville…because of a rogue pegasus? And that pegasus turned Twilight to stone…and Rainbow Dash is now looking for said pegasus in Cloudsdale?”

“Exactly! I can even tell you where they’re staying! Please! You have to get her to help Twilight! It’s made Rainbow so sad! I can’t stand to see her like that!” The filly hopped up and down.

Spike turned and scratched the back of his head. “I dunno…I’m almost positive this is some sort of prank on me.”

“It’s not! Honest!! I…” She looked at the ground to think. “…I even did a Pinkie Promise to her to tell the truth!”

The dragon gasped. “A Pinkie Promise?! Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?” The dragon pulled out a scroll and quill from seemingly nowhere and began writing. “Okay! Repeat everything you told me again so I get this to her right away!”

The front door busted open as two fillies and four mares poured into the library.

“Scoot! We brought them just like you asked!” Sweetie Belle and Applebloom rushed up to her.

“I heard the news! It’s simply awful!” Rarity zipped up to the rest. “Please tell me that Twilight and Rainbow are okay!”

“Well, uh…” Scootaloo started.

“What’s this all about anyhow?” Applejack interrupted. “Sweet Apple Acres ain’t a stone’s throw walk now.”

“Okay, I’m gonna tell everypony. Tw…”

“Wait!” Pinkie Pie interrupted her again. “Don’t tell me! Twilight and Rainbow are secretly…” Everypony stared at her as she paused. “Celestia’s personal hitmares!” Everypony groaned. “Tell me I’m close!”

Scoot sighed. “You couldn’t be farther from it. What I was trying to tell you all…”

It was Fluttershy’s turn, “Oh, I really hope that this isn’t…” Scootaloo glared at her. “Oh! Sorry…” She blushed and cowered away.

“Come on, guys!” Spike was busy writing what he remembered. “I need Scootaloo to tell me everything so I can send this to Princess Celestia!” They all calmed down and grew quiet.

“Thanks, Spike…now listen carefully. Rainbow and Twilight are in big trouble!” The filly began explain the whole story…not leaving out a single detail of her time with the two mares except for their relationship. Scoot didn’t really see any point in telling them about that. She told them about Rainbow attending classes, Midnight Sun, and Twilight’s death. The mares had varied reactions ranging from Rarity fainting to Fluttershy crying. Even the fillies shed a tear or two.

“This is an outrage!” Rarity yelled. “Midnight Sun must be destroyed!” She slammed a hoof to the ground.

“Yeah!” Pinkie Pie was play fighting against thin air. “We should go to Cloudsdale and teach that two-faced pony a lesson in pain!”

Scootaloo stopped them all. “No, you can’t! Dash told me you can’t. She said she doesn’t want anypony else to be hurt!”

Applejack scoffed. “Scoot, Rainbow’s a hot-head…does she really think we’ll allow her to fight this battle on her own?”

Fluttershy approached the orange pony, “You’re all forgetting one thing!”

“Yeah?! And what’s that?” Applejack’s dominant tone causing the poor pegasus to cower.

“She’s in Cloudsdale…we don’t have the balloon and I’m the only pegasus here…”

Scootaloo stomped a hoof. “Hey, don’t forget about me!”

“Oh, now hold on there, you two!” Applejack stopped them both. “I’m not allowing a filly and a scaredy-pony into Cloudsdale with that dangerous pony running amok! No way no how!”

Rarity let out a whine. “Then what can we do? I’ve never felt so powerless!”

“We just have to trust Rainbow…” Scootaloo hung her head. “…and hope Celestia can find a way to save them both.”

“And I just finished the letter.” Spike rolled up the scroll and looked at everypony. All of them looked worried and uneasy. He glanced back at the letter to the golden seal. “I hope this works…for Twilight’s sake.”

*****

Rainbow Dash flies through the front door of her house in Cloudsdale and crashes into the staircase. Her eyes were still glowing and she climbed to her hooves. She began to angrily buck the walls and various objects within her reach. She stomped the ground repeatedly and yelled. “Screw everypony!” She kicked the front door shut. Her glow faded away and she collapsed to the ground. “Screw the Wonderbolts! Midnight Sun! My wings! Ponyville! Cloudsdale! Screw Equestria!” Tears fell from her eyes as she pounded at the floor.

After a few moments, Dash calmed down exhausted from her rage. “What do I do now?” She whispered. “Where do I go from here?” She buried her face in her hooves. “I’ve lost everything…” She sniffed. “How can I show my face to anypony? I really am a fake…”

Crash! Dash gasped and looked up. She heard something break on the second floor. Midnight?! She wouldn’t dare come back! She got up and ran upstairs to her room. She opened the door and looked inside. Another gasp, “Where’s Twilight?” She eyed the empty bed and ran up to it. She looked under and around the bed. “Oh no! She didn’t…fall off did she?” She began to leave the room to go check when she heard some more rustling behind her. “Who’s there?!” She whipped her head around.

Something emerged from the little fort of books in the corner of the room…something she’d never thought she’d see…

“T-Twilight?!” Dash felt a simultaneous rush of happiness and horror. Twilight looked very different…she had a strange, magical, transparent orb around her, her eyes were glowing white, and sparks were flying out where her now fully broken horn used to be. “W-What happened to you?!”

Twilight didn’t respond. She walked very slowly towards Rainbow in a zombie-like daze. It looked like she had trouble walking as if she hadn’t done so in a long time. The unicorn stopped a few meters away from the pegasus and slowly sat down.

“I-I can’t believe it! You’re…alive! Midnight said you couldn’t come back!” She smiled as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I knew she was wrong!” She approached the mare for an embrace when orb around the unicorn repulsed Dash backward. The pegasus let out a tiny scream as the orb also shocked her. “Ow! What was that for?! Twi? It’s me!” The pegasus climbed back to her hooves.

Twilight hadn’t budged. Her eyes were constantly fixed on the pegasus but she refused to say anything. In addition to being shocked, Dash also felt chilly after touching the orb…a very familiar chill. “Twilight? What’s wrong with you? Why won’t you say anything to me?” Dash approached her again, but more carefully. She poked the orb with a hoof and received another shock for it. “Ow!” Dash’s heart sank. “I don’t understand what’s going on! Twilight say something to me!” There was still no response. “Anything!” Rainbow was getting frustrated. “Please!!”

After a few silent, but painful moments, Twilight slowly stood and walked over to the window. She looked out the window for a few moments, and then looked back at Rainbow.

“What is it?” The pegasus joined the mare next to the window and looked out. There was some sort of commotion in Cloudsdale. A group of pegasi were flying towards the house. Why are they coming over here? “I don’t know who they are, Twi. I’m not sure what’s going on.” She looked at the unicorn who only stared coldly at her. “Stop…staring at me…please…” Dash looked away as Twilight didn’t oblige her.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Dash jumped as she heard somepony banging on the front door. She hurried outside the room and stared at the front door from atop the stairs. Rainbow could hear yelling from the other side. “Rainbow Dash! This is the Cloudsdale Guard! You are to come quietly!”

Why are the Cloudsdale Guard here? She retreated back into her room and closed the door behind her. “Twilight! They’re here for me! What should I do?!” Twilight had no response for the mare. Dash groaned and approached the window. “Let’s get out of here! We can outrun them!” She opened the window and crouched down. “Just climb on my back!” The unicorn just stared at her. “Hurry! Come on!”

Crash! The pegasi kicked the front door down and Dash could hear them moving around. “Please, Twi…” She whispered. “I don’t know why they want me…but I don’t want to stick around to find out! Let’s go back to Ponyville…let’s just forget we ever came here! You’re alive…if there’s anything I wanted more than becoming a Wonderbolt…it was just to be with you. I’m sorry I got so distracted…so determined to become my dream. But it’s okay now! Climb on my back…and we’ll be reading books and eating sandwiches with Spike back in the library!”

Nothing…Twilight just remained motionless and emotionless. The mare Dash knew for the better part of her life…was gone. What stood in front of her was nothing more than a husk…some kind of magical being she couldn’t even recognize. “Twilight?” Dash sank to the ground and began to sob. “Answer me…say you love me…tell me how much you missed me…I missed you….I still miss you!” She could hear ponies climbing the staircase. “I’m sorry! Isn’t that enough?! Won’t you forgive me?!”

“Rainbow Dash! Don’t move!” Several pegasi entered the room and surrounded the two ponies. “You are wanted for the murder of the pegasus Grinder!”

Dash’s ears perked up and she turned her head. “Grinder? I didn’t kill him!” She yelled in between sobs. He’s dead? Zephyr said he was all right…no…could it have been Midnight?

“You can tell that to the Canterlot Court!” The pegasi began to close on her. They were aware she was dangerous and were extremely cautious. Rainbow stood up and spread her wings. They all backed off. “We said don’t move! You can’t take on all of us!”

“I told you! I didn’t kill him! You are looking for the wrong pony! You should be looking for Midnight Sun!”

“Two witnesses put you at the scene where you fatally injured the pegasus! You can’t wiggle your way out of this one, Rainbow Dash!”

Dash hung her head and closed her eyes…she considered defeat. She had caused nothing but trouble ever since she lost her wings. I can’t seem to do anything right…maybe I should be locked up…I’m worse than Nightmare Moon…worse than Midnight…no…never worse than that wretch! Dammit, Twilight! I wish you could just teleport us out of here already!

Suddenly, Dash felt something pull her…she felt her whole body being squeezed by some sort of force. It was extremely painful but it only lasted for a second. She let out a yelp and opened her eyes.

The pegasi…they were gone…in fact…she wasn’t even in the same place. “What the…?” She looked around. I’m…home?! She saw Twilight standing next to her. Rainbow smiled and started to laugh. “You…you heard me, didn’t you?! You teleported us away!” She hopped around the unicorn, being careful to avoid the orb. “Yesyesyesyesyes! So you are still in there somewhere! Say something!” Dash was being a bit too hopeful…as Twilight remained deathly silent.

Rainbow’s enthusiasm died quickly. “Curses!” She stomped a hoof and sighed. “At least, we’re out of there, right? Now maybe we can find a way to turn you back to the egghead I love.” She stared into Twilight’s eyes. “There has to be a way…”

*****

“What a crazy day!” Applebloom and the two other crusaders had left the library and were returning to their everyday antics.

“You’re telling me!” Sweetie Belle groaned. “You have no idea how much of a drama queen my sister is!”

Scootaloo chuckled and pulled the two fillies into a hug. “Ah…I’m so glad to be back.”

“Oh, yeah…” Sweetie glared at the filly. “You never told us why you ditched us at the library and joined those two to Cloudsdale.”

Scootaloo smiled sheepishly and let go of them. She began to sweat. “Well, uh…you see…

Applebloom interrupted her, “Yeah…you didn’t even tell us y’all were leaving! How could ya just go out’n abandon us like that?”

“You see, I just…”

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders should always stick together!” Sweetie stomped a hoof.

“Okay! Okay!” Scootaloo yelled and took flight, hovering above the two ponies. The fillies gasped…they had never seen her fly before.

“Scoot?! Are you flying?” The two said simultaneously.

Scootaloo looked around herself and smiled. “Well, duh! What does it look like I’m doing?” She boasted as she puffed out her chest. Scootaloo flew in circles around the two and did a small loop-de-loop.

“Woah!” They were impressed. “Who taught you?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“The one and only Rainbow Dash, of course.” The filly looked back at her flank. “I didn’t get a cutie mark from it though. So I guess I’m still a Crusader after all.” She landed and approached her friends. “I’m sorry I left you guys…can you forgive me?” She hung her head.

“Hm…I don’t know…what do you think, Applebloom?” Sweetie grinned at the orange filly.

“I think we can forgive’er…under one condition.” Applebloom grinned as well. The pegasus gulped and took a step back.

“And what condition is that?” Scoot chuckled nervously. Before they gave an answer, the two fillies tackled her to the ground.

In unison, “Cutie Mark Crusader Pegasus Ticklers!” Hooves began poking and tickling Scoot’s sides and belly. She began to giggle and toss around frantically trying to escape.

“No! No! Stop! Uncle! Uncle!!” She burst into laughter and shut her eyes tightly as she began to tear up. After a few seconds, the tickle torture stopped and there was an awkward silence. Her laughing died slowly and she was breathing heavily. “Guys?” She peeked with her left eye…then both opened followed by a gasp.

A hoof pounded against her chest and pinned her to the ground. “Hello, cutie…it’s great to see you again…” Scootaloo tried to scream, but only a wheeze came out. “I have to thank you for saving me…it was really sweet of you.” Scootaloo caught sight of her friends a few meters away…frozen in solid ice against a tree. “Now, I only ask you help me out…one…last…time.” A shock was sent through the filly’s body…and she slowly passed out. She heard a small, evil laughter. Rain…bow...help…

*****

Rainbow and Twilight were still at the floating house. The two were sitting and staring at each other intently. They had been for over half a minute. “I’m not gonna fail this time…” Rainbow whispered.

In a few seconds, Dash’s eyes began to water and then she blinked. “Darn!” She giggled and wiped her eyes with a hoof. “You won again…I guess that means I owe you another kiss.” She blushed and turned her head away…trying to look as vulnerable as possible. After a few seconds, she sighed. “What’s the use?” She began to walk to the kitchen…Twilight’s eyes followed her every move. “Yeah, don’t think I can’t feel that stare of yours, not-Twilight. I’m gonna make something to eat…do you want anything?” She actually waited for an answer, but of course she didn’t receive one.

Dash cleared her throat, “Why I would love something to eat, Dashie…” She did her best Twilight impression.

“Really? What would you like?” She asked herself.

“Oh, you know what I like, you silly pegasus.”

“Let me guess…Daisy ’n’ Daffodil sandwich?”

“That’ll be great!” Dash chuckled pathetically. “Great…now I’m turning into Pinkie Pie.” She sighed and looked at Twilight one more time. Her stare was as persistent and emotionless as ever. Dash gritted her teeth in frustration and stomped over to the mare. “Wake up! I demand that you wake up and stop being so creepy!”

Twilight’s head slowly tilted to the side. Dash gasped softly. “You reacted…maybe…maybe there’s some kind of trick to this…” She rolled her eyes at the silliness of the notion. She looked over at the tiara she got for the Best Young Flyer’s Competition. “Twilight can you bring that tiara to me, please?” The mare’s head rightened and nothing happened. “I demand you bring that tiara to me!” Still nothing. She groaned and walked over to the object. This is hopeless…it’s like trying to get Fluttershy to do something for you…such a pain in the neck!

Suddenly, Dash felt a spark of rage inside of her and she kicked the pedestal holding the tiara over. She broke the pedestal in half but the tiara just landed softly on the floor. She glared at Twilight. “Here I was hoping that you actually came back!” She walked over to her. “That your stupid horn of yours actually did some good for once and brought you back to me! No…instead it’s just mocked me! It’s given me these stupid wings and now it’s given me a walking dead Twilight!” She threw a hoof at the orb and it shocked her. She turned and kicked it and it shocked her again. She crouched and charged at it and like rubber it bounced her backward like before.

She yelled furiously. “Stupid magic! Bring back Twilight!” Her eyes began to glow as did her wings. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever asked from you! I don’t want these wings! I just want Twi! Now give her back!” She flew headfirst at Twilight as fast as she could and collided with the orb…it bent far enough that her and Twilight’s lips met. It wasn’t a kiss by any means…and the orb sent very powerful shock through Dash’s body. It forcefully propelled her backward into one of the walls knocking her out.

The shock had singed Dash’s coat…and the feathers on her wings began to slowly fall off. As they collided with the floor they made tiny glass-shattering sounds as they vanished into nothingness. After a few moments, she was wingless once again.

“Dash...?!”

Chapter 15 - With a Whimper

Act 3

Chapter 15 – With a Whimper

*****

I’m going to give you my final gift…I just want you to know…I did it for you…everything I’ve told you…it’s my final testament…to our love. I don’t have anything left to tell you…I just want peace…

*****

“Sister? Why are you up at this hour?” Luna approached Celestia in her throne room. “This is much unlike you to call for me after the sun is down.”

“I have some horrible news, my dear sister Luna. You should read this…” The alicorn floated a scroll over to her. Luna took it into her own magic field and opened it.

“What could it possibly be?”

“She’s returned…” Celestia turned away.

Luna’s pupils shrank as she read the contents of the letter. She looked up at Celestia worriedly. “But we sealed her away! We trapped her forever in the Everfree Forest!”

“Well, it appears somepony let her out, sister, and now she terrorizes Cloudsdale and Ponyville. She has also attacked Twilight...” The alicorn glared at Luna.

“You’re not suggesting I had anything to do with this! I gave her up a thousand years ago! You know that better than anypony.”

“Regardless I want you to confront her. She’ll no doubt be vulnerable to you…being her mother.”

Luna looked to the ground and sighed. “I’ll…put a stop to her…once and for all.”

*****

“Dash?!” Twilight cried out. Somehow life had returned to the unicorn and she quickly attended to Rainbow. The shield around Twilight dropped and she nudged her lover’s cheek. “Are you all right? Wake up…” The pegasus didn’t respond.

What happened to her? I don’t remember anything…only the “dream” or whatever it was…and Midnight, of course. A thousand year grudge against the world…all focused on me when I resealed her parents…Luna and Discord. She kissed Dash’s cheek and then she finally noticed that Dash’s wings were gone.

“Dash…what did you do this time?” She shook her head…and then shortly after her forehead suddenly flared with excruciating pain.

~ Stupid magic! Bring back Twilight! It’s the only thing I’ve ever asked from you! I don’t want these wings! I just want Twi! Now give her back! ~

Twilight felt various shocks course through her body. She wanted to scream, but the force was paralyzing.

~ I don’t know why they want me…but I don’t want to stick around to find out! Let’s go back to Ponyville…let’s just forget we ever came here! ~

Every word and a cascade of emotions…seeped into Twilight’s memory.

~ I can’t do this, Middy. I can’t betray Twilight like this… ~

As quickly as the pain came, it went away. Twilight exhaled and put a hoof to her head feeling dizzy. What was that last vision? I saw Dash…with Midnight. Was it real? She stepped away from the pegasus. “I better not think too much about it…or this horn might give me all the messy details…” She felt for her horn and was shocked by the sparks emanating from it. “Ow!” She pulled back and looked at her hoof which was slightly burnt.

“The rest of it must have broken off…what does this mean? If my magic was chaotic before…” Her eyes fell on the little golden tiara on the ground which Dash must have knocked off. Without even trying it levitated off the ground and floated over to Dash. She placed it on the ground next to her.

“All it took was just a thought…huh.” Twilight briefly looked away from Dash and cleared her throat. Suddenly, sparks flew from the unicorn’s forehead and a grey cloud appeared over Rainbow. The cloud began to rain on the pegasus.

In only a few seconds, the mare shivered and began to awaken. The cloud disappeared. “Whoa whoa…” The mare was groggy. “What’s going on?”

Twilight approached her unable to decide whether to bring up all of Dash’s moments of betrayal. She decided to forget about it for now. “How are you feeling, Dash?”

“I’m feeling okay…but…” Rainbow gasped and was then wide awake. “Twilight!” A big smile crept on her face as she approached the unicorn for an embrace. She smacked right into a magical barrier. Dash backed off. “Hey, what gives?!” She could see Twilight’s eyes were still glowing as was where her missing horn was.

“Rainbow…I only wanted to wake you up to tell you I’m going after Midnight and that…you have a lot of thinking to do.” The unicorn looked away from the pegasus in disappointment.

“What? Twi, what are you talking about? You can’t go after Midnight! No way! I won’t let you go after her!” She pounded a hoof against the barrier, which she now realized was completely encapsulating Rainbow.

Twilight sighed. “Unlike you, I know where she is.”

“What? You do? Please, Twi! Tell me where she is! I can defeat her! She’s mine to defeat!”

“Not anymore.” She pointed at the pegasus’s missing wings.

Dash looked at her sides and her eyes widened. “You took them away?!”

“No…but perhaps it’s for your own good. Besides, you’re conflicted…you hesitated to stop her before...” She glared at the cyan mare.

Dash felt guilty. “I know I did! I was stupid and I’m sorry, but I realize now how much she needs to be stopped!” She pounded a hoof. “Just give me my wings back and…”

“I’m not going to argue with you, Dash! Just…stay here, okay? We’ll talk about it when I return.” The unicorn began to walk away.

“Wait! You can’t!” She rammed the shield and it bounced her back. “Don’t go! Please! Just forget about her!” She pressed her hooves against the shield. “I said I’m sorry, Twi! Let me go with you! Come on!” She pounded against the shield. Tears began to stream down her face.

Twilight stopped and turned to look at her. “I promise I’ll return…”

“Pinkie Promise?!”

The two mares stared at each other. Twilight smiled and giggled. “I love you.” Then teleported away.

Dash gasped heavily. “No!!!” She pounded as hard as she could on the shield. She slid down and collapsed into tears. “Come back!” She weakly hit the barrier. “Come back…” She saw the tiara on the ground next to her. “Twilight…” Dash embraced the tiara.

*****

At the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Twilight was staring into the dark depths of the forest.

That drawing…of the constellation. You gave yourself away…why would you do that? Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor. The cave of the Ursa Minor…it might be a stretch, but where else would she hide? She reeks of death and her personality is paper thin. Plus I can feel that you’re in there…the Everfree Forest…it’s your domain Midnight. It’s about the only place in Equestria that’s extremely dangerous to enter…probably only dangerous to protect yourself…or perhaps guard something that isn’t meant to be disturbed.

The unicorn began to walk into the forest. The darkness growing as she left the comfort of the moonlight. She wasn’t fearful at all. The power in her boiling over…she felt she could take on Celestia herself.

Why would you give me that drawing? I still can’t figure it out.

The darkness became too much. Her “horn” flared and the area around her became illuminated. She would now be obvious to every threat in the area, but they wouldn’t dare try anything.

I’m sorry Rainbow Dash…I really wanted to bring you along…I want to gather everyone to help me fight this…but it’s not Midnight I’m afraid of…it’s myself…I still don’t understand what I’ve become…A mere thought could harm my friends. I can’t take that risk. This shouldn’t be difficult anyway…

Her ego was growing larger than Dash’s. Maybe it rubbed off on her. Twilight trudged on stepping over branches and maneuvering around the trees. The air around her suddenly grew much colder.

~ You're always there to help any pony in need, so maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you. ~

She heard a voice in her head. She stopped and looked around. “Hello?” Nobody answered.

Strange…I could have sworn I heard somepony.

~ So when she ran off all worked up, not a single one of us tried to stop her. ~

“Who’s there?!” She asked the wilderness. Nothing answered her.

~ Oh...uh...why don't you just stay here and rest? I'll take care of the whole fighting for friendship thing myself. ~

“That’s my voice…I said that…to Spike.”

Twilight Sparkle… Another voice…it wasn’t familiar.

“Who are you?”

I have a question for you…

“Huh? A question?”

Have you ever considered…that what you do will only cause more pain? That every action you take…will affect the lives of everyone around you?

“Well, I’m not a fortune teller. How can I know that? I do what I must for my friends…and for Equestria.”

“For your friends” …how much have they returned that act of kindness? Where were they when faced off against Night Mare Moon? When you tried to restore order from Discord? When you tried to usurp Chrysalis?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about? They were all there by my side!”

Only after they’ve humiliated you, shoved you away, and accused you of treachery.

The truth in the voice was a little disheartening. “They’re…it’s not…” She couldn’t think of how to counter that.

You’re always seen as some kind of lunatic…and you know it. I’m only telling you this…when you have to make a decision very soon. I want you to think of my words when you find Midnight…you will find her.

“I’m not crazy! You know nothing about me! Just leave me alone!”

You’re already alone.

Twilight grew frustrated and ignored the voice. She continued walking deeper into the forest. The unicorn could feel the air get colder…her skin began to crawl with the dozens of distinct noises she could hear echoing around her. She didn’t feel as brave anymore. Something left her…and she couldn’t tell what.

Not feeling as confident now are we? Are you getting cold feet? Maybe you should turn back now…and take up Rainbow’s offer to help you. As a matter of fact…I wonder how she’s doing right now.

Twilight felt something shock her.

~ Twilight! Please come back! Come back… ~

The unicorn gasped. “Dash?! She’s in trouble!”

You’d better go and save her.

Twilight tried to teleport to Rainbow’s house, but for some reason she couldn’t. “My magic…it isn’t working!”

Well, that’s unfortunate isn’t it? Looks like you’ll have to walk back. I’m not sure if Rainbow has enough time.

“No…” Twilight looked around her desperately.

What’s the matter, Twilight? Can’t remember where you came from? I suggest you forget about Rainbow. Midnight’s more important.

Twilight’s eyes began to water. “Stop this…who are you?”

You know who I am. Look!

Suddenly, the trees and plants in front of Twilight bent apart…creating a path to a cave. Before the unicorn could question it…she received another shock.

~ Hello, cutie…it’s great to see you again… ~

“Midnight?!” Twilight looked around her.

~ I have to thank you for saving me…it was really sweet of you. ~

Her eyes were fixated on the cave again.

~ Now, I only ask you help me out…one…last…time. ~

“Shut up! You’ll regret ever hurting Dash…” Twilight leaped into a full stride towards the cave. Everything around her was dead silent except for the sound of her hooves on the forest floor. In a few seconds she stopped just inside the entrance of the cave. She could feel the cold air envelop around her pulling her almost. She took small steps forward. Her magic illuminated the cave. The only thing Twilight could see inside was a giant empty cavern with stalactites dripping water from the ceiling.

However, she could hear something breathing heavily. Something very large, but she couldn’t see it. A light caught her eyes…there was a small passageway a couple hundred paces in front of her.

That has to be it...Midnight must be in there. You can feel it, can’t you? Her aura is strong. Don’t worry…she won’t be able to hurt you.

“I was never worried.” Twilight continued forward, but the cave seemed to bend…her vision began to skew and her destination grew farther and farther. She continued to walk anyways…the sound of her hooves on the rock floor echoing throughout the cave.

You must be thinking…“am I truly losing it”? Is there ever an end? Even after death you still remain. It must be difficult to accept. Such a mystery…such a painful way to live.

“I don’t…know what you’re talking about.” She whispered.

You’re forgetting something…one tiny little detail that slipped your mind. I won’t tell you…or rather I can’t, because embarrassingly enough…I don’t remember either.

“Please stop talking…”

Do you feel you’re getting closer to the truth? That maybe your coming here has a greater purpose than stopping a pathetic little alicorn from harming a few ponies?

“I’m not listening…”

You know it as much as I do…the power that surges through your body. Without your horn…you have no control over it…there’s no way to stop it...

“I’ve tamed it before…I’ll do it again. I’m stronger than you think I am.”

I’d say you’re more stubborn than Applejack…always the force of order…always acting as the defender of Equestria. It’s going to get you killed someday.

Twilight was drawing closer and closer to the cave. The air was growing warmer…

You realize that no one is going to come help you…you’re facing this entirely on your own.

“All I need is my heart and my resolve.”

Is that what you think will win you the day?

She felt another shock. She saw the library in flames…that memory of her stepping on the frame. She snapped out of it and continued to move forward towards the passageway. The air was no longer cold…it embraced her with a homely warmth.

I can’t stop you, can I? You’re truly determined to see this through to the end. Princess Celestia chose well…

“They may not be here…but my friends are all with me…they’re counting on me.” She finally reached the entrance and walked inside. The passage began to curve to her left. The light was growing brighter and brighter. Then… “Wow…”

What she saw was not a room or a cavern, but she was outside…or what appeared to be outside. There was a large hill in front of her with grass blowing in the wind. A single giant tree was at the summit of the hill. The moonlight and the beautiful starry sky illuminated the entire area. Twilight took a step onto the grass and began walking towards the tree. She looked to her left and to her right. There was just an endless field of grass that slowly merged with darkness. She glanced behind her…the same. The entrance she just walked through was gone.

The unicorn continued to walk up the hill. It wasn’t too steep and the wind wasn’t too strong or cold. The whole area felt soothing…she felt like this was a place she could stay in forever.

In a few moments, she scaled the hill and reached the tree. She trotted up to it and looked around. On the opposite side of the hill was a cliff that dropped down into nothingness. Suddenly…the wind died and the endless field of grass seemed to close up around her. Darkness enveloped everything except for the small area atop the hill.

“Twilight.” She heard a voice behind her. She turned to face it.

“Midnight.”

Midnight chuckled softly and walked closer to her. “I see that you got my hint.”

“Your time in Equestria ends here, Midnight.” The alicorn began to walk around her.

“Oh, I know. The mere idiotic notion that I could kill you was just too enticing for me. I pretty much threw my life away the instant I met your friend, Rainbow Dash. I just wanted retribution…a chance to right the wrongs inflicted upon me.”

Twilight sighed and stepped away from the mare. “Shut up…I don’t want to hear it. I came here to stop you. I don’t want to hear your sob story about how you were mistreated and exiled as a filly.”

“Oh, so you know? I mean…of course you would. Then I guess…there’s nothing left to tell you…” Midnight stepped closer to Twilight and closed her eyes. “Kill me.”

The unicorn’s eyes widened…she stepped back.

“What’s wrong? You came all the way from Cloudsdale to do this…now do it!”

“Why…why are you giving up? You’re not going to even defend yourself?”

“Those wings you gave Dash…it was pretty obvious that somehow they were giving her power as well. She nearly killed me just by the small amount of power you gave her…I have no chance against you…why even try?”

Twilight was torn. Initially, she felt so justified about coming to stop Midnight…but now she wasn’t even sure she could hurt her. She was pathetic…weak…she expected this powerful alicorn…like Luna or Celestia to fight back.

“You should look at yourself, Twilight. You remind me so much of my mother…” She sighed. “What I wouldn’t give to see her again…”

Twilight’s heart ached. “But you can! She’s in Canterlot. I’m sure she would be glad to see her daughter alive and well.”

Midnight laughed, but Twi could see the tears in the alicorn’s eyes. “That’s rich…wouldn’t that be the day.”

“You’re talking about it as if it’s some kind of pipe-dream. But it’s not! We can leave here and go see here right now!”

“Just…be quiet and do what you came here to do!”

“No…I won’t!”

“What?!”

“I won’t let you off this easy…I want to make things right.”

Twilight could see the anger growing in Midnight’s eyes. “You stupid unicorn…you can’t just ‘make things right’! You don’t have that kind of power!”

“If I learned anything from helping Dash with her dream…is that anything is possible!”

“She failed her dream! Just like you failed her the very moment you meddled in it! Now stop being such a filly and kill me!”

Twilight gritted her teeth. “No!”

Midnight lifted her hooves and shoved the mare backward. Twilight stumbled a bit, but regained her footing quickly. “Am I going to have to fight you? Do I need to threaten your life to make you do it?!” Midnight stomped the ground as her own electrical sparks flew from her forehead. She walked right up to the unicorn and glared at her.

“No…I won’t do it…”

Midnight’s anger faded away. “I knew you were a coward…” The alicorn turned around and walked back over to the tree. “But I know one way I can change your mind…” Midnight turned to look back at Twilight…her eyes were glowing white.

Crack! A bolt of electricity shot from Midnight’s forehead and hit the ground next to her. Something appeared there…a small cage with something inside of it.

“Twi!” Scootaloo cried out.

The unicorn gasped. “Scootaloo?!” She glared at Midnight. “Let her go!”

“I didn’t want it to come to this…” Midnight moved closer to the cage and put a hoof on top of it. “…but I’ll hurt this filly if you don’t stop me.”

“You wouldn’t…” Twilight stepped closer…watching the alicorn’s movements closely.

“You’re going to force me to do something evil, aren’t you? Something tragic in order to…justify this. If you don’t stop me…this child won’t be the only one I’ll harm…I’ll haunt the nightmares of every stallion and mare in Equestria…wondering why their child had to die…and I’ll answer them…because one unicorn couldn’t find it in herself to do what had to be done.”

There was a moment of silence between the two mares. Twilight was considering Midnight’s threat...wondering if she really had the gall to do it. Then suddenly without warning, Midnight sent a shock through the cage and electrocuted the filly. Scootaloo screamed in agony from the shocks. Twilight gasped and without even realizing it, she shot a beam of energy at the alicorn’s hoof knocking it off the cage.

Midnight stumbled backward from the blast. She looked at her burnt hoof and chuckled. “Ow…”

Zap! Another shot hit the mare’s side causing her to stumble back more. Twilight advanced on the alicorn…her eyes watery. Another shot grazed Midnight’s cheek and then her chest.

Midnight laughed between cries of pain. Twilight continued to hit random areas of her body until the alicorn found herself backed up against the cliff. Midnight breathed heavily…her body burnt and bleeding. She laughed again.

“I never thought it’d hurt so much…I’m starting to regret this now…” She continued to chuckle. She spread out her wings and looked at herself. Twilight could see now that Midnight’s wings were damaged. Many of the feathers were missing and they were slightly mangled. “Well, Twilight? Doesn’t it feel good? To punish the wicked? To get back at those who’ve hurt your friends and family?”

“You’re so evil…” Twilight gritted her teeth. Several ribbon of magic exuded from her horn and converged to create a magical arrow of energy above the unicorn.

“Evil…it’s the word I’d use to describe you…and your friends…” Midnight closed her eyes.

“Twilight, don’t do it!” She heard the filly cry from the cage behind her.

Midnight coughed and fell to her knees. “At least I can die knowing…at some point…someone loved me.”

“And who would that be?” The ribbons continued to gather above her.

“Who do you think, Twilight? You’ve only ruined her life the past few weeks.”

“Dash…” Twilight thought about her. I didn’t ruin her life…I gave her hope and motivation…

“I regret not killing you sooner…maybe I could have been with her instead.”

“She would never forget about me!”

Midnight laughed weakly. I wish she was here now so she could tell her off!

There was a long moment of silence between the ponies. Midnight opened her eyes again. “What are you waiting for?!!!” She yelled at the unicorn.

Twilight closed her eyes and launched the arrow directly at the alicorn. She heard her scream as the arrow connected. Tears fell from the unicorn’s eyes.

“No!!!” She heard Scootaloo yell behind her. Twilight opened her eyes to see what happened and she gasped.

“I told you, Twi…she’s mine!!” Rainbow Dash tackled the alicorn off the cliff.

…

Twilight ran up to the cliff and looked over. She was too shocked to even react.

My final advice…you should sometimes be careful what you wish for.

…

Twilight looked back at the filly who was in tears. The beautiful green field was no longer green, but brown as she now found herself in a cavern. She looked over the edge again and then jumped off.

She floated herself down gently with her magic and landed at the bottom of the huge chasm. Twilight again illuminated the area and in front of her was the body of Midnight who was no longer breathing. A few steps away there was another body on the ground…Dash…still breathing!

“Rainbow!” Twilight quickly got over to her. The arrow was sticking out of her side and a growing pool of blood underneath it. “Nonono!”

“Twi?” She coughed. “Is that you?”

“Yes! Yes, it is…” She kneeled next to the mare and pressed her nose against her cheek. “It’s me.”

“I guess that wasn’t…too smart…was it?”

“No! No, it wasn’t, you bird-brain!” Her tears dropped onto the pegasus’s face.

Dash laughed weakly. She wasn’t even looking at Twilight. “I’m sorry…I never listened to you.” The pegasus winced as she tried to move.

“Stay still! I’m gonna get you out of here!” Twilight tried to use her magic to teleport, but again it wouldn’t work. She let out a frustrated sigh. “Come on! Come on!” She stomped her hoof.

Dash touched Twi’s hoof with hers. “I guess I’m only brave, huh?” She chuckled…then she slowly closed her eyes.

Twilight quickly kissed her cheek. “No! You’re infallible too!” She nudged her with her nose. “Dash?” She bit her ear. “Talk to me, Dash!” Twilight gave her a gentle shove. She wasn’t responding. “Rainbow Dash, get up! Get up…” There was full five seconds of silence. She could only hear the echo of water dripping.

She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into her neck. She began to weep into that cyan coat of hers. This isn’t happening…this can’t be happening!!

Twilight heard a soft sigh behind her. “She was always so devilish…even to the very end…” A fire raged in Twilight’s heart. She turned and shot at whoever was behind her. It was easily absorbed by the alicorn standing in front of her.

“Luna…”

The alicorn approached her and kneeled down to her level. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle. I…I’m sorry about this…I truly am. I never knew she had such a strong grudge against you. I would have stopped her earlier but…I wasn’t even aware she was still alive.”

“It doesn’t matter! You’re too late…The damage has been done…Now, I just want to be left alone…please.” Twilight turned away and returned to Rainbow.

Luna looked over at Midnight. She walked over to her and put a hoof on her face. “You can finally rest…”

Twilight glanced over at the two and sobbed. “Why am I always such a disaster?

You really want an answer?

“Shut up…you’re not helping…why can’t you leave me alone?”

You know…you can still fix this.

“What are you talking about?”

Luna looked over at Twilight…who she saw talking to herself.

A light suddenly emerged from her forehead and surrounded the unicorn.

“Twilight?” Luna approached her, but a wave of energy forced her back.

Magical swirled around the unicorn faster and faster. Then in a flash…Twilight was gone.

*****

Twilight appeared in front of Rainbow’s house right next to the front door. “What am I doing here?” Her magic flared involuntarily and the front door opened.

Dash came to a screeching halt right in front of her. They both gasped.

“Twilight?!” Dash had to do a double take to make sure.

“Dash?!” It suddenly dawned on her…what the voice had done…what she had done. She felt her heart beat in her chest and she slowly moved closer to the pegasus. Twilight looked Dash over…she seemed younger. She couldn’t even recall her ever looking so beautiful. The unicorn smiled. “You look…awesome, Rainbow.”

“I don’t get it! I just saw you fall!! Besides what happened to you?! You look…”

Twilight put a hoof to her mouth. “I only have a couple seconds, Dash…” She removed the hoof. “We should make the most of it…” Twilight lunged in for a kiss. Dash was hesitant, but she quickly melted into it. They both closed their eyes as the embraced each other and deepened their kiss.

I have a story to tell you…about how we fell in love.

Both of the mare’s eyes flashed open white as a magical field of energy encapsulated them.

I know this all must be very sudden to you...You must listen carefully to my words...there may not be another moment left to share them...

Silence and secrets share a love/hate relationship. Combating values sway the couple in their affection for one desire or the other.

It never really occurred how fortunate I was. It seemed all too trivial before. You know that saying: “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone”? Those words will forever haunt me.

Realizing your own weakness can bring unto you a greater strength.

Sometimes talent comes from the heart. Only when you least expect it, do you discover your true brilliance.

Truth can be alluring and repulsive. Either one can sometimes be too much to handle.

Life has its ways of coming full circle. You just have to know what to do when the opportunity presents itself.

In every being lies a parasite eating at morality. It only hurts more when they pretend it’s not there.

Forever from your past you try to hide, you’ll find it alive right by your side.

In every scar comes power, knowledge, and experience, but also a pain you can never forget.

The heart and the mind can prove to be a fickle couple. Their differences in rights and wrongs can drive any soul to madness.

Going beyond the boundaries, new pains and new paths emerge. It’s a difficult choice to make because…can you ever go back?

Confrontation is a gamble. What unfolds is always a mystery…be it pleasant or horrifying. Confrontation is a necessary evil…even if it means staring directly into the face of death…

*****

Tears were streaming down Dash’s face. She’d seen everything…she’d felt everything. She was transformed. The glow from her eyes faded and she broke away from the kiss. “Twilight, what did you do?!” Dash looked around as if she didn’t know where she was.

“I’ve given you another chance…” Twilight said softly. She felt something grip her legs. She looked to see what it was…her body…was being turned crystalline. She looked back at Dash. “Now you know what to do…where to go…and who to go to. Your life is now yours to rewrite…except this time…I won’t be there to screw it up.”

“What?!!” Dash eyes grew wide as she looked outside. The storm behind Twilight was raging. “No! You…You didn’t!”

“I’m more dangerous than Midnight…I can’t live with myself knowing what I am…and what I’m capable of.” The glow from Twilight’s eyes faded as did all of her magic. The crystal coating had reached her forelegs and began to move up toward her neck.

Dash started to move around her. She had to save Twilight!

“Stop!” Dash obeyed. “You know you barely saved me last time…it’s too late.”

“You can’t do this!! You’re so selfish, Twi!!” She sobbed.

It had reached her neck and slowly crept around the back of her head. “Don’t forget about me…” She managed before it completely encased her.

Rainbow inhaled sharply. “Twilight!!” She rushed up to kiss her lips...

Crash!

The crystalline statue of her shattered into a million pieces before her eyes. Rainbow backed off and watched as the pieces fell through the cloud flooring. She held her breath…unable to take it in. She slid onto the ground and frantically dug at the clouds for her. After a few moments, she started pounding on the floor.

The storm slowly died...

“Come back…come back…you promised…”

End of Act 3

Tamed II - As Time Went On

This is not the full chapter. Read the full chapter at Tamed II - As Time Went On

Tamed II - Act 1

Chapter 1 – Mysterious Rendezvous

*****

On a solemn night, the air was frigid and the wind screeched past the cold rocks of Smokey Mountain. A solitary pony, a Pegasus, trekked carefully along the treacherous path. His eyes were narrowed and his wings tucked tightly. He could barely see where he was going as only the light of a full moon cared to guide his way. He constantly stepped on loose rocks, letting out hisses of pain and disapproval. However, he carried on. He knew he had to reach the top. It wasn’t that he was a daredevil or absolutely insane. It was imperative that he continued...

Eventually, his eyes caught the hint of small breakaway in the path. He was now stuck with two options and was clueless about the layout of the mountain.

“Luna guide me…which way is it?” His voice was completely drowned out by the wind. He couldn’t hear himself much less reach the ears of anypony else. The Pegasus decided to ignore the breakaway and continued along the main path. In retaliation, a large gale pushed him back to the fork. He was so close to losing his ground, but with a quick decision, he lunged towards the path he rejected. Without warning, the wind died out. So fast in fact that the Pegasus’s ears began to ring from the dead silence. However, he was relieved to have finally rid of that annoying adversary.

The path in front of him lit up in the moonlight. It was very narrow and it seemed to go on forever. He was walled on both sides by giant cliffs of rock. The moon, oddly enough, was positioned straight ahead. It loomed over where the path seemed to end.

“Did you hear me?” He whispered to himself. As he progressed, the only sounds he could hear were the light stamping of his hooves on the hard rock and his own labored breathing. Then he suddenly saw something out of the corner of his eye. To his left the Pegasus’s head turned to stare down another pathway, a pathway that he was sure wasn’t there before. He noticed something else and turned his head back. The pathway he was traversing…was gone...or was it? Confused he looked around. He was indeed still on the straight and narrow path with the moon looming in the distance in one direction and complete darkness in the other.

“Where are you taking me?” Whispering, he continued.

There are moments in my life when nothing seems to make sense. As if…walking forward only brings me backward. When I look up…all I see is the ground below. I feel as if I don’t belong…as if the way I see the world is…different. I can see the light before me, but how far off is it? Will I ever be able to reach it?

He blinked. He was now facing a wall. Again, he was disoriented, but the moon again guided him. It begged for him…

I always fear the choices I make…when something seems so obviously right…and it turns out to be the worst decision you’ve ever made.

“Hey!” The Pegasus’s ears perked. He heard a voice that was not his own. Instantly, he turned to the right…down the path of darkness. A pony was standing there…illuminated by the moon. It was a filly…small and adorable. She had violet mane and eyes…a horn and a cute smile. The stripe in her mane… “Follow me! I want to show you something,” She interrupted his thoughts.

He blinked and rubbed his eyes with a hoof. It…wasn’t an illusion. “Shouldn’t we…do as we’re told?” The words left his mouth unwillingly. He put a hoof up to his lips.

“Fyre…you’re no fun. I want to see the world! I hate being cooped up at home all the time.”

The Pegasus, Fyreburst, just stared at the filly for the longest time. His eyes began to well up. He took a step toward her. When his hoof touched the ground, he suddenly yanked it back with a yelp. It felt as if something sharp had impaled it.

“I-I can’t go!” He cried. “Just come back…come back to me!” He reached out to her. “I don’t…want to see you go…”

He blinked again. The filly was gone. In a panic, he looked around. The narrow path was all that was left. She wasn’t there…gone…with no choice to go back.

Panic…the feeling that always tears you up. You feel hopeless…estranged. A part of you is pinned down…to one spot in the past. The more you try to deny it ever happened…the more it hurts you…keeps you awake at night…searching desperately for a way to pull the pin…and correct it, but all you discover is that there’s nothing you can do.

“Moving on…easier said than done.” He muttered. He wiped his eyes and then took off in a gallop towards the moonlight. He could hear whispering all around him…incomprehensible but familiar. Only now and then could he make out the words.

“In every scar comes power, knowledge, and experience, but also a pain you can never forget.” The voice was clearer than the rest. The moon was becoming brighter and brighter with every second.

“Never forget,” He repeated.

“Going beyond the boundaries, new pains and new paths emerge. It’s a difficult choice to make because…can you ever go back?” The voice spoke to him again.

“No…you can’t change the past. All you can do is deny it,” He answered.

As soon as he was done speaking, the light became blinding. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, but once he reopened them, he was standing in front a giant mouth to a very large cave. He had reached the top. Shocked, he looked behind him and could see the fork he had encountered earlier.

“That was…strange.” He shook his head and rubbed it with a hoof. “I must be getting tired. Let’s just find out what this is all about.” He walked toward the cave and entered into its gloomy depths. Blinded was an understatement. He couldn’t see his own hoof in front of his face. He didn’t bring with him any sort of lighting and was simply stuck not being able to see.

“Hello?!” He hollered into the darkness. He waited for an answer, but there was none. Fyre sighed as he remembered something he was told to say, “A long decade come and gone...” He rolled his eyes. “Stare into the blazing dawn…” He inhaled to say the rest…

“Rest upon that smoky spire…leave the land bathed in fire,” A sly, quiet voice finished for him. “So you’ve come…just like she said.”

“Like who said? Who are you?” Fyre looked around, but nothing could be seen in the darkness.

“Fyreburst…that’s your name, right?” The voice cracked…it seemed young and coltish.

“I’m not saying anything until you answer my question.” He stamped his hoof.

“Such defiance will get you killed, Fyre. You come not here by your own will…but by fate…I also know what you seek.”

“Then we can make this short. Tell me what I want to know!” He stepped backwards a little. He was ready to bolt out of there as soon as he could.

“First there’s something you need to tell me.” The voice became slightly louder. Out of the darkness, Fyre could see the glint of two eyes. Not enough to make out their color, but enough to know where the voice was coming from.

“Oh? Something you want to know, huh?” He scoffed. “Look, I was told you would be cooperative.”

“What do you know…about Twilight Sparkle?”

“Twilight Sparkle?” He curved his lips into a small grin. “Actually, I do know something about that pony.”

He could sense the figure he was speaking to become restless once it heard this. The eyes drew closer…close enough to make out their color…purple. “Tell me! Tell me where she is!”

“Ah ah…I just got done climbing this awful, terrible mountain. Give me a break. I want my information first. Then I’ll gladly tell you.”

“And if you don’t…I’ll kill you! You got that?!”

“Fine by me.” He could feel a bead of sweat trickle down his face. His legs tightened and he swallowed the persistent lump in his throat. “Now tell me.”

The voice took a moment to respond, “Go to Ponyville…”

“Ponyville? That…country town? She’s…there?”

“Enough questions…tell me about Twilight!” The figure was getting excited.

“Twilight, huh? Well…I hate to disappoint you…but I’ve never heard of her.”

With that, Fyre swung himself around and dashed towards the exit. He unfurled his amber wings and took to the air.

“You!!” The voice screamed. The anger in it was like nothing he’s ever heard. It was all the more reason to fly as fast as he could. He was sure he got a good lead on whatever it was. He hoped it couldn’t fly…

“Gahh!!” Fyre yelped as he was tackled out of the sky. He hit the hard rock with a deafening thud. The Pegasus rolled to a stop and he quickly tried to recover himself, but before he could even stand he was knocked onto his side. The pain of both falls was tearing into him. He kicked violently at his attacker.

“I told you this would happen! Why would you lie to me?! I can’t trust…anypony!” He heard the voice yell at him. He was forced onto his back. His vision was blurry as he glanced helplessly upward. The figure was silhouetted by the moonlight. Two purple eyes and a purple-hued mane were all he could make out.

“Lights out, Fyre!” was the last thing he heard.

...

This is not the full chapter. Read the full chapter at Tamed II - As Time Went On

Chapter 1 - The Best of Us

Act 1 - Broken

Chapter 1 – The Best of Us

*****

I know this all must be very sudden to you...You must listen carefully to my words...there may not be another moment left to share them...

Silence and secrets share a love/hate relationship. Combating values sway the couple in their affection for one desire or the other.

*****

It was pouring that night. A lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, could feel the library rattle with the amount of wind blowing and screeching past. Spike, her dragon assistant, had already fallen asleep. Twilight was propped up in the bed with a book about weather ponies titled Taming the Storm. The purple mare had pondered how weather worked before there were Pegasi moving the clouds. To her, it seemed too manipulative of nature. These ponies also dictated the changing of seasons.

Why is it that they control so much? Wouldn’t it be harmless to let nature run its course?

She pondered this possibility and she wasn’t finding any answers in this book. Frustrated, she closed it and tossed it aside. The book tumbled off the bed and hit the floor with a mere thud. The unicorn let out an exasperated sigh and fell back against the cushions of her bed.

She stared restless at the ceiling. She could never seem to sleep during rainstorms. The sound of rain pitter-pattering against the nearby window assaulted her ears and mind. She wished she could just mute the whole world for one measly night to get some well-deserved sleep.

Crack!

Twilight yelped from the sudden lightning strike. She shot the window a begrudging glare and groaned.

Boom!

She jumped again, but her eyes caught something odd outside during the brief illumination. She leapt up and trotted over to the window.

The mare could barely make out a pony on the other side. It was propped up against the window and the darkness of the night didn’t help in deciphering who it was. The unicorn’s horn flared as she slid the window open. Twilight had just then briefly forgotten that the figure had been propped so a pony suddenly tumbled into the house with a water-splattering crash…and this one was of a rainbow variety.

“Dash?” She placed a hoof on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash jerked away and scrambled to her hooves. She wasn't looking her usual peppy self. She was soaked to the skin. Her eyes were swollen as if she’d been crying and her mane was a complete mess. “What are you doing out there?” The unicorn shut the window to bar the unforgiving elements.

“Hey, Twi…” The pegasus sniffled and shivered. She looked exhausted and down in the dumps. How long had she been out there? Was she sleeping or waiting this whole time for Twilight to let her in. Before she could ponder it further, Dash suddenly perked up with a wide smile. The unicorn blinked and took a step back. “What’s up?” Her odd switch was a bit startling.

“You tell me.” The unicorn levitated a blanket over to her and wrapped the soaking pony tightly. “You’re the one sleeping against my window at three in the morning during a rainstorm.” She could tell the pegasus was extremely grateful for the blanket as she sunk in it with a sigh with relief.

Rainbow perked back up again, “I was uh…keeping watch! You never know when those changeling things could strike again! I couldn't leave my pal alone in this dusty place!” Twilight was not amused by her weak attempt at dodging her question. She could easily guess the situation and didn’t hesitate to speculate.

“Let me guess…napping, right? I thought you could tell when it was going to rain, Rainbow Dash. Never thought I’d see you like this.” With this, she saw the pegasus starting to tear up. Frustration crossed her features as she let out a sigh.

“Look! I can tell when it’s going to rain, all right?! I just…fell asleep and lost track of time! That’s all! I thought your windowsill would be a nice place to nap. Ha! Was I wrong…” Twilight rolled her eyes and giggled.

Ah, you’re a riot. You just got suspended from the weather team recently because you assisted in the destruction of town hall a few months back. I guess they still haven’t forgiven you or Ditzy for that mess. It’s more apparent than ever that your absence from work has taken a toll on your weather awareness. I’ve never seen Rainbow get caught in the rain.

Twilight tilted her head slightly and examined the pegasus further. Her searching eyes made Dash a little uncomfortable. She avoided making eye contact with the unicorn.

Was her mane longer than usual? Not that I’d keep track with something like that. Her eyes…she’s definitely been crying. How long had she been out there? I feel horrible for not noticing her earlier.

“Stop staring at me already.” Rainbow snapped. “I know I’m awesome, but I’d really prefer you wouldn’t see me like this.” She covered her face with her hooves and sunk into the blanket, pulling it over her head.

“All right.” The unicorn smiled and looked away. She pondered for a second before her face lit up. She advanced on the pegasus. “Hey, I’ll let you sleep in here tonight! I have that spare bed I used for my slumber party. It’ll be no problem at all.” She began leaving to go fetch it. She usually kept it stored away, but she was always eager to pull it out for guests. Twilight stopped mid-trot and looked at Dash. “We can talk later if you’re feeling up to it.” She continued towards a nearby closet. She wondered how she managed to fit the mattress in it…but she always found a way. As she began pulling it out along with lavender sheets, covers and pillows, several thoughts ran through her mind.

I wonder if you can answer my question about weather ponies. You’d be the perfect pony to ask actually. Oh, but I don’t want to ask you questions in this state. Maybe tomorrow. I just hope you don’t leave in the morning. You’re not exactly the easiest pony to find…no matter how flamboyant you are.

Twilight looked back at her. She hasn’t moved from out of the soft confines of her blanket, but the unicorn could catch a little glimpse of a magenta eye looking at her. This was very uncharacteristic of the pegasus. So still and contained. It seemed like she would burst into flight at any moment, but she never did.

Twilight levitated the bed and its components onto the empty floor next to Dash. She set it up nice and perfect for her. She was even thoughtful enough to peel open the covers so she could just climb right in.

“There you go!”

“Thanks, Twi…” Rainbow’s usual braggart demeanor and tone absent from her voice. “I really appreciate this.” Twilight watched as the cyan mare climbed out of the blanket, took slow steps towards the bed. She was still partially soaked. The blanket hadn’t done much for her.

The unicorn began to feel guilty. She hadn’t done enough to help her friend in need. What was she doing? Twilight leaped over and extended a hoof to stop her.

“Stay right there, Dash.” Twilight commanded as she descended the stairs to the main floor. Rainbow was a bit dumbfounded as she eased her haunches onto the wooden floor and watched as Twilight dashed down the stairs.

*****

Twilight returned a few minutes later with a towel and a warm drink. Much to her surprise, the pegasus hadn’t moved an inch. She just stared blankly at Twilight with glazed eyes. Rainbow’s gloomy attitude was getting to her. She lifted the towel with her magic and began drying the mare off as quickly as she could. Dash gave out a series of grunts and squeaks, but she didn’t protest.

After she was done, the pony’s coat and mane were comically disheveled, which got a small giggle out of the unicorn. Twilight levitated the drink she over to her. The pegasus stared at the cup for a few seconds. Her eyes watered a bit and she gave Twilight a half-hearted smile.

“Thank you, Twi…” She reached up and gripped the cup in both hooves. She proceeded to drink the warm fluid which Dash discovered was simply tea. Twilight could see Dash was pleased and the feeling made her beam. Finally, she knew she was doing something right. Perhaps this would open her up a little.

“Want to talk to me, Dash?” She sat beside her, giving the pegasus a warm smile. “Want to tell me what’s going on?” She tried to be as forceless as possible in her queries. “You don’t have to…” She stopped as Rainbow looked at her with those dopey, innocent eyes. This was it.

“I failed, Twilight.” Those words weighed heavily on Twilight’s chest. What could she have failed in? She could see this wasn’t about town hall, her suspension or anything trivial like that. There was something deeper that was troubling the mare. “I…failed someone.”

“Failed who, Rainbow?” The question was simple and straightforward. Yet, Dash gave a sorrowful look that could make a grown stallion cry. This was something serious. Dash began to break up and she jumped on the unicorn, burying her face into her mane with a deep embrace.

Twilight was unsure on how to react as she slowly wrapped her forelegs around her. A musty aroma clouded the unicorn’s senses. It was a pungent, salty, wet mare smell. She had been out there for a while. The pegasus’s grip wasn’t something to laugh at either. She felt the air being squeezed out of her like a bellow.

Twilight stole a glance at the window and noticed the rain getting worse. It’s as if the sky had been crying for the pegasus. It was a strange sensation to hold the helpless, emotional mare. She felt a sense of motherly care for the pony, coddling her and telling her everything’s going to be all right…except it wasn’t apparently.

She was still squeezing her. She wouldn’t give up the situation. It felt like the embrace would last forever. Twilight’s patience was incredible, however, she couldn’t breathe properly anymore and she slowly pushed the pony off of her.

“Dash, you’re suffocating me.” She barely let out. Rainbow immediately let go of her and returned to her initial position. She was staring intently at the ground with a heavy silence that seemed to beg for forgiveness.

“Sorry!” She quickly whispered. Twilight could see several tears hit the ground. This was incredible.

How could a pony so strong-willed and so boastful be reduced to sobbing openly in front of me? I have never seen Dash so blubbery in my entire time living in Ponyville. I can’t fathom it. I wish she would tell me what’s going on so I could help her already.

“This will seem…so silly to you, Twi.” Finally, she was going to tell her. “I appreciate you…pampering me during my moment of weakness. It’s just that…” She trailed off. Not again.

“Just tell me, Dash.” Twilight was soft in her request. She didn’t want to upset the pony further in fear that she would just further delay her answer. The unicorn glanced at the clock. It’s been thirty five minutes since she’s been here.

“I killed it…” That word hit Twilight like a rock. Killed? Did she kill something? These questions immediately crossed her mind. “I…killed my chance to become my dream.” A cloud of worry immediately lifted from Twilight. Nopony was hurt…good. The unicorn blushed at her own radical speculations.

The pegasus dragged a hoof across the ground. She looked up at Twilight and she could see the unintentional smile that crept on the unicorn’s face. Rainbow furrowed her brow and scoffed.

“See?! I knew it wouldn’t matter to you!” Her change in mood was so sudden. It caught Twilight off guard. Before she knew it, the pegasus was flapping her wings and making a bee-line for the window.

“Wait! Rainbow! Don’t go!” She lunged over to her and managed to catch her tail in her teeth. It was surprising to see how simple it was to pull her back. She was so light. The pegasus didn’t seem to have the energy to fly anyway. She immediately fell to the ground and began openly weeping.

How could I be so thoughtless? I was so relieved to hear no one was hurt that I didn’t notice the injured pony right in front of me.

“Hey…” Twilight released her tail and walked over to Dash’s side. She knelt and embraced the pegasus. She placed a hoof on her mane and stroked it gently. It was working. The mare calmed down and returned to a silent sobbing. “Rainbow, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight. It is pretty late. Maybe you just need some rest. I think need some too. We’ll talk it over during breakfast tomorrow morning. All right? How’s that sound?”

“A-all right, Twilight. Sounds good.” She managed between sobs. The pegasus was such a mess. Twilight helped her up and guided her slowly to the bed. With a few encouraging words, she managed to get Rainbow settled in and in a few moments she was sound asleep. Obviously she was exhausted from all that crying, and fortunately this had exhausted Twilight as well. She made her way to her own bed and plopped on it. She rolled over and noticed the weather pony book on floor. She brought it close and stuffed it under her pillow. She plunked her head on the cushion let out a sigh of relief.

She failed her dream? Wasn’t it to become the fastest pony alive? Or join the Wonderbolts? I wonder if she’s ever broken down like this before…was she really this fragile? I’d hate to see anything very serious happen to her…Well, I’m grateful she’s in one piece. I just hope I can get to the bottom of this. I hate seeing her like this.

She glanced briefly at the other bed. A noticeable snore rose from beneath the sheets. Like a foal she thought. This was a rare, eventful night for her. Twilight took another glance out the window and she could see that the rain had calmed down to a barely noticeable shower. Just as she had tamed the sorrowful pony, it seemed, she had tamed the storm. How fitting…

*****

“Hello…?”

Twilight could hear this annoying voice ringing in her head. It was cracking at her dream…a dream she desperately didn’t want to leave.

“Twilight…?”

She groaned and shifted. Reality was slowly coming to form as she looked straight up at the ceiling….or…

“Waaaaa!!” Twilight screamed as she came face to face with a brown, scary masked creature. She kicked all four of her legs upward and propelled the creature into the air…where it stayed.

“Hahahah! Morning, sleepyhead!” That familiar voice belonging to the one and only. “I got you good!”

Twilight sat up and sighed furiously, “Hilarious.” Dash removed the wooden mask she was wearing and smiled at her. A very different Dash than the one she talked with last night. Twilight chuckled and threw her pillow at her. “Look who’s all perky.”

“Hey, I was getting bored waiting for you to wake up. You sleep forever, Twilight! How do you get anything done?” She nagged the groggy pony. The irony in her statement made the unicorn chuckle. Rainbow’s spark had returned it seemed. As if last night was just a nightmare to her. The rainy ordeal still lingered in Twilight, however, even if it didn’t hang on Rainbow.

“How are you feeling, Dash?” The question seemed to dig into the pegasus as the pony realized she couldn’t avoid talking about it.

“Hey, I’m sorry about last night. It wasn’t a great day for me yesterday.” She hung her head a little, but then she immediately perked right back up. “But it’s in the past! Let’s have breakfast! I’m starving!” Her giddiness appearing forced. She could see in those eyes the hurt pegasus from yesterday still trying to communicate with her.

“Breakfast sounds great.” Twilight emphasized each word. She hopped out of bed and yawned. She hadn’t nearly gotten the sleep that she wanted, but she knew she probably would have only a few chances to find out what’s eating at that pony. Her stomach growled…speaking of eating.

Well, she’s hiding her emotions now. I wonder if this will make it any harder to figure out what’s wrong. I don’t want you hiding this from me, Dash.

The two mares descended to the bottom floor where they would meet an unprepared dragon.

“Hey, Twi, I was wondering if…” Spike was suddenly silenced as he rested his eyes on the second mare accompanying her. “Well, hello, Rainbow! Didn’t expect to see you here. Did I miss a second slumber party?” Spike’s assumptions were rather clumsy, but tolerable. Twilight shook her head and smiled.

“No, she flew in last night. She finished the last of Daring Do and wanted to return them.” Her lies were also clumsy… She probably could have thought of something better. Understandably, Dash shot her a head tilt and a furrowed brow.

“Oh! She couldn’t have just waited until this morning?” He rightfully asked. This was going nowhere.

“Yeah, she could have. Heheh…anyway, we’re both pretty hungry, Spike. What’s cookin’?” Twilight quickly diverted the conversation and Rainbow spoke up.

“Yeah! I’m starving. Just realized I didn’t eat dinner.” Dash licked her lips and gave a big grin.

She’s acting so happy. I’m so confused. Is this…how you always were, Dash? A mare behind a mask of forced happiness and fervor? It’s amazing how one night can change your entire outlook on a pony. I can’t help but feel for her. I’ve put on several masks myself…but who doesn’t? Rainbow Dash. She’s always been so strong, courageous, and diligent. But yesterday, she seemed to break that four inch brick wall of charades and open a window into her true nature.

“Twi?” A voice broke her from her thoughts. It was Spike’s. She straightened up and smiled.

“Yes?” She asked in her prettiest voice, trying to hide her thoughts.

The dragon, who had suddenly appeared in an apron and chef’s hat, and held a spatula, sighed and asked again, “Are waffles all right for you?”

The unicorn nodded in agreement and noticed the rainbow-colored figure next to her had vanished. She turned in a small circle looking for the pony when she spotted Dash sitting against a stack of books near the library’s entrance. With a small sigh of relief, Twilight approached the pegasus and noticed she was reading her weather pony book.

“The Rainbow Dash I know would flee in terror at the thought of reading.” She jested. She knew Rainbow had picked up reading earlier, but only fiction. Fiction that usually contained death-defying antics and one-liners. Dash looked up from the book and snickered.

“I found this on your bed this morning. Were you studying me or something?” Dash chuckled. Twilight rolled her eyes and wanted to chuckle with her, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the failure.

What’s running in that mind of yours, Dash?

“Nah.” She decided to be honest. “The storm was keeping me up and I was just curious about how you pegasi love to control the weather.” Rainbow Dash acted like she took some sort of negative connotation from this and glanced down at the book with a sigh.

“You know it really isn’t up to the weather pony team when it should rain. It falls on the needs of the ponies. We just sorta direct it where it’s needed. Cloudsdale is really in charge of how much rain or snow we get a year.” She turned the page and scanned. It was odd how the pegasus adopted such a serious tone when it came to her work.

Well, it certainly doesn’t fall on my needs. The pony rubbed her eyes with a hoof. If they were so good at directing those rain clouds, why couldn’t they just have it rain where it really is needed instead of the whole town? I could be making a bigger deal out of this if I wanted, but Dash’s problems are more important right now.

Rainbow randomly shut the book which made the unicorn jump. The cyan pegasus had a big grin on her face.

“I think you should come with me to work one day. This book doesn’t explain a whole lot.” How could she know that? I doubt she read more than three pages. “I think it’ll be fun, Twi. Not many land ponies get to see us behind the scenes.” The opportunity had certainly nabbed the interest of the unicorn, but she couldn’t help but think about the pony’s suspension or about the incident last night.

Was she the only one thinking about it? Dash was deliberately hiding whatever or whoever she had “failed”. The scene kept replaying in her mind like a broken record. Twilight had to bring it up. It seemed to be bothering her more than Rainbow. The unicorn grabbed the book from her and placed it on the floor.

“I’d love to, Dash…” Twilight trailed off and was staring down at the book whose cover bore a line imprint of a lightning bolt. Twilight worriedly looked up at the pegasus, who had a semi-disappointed frown.

But before Twilight could ask anything, Rainbow spoke up, “You still on about yesterday, huh? Is it really bothering you that much?” Rainbow was speaking in a whisper as the unicorn nodded. “Look, I still don’t want to talk about it.”

Twilight could see the gears turning in the pegasus head as her eyes darted from side to side.

“Hey!” An unexpected voice from the kitchen erupted and caused the two ponies to jump. “Are you going to eat these? They’re getting cold.” The mares smiled at each other and blushed.

“You bet!” Rainbow flew up and toward the kitchen. The unicorn followed suit.

*****

It wasn’t moments after eating when Dash was heading out the door saying something about stopping by Pinkie’s for an errand. Twilight caught up with her and stopped her ascent.

“Hold on, Dash!” The unicorn was desperate. She wanted to make sure they’d meet again to talk some more. “Will I see you again sometime today?” The pegasus turned her head to answer. Rainbow could see that pleading look in Twilight’s eyes. It was beginning to get to her.

“Come on, Twi. I’ve got other things to do than hang around here all day.”

The unicorn conjured an alternative, “Can I go to your place then? I’ve always been fascinated by your house. You have to tell me how you did it.” Even Twilight was beginning to hear the begging in her voice. She flushed red and cleared her throat.

“Well, jeez, egghead, if it really means that much to you…” Dash’s head dipped slightly and she closed her eyes. She was busy calculating the events for today, looking for an opening. “How about…around three? Five hours from now? I could use some help with something anyways.” Twilight squeed. She sat and clopped her hooves together.

“Great! I’ll see you then…oh, will you pick me up though? You know…no wings and all. Plus the hot-air balloon isn’t exactly the easiest thing to set up.”

Why was she so excited? And was this conversation sounding more like she was courting her? When realizing the disturbing connotation in her request, the unicorn’s excitement died a little and her cheeks tinted red.

“Ah, don’t worry about that, Twi. I got you covered! Just meet me below my house. I’m not gonna carry you all the way from here.” Twilight nodded in agreement. It was good couple miles from the library. She wouldn’t expect her to do that.

“I’ll bring a book or two just in case. I know how you love to dawdle, Dash.” Twilight was well aware of Rainbow’s tendency to randomly crash on a cloud for a couple hours. She worked solely on an internal clock which proved problematic time and time again.

“Hey! I’ll be there! You have little faith in me, Twi.” She unfurled her wings and bent down. “See ya!” In a flash, she was gone. A rainbow trail pathing her getaway.

Why was I acting so desperate? I wanted to see her again and convince her to stop hiding her problems from me. At this point, I would do anything to get that pony to spill the beans. Twilight’s face reddened once more. Ugh, why is she so secretive? If she had just told me that night, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal. Dash was dragging this out…but why?

Chapter 9 - Born Through Wronged

Act 2

Chapter 9 – Born Through Wronged

*****

In every scar comes power, knowledge, and experience, but also a pain you can never forget.

*****

The three had gone to bed and the pegasus, Rainbow, was starting her classes in only a few days. She was shooting for her dream: to become a Wonderbolt along with Spitfire, Fleetfoot, Soarin’, and the rest. To do that she had to temper her style since it was harshly described as being “sloppy” and “unrefined”. Two vague words that could simply mean: “We don’t want you, kid.” This thought infuriated the pegasus. She had done nothing but looked up to them and to be shot down with such an opaque reason was all the drive she needed to face her fears. Rainbow was still awake, staring at a little patch of light on the ground from stray moonlight.

I can’t believe I’m going back...after all these years. Not to the same school, but back to the classroom. Back to cold nights flipping through books and banging my head against the wall. Okay, it wasn’t that bad I guess… She turned in bed to face Twilight who was facing away from her. I have to do this…I won’t run away again…because this time I have you with me, Twi. She slid closer to the pony and slipped her hooves around the unicorn’s waist.

Twilight immediately turned to face the pegasus. She was still awake as well, but her eyes were a little droopy. “Why are you up, Dash?” She yawned.

“I can’t stop thinking about class.” She cuddled with the mare and stared into those soft purple eyes. A smile appeared on the unicorn’s face…the expression contagious to Rainbow. It still felt so strange yet…so wonderful to be in her arms. Like some kind of fantasy…Dash was just waiting for a pinch test.

“You shouldn’t worry so much, Rainbow. You’ll do fine. It’s just important that you get some rest. It also helps to be more humble. Don’t let the heat of your pride burn too brightly.” She always spoke in riddles when she was tired…or they just seemed like riddles to her. It was cute…to speak so naturally like that just illustrated her character. A character she fell in love with.

“I know it’ll be difficult. I’ll try my best, Twilight. For you…and for that silly kid across the hall.” Rainbow watched as the unicorn rolled her eyes, but focusing them right back on her like a lure. Only…Dash caught her eyes looking away for split seconds.

“Is something bothering you, Twi? You haven’t told me why you’re still awake.” The unicorn could only sigh. The trust between the two mares was deep. She was going to answer straight away.

“I’m afraid. Afraid I’m going to have another nightmare.” She looked straight at the pegasus and leaned in closer. “You don’t know what it was like. It felt so real…the heat, the water, the wind, the light, the dark…and you.” She touched her nose with Rainbow’s.

The pegasus blushed and breathed in deeply. “I…I was in it?” She looked up at the horn.

“Yes…you…Rainbow Dash. I just hope this isn’t some kind of horrible vision into the future or something.” Twilight sighed.

The pegasus placed a small kiss on the mare’s nose. “You shouldn’t worry so much, Twilight. It’ll be fine.” Regurgitating the unicorn’s words, this got a chuckle out of her. “Besides, Twi…” She paused. “You’ve got me…”

In an instant, the pegasus was on top of the mare. Her mouth shot to Twilight’s, slipping a tongue past those brainiac lips. The unicorn was surprised, but she succumbed quickly and embraced the pony’s impious kiss. Hooves groped and pulled at each other…their bodies pressed together as if attempting to merge…their love and lust for each other washing away any thought of the future…their lips were locked for what felt like hours. Eventually they separated to gasp for air…their breaths colliding as they stared each other down…waiting for the other to make a move. Sweat dripping from the two mares.

Rainbow dove for her neck, placing kisses on every patch of her coat she could reach. The unicorn moaned softly and wrapped two legs around her lover, pressing the pegasus’s head to her neck. Rainbow was running out of places to kiss…she began moving downward to the mare’s chest. Twilight’s hold on her loosened and allowed the wild pegasus on her hunt. Dash got down as far as her belly…she could hear and feel the pace of the unicorn’s breathing pick up.

Those two magenta eyes stared up at her. She was met with two violet ones…glittering in a way she’d never seen before. Her face was completely flushed…which got a throaty chuckle from the pegasus. Rainbow slowly followed her kissing trail right back up to Twilight’s nose, inhaling in her moist coat along the way.

The unicorn sighed with a shudder, a bit disappointed. The pegasus wanted to mess with the unicorn a bit…she leaned closer as if going in for another kiss. Twilight closed her eyes to embrace it…but then Rainbow dodged the moment to kiss her cheek.

Twilight’s eyes flickered open in protest…only to see the cyan pegasus heading further upward, placing a kiss on her forehead…inches away from her damaged horn. Rainbow never looked at the horn this close before. The spiral indentations…the smooth texture…the granular texture only seen on the damaged portion of her horn. Twilight wrapped her legs once more around the mare…comfortable with the curious yet annoying antics of the pegasus…

Dash placed a kiss on the horn…receiving a sudden shock that made the mare jump back a little. The shock had forced her hair to stand on end.

The unicorn giggled at her. “You’re so silly Rainbow…” She gripped the mare tightly and flipped her around, pinning Rainbow to the bed. “Shouldn’t let your guard down…”

The pegasus giggled. “Never had it up, egghead…” The turnover had spread her wings out involuntarily. The beautiful gem-like feathers glistening in the moonlight. Twilight ran a hoof across the feathers on her left wing. They felt like natural feathers…a miracle of a broken unicorn. The translucent feathers revealed the bedspread underneath…acting similar to stained glass. The pegasus shivered to the touch…pegasi hate it when ponies touch their wings…and Twilight knew that.

“You know this spell…I cast it when I was panicking…but I knew what I wanted…” Twilight spoke as she massaged the feathers. “Not something that would simply replace your wings…but to give you the freedom you always wanted…these wings…aren’t magic…they’re more than that…”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and slowly lifted her wings to wrap the pony up, pulling her closer. She also wrapped her front legs around her…in the strongest embrace she could give. “Don’t worry about those nightmares, Twi…as long as I’m with you, you’ll be safe.”

Twilight smiled and her eyes began to droop…she sank into the mare’s embrace and rested her head on that cyan chest of hers. Her heartbeat was rapid…pumping with the strong love Dash had for her. Twilight let the rhythm of the beat lull her to sleep.

“I love you…” The unicorn trailed off…

“I love you too…Twilight…”

…

*****

Twilight opened her eyes to a bleak white room…but slowly the light faded and she was standing inside of Rainbow’s house. It was storming outside…

Immediately, the mare began to cry. She was completely aware…that she was in for another ride. A little filly jumped in front of her…Scootaloo?

“We still care for you…this doesn’t change how much we love you.” The filly began to speak. She was at eye-level…how? Everything seemed to pull back…as if she was looking at a scene. She could see a cyan filly pegasus talking with Scootaloo.

“If you cared so much…why wouldn’t you tell me?!! Why couldn’t you tell me about this?! Don’t you trust me?!” The cyan pegasus screamed. It came into focus…that rainbow colored mane and tail.

More came into focus…Scootaloo was now two pegasi…one male and one female. The male was brown colored with a purple mane…and the female was orange with a white mane. “Of course we trust you. We…we didn’t expect it ourselves, hun! You have to understand…we didn’t know how to tell you…”

“Nooo!!” The filly screamed…the whole world seemed to shake and Twilight felt something grip her heart and squeeze it. “You just treated me as some kind of…hold-over! Until you had your real daughter!”

Daughter? Rainbow…? What am I looking at? What’s going on?!

“Twi…ght…Co…on!” She heard a voice…but it didn’t seem to faze her. Her very conscious was locked…she couldn’t move or speak.

The scene changed… “Rainbow, I don’t know what I saw out there, but it wasn’t pegasus material! You’ve been doing so well…despite whatever problems you’re having, you need to step up your game.”

“Yes, Coach! I’m sorry!” The pegasus’s voice was trembling. Rainbow was speaking to somepony…she couldn’t identify.

“Twi…Twi! Please w…up!” She heard that voice again. Twilight could feel a surging pain in her body that only seemed to grow…she felt like she was sweating…boiling in a vat of heat and poison.

The scene changed… “I can’t believe it, Fluttershy! They…they failed me…for one stupid test!” She heard a crash as something broke. “I just want to leave…leave this…horrible place. I just want to crawl in a corner…join my parents…”

…Rain…

*****

~ …bow… ~

Rainbow had watched Twilight fall asleep…and when she began trembling from her nightmare, Rainbow was desperately trying to wake her up. The unicorn’s eyes were white and tears were streaking down her cheek. “I’m right here, you stupid mare!” The pegasus shook the mare repeatedly. “Come on! Wake up!”

A jolt repelled the mare. “Ow! Rrr!!” She growled and pounded the bed in frustration. “What am I supposed to do?” The mare’s voice broke up…she felt helpless as she watched Twilight jerk and twitch…sparks shot from her eyes and horn.

Rainbow gritted her teeth and struggled to hold back her tears. Dash squeezed her eyes shut. She slowly wrapped her hooves around the mare and kissed her right on her lips. She felt the electricity surge through her…her wings shot outward and every part of her body burned. Rainbow could feel Twilight kiss back. The pegasus opened her eyes…the same white as Twilight’s.

…

*****

“Wakeupwakeupwakeupwakeup!” Scootaloo was bouncing on the couple’s bed. “”Come on! It’s morning already!”

Rainbow was awake for a while. She was waiting for the right moment…a grin on her face.

“Teach me how to fly! Teachmeteachmeteachme!” She continued to bounce, fluttering her wings. Rainbow’s eyes flashed open and eyed the filly. She sported a toothy grin. Almost immediately Scootaloo froze. “Uh oh…”

“Rah!” The pegasus tackled the poor filly and pinned her. “Gotcha!” The tickle torture began.

“No wait! I’m sorry!! Don’t!” The filly giggled uncontrollably. Twilight pulled the covers over her head and groaned.

Rainbow immediately stopped her harassment and shot a smile at the unicorn. “Let’s give her some privacy. You still want that flying lesson?” She began heading towards the door.

Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “Yes!” She leaped into the air and the two ponies left Twilight in peace.

She pulled the covers back down. Her eyes hurt and were bloodshot again. She let out a cough that she was holding back.

What did I see last night? Some sort of vision of Rainbow’s past? Is that what these nightmares are? Why does it leave me a wreck every time? She let out a slow sigh that seemed to help expel the poison she felt throughout her body. I think Rainbow saved me…I’m not sure at all what happened…I have to thank her…but first…gotta get better again.

*****

“Okay!” Rainbow yelled militaristically. She had Scootaloo at ready as Dash paced back and forth. “Show me what you got! Don’t hold back now!”

The filly saluted and then flapped her wings as hard as she could. “Hrgh!” She strained, but she only got a couple inches off the ground. She hovered for a few seconds before collapsing.

“Okay…that was pretty sad.” She cleared her throat. “Let’s try a different approach to your technique!” Scootaloo got to her hooves again. “First! Stop flapping like a hummingbird. It won’t get you anywhere! You have put power in those flaps! Slow and strong…like a mule! Er…one that can fly…and whose face doesn’t make me wanna puke…ahem…go!”

“Slow and strong, huh?” The filly whispered to herself. “Sounds easy…” She extended her wings and flapped once as hard as she could.

“Good! Keep going!” The tiny pegasus obeyed. “Keep a steady pace…don’t go too fast! Slow down! No…okay, speed up! Uh…slower!” The filly was having trouble. “Okay stop!”

Scootaloo was panting. She hadn’t gotten one hoof off the ground. “Ugh…maybe I’m not cut out for flying. It’s just not clicking.” She sighed and began to walk away.

“Wait wait!” Dash obstructed the pony. “Let’s try something different. It’s not going to be easy, kid. You’re obviously not a natural so it just takes time. Look, get on my back.” Rainbow kneeled down and the filly’s heart raced.

“Why?”

“You need to get a feel for it. Maybe a casual flight will help teach your wings how to work properly.” She nodded and immediately jumped on the pegasus’s back. “Oof! Aheh…okay, now pay close attention to everything I do. I’ll start slow so just try to match my flaps with your own, but make sure you hold on, all right?”

“I got it!” The filly wrapped her hooves around the mare’s neck. Her eyes watched those magical wings as they began whooshing through the air. The two ponies slowly lifted from the ground and bobbed up and down with each push. Scootaloo did what she was told and tried to match her wing flaps. She had trouble at first, but eventually she got the rhythm.

Then the mare leisurely began flying through the air. It was a slow flight that rarely anypony saw. She did small glides circling the house, ascended, and repeated. Her wings sung with small whistling noise as they beat against the air.

The two never spoke a word, but relished in the semi-intimate experience.

I had always wanted to do this…but with Twilight. She’s so heavy though…it’s hard to fly slow..but maybe with these wings I can…

Rainbow smiled. She could feel the tufts of wind from the filly’s wings as she flapped. It was cute. Scootaloo, on the other hoof, was determined to follow her idol’s instructions. Her mind was focused on matching those flaps.

One…two…three…four…one…two… Her thoughts repeated. She closed her eyes and just kept counting and flapping with it.

“Hey, Scootaloo?” The filly opened her eyes as she was addressed. Two magenta eyes were staring at her. Then she realized she wasn’t on the mare’s back anymore. “Check yourself out…” The pegasus smiled at her. Scootaloo looked around herself and noticed she was hovering quite a bit in the air.

“Wow…” She became really excited and accidently began to flutter her wings…breaking her hover and sending tumbling towards the ground. The filly screamed briefly as she fell, but Rainbow quickly caught her with her front legs.

“Woah!” The mare giggled. “Almost lost ya there. You did great, kid.”

“You really think so?” The filly held her mouth open as she smiled.

“Now you just gotta stop thinking about it so hard and just feel the rhythm of flight in your wings. You’ll be flying like a pro in no time at all!” Rainbow hugged the filly, causing Scootaloo to squee.

“Thank you so much, Rainbow Dash!” She nuzzled into her chest.

“Hey, don’t get too excited now. You still have a long way to go.” Dash carried the filly back to the house and set her down. “Right now you’re around…three percent as good as me.” She puffed her chest.

“That’s pretty low…” The filly’s hopes taking a slight hit.

Rainbow caught herself quickly. “Nono! It’s a good thing! Trust me, if I were to rate Fluttershy…she’d be ten percent. Beat that and I’ll gain a whole new respect for you, kid.”

Scootaloo smiled. “I’ll do better than that…I’ll reach twenty!” She bounced up and down. Dash could only laugh.

*****

The two had returned and Dash checked up on Twilight who was still bed-ridden. The covers were still over her head. The pegasus sighed with a smile and shook her head. She made her way over to the unicorn and pulled the covers off with her teeth. The pegasus eyes widened at what she witnessed. “What in the…”

She could hardly grasp the spectacle. Twilight appeared to be unconscious, but she was incased in a violet aura. Hundreds, if not thousands, of thin magical strands circled around the mare giving off a soft hum. These strands emanated from her horn and Rainbow didn’t know what to make of it. She stared for a few minutes or so before she finally summoned the courage to interrupt. “Twilight?”

Almost immediately the spectacle died and the mare woke up with a big yawn. “Oh, hey, Rainbow. How are things with you and Scootaloo?” The pegasus was nigh uncomfortable with Twilight’s nonchalant behavior. She wasn’t just imagining all that, was she?

“They’re great…uhh, Twi?” The unicorn’s ears perked up. “What’s going on? You were doing something really weird just a few seconds ago. Are you all right?”

“Yeah! I was just…resting. Last night took a lot out of me…” She winked at her. Dash blushed rather quickly and coughed to the side.

“Yeah, well…I wouldn’t say it was exactly all fun and games, Twi. You had me scared…I was afraid something horrible was going to happen to you.” Rainbow slowly crawled into bed with the pony and slipped her forelegs around her into a cuddle.

Twilight sighed and gave the pegasus a quick kiss. “It scared me too, Dash. I’m just glad you were with me…I’m not sure if I would have made it otherwise.” The two mares smiled and pressed their noses together.

“Gross…you two know how to kill a pony’s appetite.” The two heard Scootaloo who was covering her eyes with a hoof at the doorway.

Rainbow chuckled as Twilight’s face got bright red. Dash wanted to gross out the filly more and started kissing all over the unicorn’s face. Scootaloo peeked at the noises and groaned. “Come…on!”

Twilight giggled and lifted the pegasus off of her with magic. The pegasus sneered and crossed her arms. “I’m getting hungry too, Rainbow. There’s always a time.” She winked at the helpless pegasus as she slipped out of bed and released Dash, who hovered in the air. “Come on. I brought that cookbook with me. Let’s make something with it.”

“As long as you don’t go berserk on us.” Dash teased as she followed the ponies out of the room.

“Berserk? Is she a bad cook or something?” The filly was perplexed. The mares just laughed.

*****

This was it…today’s the day. All of this build-up…nothing’s worse than the first day of class.

Rainbow was standing in the front doorway to the house with saddlebags. Her legs were shaking a bit. Twilight was standing a few hooves away from her on the outside, trying to get the mare to go. “Come on, Dash. Where’s your bravery? You need to get to class before you’re late!” She tried to use magic on the mare, but she gripped the doorframe tightly with her teeth.

Rainbow’s words muffled, “Ahm nah brai, Twi!” Twilight shook her head and let go of the mare, who hit the ground with an “Ow!” She got back on her hooves.

“Of course, you’re brave, Dash! I’ve seen you do hundreds of feats nopony could scoff at!”

“But it’s flight school…” Tears welled up in the corners of the pegasus’s eyes. “I can’t do this…I’m not ready!”

“Flight school?!” Rainbow heard a screech behind her. She gasped and turned to face the filly who had overheard her. “Why would you be going to flight school? I thought…I thought you were training with the Wonderbolts!”

“Well, uhh…you see I…” Rainbow couldn’t come up with the words. Scootaloo began advancing on her and Dash backed up to space her out.

“You lied to me?!”

“No! I didn’t! I mean…yeah, but…Aw, kid…”

“Will you stop calling me that?! I’m not a kid!”

Twilight stepped in between the two ponies. “Hey! Look, regardless of the truth, Dash only has thirty minutes to get to her class. We don’t have time to argue! Dash.” She looked at the pegasus who gulped. “This is the whole reason we came to Cloudsdale! I’m not gonna let you bail out at the last second, because of your sudden Didaskaleinophobia.”

Rainbow blinked. “Dida-what now?”

Twilight groaned. “Look, just go! It won’t be as bad as you think!” She pushed the mare with her head.

“Wait!” The filly cried. “I want to go with you, Dash! You owe me for lying to me!”

“I-I’m not even sure if I can bring you, ki…uh…Scootaloo.” She gave her a sheepish smile.

Scootaloo stomped the ground and growled. “Well, then fine! I didn’t want to go anyway!” Her eyes got watery as she ran back inside. Dash hung her head.

“Rainbow, don’t worry about her.” Twilight was a bit softer. “You’re an incredible pegasus and I’m sure you’ll blow everypony out of the skies there. You just need to be a little more self-confident.”

The pegasus sighed and nodded. “All right!” She perked up, trying to summon some courage. “You’re right! I can do this!” She unfolded her wings and knelt down. “They’ll be totally amazed once they see these skills!”

The unicorn smiled. “There’s that pony I know. Now go get’em!” The pegasus nodded and took off in a flash. Twilight sighed…suddenly Rainbow came back and kissed the mare on the lips, and then took off again. The unicorn blinked then giggled, making her way back inside.

*****

Oh, horsefeathers...I may have fooled Twi, but I’m definitely not fooling myself.

Rainbow was standing still in that familiar reception area of Cloud 9 Academy. Countless ponies were moving around and past her. The traffic was intense in the early morning hours. Rainbow got a hold of herself and pulled a paper out of her bag.

FLY 3021-003. Room 1050. Great…where’s that?! She looked down one hallway, then the other. She had no idea of the academy’s layout. She made the mistake of not touring the building. A pony passed in front her.

She put away the paper. “Hey! Excuse me, do you know how to…” The pony just kept walking. She tried somepony else. “Sorry, could you tell me how to…”

“Sorry, I’m late! Ask somepony else.” The pegasus flew away. Rainbow sighed in defeat. Only five minutes before class started and she was going to be late.

An unfamiliar oxford blue pegasus approached her. “Hey, aren’t you Rainbow Dash?!” Rainbow perked up. “You were that pegasus that blew the crowd away at the Best Young Flyer competition!” The pegasus had violet eyes and an disheveled indigo mane that covered her right eye. “You were so awesome with that Sonic Rainboom stunt!”

“Oh, right…well, thanks for the compliment, but I’m in a bind right now. I’m going to be late for class and I have no idea where it is.” Rainbow’s eyes became watery.

“Hey! Don’t fret! Which class is it?” The helpful pony got Dash’s spirits up.

“Uh…it’s F-L-Y thirty twenty-one.” She recalled perfectly.

“Oh, hey, that’s my next class! Come on! I’ll show you where it is.” She took to the sky and Rainbow quickly followed.

“Thank you so much, uhh…” Dash didn’t know her name.

“It’s Midnight…Midnight Sun.” Rainbow looked at her cutie mark: a white hollow circle with a yellow four-pointed star in the middle.

“Midnight…” Dash repeated. “Thanks again.” She caught the pegasus looking at her strangely.

“What’s wrong with your wings? They’re all…”

Rainbow sweated a little, and then sighed. “It’s magic…I lost my real ones in an accident.”

“Oh, wow…I’m so sorry.” Midnight looked away shyly.

“Forget about it. Let’s just get to this class.”

*****

“So you’ve been here for three years?” Rainbow and Midnight were talking in a large cloud field with numerous apparatus for flight practice. Dash quickly realized this was going to be a physical class and was a bit excited. Midnight, however, was not as stoked.

“Yeah, it’s been a lot of work getting this far…and you say you’ve just started, Dash? How is that even possible?” The two ponies were in a large line of pegasi. They were all waiting for some sort of instructor and were speaking amongst themselves.

“I can’t say…but it wasn’t easy either…trust me.” Rainbow’s head drooped.

“You must be amazing…” Sun’s eyes sparkled.

“Well, I am the Rainb…” She stopped halfway as Twilight’s words ran across her mind: ~ Don’t let the heat of your pride burn too brightly. ~ “I mean…I can’t be better than you, Midnight.”

“Oh, no way…I’m a horrible flyer.” Midnight pushed her mane out of her eyes with a hoof. “I can’t stand these physical classes.”

“Are you kidding? This class is going to be awesome!” Dash squeezed her eyes shut and squeed.

“I’m glad one of us thinks so.” The pegasus sighed.

“Greetings, pegasi!” Suddenly a grass green pegasus stallion landed in front of the line. His appearance was stereotypical at best. With a whistle and cap, the pegasus had yellow, short manecut and a haughty attitude. “Welcome to Advanced Flying. I’m Green Zephyr, your coach.” He began to pace back and forth in front of the line, eyeing each pony. “You all must have full grasp of all the basics in order to excel in this class. I will teach you how to put more power in those wings of yours and how to push yourself beyond your limits! This class is about technique! Balance! Accuracy! And most important of all…speed!”

Rainbow’s eyes shined with delight. This was a class for her and her alone. The stallion eyed the cyan pegasus. “You!” Dash’s heart jumped…she pointed to herself. “Yes, you! You look like a pegasus who knows her stuff! Demonstrate to the class Routine 34, the Power Glide!”

Dash gulped. What?! What is that? Oh, great! It’s already happening… She looked at the other ponies briefly in search of some kind of answer.

“Well? Don’t be shy now!” The stallion suddenly became very intimidating to the pony. Rainbow stepped forward bashfully and extended her wings out. Everypony stepped back in shock as they all caught a glimpse of her wings.

“Woah! Hold on a second.” The stallion put a hoof on the mare’s nose. “Get back in line! I’ll talk with you after class.” Rainbow’s heart beat rapidly in her chest…she meekly returned to her spot and hid her wings as best as she could.

Oh, no…my wings…I hadn’t even thought about it! Am I going to get in trouble for it? Well, at least I don’t have to do whatever Power Glide is…

“You!” He pointed a hoof at Midnight who froze, an effect the stallion was used to. “Show them the Power Glide. I need to know where you ponies stand!”

Midnight nodded and extended her wings. “Yes, sir!” She took off into the sky…really high in fact. The field had no ceiling. In fact, Rainbow could eye several other fields and ponies off in the distance doing their own things. The oxford blue pegasus slowed suddenly and arced backwards, diving down in a straight line. Midnight proceeded to do various spirals, flips, and whatnot…but not once ever flapping her wings. It was such a simple concept…hidden behind a silly name.

She landed almost exactly where she took off and tucked her wings. “Nicely done, ma’am. Your speed could use some work, but a flawless execution!”

Sun blushed and nodded. “Thank you, sir.” She returned to her place in line where she got a smile from Rainbow. The coach eyed Dash for a moment before moving on.

“Now, I hope all of you share the same level of technique as this pony! Let me outline this course for you! You will be here on time everyday ready to fly! You’ll do a series of warm-up exercises…” The pony continued to ramble on about the class.

Midnight knew what the routine was…It looks like I’m gonna have to know these names if I’m gonna be able to impress anypony. Routine 44: The Power Glide…or wait…was it 34? Yeah…I think it was…

When the coach was far enough away from the two, Midnight whispered to Dash. “Are you all right? You were a little skittish back there…” Rainbow nodded to her. “Okay…hey, and don’t worry about your wings. I’ll defend you. You shouldn’t be treated differently because of it.” She smiled at Dash.

“Thanks…”

After a few minutes of talking, the coach finished. “…and there you have it! Now for our first day! I want all of you to give me fifty laps around this track! Once you’re done, you may go. Just remember to memorize all the basic routines!” He eyed Rainbow again. “Dismissed!” All of the ponies took off except Midnight and Dash who was being stared at by the stallion. “As for you…”

“Wait, sir!” Sun stepped in front of the pegasus. “If this is about Rainbow’s wings…I don’t believe it is fair to judge her differently from other pegasi!” The coach was taken aback.

“Rainbow? You mean to tell me this pony is Rainbow Dash?!” It seemed her fame stretched farther than Dash expected.

“Yes, and she deserves some respect!” Midnight was stern and stomped her hoof on the ground.

The coach cleared his throat. “The dean spoke something about this…”

Rainbow’s ears perked up. “Dean Jet? He’s the one who gave me permission to attend the academy.” Remembering the brown pegasus from earlier.

“I’m fully aware of your situation, Rainbow. You are to be given full instruction regardless of your…disability.” Zephyr looked as though he was unsatisfied with the word.

Disability? Is that how he saw it? Is that how everypony saw it? I…maybe it is…

“I’ll leave you be, Rainbow. Get your laps done and I’ll see you tomorrow!” He took off in an instant, leaving the two ponies behind.

“Whew…” Sun looked at Dash who was busy contemplating what just happened. “I didn’t know you had special permission from Dean Jet…he’s only like the most heartless pony here!”

“Heartless?” Rainbow glanced at her with skepticism. “He seemed pretty nice to me.”

“I heard once that he expelled a student forever just because she back talked a professor.”

“Give me a break…he can’t be that bad. Hey, let’s do these laps. We can talk after.” Rainbow took off and left the oxford blue pegasus in a daze. “Come on!” Dash yelled behind her. Midnight chuckled and followed.

*****

“What do you mean you didn’t bring your book?” Midnight was asking Rainbow who was sitting now in an academic setting with rows of desks and chalkboard.

“Ugh…I just forgot about it!” She looked to her right where Sun was sitting. “It’s been a while since I’ve done this sort of thing.” She banged her head on the desk.

“Well, don’t worry. I’m sure the first day you won’t need it, but make sure you get it.” She shook her head. “You know for a celebrity, you sure have your weaknesses.” The blunt pony was a bit hurtful.

Dash shot up and glared at the pony. “Hey! I…” Rainbow stopped herself again. “Yeah, you’re right…but, you know, nopony’s perfect, Middy. I’m just like everypony else.”

“Seems that way.” Midnight smiled at the pegasus.

A pale red mare entered the classroom and stepped behind the instructor’s desk. “Welcome, everypony, to Aerodynamics 2. It’s a pleasure to have you all here. I am Sophie Fokker. I’ll be your professor. Now this class is a direct continuation from Aerodynamics 1 so I hope you’ve all kept your books.” Rainbow facehoofs.

Sophie spoke for what seemed like hours explaining the class curriculum and already diving into a last year review lecture. Dash was already feeling the early signs of absolute boredom and her eyes began to droop. Midnight was eagerly listening and taking notes. Rainbow glanced at her to see she was wearing black reading glasses. She also noticed the few white freckles just below her left eye.

How can she be so attentive? …I should take notes on her instead.

“You in the back!” Rainbow and Midnight froze as they both were sitting in that general area. Sophie was pointing a hoof towards them, but they couldn’t distinguish.

“Yes, professor?” Middy replied.

“Not you, Midnight. The rainbow-colored one next to you.”

Rainbow flushed and cleared her throat. “Yeah?”

“Can you tell the class how much speed a pegasus at 12 wingpower would lose if he or she was going against 30 mile per hour winds?”

Aren’t I having a lucky day? I remember something vaguely about this kind of thing…what was… Rainbow heard a cough and glanced to her right. Midnight was holding a small piece of paper in Dash’s direction…with the answer on it! What in the…Why is she helping me?

“Well, miss?” The professor was getting a little impatient.

“She would lose 3.3 wingpower, ma’am.” Rainbow answered confidently.

“That’s correct! Good job er…what’s your name?”

“Um…Rainbow Dash?” She was ready for a reaction.

It turned most of the class’s heads…which got the pegasus blushing. “Ah, Rainbow Dash…the element of loyalty and recent winner of the Best Young Flyer competition. Just so you know your exploits won’t make up for slacking off.” The pegasus nodded to Sophie.

“I’m here to do my best.” Dash replied. The class slowly returned to normal. Rainbow was now wide-awake and listening as best she could. Her eye caught something odd and she turned her head towards Midnight…who was staring at her. This immediately got the pegasus back to writing notes with small clearing of her throat.

Rainbow turned back to Sophie and sighed. I miss Twilight…I hope this class is almost…

“All right, class! That’s it for today. You are dismissed.” The pegasi began packing up to file out of the room. “Please read chapters one and two so you’ll be ready for the discussion Wednesday. There’s no homework this time, but don’t get too relaxed.”

“That was a close one, huh?” Midnight spoke to Rainbow. “Looks like you need to do some serious studying.”

“Ugh…tell me about it.” She hit her head on the desk and covered herself with her forelegs. “It’s been so long since I’ve done math…this is so uncool.”

Middy giggled and packed her things. “It wasn’t that hard of a question, Dash. I think you just need a refresher. Probably more than that actually…but hey, I got to get to my next class right away. How about you?”

“I’m done for today. Completely different classes tomorrow. Well, except for the physical one.” Dash sat up and sighed. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

“Of course!” She smiled. “Well, I gotta go. It was a pleasure meeting you, Rainbow!” Midnight took off.

Rainbow smiled. “You too.” The pegasus packed her stuff and began heading out herself. She was stopped by Sophie.

“Rainbow Dash?” Dash nodded. “Do you…know Midnight? A-are you friends with her?”

“I…I guess? I just met her today…why?” The pegasus tilted her head.

“Just…just be careful around her, okay? She’s a bit strange.” Rainbow couldn’t believe how blunt this “professor” was.

“Strange? How could say that? She seems nice to me.”

“Oh...it’s just well…it’s not important. I’ll see you Wednesday, Rainbow.” Sophie left the room in a hurry.

What could be so strange about her? She’s probably the least strange pony in this place. Rainbow sighed and shook her head. She took off, heading back home. Well, this was an experience…only four months to go…great.

*****

Back at house, Twilight versus Scootaloo in a game of Word Jumbler. The board was filled with obscenely long words that Scootaloo didn’t even know existed. The unicorn’s score was just over 90 points and she was only at a meager 50. It would take two words and a half to beat that unless she got some of the multiplier tiles.

“Your turn, Scootaloo.” The filly gave the unicorn an annoyed look.

“I gathered…” She sighed and looked at the letters she had in her hooves: S, U, P, and a C.

“What are your letters?” Twilight was getting impatient.

“Hey! I can do this!” The filly frantically scanned the board for a solution. “Just gotta find the right word.”

The unicorn rolled her eyes and smiled. “Oh, man…I could go for some cupcakes right about now.”

“Cupcakes? Why do you want to eat cup…cakes?” The filly realized her solution. She placed all four of her letters to make the word.

“Hey! Fifty points! Look at that…you beat me, Scootaloo!” Twilight giggled as the filly jumped in the air in victory.

“Wow…I never thought I could beat you!” The unicorn gave her a sly grin. The pegasus cleared her throat and blushed. “Thank you…it was fun.”

“I’m glad! But really…I am yearning for something sweet. I’m gonna check out what we have.” The unicorn climbed to her hooves and headed towards the kitchen.

The front door suddenly opened and an exhausted Rainbow entered. The two ponies gasped as they heard her and gathered around her. “Welcome home, Dash!” Twilight was first to greet her.

“How was….you know…flight school?” The filly asked.

“You seem to be a better mood, Scootaloo.” Rainbow curved the corners of her lips upward. “It was great actually…a little bit tiring, but not as bad as I thought.”

“You did ask your teachers if I could come with you next time, right?” The filly asked. The question startled the mare.

“Oh…oh, no, I forgot. I’m so sorry.” The tiny pegasus’s face dropped in disappointment. “Well, maybe I can take you anyway! The worst that could happen is that you’ll just have to be taken home if you can’t sit in.”

“You sure that’s going to be all right, Dash?” Twilight asked. She moved closer to her lover and brushed up against her. “I can take care of her. We had a lot of fun today.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “Please take me with you next time, Rainbow!” She begged at the mare’s feet. Twilight rolled her eyes as the pegasus giggled.

“Of course!”

“Hooray! I can’t wait!” The filly bounced.

“Yeah…I can’t either.” Rainbow was a little unenthusiastic.

*****

In bed, Rainbow was wide-awake…staring at Twilight who was sleeping soundly in her embrace.

Is there going to be another one? Another nightmare? I’m ready for it… Dash kissed the mare’s lips and received a happy coo in return. Maybe she’ll be fine…she’s stronger than I give her credit for. Rainbow closed her eyes and sighed. Midnight…she stood up for me…and helped me out in class…and we’ve only known each other for a couple hours. What’s her motive? Why is she doing these things for me? Is it because I’m Rainbow Dash? Or is it some other reason? I have to ask her tomorrow. I need to… The pegasus drifted off.