Chapters Ch. 1 The Coming of a New Dawn
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Ch. 1: The Coming of a New Dawn
Not so long ago, a young filly stumbled across a civilization of demonic ponies known as 'Blanks'. Once awakened, these creatures spread through to the core of the world, and began to infect the animals that inhabited with the 'Blank Virus', turning them into demonic creatures bent on consuming the Mantra, the life force, of ponies everywhere. The infection spread quickly, and had devastating effects on the once peaceful pony society, leaving the princess' Celestia and Luna with no choice but to go to war with the Blanks. Armed with powerful weapons and technology to battle them, the ponies fought back, but it wasn't enough. Luna's superior leadership in this time showed, and she was left in charge of governing the forces that battled the Blanks, while Celestia formed the Eight Guardian Generals with her closest subjects.
In order to save civilization from their never ending threat, the military and generals who governed the world created an ultimate weapon that would wipe the Blanks off the face of the planet once and for all. Their forces were led by Celestia and the rest of the now demigod level of Guardian Generals. One of them, General Rainbow Dash, was in the thick of battle.
Rainbow Dash stood upon one of the many space ships in the fleet, overlooking the world in all its glory with her beautiful rose like eyes. Her hands were tucked under her arms as the rainbow maned cyan pony stared at the beautiful planet she was meant to defend. Clothed in a black corset with red cloud patterns, a pair of matching Arabian pants, and some similarly colored kung fu shoes, she stood there watching as a cloud of black emerged from her beloved home towards the fleet.
She squatted down, flexing her arms as a rainbow aura surrounded her, and she leapt from her perch, her wings spread to carry her through space as she dive bombed towards the thousands of black and red stone spires carrying the mutant Blanks towards the fleet. Her palms opened to reveal small cannons as she fired off ki blasts rapid fire at the carriers. A targeting reticule lit up in her eye as she waved her finger over several of the spires, firing off several enlarged blasts of all the colors of the rainbow to home in on her targets and blow them to smithereens. She growled and roared fiercely to give her attacks more feel, firing off her ki blasts to destroy as many as she could as she flew down towards the wall of growing darkness. She flew past a few ships in the fleet, while several muscular earth pony soldiers flew alongside her, firing off the mini-guns they carried into the oncoming swarm as their jet packs carried them.
A large flying Blank that resembled a flying whale snatched up one of the soldiers in its mouth, consuming him before being vaporized by a ship's cannons. Rainbow Dash rolled to the side as a huge beam flew past her vaporizing several more of the spires filled with Blanks. A group of large bird like Blanks caught her eye, and after her targeting reticule locked on she fired off more rainbow blasts to blow them away before even reaching her. She noticed a giant squid Blank passing below, but after targeting it another flew before her path abruptly. She fired off her cannons anyways, and the blasts swerved around the creature and blew up its ally. She flew let loose a similar blast to the one before her to vaporize it, before dodging between a swarm of the bird like Blanks, a particular squid Blank catching her eyes as it turned towards her and charged forth.
She let loose a rapid fire of ki at the creature as it roared angrily, the tips of its tentacles glowing as the arched to attack Rainbow Dash. She bobbed and weaved, dodging between the blade like tips that glowed with demonic energy, and reared her hands back to slam her palms against the creature. Her hands dug into its black flesh and tore a scar through it as she slid down its body. She came to a stop as she gripped it tightly, and seeing another squid approaching, hurled the one her hands were burrowed into at its ally destroying them both.
She reared back to gaze upon the explosion of black energy and magma like blood with a cocky grin before flying off to continue her fight. Below the spires of Blanks and squid like versions were emerging from the very ocean, swarming to space in large clusters. Rainbow flew past more soldiers, one riding a hovercraft to support the weight of the bazooka he carried. As he tried desperately to get his weapon to fire, finding it reluctant to do so, a whale Blank flew towards him with an open maw. A blast from some of Rainbow's multi colored cannon blasts made short work of it though, saving the soldier as she continued her death dive into the battle below.
One of the carrier spires, covered in volcanic like craters that erupted from its sides, flew directly towards her. She began firing off targeted cannon ki blasts as Blanks and small ships exploded around her, roaring as she angrily tried to destroy the approaching structure. A squid Blank made itself aware with a roar of its own, catching Rainbow's eye with an evil smirk. It swung its tentacles down at her, but she dashed past them with a sonic rainboom, slamming into the side of the creature and pushing it with her brute strength. A rainbow trailed from her as she pushed it into the carrier, cracking it in two in a devastating explosion.
A young girl's voice spread through the intercoms of all the ships and soldiers, coming from a large structure of blue and purple that resembled a god like pony male from the shoulders up, the largest ship in this fleet. She said, "Fear not brave warrior's of Equestria, our long struggle with the Blanks shall come to an end tonight. Oh, powerful demigods! Purge our world of the impure Blanks! The life-giving Mantra is one with you." Several earth pony soldiers, large and small, rode hover crafts into battle, firing off their weapons to assist in the destruction of the Blanks, several swarming a squid like one to vaporize it. Meanwhile several Unicorns floated and dashed about to avoid Blank attacks, firing blasts of ki from their horns to assault the Blanks as well. As they weakened another squid Blank, a pegasus soldier flew in with her sword ready, dealing the finishing blow before the group moved on to their next target.
Explosions filled the space around the planet's atmosphere as what seemed like an endless supply of Blanks and their carriers flew from the world. The young girl's voice reached out to the citizens of the world themselves as they prayed at shrines to send Mantra that powered the fleet. She continued, "Faithful ponies of Equestria! Offer your prayers! They will become Mantra to aid us in battle."
Standing before her throne on the stallion like vessel's bridge, Luna yelled in her royal Canterlot voice to the legions of soldiers, "Tonight, the impure have defiled and scorched our land, but it is we who will live to see tomorrow's light." She wore robes of black and navy blue, her crown upgraded in size to suit her new position of power she had earned. "Legions of the military, heed your Priestess' words, and purify our land once and for all!" She waved her hand, motioning it to the young lady who floated in the middle of the large chamber on wings as elegant as the robes she wore.
Her fur was a mute-purple, and her mane was all the colors of the rainbow, paled in comparison to her mother's but longer in length. The part of her mane that hung over her shoulders was braided, and upon her head was a gold tiara. She danced in the air as she continued her speech, "Let us offer Gaea the greatest blessing in the name of Emperess Luna. May the Mantra guide you to victory." An aura of light erupted from her as her blessings spread to the fleet.
Rainbow furiously fired off at the forces of Blanks, one of the stallion earth ponies waving at her for assistance. Several more rode up on jet packs, and fired off their mini gins at a spire while Rainbow Dash joined them with a rapid fire of ki. As the spire exploded the soldier flew ahead, Rainbow's reticule locking on to several more spires as she fired off her cannon blasts. One particularly large one withstood her attacks, and she angrily flew towards it, slamming her foot into it and dragging it along its length, until it cracked and split in two. Her daughter's voice filled her ears as she fought on, "The Eight Guardian Generals that command you are the veteran elite. Purify any who threaten to desecrate our land, divine warriors of Equestria!"
Several balls of aura flung from the fleet, passing through spires with explosive results as if they were nothing. Ditzy "Derpy Hooves" Doo erupted from one of the explosions as one of the balls of aura, wearing a light blue Chinese tunic with a white trim, and wooden sandals. She reared back her right arm, which was equipped with a metallic gauntlet that quickly grew in girth as her arm did, her special power being one of expansion of her own body. "For the cause, my daughter, and muffins!" she cried as she flew towards a spire, punching it in the pointed tip and watching it erupt in a powerful explosion as its surface was cracked. "I will root out all evil with these great fists!"
Slamming down onto the body of a squid with her sandal clad feet, Pinkie Pie giggled and laughed as a whale and bird Blank flew to her position. She wore a black hakama, and her chest was bandaged up in a sarashi, her hands similarly bandaged up, and strapped to her waist was a black and gold trimmed sheath to a long katana. "Time to have some fun!" she said as she grabbed the hilt of her sword and twisted around, slamming the sheath into a bird Blank and smashing it away as a geyser of magma blood burst from it. A whale flew at her from behind as she stated in an ecstatic tone, "Looks like you want to die first!" She pushed down on her hilt, and the sheath slammed into the whale's lower jaw sending it sky rocketing. She plucked her sheathed blade from her waist and twirled it above her head; slamming it into the squid beneath her and making it shatter to pieces. "Lucky for you, I can make that happen!" She floated away from the beast one a piece of its body that had yet to disintegrate, raising her blade above her head as she laughed as wildly as the curly hair on her head was styled.
"Follow me y'all!" said Applejack as she dashed forth being the third ball of aura. She wore brown and green chaps, and a matching green Chinese shirt with brown designs. On her hands were fingerless gloves, and on her feet she wore only ankle bracers. She wore her signature cowboy hat to show her heritage, and a scarf around her neck to represent her ninja training. As she twisted and dodged between an enemy squid's attacks she said, "Drive a wedge between the enemy forces!" She chopped one of its tentacles in two with her hand, and an aura of energy followed this slamming into the squid and shattering it in an explosion of magma blood.
A cluster of four squids came at her with flailing tentacles, and Applejack flew towards them with her foot outstretched to meet their charge. She flew into the closest ones mouth, and burst out the back of its head. As she slammed into the side of another, aura swiftly flew through it like a series of slashes with a large sword all at once and shattered it as she quickly B-lined straight toward her next victim. The following two squids followed their allies' fates as she made short work of them with her strong foot.
The Priestesses voice reached out again, "Even if you fall in battle, your soul is eternal. With her majesty's power, you shall be reincarnated in a golden paradise and rejoice in prosperity for all eternity."
One of the whales cringed and twitched before Rainbow burst through its side, unfazed by the magma blood, with an outstretched fist screaming triumphantly. She aimed her fist at the oncoming Blanks and yelled, "Worthless scum! I'll kill you all!" In a blast of rainbow aura, she dashed forth on another sonic rainboom. She shot rapid fire ki into an oncoming wave of bird Blanks, the creatures screeching angrily as they were vaporized while passing the cocky and annoyed pony. She dodged around a large ship that blocked her path, which was soon swarmed by birds that tore at the hull until it exploded behind her, and Rainbow continued her assault on the oncoming birds. She fired off cannon blasts in random bursts while she continued to rapid fire them to smithereens, several making it past her as she was focused on the carrier they were coming from.
Rainbow Dash reared her fist back and slammed it into the side of the carrier. Seeing that wasn't enough, she delivered several more rapid punches as she floated down the side of the carrier, cracking its shell as she went. With one final blow, the carrier burst apart piece by piece, and unsatisfied Rainbow dashed away crying out, "Who's next?!" She and the other three front line generals swarmed through the battlefield, explosions of magma and fire filling the area.
Watching all this unfurl on her monitor was Rarity, dancing as she regaled in the scene. Her clothes were violet like her hair and silver, her shirt showing off her mid-riff and her pants being hip huggers. She wore flared cuffs and platform shoes, and upon her brow was a lovely silver circlet that matched her outfit. "Oh, how beautiful life is at its end." She waved her hands about as she did a personal ballet at the sight of the destruction. "True beauty only manifests itself in death," she said sliding her hands down the sides of her face and the curves of her body.
"It would be nice if one could rest for a bit…," said a rather tired looking Fluttershy as her wings kept her aloft watching her own screen of the battle, cuddling a stuffed bunny doll. Dressed in shoulder-less green robes with a blue trim, and slits up the sides to her thighs, she floated about as if in anti-gravity. Her legs were crossed, and her feet were clad in lacy socks that matched her outfit. "I don't suppose this battle with the animals I once loved and cared for is getting rather old fast for anyone else?"
Twilight Sparkle watched not only the battle on one monitor, but Rarity and Fluttershy on side monitors. She stood up wearing scarlet shirt that was unbuttoned a bit on the top and the bottom, a matching mini-skirt, and black high heels. She also wore a belt, gloves, shin guards, and a necklace made of pure gold and decorated in a colorful assortment of rare gems. She angrily stated, "You two should be concerned with the task at hand!"
Rarity shook her head and said, "Twilight, sometimes I wonder if you know me at all. Have you forgotten that I am most concerned when the beauty of destruction is before me?"
Fluttershy scowled at Twilight through the screen, wiggling her bunny doll at it and said, "Excuse me miss smarty pants, but who knows the Blanks better than anyone here, and created the battle plan you're using? My plans are flawless. There is no need for us to be on the front. You need to just sit back and await our victory. Isn't that right Angel?" She wiggled the bunny more and said in a ventriloquist voice, "Fluttershy's plans are flawless stupid head! Boing boing!"
Watching the three of them on her own monitor was Celestia herself, dressed in an all white business suit and boots, along with a cape that draped over her shoulders. She scowled as she listened to her generals squabble, Twilight grunting before she said, "How you two became generals is beyond me. Commander Celestia! I'm sending reinforcements directly to the front line!"
Celestia's eye twitched as she scoffed at this notion. "Battles such as this that bring temporary peace are meaningless and a waste of my time. I made you cybernetic demigods for more than this." Twilight blinked in confusion, her mouth hanging open unsure what to say. "Prepare to fire the Harmony Cannon."
Twilight gasped and said, "The Harmony Cannon?! But commander, it is not yet fully charged!"
Nodding in agreement, Fluttershy stated, "In its current state, it wouldn't be able to display its true capability."
Celestia threw her fist to the side and said, "At times one must throw a stone into stagnant waters to set things into motion. Not just for this battle, but for the future of the world itself."
"The Harmony Cannon…" Rarity sighed with delight. "That is an instrument of destruction I would love to hear played."
"As you wish commander," Twilight reluctantly stated.
Celestia raised her balled fist and shouted, "Hear me now! Let this blast herald the coming of a new world order!" She opened her hand and aimed her spread fingers at the world below, the forehead of the stallion glowing with mantra as it was charged. Rainbow Dash skid to a halt in mid air as she turned back to see what was taking place, the ball of light on the stallion shaped ship's forehead growing bigger and brighter. It focused itself and fired a straight beam through the battlefield, vaporizing a large number of spires before it made contact with the world and lit it ablaze with disintegrating light, Rainbow Dash covering her eyes with a grunt from how bright it was.
The dark cloud that shrouded the surface of the planet dissipated around the beam as millions of Blanks vanished, nothing left but a scorch on the planet where the beam had made contact. Applejack tipped her hat floating near Rainbow Dash and said, "The Shining Armor's Harmony Cannon? But why?"
"Why not?" Pinkie asked as she floated between her two friends. "It shows how serious we are about winning! The sooner we win, the sooner we get to the victory party!"
Derpy floated up with a gasp and said, "Um, guys… look! It's the Blank God, Heartless!" The surface of the planet slowly glowed orange as if preparing for a volcanic eruption, before a giant jet black snake head burst from the surface leaving a crater in its wake and much debris into space, a loud shockwave resounding from it as it emerged. Everyone stared in shock as the snake like creature let out a roar that sounded mixed with a screech as it bellowed into the heavens above. Its jaw unhinged as its mouth hung open, and a spray of fireball venom shot into the stars like a blast of shooting stars, destroying hundreds of their fleet's ships on contact.
Several of the blasts reached past the fleet and hit the Shining Armor, making it shake and rattle. Fluttershy gasped in awe and said, "What power…!" She trembled as she clung tightly to her bunny doll.
Pinkie grinned and said to those around her, "Stand aside weaklings! This one's mine!"
As she dashed off in a pink aura, Rainbow Dash balled her fists and yelled, "Get back! You've had your share!" She shot after Pinkie, who looked back with an irritated gaze. When she looked before her, she was shocked to find a squid Blank blocking her path. She tried to dodge between its tentacles, but crashed into its face ensuring Rainbow Dash took the lead. Pinkie growled frustrated, as a dozen more squids swarmed on her position, Rainbow Dash easily flying between their forces.
She sonic rainboomed forth, ignoring the plight of a nearby ship ensnared by a squid Blank. She tried targeting the colossal creature and firing off some cannon blasts, but her attacks were intercepted by a flock of small fry bird Blanks. Rainbow was so focused on Heartless, that when she saw a carrier flying right towards her she barely had enough time to skid to a halt in mid-air, let alone catch the tip in her hands. When she was pushed back by this, a squid took her by surprise from behind and bit down on the tip of the spire, catching Rainbow Dash in its beak.
Applejack was flying from the side, yelling as she was surrounded by orange aura. She kicked through the squids beak, shattering it and the tip of the carrier. Once Rainbow Dash was free she shouted, "Watch yourself sugar cube!"
Rainbow Dash flew over with a scowl. "Applejack! Mind your own business!" Meanwhile, Heartless continued to spray its fireball venom into the fleet, it's attacks curving around its fellow blanks to take out even more of the ships in the fleet. Applejack and Rainbow Dash flew down towards it as it was distracted with its attack.
The two girls dodged a fireball in opposite directions. Rainbow Dash dived under a second fireball and barrel rolled away from another. Luck wasn't on her side however, as several dozen homed in on her. She held up her arms to block them, and screamed as they made contact, knocking her arms out of the way so she felt the full blunt of the attack. Applejack gasped as she watched this muttering Rainbow Dash's name, before she was swarmed by fireballs while distracted screaming in her own set of pain.
As the two of them were bombarded by fireballs, the Priestess heard their cries of pain with a gasp of shock. "Mother?!" The young girl's brow furrowed as light erupted from her, and she channeled Mantra to snake to her mother and aunt. The two of their limp bodies glowed in a healing bluish green aura. Applejack's eyes widened as shouted the girls name: "Zap Apple!"
Rainbow roared with power that surged through her from her daughter's control of the Mantra. Her rainbow aura grew brighter than ever, marks appearing around her shoulders. An extra set of four arms erupted from these glowing spots, and she continued to surge with the aura until it surged through all six of her arms, covering them in a metal coating. Her right arms were a metallic shade of red, orange and yellow, while her left arms were a metallic shade of green, blue and purple, each one covered in glowing markings matching their arm's color. She balled all her fists and stretched them out as her wings seemed to grow in span for a moment, achieving her Vajra form. Applejack crossed her arms staring down at Heartless as Rainbow pointed and said, "This war ends now!"
The snake seemed to be made of stone, and it cracked as its jaw unhinged like stone walls ripping apart, screaming its disgusting howl to the two demigod ponies. It fired off fireballs at them, but Rainbow dashed out of the way, while Applejack simply teleported to the side. Applejack floated under another homing blast as Rainbow swerved between several and flew towards Heartless with several of the attacks chasing her, Applejack close behind. One tried to take Rainbow by surprise from the side, but she stopped just short of the attack before continuing her sprint forward just in time for several attacks to contact each other where she'd been and explode behind her.
Rainbow's targeting reticule went haywire with possible targets along the snake's face and body, leading her to fire off her cannon blasts rapidly as a spray of rainbow ki waves flew towards Heartless, covering it in colorful explosions. With her extra arms she could fire off three times as much, and at an enhanced size and strength for extra effect. Heartless seemed to be charging beams in its mouth, and fired them off just grazing Rainbow Dash, who ignored them fearlessly as she was relentless in her ki cannon assault, not even relying on rapid fire anymore. Another set of charged beams flew from the creature's massive maw, one slamming straight into Rainbow as she cringed in pain with a loud grunt. She looked up with fury in her eyes, and fired off another set of blasts that slammed into the side of Heartless and made it cringe in pain with a high pitched shriek, cutting off its own attack.
She continued to dodge the beams, finding their trajectory's predictable at this point, firing off her cannons with renewed passion. She then reared all three of her right arms back as she reached the snakes face, delivering three powerful punches one after the other, each sending a shockwave into the surrounding area as it screeched in pain even more than before. It roared as cracks covered its body erupting with magma and flames, howling in pain as it sunk back into the planet. "Oh no you don't!" Rainbow reared back before dive bombing towards Heartless, her first outstretched ready for another go at the beast. Heartless opened its mouth, and its entire throat glowed with energy as Rainbow blinked in shock. It fired off a beam that filled its entire mouth, destroying thousands of Blanks and fleet soldiers alike as it ripped through space to cover its escape.
Rainbow floated there with her arms before her, back to normal now as all her metallic arms were gone. Steam floated from her entire body as she panted, breathing heavily in exhaustion. Her left arm hung limp as she rubbed it gently with her right hand, Applejack floating up next to her. She looked at the irritated Rainbow Dash and said, "Why the long face partner?"
"I… couldn't kill it…"
"No one can kill Heartless, sugar cube. You should consider yourself lucky you could subdue it." Rainbow gritted her teeth and glared at Applejack, who returned her glare with crossed arms daring her to try something. Rainbow slowly looked away, glaring where Heartless had vanished as Applejack went on, "We've suffered more casualties than ever, but I reckon it won't be back for a while. You should rest." Rainbow simply responded with a raspberry.
A unicorn soldier walked up to where the Zap Apple floated and stated, "Due to general Rainbow Dash's efforts, Heartless has subsided!" The Priestess stops glowing in a healing aura, and smiled at where her mother floated before the planet.
Luna stood from her throne and stated, "Purify the surviving Blanks!" Her sister Celestia stood not far before her, hands on her shoulders and legs spread as she watched the scene with a serious expression. Luna went on, "The power of my Eight Guardian Generals is invincible! May Equestria prosper in everlasting glory!" Legions of soldiers below raised their weapons and cheered for her.
Celestia stared at them for a moment before she muttered to herself, "The time is near…" A cocky grin appeared on her face as she left the bridge, making her way to her personal chambers where Fluttershy was waiting for her, leaned against the wall next to the window that viewed the battlefield. "Thank you for coming, the time is near and I'll be in need of you."
Fluttershy stared at her for a moment before looking out the window. "Quite the battle wouldn't you say? Victory just as I expected."
A scoff from the former princess catches her attention. "We didn't kill it. Heartless will be back. This victory was meaningless. I am surprised though, Rainbow Dash alone was able to subdue it."
Fluttershy nodded to this. She floated over to Celestia and said, "It's hard to believe that overzealous tomboy was able to outmatch even Pinkie Pie in this battle."
"She's gotten too strong too fast. I should have anticipated this, but I assume you'll have a plan to take care of-"
"I already do." Fluttershy smirks. "I have everything planned… your majesty."
Celestia went wide eyed with a soft smile. "There's a title I haven't heard in so very long. No thanks to my sister, she has let power go to her head. She was useless in the battle, as compared to Zap Apple."
"Ah yes… the Priestess. I believe our victory rests solely on her." She floats back to the window and hugs her bunny, stroking a finger down the glass. "Hard to believe that rough Rainbow Dash is her mother. But we must intervene; Rainbow Dash could be a danger to her."
"Not just yet." Celestia flips her cape back as she twists around. "I believe we still have use for her. Once this is done, we must finish the construction of the Shining Armor. Is everything ready?"
Fluttershy smirks and looks back over her shoulder. "I already told you, your majesty. Everything is planned, and my plans are always flawless."
End Pt. 1 Ch. 1
Ch. 2 Betrayal and Vengeance
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Chapter 2: Betrayal and Vengeance
The day after the defeat of Heartless, music played and ponies cheered throughout Canterlot as celebration was afoot. Millions of ponies filled the streets before the royal palace, confetti filled the skies, and everywhere you looked there was a pony reveling in their newfound peace.
Rainbow Dash returned home alongside her old friend and sister in law Applejack. She was shocked to find that waiting in front of the house was her husband Big Macintosh, and their daughter Zap Apple. Big Mac chuckled ruffling his excited daughter's mane, looking up to his wife to simply say her name. "Rainbow Dash."
Their daughter rushed from his side and stumbled into her mother's arms. She clung to her tightly and said, "Mommy!" Rainbow Dash slowly wrapped her arms around Zap Apple as she cried in her arms.
Rainbow Dash stared at her grieve stricken daughter with a look of uncertainty, but kept her held in her arms to comfort her the only way she knew she could. Big Mac walked over and kneeled down, stroking a hand along Rainbow's cheek. "You're safe…"
"I am," Rainbow responded quickly as she rubbed the back of her daughter's head.
Zap Apple broke away from the hug for a moment to look up to Rainbow with tears still trailing from her eyes and a smile on her face. "Welcome home, mother."
Rainbow's eyes closed a little as she quietly thanked her daughter. "General Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash looked back to see a unicorn soldier in the gateway to their estate. "The Emperess summons you. She awaits your presence in the throne room." The soldier saluted the group and walked off.
With a sly smirk, Zap Apple nudged her mother in the side with her elbow. "I bet she wants to give you a medal. I wouldn't be surprised, if anyone deserves one it would be 'my' mom. After all, you defeated Heartless."
"She's right you know," Big Mac added with a chuckle, ruffling their daughter's mane again. "You mustn't keep the emperess waiting.
Rainbow Dash had looked forward to a relaxing and peaceful evening with her family. She nodded reluctantly and said, "Alright." She followed after the unicorn soldier, Applejack tipping her hat to them as they walked off.
When Rainbow Dash got to the palace throne room, Luna stood with her back to the cyan pony, faced towards her throne at the base of the steps that lead up to it. Rainbow fell on one knee in respect to the Emperess, but as her gaze lifted, she noticed something off about Luna. She swayed to and fro, as if intoxicated. Then she leaned too far, and began to fall. Rainbow Dash gasped and rushed to catch her in her arms. Her eyes got wide and pale as she shoved Emperess Luna back, staring at her now bloody corpse as it lay on the floor before her. She looked at her hands, which were now covered in Luna's blood, her breathing increasing at an alarming rate as her body trembled and confusion. "What… What is this?"
A gasp caught her attention, as she turned around to see the unicorn soldier she had originally come with fall back to the floor in fear. "Insurrection! Treachery!" Several earth pony soldier rushed in, two riding hover crafts and a muscular stallion among them. "Treason!" "The Emperess…" "Traitor!" A pegasus soldier landed amongst the group and swung her blade, pointing at the confused general as she stated, "General Rainbow Dash has gone mad!" Their voices continued to echo through the hall, calling her every treasonous word in the book.
"N-No! There must be some mistake!" Rainbow looked amongst the enemy troops, and then dashed between them as she rushed for the arch way out of the throne room. Swords, poleaxes, and one big fist swung at her as she dodged between the soldiers, making it past them as she hurried from the scene of the crime. She ran through the halls of the palace as fast as her wings could push her and said herself, "I don't understand. What the hell's happening?" She saw light at the end of the hall, and sprinted for it.
Once she made it out, she found herself in the courtyard, and the next thing she knew she was surrounded by earth pony soldiers with axes in hand on all sides. "Rainbow Dash!" cried a familiar voice as she looked to see Derpy in the doorway from whence she had come. "How could you?! You Traitor!"
Rainbow Dash grew even paler, shaking her head in disbelief at her friend's words. "No, it wasn't me!"
"Silence!" Derpy glared with tears in her eyes. "Enough lies! I'll purify you myself! Right now, you're no greater than a Blank in my eyes!"
Rainbow's brow furrowed as she glared at her friend, gritting her teeth as she muttered a, "Damn you!"
Derpy pointed to her friend and shouted, "Get her!" Rainbow Dash side stepped an Axe that came swinging down at her, and rolled out of the way of another. Rearing back her arm, she twirled to build momentum before swinging her fist at those who attacked first, hitting them hard enough to send the two flying and crying in agonizing pain. "Give up!"
"I'm innocent!" Rainbow punched through the pole of one of the soldiers' axes, and then sent her flying with a punch to the face. She quickly slammed her elbow into the stomach of another oncoming earth pony, and before she could regain herself Rainbow Dash turned around and gave her a punch to the chest, a punch to the stomach, another to the chest, and then an uppercut that took her feet off the ground as she flipped backwards onto her face. Four more soldiers approached, and she dashed into one of them, her foot in his chest. She slammed a fist and a foot into each of the four soldiers to stun them, and then with a twirl in the air and a kick to their heads, she sent the group rolling backwards screaming as her powerful heel broke something on each of their faces.
Derpy grew restless as she cried out, "Hold still for your punishment!"
"Make me!" Rainbow responded in a cocky tone, as more soldiers rushed into the area. Rainbow grabbed two by their faces and threw them to knock over their allies. She walked along them, punching one in her stomach before bring her fist up to her face. She slammed her knee into another's stomach, stomping on her head as she continued to move forward. She flipped in the air and delivered a punch hard enough to send three more soldiers flying from the shockwave. She grabbed an oncoming axes pole to throw the soldier away, but was quickly pounced by three other soldiers who tried to hold her down.
Quickly the rest of the soldiers dog piled on her until she had a dozen earth ponies holding her down. One aimed her pole axe down into the pile ready to stab Rainbow Dash. "Kill her!" Before she could stab, the pile shook and trembled, making the girl lose her footing. The pile burst to all sides as Rainbow's multi-colored aura erupted from her body. Every pony either hit a wall or fell to the ground from high in the air. In the end, the courtyard was filled with the corpses of several earth pony soldiers.
Meanwhile, Rarity approached the Rainbow home. Big Macintosh paused in cooking dinner, looking to see as she walked in the door. Rarity wore a creepy grin, one eye more open than the other as she licked her lips. Zap Apple look terrified at this, and clung to her father. Big Mac looked between them as Rarity approached, and stepped in front of his daughter, blocking Rarity's path.
Derpy stared at the scene of carnage before her, steam flowing from Rainbow like a cloud of smoke. "Still got it in you I see." Rainbow Dash had a few of the pony soldier's axes wedged into her, as she panted and balled her fists, ripping a couple of them out. "Let's cut to the chase." Her gauntlet grew as her arms did the same, becoming big and muscular until they were as big as her body. "I'll kill you myself!" Rainbow Dash ran towards Derpy, and began punching at her, but she took the blows with a raised eyebrow. She reared back her first that wore the gauntlet, flapped her wings once hard, and punched Rainbow Dash as she flew forward, stopping to let the cyan pony fly backwards. "You traitorous filth, Luna was more than an Emperess! She was our friend!"
Rainbow Dash's feet met the ground as she skid to a halt, just in time to duck under her friends swinging fist. "Derpy, stop this!" She leapt over Derpy's head to avoid a punch to where she stood, and once behind Derpy began to punch her repeatedly, making the girl gasp in pain as her back was barraged. Derpy tried to turn around, but Rainbow Dash had already built up momentum for a punch that sent Derpy flying backwards.
She hit the ground crying, "Noooo!" She cringed, and when she looked up Rainbow slammed her hands balled together down on Derpy's stomach making her bounce off the ground. Once in the air, Rainbow Dash sucker punched her to send her flying back even further, twirling through the air as she screamed in pain. "Y-You have disgraced the generals!"
"It wasn't me!" Rainbow Dash rushed toward Derpy angrily, only to get sent flying back by the girl's enlarged fist. Luckily it wasn't the one with the gauntlet, as she was using that one to help herself to her feet. She punched her gauntlet into the ground, and the shoulder opened a hatch, steam flying from the back as it fired off a giant missile at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash caught the missile by the sides and said, "What's going on?!"
She threw the missile back at Derpy, but the wall-eyed girl leapt into the air and it missed. Rainbow Dash looked up just in time to watch as Derpy's fundoshi clad bubble butt came flying down into the ground, sending a shockwave through it that made Rainbow Dash fall to her side. "Accept the truth!"
Rainbow Dash rolled to her feet and leapt into the air, slamming both her fists down on top of her opponent's head. Derpy steadied her stance, blocking Rainbow's escape from the area. Rainbow Dash cocked her fist back and punched her in the stomach, making her stumble back again. "Move!" She punched Derpy one more time with all her might to the face, sending her on her back unconscious as her arms shrunk to their normal size. Rainbow Dash stared at her limp body, panting as she muttered to herself, "Zap Apple… Big Mac… Be safe!"
Rainbow Dash rushed from the palace and took to the air, quickly falling flat as the axe wounds were too much for her right now. So she sprinted home as fast as she could, through the eerily empty streets of Canterlot that had just been roaring with celebration not even an hour before. When she reached her home, she went inside to see there had been a scuffle, as many of their possessions were knocked over and broken. And there on the floor lay… "Big Mac!" She feel to her knees before her bloodied husband and slid a hand under his head, lifting it gently.
Big Mac's eyes slowly opened as he felt his wife's touch. "Rainbow Dash…" Big Mac coughed and gasped as life slowly left him. He grabbed Rainbow's shoulder and said, "Save her…"
"…I will, save your strength!" Big Mac stroked his hand along his lover's cheek with a soft smile. He gave her one last kiss on the lips, before his body went limp and lifeless. Rainbow gasped as she watched this, her mouth hanging open in disbelief as she stared at her love with quivering eyes. Her brow furrowed and her teeth clenched shut. She reared her head back closing her tear filled eyes as she screamed loudly to the heavens in despair.
Zap Apple awoke to find herself trapped in some sort of crystal, a floating prison. Surrounding her on a platform attached to ship flying high above the world below were Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rarity, and even Applejack. Twilight gazed into the crystal curiously at Zap Apple, a smile finding its way across her face. The look on her face became one of shock and fear as she and every other pony looked to nearby space to see Rainbow approaching on a sonic rainboom, roaring with anger. She slammed into the ground before them, shaking entire the ship. Rarity brushed herself off with a rather annoyed look as everyone stared at the angry pegasus before them. Rainbow Dash saw her daughter in the crystal and cried, "Zap Apple!"
Zap pressed against the gemstone wall of her narrow prison and cried, "Mother!"
Applejack's scarf was tied over her eyes as she looked to her sister and said, "Rainbow Dash-"
"Get out of my way!" Rainbow Dash interrupted angrily without a care for what her sister in law had to say.
Applejack yanked the scarf from her eyes and said, "Listen to me sugar cube. We-"
"Move!" Rainbow dashed towards them ready to strike, but was cut short as a wall of electricity blocked her path, surging her weakened body with electricity as she grunted in pain. She flew back and slid across the metal floor as in her path was Celestia.
Celestia surged with the electricity she had created and said, "Stand down Applejack." Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't bring herself to. She closed her eyes and looked away slowly tying the scarf back over her eyes.
Rainbow Dash climbed to her feet with electricity still coursing from her body as she said, "Celestia, it was you…?"
"Yes…" Celestia stared down at Rainbow Dash with uninterested eyes. "I did what was necessary for the cause."
Raising her brow in confusion, Rainbow said, "Cause…?"
"I have decided to save the world my ancestors created. I will create a new civilization… a great rebirth!"
Rainbow Dash gazed on in disbelief, all her friends standing idly by behind Celestia. "Save the world!? What great rebirth!? You're insane!"
Celestia laughed and smirked at the smaller pony. "It is all necessary, now that you've grown too strong too soon. I will bear the burden of your wrath and your life, Rainbow Dash." Electricity coursed through one hand, fire through the other. She shocked Rainbow Dash and engulfed her in flames, Rainbow Dash crying out in pain as her eyes began to roll back in her head. One powerful blast sent Rainbow flying back into the railing that overlooked the planet below. As Rainbow tried to stand, reaching a hand out towards Celestia, a blade found its way to her stomach. She was lifted in the air by this blade, and on the end of it stood Pinkie Pie with a look of uncertainty on her face. Celestia stepped up next to Pinkie and said, "Your death will be the foundation of my new world!"
She gripped Pinkie's blade from the back and coursed electricity up it into Rainbow Dash who hung limply at the end, crying out in pain. Her eyes began to roll back again, and she reached out to her daughter who watched the scene in despair. Celestia then kicked Rainbow Dash off the blade and through the railing, falling through the atmosphere back down to the planet. Zap Apple banged on the sides of the prison and screamed, "No! Mommy!" Twilight held up her hand to silence the girl, and with a flash from her horn the inside of the crystal grew colder, until Zap Apple was frozen and silent.
As Rainbow fell she yelled to the heavens above, "Let her go! I said let her go!" She screamed in anger and pain as she went through atmospheric re-entry, her wings and the rest of her body too stunned to work as she was engulfed in the flames of her approach to the world. Even as her limp body burned, she glared at those who were once her friends and roared, "I'll never forgive any of you! I'll have my vengeance!" And with that, her body disappeared from sight to the planet below.
End Pt. 1 Ch. 2
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Chapter 3: Hell on Gaea
A small girls crying filled her head, making her twitch to the sound. Rainbow Dash gasped as her eyes shot open, and she found herself in strange realm. As far as her eyes could see were giant twisted pine trees that reached up to the heavens, bigger than any trees she'd ever seen, and beyond them only fog. She tried to see how far down the floor was, but it too was shrouded in fog. She looked at where she was, and saw she had grabbed hold of a stone pillar of some sort. It was patterned and designed, and she'd grabbed on to one of the crevasses on the massive pillar. She hung limply by her own hand, over the endless abyss below. "Awake at last, are we?"
Shocked to hear another's voice, Rainbow Dash quickly began to look around for the source. "Where am I?"
"Well… this is Limbo. But I won't bother explaining, because I doubt you would understand. So for now, let's just say you're having a bad dream."
"…Who are you?"
The voice gasped and said in sarcastic tone, "Good question! Not the right one." Rainbow Dash felt a presence above her, and looked up to see a blue pony girl with long blonde hair that reminded her of her of her ex-friend Fluttershy. She wore a black tank top and camouflage pants, and a small pair of glasses. She lay against the pillar vertically resting her chin in her hands staring at Rainbow Dash. "The right question would be, 'Who are you?' My name is Alice, but what is yours?"
The pony girl raised her finger pointing to Rainbow Dash. "I…" She stared down at the abyss, unable to answer this question for some reason.
With a giggle, Alice said, "Start climbing then 'I.' However, I would be careful." She pushed herself up and stood sideways on the pillar, beginning to walk up it as her large hips swayed and her combat boots carefully walked along the crevasses. "I trust you to figure out what would happen if you fell." Rainbow Dash swung her arm up and got a firm grip on the wall, beginning her accent after the pony girl walking before her. "That's it, up you go. There is a reason for you to continue to climb, isn't there? You may have forgotten why, but the flame is still there. That's it, keep going, Rainbow Dash."
********************************************
"Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow glared at her friend Pinkie Pie, cleaning out her ear as the sound of the nearby waterfalls were agitating to her, despite the beauty of the lush overgrowth of the rocky area they were in. Pinkie grinned standing nearby before some ruins built into the mountain side and said, "These are our enemies, the impure Blanks." Between them were three ape-like Blanks that had the same blackness as their brethren, and red patterns made from the magma like blood that dwelled within them. Pinkie leapt backwards and landed atop the ruins entrance. "Let's see what you make of 'em!"
One of the apes leapt at her, swinging its fists downward, but she ran past it to one of the others, delivering a punch to the side of its face. She swung her own fist downward atop its head, and then slammed her knee into its face as it went down. The creature tries to stumble back as she barraged its chest and stomach with punches, one of its allies rushing to the rescue. Rainbow Dash slammed both her fists down on the ape's head smashing it into the ground hard enough to create a shockwave to send its ally approaching from behind stumbling back. Pinkie smirked and said, "That's it!"
Rainbow Dash twisted around to punch the other two in their faces. She grabbed their heads and slammed them together, and twirled in the air to deliver a kick that sent them both flying away from her. "Not bad!" Pinkie continued to cheer, watching as her friend trained herself.
The Blank she had left head first in the dirt a moment ago had freed itself, and slammed its fists against her back. Rainbow Dash cried out in pain as the beast continued by grabbing her wings and giving them a tug. Pinkie Pie glared and said, "Don't take that from a party pooper Dashie!" Rainbow kicked between the beasts legs hard enough to make it let go of her wings and be lifted into the air. She then twisted around with enough momentum for her fist to its chest to send it flying backwards.
All three of the sturdy creatures got back up and rushed her all at once. Rainbow Dash twisted into the air, and delivered a round house punch that hit all three of their faces and sent them flying to the floor. Pinkie Pie laughed at this and said, "Would you look at that! But a pup like you won't be able to fight like that constantly! Time and use attacks like that wisely!" Rainbow Dash ran up to one on the floor, and punched the ground before it making a shockwave that sent it flying back into the rocks. Then she twisted around and dashed towards the next as it got to its feet, upper cutting it so hard her rainbow aura flew from her fist and sent it skyrocketing upward. She took off into the air to avoid an attack from the last one, dive bombing with and outstretched fist to punch it into the ground.
As the three Blanks had taken enough of a beating, the airborne one crashing into the floor now, the three of them disintegrated and vanished. Pinkie laughed again and said, "Don't think you'll come off unscathed! Isn't that a funny word? Unscathed? Anyways, pain reminds you you're fighting for your life!" A rather large gorilla like Blank crawled from the earth and took Rainbow by surprise with a powerful punch. Rainbow Dash flipped backwards, but landed on her feet skidding to a halt. The creature rushed towards her and slapped its massive hands at her from both sides, but she rolled under its attack and gave it a punch to its side. "That's the spirit! Go Dashie!"
The creature backhanded Rainbow Dash, but she ducked under its attack and sucker punched it in the face. It slammed its fist on the ground where she'd been before rolling behind the creature. She grabbed it around the waist, and grunted as she gave the huge simian a German suplex. "I think you're getting the hang of this, but even a 'monkey' can do that! Get it? Monkey, because you're fighting ape Blanks!" Pinkie giggled and snorted at her own joke as Rainbow rolled her eyes. Standing upright, the gorilla Blank taking a moment to do the same, the two of them circled each other daring them to make the next move.
"Oh I know, I know! Let's see if you can read its moves and counter attack!" The gorilla Blank beat it's chests as it howled, its fists beginning to glow with the fiery heat from within its body. It twisted around, building momentum as it swung its fist at Rainbow Dash, which she proceeded to catch with both hands. "That's it!" Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as heat bore into her palms, but she threw the gorilla Blank's fist back and delivered an aura powered uppercut to its chin that sent the beast rolling back. Its jaw broken, the beast slowly disintegrated.
Three of the large bird like Blanks flew into the area, and circled around her, Rainbow twisting and turning to try and keep an eye on each one. Pinkie face palmed and said, "Don't get distracted by multiple enemies, silly filly! Concentrate on one at a time!" Rainbow Dash focuses on one, following it as it moved, and then leapt in its path to deliver a blow, only to have it fly out of the way. "You got the idea, but I never said every fight could be fought with your fists alone. Knock them out of the sky with your rapid fire ki, and put that cybernetics to good use!" One of the birds hurled a fireball at her, and she rolled to the side deciding it would be first. Her palms opened, and her ki sprayed out like a machine gun, pummeling the creature until it screeched its last cry and fell to the floor. She aimed a palm at each of the others, who turned tail to flee, only to be shot it the back by multiple blows before they were killed as well. Pinkie yanked out a pair of pompoms and sang, "Dashie, Dashie, she's our girl! If she can't do it, it'll be a big bummer!"
Pinkie back flipped up the rocky slope and tossed the pompoms, placing her hand on a large boulder. "Okay Dashie, time for your next lesson! Let's see you shoot this down!" She lifted the boulder from its place in the slope and raised it above her head, lobbing it at Rainbow Dash. The tomboy held her ground and fired her ki into the stone, blowing it to smithereens. "Nice job. Now do it again, and this time try to make it look like me!"
Rainbow Dash groaned and said, "Seriously Pinkie Pie, is all this really neces-"
"Think fast!"
A boulder flew straight at her at high speed, and Rainbow flew above it as it slammed into the ground. "Hey! Watch it!"
"Whoops! Whoops! Whoops!" Pinkie threw three boulders at once, Rainbow watching this with a twitching eye. She fired at the rocks going down a line so her ki would destroy every single one before it hit the ground. As the dust cleared, a fourth unexpected boulder was flying at her, and it came slamming into her and knocking her to the floor with a groan. "What are you doing Dashie? This is no time for a nap."
"I think I need a different teacher…"
"Alrighty, now it's my turn!" Pinkie leapt off the rocky slope, flipping through the air before she landed on the ground before Rainbow Dash, who pushed the boulder off her chest and climbed to her feet. "Let's see how you do against the 'mastah'!" She held up a balled and bandaged fist and held up a finger, smoothly motioning for Rainbow Dash to come at her.
Slowly making her way towards Rainbow, the cyan pony rolled past Pinkie and punched her in the side, catching her off balance. She delivered another punch to the side of her face, making Pinkie stand on her tippy toes, before Rainbow twirled and delivered a momentum punch to her back, sending her off her feet and on her face to the floor. With a cocky grin, Rainbow tried to punch her while she was down, but Pinkie pushed herself off the floor and into the air above her. Pinkie brought her hands together and slammed them down on top of Rainbows head, making her flip forward in place and falling flat on her back on the ground. Rainbow rolled away from Pinkie as she stomped for her stomach, jumping to her feet and firing rapid fire at her opponent. Pinkie casually walked towards her ignoring the ki, and sucker punched her to the face. She followed it up with an underhand swing to her gut, and while Rainbow was stunned by this Pinkie kicked her foot in the air, her own pink aura launching like a geyser to slam into Rainbow and sending her flipping back in the air.
Rainbow Dash skid to a halt and dive bombed Pinkie, which the pink pony quickly put up her arms to block. Rainbow slammed into the ground in front of her, the shockwave breaking her guard, and Rainbow Dash took advantage of this to give her a good straight punch to the chest sending her back a bit, skidding across the ground as she held the spot she was punched. "Good one Dashie! Now let's take those skills, and put them to the test!" Rainbow Dash growled in frustration and flew towards Pinkie, rearing her right fist back to deliver a blow right to her face. She slammed her left fist into her gut causing Pinkie to exhale from the blow. Then her final blow met Pinkie's chin, the pink pony having a massive grin on her face like a cat that ate the canary, before she flipped backwards and slammed into the mountainside.
Pinkie wasted no time getting back to her feet, her body arching and her back cracking as she slowly rose from the ground using her feet alone. Dirt kicked up behind her as seemed to vanish, and by the time Rainbow had blinked Pinkie was standing directly in front of her. Rainbow gasped in shock, looking terrified from her friend's speed. Pinkie chuckled and said, "You learn fast. Here's your reward!" Pinkie reared her head back and slammed her forehead down on top of Rainbow's head, slamming her face first into the ground so hard the shockwave kicked up the dirt all around them. Pinkie turned around laughing and walked away as Rainbow Dash struggled to her feet slowly. "That'll be all for today. I have this wicked headache for some reason. What about you?" Rainbow Dash rubbed her head, slowly falling unconscious, as Pinkie laughed even louder than before.
******************************************
Rainbow Dash blinked from the flashback she had just had of her first day training with Pinkie Pie, after she was made what she is today. She clenched her fist and said, "My name… is Rainbow Dash"
Alice twisted back and kneeled down, looking eye to eye with her. "Yes, that is your name: Rainbow Dash." Dash took a deep breath, closing her eyes as another vision came to her.
The scene of her carnage plays out before her as she battles the earth ponies in the courtyard. They call her things like traitor and demand her death as they come at her with pole-axes, but she makes short work of them in the end. Sprawled across the courtyard before her, Rainbow Dash pants seeing every pony is dead. Nothing else approaches her, so she breathes a sigh of relief, until her world begins to go red and black.
She looked around in confusion, as all the soldier's corpses slowly rose from the ground, tinted in black and white as they lumbered about like zombies. "Luna… has been killed…" "Not general Rainbow Dash…" She continued to look amongst the soldiers with growing confusion as the corpses spoke while approaching her. "Treason!" "The Empress…" "Traitor!" "General Rainbow Dash has gone mad!" Rainbow Dash cringed holding her head. "Insurrection!" "Treachery!" "Traitor!"
"SHUT UP!" Rainbow Dash panted after screaming this to the heavens, looking around to see they were all gone, but her world was still red and black.
She froze, looking up to see Celestia standing before her, surrounded by soldiers, all black and white. She raised her electricity pulsed hand and said, "The traitor, Rainbow Dash, has been defeated!" The soldiers saluted, as Celestia aimed her palm to Rainbow Dash, blasting her with electricity.
Rainbow Dash fell backwards into a black abyss, as a familiar young girl's voice cried, "No! Mommy!" Her body glowed red as she faded into the blackness, the young girl beginning to sob and cry.
Her cries echoed through Rainbow's ears, and she snapped back to attention, holding on to the pillar still as Alice lay on her side resting on her elbow. She raised her brow to Rainbow Dash's expression. "Celestia said she would save the world. Are you satisfied with being a cog in her machine?" Rainbow Dash rubbed her face with one hand, shaking her head to try and clear it. "Or, you could just curl up and die right here…"
"Shut up…" Rainbow Dash held her head as if it was hurting.
"Hm? What's the matter? Have I gone and made you angry?"
Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash said, "Not… you."
Alice sat up confused and said, "Not me?"
Rainbow Dash gripped her head tightly and replied, "The crying…"
"Crying? In Limbo? There's nothing to hear but the sound of my voice."
Rainbow growled loudly and gripped the pillar, leaping forward a few feet and taking a firm grip of the pillar and finding good footing for her feet. She then began to climb like an animal as fast as she could up the side of the pillar. She cried out, "Stop it!"
Upon the surface of the world in a flat stone plateau, a geyser of white light erupts from the earth. Fire flows from it as an explosion occurs at the base, sending rubble flying in all directions. Rainbow Dash stands upon a boulder in the middle of the explosion, slowly roaring louder as she balls her fists and stomps her feet into a stance, screaming to the heavens as the geyser of fiery light grows skyward, and the beautiful color of roses leaves her eyes as they become lifeless and white.
As the world slowly grows quiet after her ground shaking return, she slowly looks around her at the landscape. "What the…?"
"Your world, Gaea. Equestria. Twelve-thousand years have passed since you were here last. But that's nothing to a demigod like yourself, now is it?" Alice's voice could be heard snickering.
Rainbow Dash looked around at the blank dead landscape, and muttered, "Is this how you save the world?" She looked up to the skies that were filled with red and black storm clouds that flashed with lightning. "This place looks like hell."
A brown tattered cloak wrapped around her, guided by someone's hands. She looked around to see nothing but a blonde furred vixen waggling its tail looking up at her, adjusting her glasses with a paw. Alice's voice came from the vixen, "A small gift for the sandstorms, just in case you need or want it." She began to crawl forward, Rainbow Dash leaping from the stone she stood upon to follow her. "What do you think? It's a tad desolate since you were here last. I can hear thunder in the distance. Can you see the lightning? It's as red as blood." Rainbow Dash simply grunted in response. "So you do remember? Yes… The threat of the Blanks still remains, even now. Curious as to what your former friends and comrades have been doing? Hm, over there. Have a look."
Rainbow Dash paused and looked to the side to see what looked like the ruins of a once beautiful city. "They… They let the Blanks…"
"Not quite. This was the work of your own race. The military, and the demigods."
"What?!" Rainbow Dash went wide eyed in disbelief as she stared even harder at the destruction.
"They now have control of the world and do as they please."
"That can't be…"
Alice led her to a narrow stone bridge that led over a large chasm, several more like it leading across the length of the canyon. "A lot can change in twelve-thousand years. If you don't believe me, why don't you go see for yourself?"
"Shut up!"
"There's that famous Rainbow anger. Well then, this world shall be your playground" Alice aimed her paw along the length of the canyon, to where a village was visible in the distance. Rainbow Dash grunted one more time, her wings flipping up the back of her cloak, and she leapt from the stone bridge, flying towards the village and leaving the grinning fox behind.
End Pt. 1 Ch. 3
Ch. 4 Old Friends, New Enemies
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Chapter 4: Old Friends, New Enemies
Rainbow Dash slowly made her way into the small village, passing through an archway in a brick wall that didn't cover much of the village. Before her was a wide pathway of gravel, some trees to the sides, and a short staircase down not far ahead. As she came to the steps she noticed a group of at least a dozen ponies gathered around what she knew as a mantra shrine, where they aided the military and the demigods with their prayers. The shrine was in bad shape though, leaning heavily to the left as most of its stand was rubble at this point. But the ponies kneeled, and prayed, and conversed around it as if it was a social gathering spot.
She took note of the fact this shrine was on a cliffs edge, and peered to her left to see the village itself was built along the cliff side. Looking back to the ponies, she noticed a few of them had noticed her, but none cared for very long. Rainbow's gaze shot to the sky when she heard streaks of red lightning and the thunder that followed, and all the pony folk began to panic. They knocked each other over as they ran, trying desperately to save themselves and Rainbow overheard one shout, "The Blanks are here!"
The villagers ran desperately through the fortified wooden arch way as a bell could be heard ringing in the village. One loud pony who rang the bell screamed for the entire village to hear, "Blanks! Blanks!" Rainbow lifted her cloak a bit over her mouth as she made her way into the village, cautiously so not to startle anyone. To her surprise no one seemed to notice or care about her, they were too busy panicking. The villagers turned a switch, and the door to the arch slammed shut behind her.
Rainbow looked around to see the pony folk were cowering behind anything and everything, staring at the wooden gates with fear. A loud thud caught her attention, driving it to another fortified wooden gate into the village not far away. Everyone stared at the gate with her, and a mere moment passed before the stone wall next to their wooden gateway exploded into rubble and smoke, pieces of it smashing one or two ponies, and everyone began to scream run. An ape like Blank leapt through the smoke and smashed an unfortunate male pony not far from Rainbow Dash, banging its chest triumphantly at its victim's passing.
The Blank looked around for its next victim, as its brethren swarmed the village chasing innocent pony folk everywhere. That's when it noticed Rainbow Dash, standing there unmoving and staring back at it. It howled and rushed for her, pausing before her as a pair of the other ape like Blanks joined it. Rainbow Dash glared at the creatures and said, "Twelve thousand years, and nothing has changed!" She gripped her cloak and threw it away, four more Blanks taking notice of her and all rushing to kill the odd pony out.
Rainbow Dash aura uppercut several into the air, their allies leaping at her only to be knocked away by a round house punch strong enough to send them all flying. Her blows were stronger, and easily killed the Blanks, but for every one she killed, a new one crawled from the earth to attack her. Before she could be swarmed, she ran towards one of the nearby buildings and jumped off its wall, and over the oncoming wave of ape Blanks. As she landed behind them all, there was one that still blocked her path. As it threw a punch her way, she grabbed its wrist and swung it past her, into its brethren as they turned around. They fell over like dominos, angrily crawling to their feet to charge her.
When she gained some distance from them, more emerged from the earth, a noticeable block fog when they emerged, and she was quickly surrounded by the large number of Blanks. One punched at her from behind, but she reached back and caught the attack before elbowing the beast in the gut. Rolling away from another attack, she grabbed the floor and spun with her legs out to kick a pair of Blanks in the face. One charged while she was upside down, but she grabbed its arm with her legs and flipped it over her into another as she flipped to her feet. Her fists glowed as they charged with aura, and as she spun around with outstretched arms the aura flowed from them, hitting the entire circle of beasts. When she did this a ball of energy seemed to surround her like a shield and rapidly spread outward, hitting the Blanks for an even harder blow that sent them flying backwards until they all rested on the floor, dead and slowly fading away.
A familiar noise filled Rainbow's ears as she looked to the sky, and a large military ship floated through the clouds, descending towards the village. Some of the ponies who lived in the village ran from their homes and bowed at the sight of the vessel, chanting prayers. Three flower bud like pods shot from the ship, crashing into the city grounds. One slammed carelessly into the villagers near Rainbow Dash, killing a couple of them as the others ran. The pedals opened, spun around, and slammed into the ground, revealing a group of six earth pony soldiers with pole-axe spears in a neat circle. They all shouted, "Destruction!" and leapt from the pod, surrounding Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash's hands were poised like a wild cat ready to rend its prey, when a voice came from atop the pod. "So, you have returned…" Rainbow looked up to see a muscular pegasus male with a sword in hand. He jumped from atop the pod and slammed into the ground before Dash. "Back from the dead, impure demigod, Rainbow Dash!" He swung his blade about and aimed it at her. "We shall send you back to the shadows of death along with the Blanks! Kill her!"
More ape Blanks emerged behind her, and ran past her to engage in battle with the soldiers, but Rainbow Dash and the swordsman leapt over the battle to engage each other. As the Blanks and earth pony soldiers fought below, Rainbow and the pegasus colt flew for each other. He swung his blade sideways at her, but her hand fell flat on its side as she pushed herself over it, kicking him in the face in the process. He swung at her a few times, which she easily swerved around, and then he hurled his blade at her like a javelin. She twirled, narrowly avoiding it, only to receive a punch to her gut as he dive bombed his blade, stuck in the ground below. Rainbow's back met the blades hilt on the opposite side of her body to his fist. She let off a gasp of pain, but immediately grabbed the sides of her face and slammed her forehead into it. When he stumbled back she slid past him, sweeping his legs and making him fall face first on the floor. He scrambled for his blade, while Rainbow Dash hovered off the ground, reared back, and shot towards him. By the time he began to turn around, she kicked the blade from his hands as she spun in the air, and delivered a heavy blow with her fist to the side of his face. He flew bouncing off the ground a couple times, and slammed hard into a buildings support beam upside down, sliding to the floor with a twisted neck.
When she looked back to the ship above, it was floating further over the village. She growled and gave chase, ignoring all the soldiers and Blanks around her. Meanwhile on board the ship in the captain's chair, which was shaped more like a throne, was a familiar grey pony with a blonde mane, watching everything below on a video screen the floated before her. A pair of unicorn soldiers piloted the ship, one saying over the intercom, "All ships prepare for purification!" He looked back to Derpy, who crossed her legs with an agitated look, shivering as she waved her hand dismissively saying, "Purify."
"All ships, release the Hamaya! Fire!" The bottom of the vessel opened, letting a rain of bombs fall upon the city. Blanks, soldiers, and villagers alike cried out as they were killed, Rainbow managing to remain standing.
She looked back to the ship and yelled, "What the?!" She dodged to the side as a giant muscular earth stallion landed on her position.
The soldier turned to her and grinned. "What a lucky turn to find the traitor here. Rip her apart!" Six regular earth pony soldiers landed around him and ran for Rainbow Dash, the stallion dashing towards her past them. As he swung his fist at her, she rolled under it and behind him. Leaping high off the ground, as the stallion looked back in shock, the heels of both her feet met his face and sent the much larger pony to his back. He crawled to his feet and leapt into the air, Dash keeping a close eye on him as the other soldiers approached. She smirked, flipping backwards between their ranks just in time to watch the much larger stallion smash his own allies with a body slam. Aura surged through her and she held her head in pain from the sheer amount, but she proceeded to uppercut the stallion while he rose from the ground in his gut, the aura providing enough of a punch to send him up into the air. As he fell back towards the ground, she cocked her fist back and punched forward in time to hit him and send him crashing into one of the wooden gateways to the city.
The stallion hung his head in pain, and then the earth shook shocking both of them. The gate exploded as an elephant like Blank emerged, snapping up the stallion in its trunk and throwing him in the air. It threw him skyward and caught him in its mouth, his blood gushing from him as it bit down and swallowed him whole. It roared like a trumpet as its mouth sucked in air like a vacuum, Rainbow feeling herself pulled towards the creature as she raised her arms and backed off. That's when she noticed the souls of the now dead villagers leaving their bodies and floating towards the Blank, raising her eyebrow as she watched.
Then a familiar face fell from the ship above, her gauntlet arm growing in size as she cried, "Derpy Smasher!" Her fist slammed into the elephant Blanks head, making it trumpet again and blow the souls away that it almost ate. Then the souls were sucked into Derpy's gauntlet. "Hmph… No souls will fall into the hands of the Blanks." Her gauntlet hand glowed with her yellow aura, as Derpy karate chopped the Blank she stood upon vaporizing it. Rainbow struck a battle pose as she saw this, ready for anything. Derpy rose from her kneeled position and said, "What Lady Celestia spoke of was true." Derpy's glare softened as a tear fell from her eye. "It's been a while, my old friend…"
Rainbow Dash dropped her stance and smiled, walking over to her only to receive a hug from Derpy's enlarged arms. "GYAH! Crushing! Let me go!"
Derpy dropped her and her arms shrank back to normal size. "I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, I just thought you'd never come back! Not after what they did to you!"
Smiling, Rainbow patted her head and said, "That's right, you weren't there when it happened. You weren't in on their plan were you? I assume you know all the details now?" Derpy fought back tears as she nodded. "You poor misguided girl… Tell me, what's going on? What has happened to our world? What has happened to Equestria?"
The wall eyed pony sighed and placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. "So much has happened since you were gone Rainbow Dash. What was once the eight Guard Generals is no more. We are now the Seven Deities."
"Seven Deities? Seriously?" Rainbow Dash shook her head with a groan. "And the careless slaughter of these ponies? Are you that desperate to wipe out the Blanks?"
Derpy cringed and said, "Celestia believes the best way to save the lives of her subjects is to kill them and take their souls before the Blanks can, and use them as weapons against our enemies."
Her face went pale as she heard this. "Are you serious? If we kill those we are meant to protect then we are no better than the Blanks!"
"Don't you think I know that?!" Derpy sniffled as tears flowed from her eyes. "Do you think I have a choice anymore? Do you think I like killing hundreds of innocents every day? Celestia controls us, now that we are all gods! That's one of the reasons why she had you killed Rainbow Dash. You were wild, and powerful, and you were going to achieve god status all your own! She wasn't prepared to control you, so she got rid of you before you could."
Rainbow Dash hung her head for a moment, staring at the floor. "Why are you telling me all of this? If you're stuck under Celestia's thumb, what can you gain from telling me these things? What can I do?"
"Were you listening to me?" Derpy shoved Rainbow Dash to the floor and aimed her armored finger in her face. "You are capable of becoming a god alone! You can take on and kill every last one of us!"
Her eyes went wide and she paused for a moment. "Derpy… you just said us… are you insinuating that you want me to kill you?" Derpy turned her back on Rainbow Dash and said nothing. "Why, why would you want me to kill you and all our friends?"
Derpy could be heard fighting sobs. "They took your daughter from you, and you deserve to take her back. I'll never get that opportunity, because mine is dead!" Rainbow gasped and covered her mouth. "I battle an army of Blanks just to watch them kill my little muffin, Dinky, right in front of me! And there was nothing I could do about it, all because I went along with this stupid façade! But you're not going to be able to beat them unless you can achieve that god status that lies dormant within you." Derpy turned around, her eyes red from the tears she'd shed. "We got a glimpse of it in the battle with Heartless, and now you have to achieve that again. I want you to battle me to the death! I won't hold back, so you can't either! If I kill you, just come back and fight me again, and never stop until you succeed!"
"Are you insane?! I can't kill what could possibly be the last friend I have in this world!"
The pegasus' gauntlet met dirt as Rainbow Dash flipped back out of its way. "We are no longer friends Rainbow Dash. I am a god now, and one that intends to kill you if you don't take this seriously! I want to be with my muffin, but not before I help you do what needs to be done so you can kill all those bastards who betrayed us! Now fight me!" Rainbow Dash leapt forward and punched her in the face, making her slide back. Derpy wiped her lip and smirked. "That's better…"
"TSK! You talk too much!" Rainbow returned her cocky grin. "I came back with enough anger to destroy the world. It'll be nice to have a punching bag."
"Is that what I am now?" Derpy's entire arm glowed with her aura as it grew in size, as well as her gauntlet. "Then let the battle of two pegasi's wrath begin!" She leapt at Rainbow Dash and punched a crater in the floor as Rainbow jumped over her. Dash uppercut Derpy off the floor and sucker punched her away. When she ran over to her, Derpy smacked her away with her gauntlet and leapt to her feet, slamming her fist into the ground. Instead of a missile emerging from her gauntlet like in the past though, a large ball of ki floated out and towards Dash. It was slow enough for her to dodge, but only to be smashed as Derpy fell from above and sat on her, crushing her into the ground with a grunt. "Comfy down there?"
"You cocky little-" Rainbow Dash grabbed her by her butt with both hands and threw her away. Derpy caught herself in the air with her wings, and twisted around. Her shoulder opened to fire off three missiles at Dash as she floated in a circle around her. Rainbow punched away the first two, and caught the third, throwing it at Derpy to explode and knock her from the air with a loud scream of shock and pain. Rainbow ran over and grabbed her by the face, leaping in the air to slam her back into the ground. She then dragged her along the ground as she ran towards the cliff's edge, and then skid to a halt before throwing Derpy over it.
Rainbow Dash waited a moment before taking a breath, but was interrupted by a flash of light from the cliff's edge. Suddenly, a gigantic grey hand reached over the cliff's edge, slamming into it as it pulsed with yellow aura and lifted a similarly sized gigantic Derpy, who shattered part of the edge. Rainbow Dash leapt back and stared in shock at her friend as Derpy said, "Do you see now Rainbow Dash? In the twelve thousand years since you've been gone, we've attained new heights! I can expand my limbs to epic proportions, as well as the rest of my body! This is the power they wanted your daughter, the priestess, Zap Apple for! "
Rainbow's foot slammed into the dirt as she clenched her fist, her face going from shock to anger. "My daughter… Zap Apple's power? What did they do?! Tell me what they've done with her!"
Derpy reared her arm back and said, "You'll have to make me!" Her oversized hand shot for Rainbow Dash.
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Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle all stood in a circle around Celestia on her throne. Fluttershy sighed and hugged her stuffed bunny tightly as she said, "It seems Rainbow Dash has returned to this world."
Pinkie Pie raised a brow from under her now smoothed out hair with an interested smirk. "You don't say?"
With an outraged tone, Twilight spoke up, "Preposterous! That's impossible."
A giggle came from Rarity, a scar over each of her eyes and her tongue pierced, as she waggled her finger at Twilight. "Nothing is impossible. It sounds like fun!"
"Silence!" Celestia held out her hand to quiet the group. "She is nothing but a speck of dust in the past."
"Indeed," Fluttershy added. "Our power then was nothing compared to what we are capable of now. Isn't that right Angel?" She turned the stuffed bunny towards everyone and gave it a wiggle. "She's right! We're all super tough gods now! We kick all kinds of flank!"
Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed. "To think there was a time when we actually had to exert effort to purify one large Blank… Oh, how pitiful we all once were."
Twilight got down on one knee, bowing her head before Celestia. "How shall we proceed my Lady? If it pleases you I can depart immediately to purify her."
"I've already sent Derpy. Let her take care of our old friend."
Smirking, Twilight continued, "I can imagine the look on Rainbow Dash's face now. She hasn't the slightest idea how powerless she is against us."
Everyone's attention was drawn to Pinkie, who began to laugh like a psychopath. "I think you'd be surprised."
Celestia's brow furrowed as she muttered, "Explain."
"There are no guarantees in battle. Nothing is impossible." Pinkie broke out into wild laughter again, sending a shiver up even Rarity's spine. Applejack stood there with her scarf tied over her eyes, listening silently as she stood there in the background.
End Pt. 1 Ch. 4
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Chapter 5: Hollow Victory
Derpy's gauntlet clad gigantic hand slammed down on where Rainbow Dash stood, the ground shaking as a cloud of dirt rose up around it. She closed her hand, and turned around, rearing her arm back before throwing Rainbow Dash off across the wasteland that stretched out before them. Rainbow Dash was propelled forward uncontrollably for a bit, until her back hit the ground and she began to bounce and roll. She used her wings to gain some balance, and then dug a hand and her feet into the ground, skidding to a halt.
Looking to Derpy with a grunt, she sprinted forward as fast as she could. As she ran forward and the land rushed past her, her targeting reticule appeared in her eye. "Something I learned the last time I used this mode! The more I target at once, the more powerful the cannon's blasts! Now is the perfect time to test this out!" She grinned as she made her way towards Derpy, who still stood by the cliff side watching the oncoming smaller foe. Derpy aimed the back of her gauntlet at Rainbow and began to fire off yellow ki spheres at her, bigger than Dash. Dash ran to the left of the blows and targeted a line up Derpy's gauntlet arm. "Max number is six, like the colors in a rainbow… minus indigo. Let's do this!" Her palms open and rapidly fire off a cannon blast of every color of the rainbow, which homed in on Derpy and slammed into her arm. The giant pony cringed and growled, firing off her ki blasts a little more spread. Rainbow had to jump over and roll under a couple of them before targeting various spots on her body for another cannon blast. As her cannon blast hit Derpy, one of her ki blasts hit Rainbow, and the cyan pony gasped as she felt her wings go numb from a surge of electricity flowing through her
Derpy ignored the pain, and once Dash was close enough she reared her fist back and punched the ground where she approached, sending debris from the ground flying into the air and creating a cloud of dirt. Rainbow Dash burst from the cloud of dirt straight into the air, but her wings were still numb. That's when she noticed all the debris, as well as Derpy's hand raising back from the ground. Rainbow Dash kicked off the debris, and bounced off Derpy's hand, repeating this process until she got higher and higher. She landed safely on a horizontal slab of land directly facing Derpy, and the wall-eyed giant swung at her in an attempt to grab Rainbow. But the smaller pony leapt from the slab, and jumped between anymore airborne debris she could while the giant hands grabbed for her.
She felt the shock leave her wings, and smirked as she shot off into the sky high above Derpy. She flipped backwards and gave her wings one hard flap as she dive bombed towards Derpy. The grey pony aimed her gauntlet up at her and began firing off more ki spheres, but Rainbow Dash dodged between them, all the while targeting Derpy before firing off another cannon blast to lower her guard.
It worked only briefly, as Derpy quickly composed herself and swung her left fist towards Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus managed to dodge over it, as close to it as possible without touching it, and she slapped her hands down on the giant's wrist before flipping forward a few times. She landed straight up and slid down her arm a bit. She then picked up speed by running along her arm, noticing Derpy rearing her right metal clad fist back. Rainbow Dash leapt forward and beat Derpy to the punch, slamming her fist into Derpy's face and making her rear back with a yelp. Derpy clapped her hands together above Rainbow Dash and gripped them tightly, swinging them down on her opponent. Rainbow tried blocking them, but the smack was too hard and sent her skyrocketing straight into the dirt below.
Derpy bent her knees and leapt into the sky, doing a couple of back flips of her own. She let the bottoms of her feet meet, placed her left fist in the palm of her right hand, and then she closed her eyes as she dropped straight down. Rainbow Dash blinked as her vision un-blurred, just in time to see a giant grey fundoshi clad bubble butt flying at her like a meteor. Derpy's bum slammed into the ground where Rainbow laid, a crater forming around her before she jumped back. Rainbow lay there sunk into the dirt, slack jawed and eye twitching. Derpy began punching at her, sinking her further into the ground with every strike. Dash felt her mind drift for a moment, and she could see her daughter Zap Apple cringing in pain. "Can you feel it Dash? Your daughter suffers for her gift as they use her to bring about Celestia's great rebirth! If you feel her pain and care at all about her, then do something! Unlock that power deep inside, or I'll kill you right-"
"GRAAAH!" Rainbow Dash leapt to her feet and caught Derpy's fist, shocking the girl as her speech was interrupted. As the smaller pony pushed against the fist, her aura surrounded her, until a blue gauntlet appeared on her left fist, and an orange on her right. Then four more joined the mix sprouting from her back as they pushed against the fist, glowing with energy. She roared angrily as she managed to throw Derpy, by her fist alone, off the ground and skyward.
The giant pony came back down with a slam into the ground sitting up and rubbing the back of her head. "Impressive, Dashie, but you'll have to do better! Let's see how you handle this! Get her!" The ship Derpy flew in on floated past her. Dash turned to the ship, watching it fire off fifteen missiles from the cannons on top of it, the missiles shooting up into the sky. They bunched up into groups of five, and snaked through the air as they game towards her. All six of her palms opened as she rapid fired in multiple directions, blowing up several missiles as they attempted to rain down on her, clearing a spot in the middle so the rest would explode around her. The side of the ship lit up as it fired from several dozen turrets, lasers flying at her and following her as she dodged around them.
Then, to her surprise, a pair of earth pony soldiers landed on either side of her. The one to her left took a swing, but she grabbed her weapon from her and shoved the spear tip into her foot. As she reared back in pain she yanked the blade out and gave it a twirl, swinging it at the other soldier and breaking through his hilt to slam the exe blade into him. She kicked his corpse away and back flipped over the girl, dodging more turret fire. As the lasers followed her, the mare wasn't as lucky as they blew her to smithereens.
She focused on returning the rapid fire treatment, her ki blasting into the side of the side of the ship and blowing up many turrets, but not enough to end the return fire. She noticed several more missiles coming, this time further spread out and simply aiming along the ground instead of all coming for her at once. She wasn't able to stop any with her rapid fire, so she waited for three of them that focused on her position. Four of her hands caught one, while two bumped it out of the way without the chance to explode over her left. She gave the same treatment to the second, bumping it over her right. Once she caught the third, she spun around and threw it back at the ship, bunching the back of it so it would fly fast and hard straight into it. The ship tried to fire more missiles at her, and Rainbow Dash grinned getting a little cocky now. As the missiles came, she simple uppercut them one by one out of the way, until she double punched the last one right back at the ship.
Explosions were visible on the ship as it burst into flames where the missiles hit. The ship attempted to return fire, another brave soldier landing near her as the ship fired what was left of its turrets and a few more missiles. Rainbow leapt out of the way of the turret lasers, grabbing the soldier by his face and throwing him into the missiles distracting their fire. Then her three right arms slammed together at the base of their palms, opening to form one big cannon. She fired one shot at the ship, and when it made contact several explosions began to blow throughout the ship. Pieces of the ship fell as it began to fall from the sky, floating past Derpy who watched this in awe, looking back to Rainbow Dash as her ship exploded in the background behind her.
The two of them stared at each other, one on one now, for a long quiet moment. The two of them smirked, Derpy rushing to her right, and Rainbow to her left, as they ran alongside each other. Dash was fast as expected, keeping pace with her giant opponent easily. She targeted up the length of Derpy's body, and fired off a cannon blast from each hand, the blasts much larger and faster now. They slammed into Derpy, knocking her off her feet, but as she floated in the air she fired off a few large yellow ki balls of her own. Rainbow jumped and dodged around them as they exploded into the ground around her. As they ran, the ruins of the past came between them. Random pillars and titled pieces of what was once walls blocked a few of Rainbow's cannon blasts, but Derpy launched a set of missiles that went around them and closed in on Dash as she kept moving forward. The cyan pony leapt and twirled in the air dodging between most, but delivered a kick to one sending it soaring back into Derpy.
The big grey pony stumbled with a loud yelp of pain, and she growled as she fired off twice as many missiles. Rainbow Dash rapid fired most of the missiles down, making the remaining few pose no threat to her speed as she continued to fire into Derpy. One missile surprised her, but she managed to catch it and throw it back to Derpy, who blocked it with her gauntlet and fired a couple more of her own ki blasts at Dash. While Rainbow Dash dodged these the large pony fired off another barrage of missiles, knowing her friend wouldn't have time to fire them down. But Rainbow Dash saw them coming and jumped on top of one, bouncing off it and through most of the others. She delivered and upward and downward punch to knock away a pair of missiles, and grabbed another before she hit the ground sliding. She jumped, span, and threw and kicked the missile at the same time, sending it hurtling into Derpy who didn't have time to block the speedy missile, making her stumble and groan again.
Rainbow's aura glowed around her as she leapt into the air, taking flight as she arched in the air towards Derpy, who leapt towards Rainbow Dash doing the same. Derpy swung her hand down to swat Rainbow like a fly, but the tomboy caught her by her finger. Swinging with all her might, she spun Derpy in a circle around her, straight into the sky. Derpy caught herself with her wings, and reared her fist back as it charged with aura. "Derpy Smasher!" She dashed towards her friend, Rainbow Dash returning the charge with a sonic rainboom that shattered many nearby ruins. Derpy's gauntlet met Rainbow's three armored right fists, a shockwave forming as neither budged in their advance initially. Soon Rainbow's force from her rainboom proved too much however, and as Derpy's arm began to twitch, it shot backward and out of the way. Dash continued forward though, slamming into Derpy's midriff and pushing through so hard, she could be seen visibly trying to push through Derpy's back! Derpy gasped and her tongue hung out as the wind was knocked out of her, and rainbow trail flowing from the dent in her gut as Rainbow Dash continued pushing forward, the giant ponies skin stretching like as if it was made of clay or rubber. Rainbow growled as she pushed with all her might, and once she'd reached as far as she wanted, she froze.
Like a slingshot, Derpy fired off into the sky and vanished from sight in a mere second, pushing the clouds aside as she went screaming into space. As Derpy left the planet's atmosphere, Rainbow landed with a stomp and a grunt on the ground, looking up with a raised brow at what she had done. As Derpy finally slowed to a float, holding her midriff as her eyes squinted. "Color me impressed Rainbow Dash. You've truly surpassed your own levels from the past. Now it's time to move on to the final stage, your final test! You must beat me at full power! The power of a god! Mantra reactor, release!" Her eyes glowed and her aura swirled around her. "I call upon the power of the Mantra!" Glowing yellow marking appeared all over her body as her aura flowed from her body in a massive way that filled the space around her and far beyond it.
A ball of light that could be compared in size to the planet itself formed, and from it emerged a planet sized Derpy, coursing with aura and covered in markings. She glared down at the planet and said, "I am Derpy of the seven deities. I have become an absolute being meant to protect this world and its mortals." She holds out her left palm in a stance and rears her right hand back balling it into a fist. "Rainbow Dash, if you cannot survive this next attack, then you will never save your daughter! Don't have what it takes? Then DIE!" She punched forward, fire flaming around her knuckles as she pushed through the atmosphere.
Rainbow Dash went wide eyed as she saw this, but she refused to die now. She stretched and wiggled her fingers before balling all six hands into fists. She stretched out her right leg and stomped it into the ground, and then her left leg. She outstretched all six arms ready to catch the fiery continent sized fist and smirked as she screamed in a cocky tone, "Come at me, bro!" When the fist got close enough she reared all her arms down, and then slammed them up into the fist, sparks flying as metal met metal and the fist came to a stop. Her knees and elbows bent as she was pushed down, the wasteland burning up to look like the aftermath of a volcano. Fire and aura trailed up Derpy's fist as shockwaves flowed from where her fist was stopped, visible for even Derpy who gazed down at the planet from space.
While she stood there trying to hold the fist back with all her might, memories came back to Rainbow Dash. She remembered Luna dead on the floor, soldiers surrounding and assaulting her, Big Mac, Zap Apple, all her friends' betrayals, and even Celestia killing her as she said, "Your death will be the foundation of my new world!" She remembered holding her husband as he died, she remembered when she died, and she remembered the sorrow of her daughters face.
Rainbow's eyes shot open wide, and the land shook as well as Derpy's fist. "I… remember everything…! I won't let you keep me from those monsters!" Rainbow roared and made Derpy go wide eyed in shock, as Rainbow furiously barraged the fist above her with a flurry of punches. The spot where she focused her punches sparked non-stop and began to glow red. Three of Rainbow's arms shattered to pieces, but she just screamed with anger and didn't stop, not letting up even for a moment! Two more shattered, and that's when Rainbow slid her foot along the ground and held up last hand. Even her main left arm was reduced to a stump sparking with circuits and electricity, but she ignored everything as she charged aura in her last hand. Her arm and fist coursed with all the colors of the rainbow, and she reared it back and howled one last time before slamming it straight upward into the fist above her head. A shockwave coursed through Derpy's fist, and red rapidly spread through it as it began to bubble. Following all this was a rapid disintegration, and it all spread up Derpy's entire fist, to her arm, to her face. Derpy let loose one last scream of pain as her entire body was engulfed, before she exploded in a ring of fire that sprayed out away from the planet.
***************************************
Twilight gasped and bit her thumb hard enough to draw blood. "Impossible! How could Derpy lose to HER? She has brought shame to the seven deities!"
A yawn came from Fluttershy as she lay on her side in mid air as if it were a bed, using her bunny doll like a pillow. "In all honesty, I'm not surprised. Derpy was the weakest among us, after all."
Pinkie huffed and said, "That's because size doesn't equal power. She had a weak will from the beginning. Never really fit in with the rest of us."
Opening one eye, Fluttershy stated, "In any case, the real problem is the fact that fat idiot wasted a significant amount of mantra, an amount that took us a long time to accumulate."
"That idiot," Applejack mumbled loud enough to be heard.
Celestia waved her hand to silence them and said, "Our cause will not waver because of something as trivial as this."
Pinkie giggled and grinned. "Who cares about the cause? I'll kill her for fun!"
"Not so fast!" Celestia pointed to Pinkie. "A large Blank has appeared on the surface. With Derpy gone, I need someone to handle it."
Pinkie's eye twitched irately. "Then have someone handle it. I only follow what my blade thirsts for."
"Oops." They both looked to Rarity, who said, "While you two were arguing, Applejack went after Rainbow Dash herself." She giggled mischievously.
Pinkie huffed again and pouted. "I guess that could be fun to watch."
***************************************
One orange armored right fist stood facing the sky as it rained meteors. Unfortunately this fist was lodged in the ground not far from Rainbow Dash, who lay on her face in the dirt. She looked up to the sky and gasped as she saw Derpy falling from the heavens. She tried to stand, but her lack of arms and energy kept her fumbling forward like a caterpillar. She could only watch as Derpy crashed into the earth before her.
She shuffled forward until she reached her friends side, who now lay there in the dirt. "Derpy! Please don't die! Be alive!"
The grey ponies eyes slowly opened and she looked at Rainbow with a giggle. "Damn Rainbow Dash… you punched me so hard my eyes went straight."
Rainbow blinked as she noticed her eyes had in fact gone back to normal. She chuckled and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "I was only able to punch that hard because you pushed me Derpy. I never would've believed I was capable of what I just did."
Derpy laughed weakly. "Maybe one day, someone will punch your eyes back to normal too you zombie." Both girls giggled, but then Derpy frowned. "Rainbow Dash, I'm barely holding on. I want to tell you something before I die."
"No! Please don't talk like that Derpy! You're all I have now, hold on!"
"You knew this would happen! Now grant me my final words!" Rainbow cringed as tears flowed from her eyes now, biting her lower lip as she nodded weakly. "Rainbow Dash, before I die I wanted you to know… I always… loved you." She held two fingers to her own lips, kissing them and then placing them against Rainbow Dash's who starred in shock. "Good bye and good luck."
As Derpy's hand fell lifeless, Dash wanted to catch it. She threw herself on her friend and screamed. She didn't know she could still cry, and she lay there still even after Derpy vanished forever. "Why are you here, Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow's eyes went wide, and her teeth grit at the familiar voice. "I reckon you don't even know what you want any more sugar cube. You already failed once at living… You're a fool." Her foot steps could be heard approaching. "After you're dead, next time, don't come back." Rainbow Dash shot her gaze up, as standing before her was her sister-in-law, Applejack.
End Pt. 1 Ch. 5
Ch. 6 Confessions of a Mask
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 1: Suffering
Chapter 6: Confessions of a Mask
Staring down at her shattered friend, dark clouds storming with lightning above and the area surrounded by pools of lava, Applejack raised her hand in the air and it began to glow blue with aura. "I reckon this is for your own good sugar cube." Rainbow Dash growled and flapped her wings once hard to push her off her ground and to her feet, shocking Applejack. "So you can still stand eh?"
Sparks popped from Rainbow's arm stumps as she panted, glaring at her friend. "Applejack… So you can see me huh? Is that some sort of ninja technique that lets you see through that scarf you use like a mask?"
Applejack stood there unfazed, and ignored her question. "Why have you come back?" Rainbow growled and ran forward. AJ chopper her in her side of her head with her left hand, spinning around to deliver an aura enhanced underhand chop with her right that sent Rainbow back. She easily caught herself though and slid to a stop. She ran back over and slammed her left knee into the country pony, breaking her guard with her arms. She then slammed her right knee into her chest, and while she was taken aback by this she slammed her forehead into Applejack. As she went for a kick, AJ grabbed her ankle and said, "Do you wish to clear your name, you two timing pole cat?" A blue aura katana appears in her right hand and she swings underhand at Dash, he pulls her foot free and dodges. "Avenge your husband?" AJ karate chopped Rainbow in the head downward, and as her face got close to the floor AJ kicked her in it and sent her bouncing backwards across the ground. "Take back your daughter?
Rainbow Dash throws herself at her friend and sister, slamming her foot into her gut. Apple gasps and teleports to Rainbow's side, throwing a swing at her which Rainbow dodges under. "It's pointless to resist! You lost twelve thousand years ago! That was your fate, leave it at that!"
The tomboy ignores her friend as she slams her head into her gut, costing her more breath. She then leaps up in time to dodge a double karate chop, and lands behind AJ. She proceeds to alternate feet as she mercilessly kicks the country pony in the butt, making her stumble forward with a confused blush. "Even without arms I can easily 'kick your butt'!"
Fed up, Applejack twists around for a kick, and her leg meets Rainbow's. "There's no longer a place for you in this world!" She throws her other foot straight up into her opponents chin, sending Dash straight up into the air. The pegasus caught herself and dive bombed, her forehead meeting the earth ponies, both unmoving as they growled at each other. "Do you realize Derpy wasted hundreds of millions of souls just to fight you? No, I suppose not. You're not familiar with our way of life. Because of this, your existence threatens everything we have worked for!" Rainbow Dash reared back and round house kicked Applejack to the face knocking her off her feet, and then stomping her feet into the ground and bending her body back, she slammed her forehead into Applejack and sent her flipping and rolling backwards this time. She teleported behind Dash and held an aura blade to her neck as she grabbed her. "You're an evil that will throw our world into chaos!"
Rainbow Dash reached her foot behind Applejack's legs and swept them before twisting around and giving her a good punt as she fell sideways. AJ caught herself though and slid to a stop, standing straight and folding her arms as she took a deep breath. Dash ran over and slammed a foot into her stomach, but her foot met abs of steel and her leg twitched as she looked at the unfazed earth pony. Dash flipped back off her chest, and then began to deliver kicks left and right, which Applejack sidestepped easily as she backed away. She jumped into the air to bring her forehead down on her opponent, but the orange pony smirked and slid to the side to avoid Rainbow's blow. Her foot slid against the ground as she quickly twisted around and leapt towards AJ with an upturned knee and cried, "Liar!"
Applejack moved to the side again, and watched as Rainbow Dash stumbled forward and fell flat on her face. "Pathetic. Look at you. You can't hurt me."
Twisting around to face her cocky foe, Rainbow growled and shouted, "I'll rip that scarf you use like a mask off-" She spread her legs and dashed forward with a leg reared back. "-your arrogant face!" She did a quick spin for momentum, and her heel met the side of Applejack's face so hard you could hear bones cracking in her jaw.
Applejack kept her arms crossed as she muttered, "Your attacks aren't worth avoiding." She grabbed Rainbow's leg, and threw her in the air spinning. When she came back down, she slammed her elbow with some aura backing it up into the annoyed pegasus, knocking the wind out of her as she slid backwards across the ground on her butt. She tried to get back on her feet, but wobbled and fell to her knees. Applejack charged aura in her hand again, and almost seemed to float over she moved so fast. But Dash fell back, grabbing her with her legs and pulling her to the ground, AJ's attack hitting the air by her head. Rainbow Dash pressed her forehead against her friend's with a smirk before stomping her in the gut to send her flying off her. Applejack landed safely on the ground and said, "You won't interfere partner!"
"Speak sense!" Rainbow took to the air and threw a few kicks around, showing off a little before she dive bombed both feet into Applejack hard enough to make her hit the ground and bounce off it.
As she gasped for air from the blow, Applejack managed to mutter, "Things have changed!"
Rainbow Dash juggled her forward on her knees and said, "Nothing has changed!" She twirled and kicked AJ away, who teleported to redirect herself at Dash.
Both her hands glowed with blue aura as she brought them in for scissor chop to the fallen friend's chest. Even after slamming them into her she pushed her back and said, "How would you, the fallen, know?" She stopped and kicked Rainbow with aura in her feet, knocking the girl off her own before spin kicking her away.
Rainbow rolled to her feet and ran back relentless. "I'll kill you!"
"Death didn't teach you anything!" The undersides of her wrists popped open, and she laid her hand flat aiming it at Rainbow Dash. A curved ki wave flew from the compartment, immediately growing as big as her as it flew forward past her hand. She fired off several of these like shuriken, watching as Rainbow jumped, hovered, and ran between the rapid fire ki. Her fist glowed with aura, as the two of them ran towards each other, kicking, punching, and head-butting each other as the danced about each other's attacks furiously. Rainbow Dash flew far away from Applejack, before landing with a sprint, gaining a running start before she kicked her in her side. AJ took a deep breath and endured the blow, watching Rainbow leg twitched as it once again met steel like abs. "You're only doing harm to yourself sugar cube." She grips Rainbow's ankle and lifts her in the air, roaring as she charged her palm with aura, and bitch slapped Dash hard enough to make her fly back and skid across the ground on her head. "Enough. We are bringing salvation to Equestria, and all of Gaea. There's nothing you can do." Rainbow Dash leapt to her feet, panting as she glared at Applejack. Applejack tips her hat and goes on to say, "As priestess, Zap Apple has dedicated herself to the salvation of our world. You should be proud."
"What did you say?" Rainbow's eye twitched as she stared at the floor. "Be proud… of Zap Apple suffering?!"
Applejack walked towards her and said, "Yes, and I'll say it again! Your daughter is devoted to the cause in order to save the world!"
"Who do you think you are?!"
Applejack crossed her arms and coldly stated, "God."
Rainbow's entire body trembled with anger. She stomped her foot into the ground hard enough to kick up the dirt, and flew towards her Applejack screaming her name loudly.
"What the hay?" Applejack stated as Rainbow Dash flew forward too fast for her to react, her forehead meeting the oncoming pony's as she was pushed back a little from the blow. Her eyes widened from under the mask as she realized Dash has focused aura in her forehead, and as it was let loose in the blow shooting through Applejacks face and kicking up dirt and lava alike behind her before crashing into a rock and making it explode, a shockwave erupted around the from the attack. Applejack flew back, letting Rainbow fall to the ground still sliding forward, and the cowboy ninja's scarf gently fell to the floor before her. Applejack slid to a halt, using a hand to help slow her down.
She slowly looked up at her friend with eyes filled with sorrow and pain. Rainbow Dash grinned with one eye clenched shut and said, "You're as ugly as ever."
"So is your temper. But…" Applejack slowly walked back over, Rainbow wiggling and shifting up to her knees. "…before the cause…." She raised her hand high charged with blue aura, finally ready to do what she meant to from the start of the fight. As she sliced her hand straight down the middle of Rainbow Dash she yelled, "It's meaningless!" Aura exploded from the ground like a geyser in a straight line behind Rainbow Dash, cracking the land in half and exposing the lava beneath it. Rainbow Dash cried out in pain, gargling a little before she fell flat to the ground. As the ground shattered and broke around them, the part Rainbow laid upon broke and floated away across the lava as well. Applejack watched this and muttered, "Don't come back again." Rainbow's junk of land was weighed down by her, and sank into the lava, taking Rainbow with it. Applejack stared down at her scarf, and kneeled down to pick it up, watching her friend sink before she tied it back over her sorrow filled eyes. "Witness the salvation of our world from the depths of Limbo.
She turned around and took a few steps away, before leaping off into the distance. Rainbow felt her world go black as she slowly floated downwards, into the abyss.
********************************
Applejack slowly walked into the chamber where Zap Apple was kept asleep in her crystal prison. She stopped and stood there a moment. "This will be the second time we've taken your mother from you, won't it? When this is all over, you have the right to take my life. And I'll accept death gladly. But for now, you'll have to wait."
She looked around at the chamber that flowed with mantra, channeled by her. "This is the only way. We need your power. The world needs it. Heartless is constantly unleashing Blanks upon the world. If we don't have Mantra to fight against them, there isn't any hope for civilization. Your power to amplify mantra is our sword and shield sugar cube. We can't bring salvation to our world without you."
She turned away with a strained sigh. "Rainbow Dash… Why do you choose not to listen to reason? Zap Apple is essential to the cause. Once we defeat Heartless, Zap Apple and the world will be saved. Stubborn fool…" A tear fell from under her scarf as she walked away.
END PART 1: SUFFERING
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 2: Rebirth
Chapter 7: A Mother's Duty
Rainbow slowly awoke to the calm silence of Limbo, hanging by one arm from the same tower she found herself on her first visit. Her vision was blurred a little and she felt dizzy, but she could hear voices above her. She gazed up to see the pony she'd met before, Alice, talking to a green pony with an even deeper shade of green for his messy mane, and a pair of draconic wings on his back. His eyes were green and his pupils were red and blue balance symbols. He dressed a little more casually than her with blue jeans and a teal T-shirt with a red X on it.
The green pegasus pony crossed his arms and said, "You play a dangerous game here. What do you hope to gain out of this? Can you not see how this will backfire?"
"I only see potential," Alice responded with a glare. "She's just what I need. Her wrath shall change her world. Don't try and stand in my way Xam."
"I won't, but when all of this blows up in your face, I'll be there to drag you to your fate. You know the consequences of abusing my dimension, as well as others."
"Pft! Whatever…" Xam shook his head and took off from the side of the tower, flying down into the foggy abyss. Rainbow watched him go, and when he was no longer visible, she looked back up to see a familiar blonde furred vixen waggling her tail as she sat on the side of the tower looking Rainbow in the eyes through her small glasses. She gave the glasses a nudge and said, "We meet again. So, what now? You are a demigod just as they are, you know. If you can accept their actions, perhaps you should let go and allow your soul to be judged by Limbo." Rainbow grunted and reached her second hand up, pulling upward and beginning to climb. Alice scurried alongside her and said, "You choose to move forward? This is exactly why your soul will never belong to the Blanks, or the Seven Deities. There is a great power hidden in you, one I've been looking for. So, Celestia is to bring salvation to Equestria, to all of Gaea. But it seems she can't do it without your daughter's power.
Rainbow Dash froze in her climb and stared at the wall before her for a moment. She muttered under her breath, "Zap Apple…"
"Now, remember why you're here in the first place. It will spur you on, girl! Fuel the fire of your rage!"
Rainbow Dash made her way forward, glaring at a large group of ape Blanks, with a gorilla Blank in their ranks. The area was dry like a savannah, the trees lacked foliage, and there were rocks about stacked upon each other. The gorilla stood atop the highest one like a general and roared at Rainbow Dash as the many apes began to surround her. Rainbow Dash wasted no time in slamming the back of her arm into a pair that got too close, and she rushed forward to uppercut another. She roared and spun around, releasing her aura to not only knock away the airborne ape, but to smack away all of his allies.
As what little of them that survived the blow began to climb back to their feet, Rainbow hurried over and made short work of them with her fists. Enraged by this, the Gorilla leapt from his high place as more ape Blanks rose from the ground. He slapped both hands downward towards Dash, but she easily flipped back out of the way before slamming her knee into his face. This knocked him off the floor, and she grabbed him by his ankle and swung him into some of the smaller apes as they approached. She grabbed held out her hand charging aura into it, using her other hand to hold her head as the sheer force it took to accomplish this showed in her face while she grit her teeth. She thrust her fist skyward, and her aura sent the entire group upward with a powerful blast as if a giant ghost fist had emerged from the floor beneath them.
She screamed to the heavens and a blast of aura emerged from her body like a shockwave, spreading out in a massive explosion the wiped out the ape like Blanks. As she pants to regain her breath, the ground began to shake, causing her to search for the source. An Elephant like Blank erupted from the rocky walls, raising its foot high in the air to stomp down on her. Rainbow flipped backwards and spun like a gyro ball before landing on her feet facing the beast. The Blank trumpeted in an intimidating manner, swinging it's trunk about, but Rainbow Dash simply took a fighting stance ready to keep going.
Rainbow started by firing ki blasts from her palms at the creature, which was responded with another stomp of its mighty foot. The pegasus easily flew over the shockwave and dive bombed into the foot, punching it hard enough to make the tusked creature rear it's foot back in pain. Its trunk glowed red as it lobbed a blast of energy at Rainbow. She flew to the side, watching as it exploded on contact with the floor. While the cyan pony was distracted though, the Blank raised both its feet high in the air before slamming them into the ground. This created a giant shockwave that hot Rainbow Dash in mid-air, sending her flying backwards and into the rocks.
The Blank continued its attack by lobbing several more explosive blasts of energy at Rainbow, but the pony wasn't down and out yet. She leapt off the rocks to avoid the attacks, and rushed back towards the beast as she dodged around its continued assault. The Blank reared back like before, and sent another large shockwave at Dash, but this time she shot into the air far over the blast and the elephant Blank. She then dive bombed towards the beast with her fist reared back, punching it hard enough to break off one of its tusks.
As the tusk hit the dirt, the Blank angrily tried to stomp Rainbow Dash, only to have her leap back out of its way. Rainbow skid to a halt and looked up at the beat, both opponents glaring at each other as the elephant began to twirl its trunk. It then swung it's trunk down at Rainbow Dash, which she dodged to the side of, but as it made contact with the earth it tore it up and made much of the surrounding earth spike from the ground, which in turn hit Rainbow Dash and sent her twirling to the side with a loud cry of pain. The elephant Blank swung at her from the side with its trunk. Rainbow managed to push herself off the ground and over it, and as the trunk came back she rolled under it. She then made her way towards the demon, and as it swung at her again, she leapt over the trunk and gave the beast a good punch.
The Blank trumpeted angrily and leapt back, spraying from its trunk something similar to the dark blasts as before, only now it was like a concentrated beam. It swung its trunk and the beam cut through the area's stones, but Rainbow Dash took flight over the blast. The Blank and Dash both reared back and charged each other, but a powerful punch from Dash to the beast's forehead stopped it dead in its tracks. It shook its head and cried at Rainbow, smacking her back to the ground with its trunk.
Rainbow Dash rushed back towards the Blank by foot. The Blank swung at her with its trunk, but she slid under it on her knees and then jumped off the floor, landing on the elephant's face. She flapped her wings hard, her eyes went wide, and her teeth grinded together as she swung with all her might to send the large heavy creature spinning into the sky before dashing after it. Pinkie Pie arrived on the scene with a stretch, and looked up with a rather surprised expression to see a large elephant Blank falling directly towards her, with an angry Rainbow Dash close on its trail.
When the creature got close enough, Pinkie flicked it with her finger, and it bounced over her like a beach ball. She blinked seeing Rainbow Dash was still coming, her expression like a wild animal out of control. Pinkie grinned with open arms accepting this, and reared a fist back, as did Rainbow Dash. As they got close to each other, Rainbow's fist met Applejack's palm as she leapt between them with a sour expression. Rainbow snapped out of it, just in time to be flipped over their heads like the Blank before her, making Pinkie pout a little as she watched her spin away.
Rainbow Dash landed with a loud thud on her back, and Applejack turned back to her to say, "Control yourself!"
Pinkie placed her hands on her hips and broke into wild laughter. "Immersing yourself in battle like that? Well done, Rainbow Dash!"
Applejack rolled her eyes with a sigh, and made her way over to Rainbow Dash who was pulling herself to her feet. "Now that y'all have something to protect, why are you so full of rage?" She offered her hand to help Rainbow up. "Or, perhaps that's exactly why." Rainbow Dash scoffed, looking away.
"Something to protect?" Pinkie Pie started, clenching a fist. "Don't be a silly filly! The only reason to fight is the fight itself."
The two other ponies stared at her for a moment, till Applejack said, "That's so like you Pinkie. We've cleared this area of Blanks. Let's return to Canterlot."
She placed a hand on Rainbow's shoulder, only to have it quickly swatted away. Rainbow muttered, "Right," before she began to walk off ahead of her friends, several dead elephant Blanks strewn through the background behind them as they began to disintegrate.
Back at home, Rainbow Dash entered her house to see Big Macintosh cradling her baby in his arms. He gently rocked her back and forth and said, "Zap Apple, your mother is home. Welcome home, dear."
Rainbow wrapped an arm around his waist with a soft smile and said, "Thanks." The filly opened her eyes and smiled seeing her mother, reaching out to her.
In the doorway to their house leaned Applejack, Pinkie standing at her side. The pink pony crossed her arms and said, "So, that's what she has to protect?"
Applejack nodded and said, "Eyup, though you might not understand why." They both looked shocked as they heard the baby pony begin to whine, gazing over to see Rainbow trying rather pathetically to rock her daughter in her own arms. She bounced up and down and wiggled her back and forth, looking rather distressed before she quickly handed her back to Big Mac. She pouted and marched past him, Big Mac watching her go with a sigh. "Big Mac."
The stallion looked to see Applejack approach and said, "Little sis…"
"She almost looks scared of her."
Big Mac shook his head and said, "She just doesn't know what to do when she starts crying."
Applejack gently rubbed her niece's forehead and said, "Then she should pacify her."
"Her?" Big Mac had a good chuckle at the thought as they both watched Rainbow Dash march off.
Rainbow Dash made her way down the street, thinking quietly to herself. She stopped as blocking her path were her friends: Rarity, Derpy, and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash glared at them and muttered, "Move."
Rarity rubbed her chin and smirked. "Not bad, Rainbow Dash. That uncontrollable rage of yours suits you well." She glanced at the others, receiving a nod from them before they stepped aside, Rarity offering her the right of way. "See what I mean?"
Unsure how to react to this, Rainbow Dash simply shot each of them a final glare before walking past them. Derpy rushed after her and said, "Rainbow Dash, join us. If we worked together, we could more effectively exterminate the Blanks…"
"Don't test me." Rainbow's sharp words froze Derpy in her tracks, her ears folding back as she watched her friend walk off.
Fluttershy quietly stated, "You are aware Zap Apple is the only suitable vessel to become priestess?" This froze Rainbow Dash in her tracks this time. "Raise her with care." She wiggled her Angel doll and said in her ventriloquist voice, "As incompetent as you may be dummy head!" Fluttershy snickered, as Rainbow scoffed at her and continued to march off.
Rainbow Dash snapped back to reality and continued her climb. Alice continued to follow alongside her and said, "Well you certainly are incompetent. I wager this is one of your more charming features, aside from your flank. At least we know now the source of the flame that burns in your soul. In other words, you-"
"Stop…"
Alice stopped when she saw Rainbow stopped and crawled in close. "Hm? What was that?"
Images flooded into Rainbow's head of her daughter Zap Apple as a baby, crying. She held her head and said, "The… crying! Stop it!" She slammed her fist on the tower as more images came to her of her husband's smiling face.
Alice blinked in confusion and said, "Crying? What do you mean? I'm not crying."
Rainbow Dash's visions continued in her head. She could see Big Mac holding their baby in his arms. She reaches out to Zap Apple, only to receive more cries, making her hesitate as Big Mac tried to nuzzle her. Rainbow Dash screamed to the sky in frustration with these visions. Big Mac smiled at her in her vision and said, "Even one of the Eight Guardian Generals is no match for her own daughter, is she?"
Rainbow Dash looked at her hand and said, "She's… so small…"
Her husband chuckled and said, "Do you know what I think? I believe that you only wish the best for our daughter."
Rainbow Dash griped the tower and leapt forward, skyrocketing and making Alice spiral off to the side with a yelp. The vixen surprisingly caught up, scurrying as fast as she could at the enraged pony's side, listening to her growl and grunt as she climbed. "Why? Why are you so full of rage, Rainbow Dash? Where does this wrath come from?"
Rainbow Dash no longer climbed, but ran. She ran sideways up the tower at full speed, performing a sonic rainboom as she shot forward with a colorful trail in her wake. She screamed angrily as she rushed for the top as fast as she could.
A great stone stood in the middle of an open area, atop a stone rise surrounded by a bottomless foggy abyss with only a single bridge leading to the shrine at the base of this stone. The surrounding walls were snowy, as was the shrine itself. A single wooden table, along with several vases filled with plants that could survive the harsh temperatures, all lay at the foot of the stone. A single young pony girl kneeled before the shrine, the baby filly strapped to her chest beginning to cry. She stood up and began to cradle the filly, singing a little lullaby to calm her.
She set a single flower on the table, and smiled up at the stone. Lodged in a crack down the middle of the stone was the image of Rainbow Dash, trapped by magma. Her people brought the stone here and created this shrine seven hundred years ago, always believing in Rainbow Dash's protection amongst the other so called gods.
She bowed to the stone that was believed to be Rainbow's grave, her baby continuing to wine and cry. As the baby went on, the pony noticed something odd. The statue of Rainbow Dash trapped in the stone began to glow, and she stared at this with a gasp.
Rainbow Dash was at dinner with her husband, her sister in law, and her daughter. Big Mac smirked and said, "I hear you made quite the impression in the last battle."
Gulping down some food, Rainbow Dash muttered, "Is that so?"
Big Mac nodded and gave her a wink. "Zap Apple was praying for you the whole time."
Zap Apple giggled and said, "Did you hear my prayers mom?"
"I did," Rainbow Dash answered. "I felt your presence with me the whole time."
Big Mac crossed his arms and said, "So you didn't think of me at all, hmm?"
Rainbow Dash blushed and began to stutter, "N-No, I m-meant…"
"Oh mom." Zap Apple had a giggle fit.
A unicorn soldier walked in, and Rainbow Dash scowled and stood up. "General Rainbow Dash! The next priestess has been chosen."
Rainbow's brow only furrowed further. "What?"
"General Rainbow Dash's daughter, Zap Apple, is to be priestess. Congratulations general."
Rage showed on her face as she stood there quietly for a moment. She slammed her fist on the table and marched for the door as she said, "I won't allow it!"
Zap Apple rushed after her and said, "But why, mom?!"
She glared back at her daughter and said, "I won't have you become a tool for war!"
"If it will give me the power to protect you I'll gladly become priestess!"
"But…"
Applejack took her sister in-law's shoulder and said, "Zap Apple is gifted with the power to save the world, sugar cube. She could be the key in eradicating the Blanks."
Rainbow Dash smacked her arm away and said, "Shut up!"
As the angry pony walked off, Applejack said, "Rainbow, wait! Where y'all going?"
Rainbow Dash didn't answer, she just walked off as she thought to herself, "Nothing good will come of this… I just know it."
Her vision slowly faded away, as the only thing she could see now was the ceiling to Limbo she approached.
End Pt. 2 Ch. 7
Rainbow's Wrath
Part 2: Rebirth
Chapter 8: Willing Sacrifices
The young mare continued to stare at the statue of Rainbow Dash as its eye lit up, backing away as her filly continued to whine and cry in her arms. The large stone began to shake and crack as more markings glowed on the statue, with a loud mare's yelling slowly building up as it echoed through the area. Then the stone prison shattered to pieces as Rainbow Dash burst forth, alive once again. Her aura radiated about her as she stood before the young mare, who had fallen back in surprise from this emergence, and stared at the god she'd prayed to for years. Rainbow's aura faded slowly as she panted, slowly looking at her hands surprised she was alive. She clenched her fists to test her joints, when she heard her name called and looked to the village pony. She said to the mare, "Where… am I…?" The mare tilted her head in confusion, and upon closer inspection, Rainbow Dash realized the mare looked just like, "Zap Apple…?"
The girl blinked and said, "Zap Apple? My name is Lola Artery." She looked around and saw the flower she'd left on the table. She grabbed it and held it out to Rainbow Dash. "Peace be with you, lord Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow Dash stared at the flower for a moment, before the area began to quake again. Lightning stroked in the sky, and the baby began to cry again, causing Rainbow Dash to raise a brow as she realized where the baby cries she'd heard came from. Lola dropped the flower and looked terrified, holding her baby close as she jumped down from the shrine. Ape Blanks fell from the sky and landed before her, blocking her path to the stone bridge as they howled at her. A gorilla Blank leapt from the nearby rocks and grabbed the poor mare, running off with her. It howled back at the smaller apes as it rushed off, and Rainbow Dash watched this with an angry glare.
She pumped her fists back and shot forward, punching two in the face hard enough to send them flying off. Two more tried to block her path, but she leapt in the air and did a split kick to the sides of their faces, sending them over the edges of the bridge and falling into the abyss. She reached the end of the short bridge, a staircase lead down to an opening in the surrounding rock walls, obviously the path to the village where Lola had been taken. Five ape Blanks tried to block her path, but she dive bombed down to them, smashing one into the ground. She grabbed two by the backs of their heads and slammed their faces together rapidly until they could no longer stand. As she dropped the lifeless beasts to disintegrate, one swung at her back. She twisted around and kicked his arm away, before stomping it in the side and sending it slamming back into the stairs. The last leapt at her, but she slid under it and grabbed its ankle. She then twirled the poor creature above her head before tossing it down into the abyss.
Rainbow Dash wiped her hands clean, and sprinted off after the gorilla Blank that made off with Lola. When she got to the village, she saw it was built into the sides of a snowy mountain valley, several passages with pillars keeping them up, and bridges reached from one side to the other. The cry of a pair of large bird Blanks could be heard as they flew near her, off to terrorize the valley, and that's when she saw the gorilla holding Lola under its arm. It howled at her angrily and rushed away, Rainbow quickly giving chase.
Her palms opened, and she shot her ki rapid fire at the creature as it twisted and turned through the village. They ran by homes in the walls, and over bridges. The Blank through balls of dark energy on the floor to slow Rainbow down, but she easily swerved around them and jumped over them. As she rapid fired the creature, she noticed it beginning to slow down, and when she got the chance she gave it a good punch in the back. The creature leapt forward but continued its pace, refusing to stop as it ran up stairs and between narrow rock walls. As they passed a wooden fence built along the Cliffside, the creature noticed lots of laundry hung up to dry. It leapt up and gave the ropes a swipe, and Rainbow Dash was bombarded with clothes. She quickly threw it off, blushing in confusion as a pair of panties was on her face. She tossed it aside, and sprinted even faster after the Blank.
Rainbow then saw an opportunity, and dashed across the canyon, landing on a wall along the gorilla's path. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as the creature turned to look at her, only to have her leap forward with a powerful punch to its face. It flew over the edge, Lola flying from his arms, who Rainbow Dash quickly caught and found a safe place to land down below. She found herself in the main part of the village, a large town square surrounded by large building and gates, as well as ponies running about screaming in terror as Blanks attacked them.
One stallion fell to his knees and prayed, as villagers and Blanks rushed past him. He stayed like that, until the giant foot of a Blank that looked like an alligator snapping turtle smashed him. Rainbow Dash set Lola down and patted her shoulder, walking toward the giant Blank as it roared.
It charged at Dash, and she rolled to the side avoiding its snapping maw. It gave chase, Rainbow swerving out of the way as it crashed into a wall. The turtle's back spikes lit up, and began to fire dark energy blasts upward. They're shadows covered the ground as Rainbow Dash dodged between them, punching at the creature's soft underside. The Blank withdrew into its shell, and began to spin rapidly, abruptly slamming into Dash and sending her flying away. She flipped to her feet, watching the creature spin around the area before coming to a stop and poking back out of its shell.
Rainbow Dash made her way towards the Blank, which tried to stomp on her. She caught the foot and pushed it off herself, flying into its face and grabbing its upper jaw. She dragged its head backwards, its neck could be heard cracking, and landing on its shell before punching it in the face. The creature went limp on the floor from her punch. Rainbow then landed in front of the beast, and charged up enough aura in her fist to send the turtle spiraling backwards with an sucker punch, and into a wall.
The Blank crawled to its feet, and fired dark energy like rapid fireballs at Dash. She flipped out of the way and tried to go after the creature, but every time she got close a wall of dark energy blast blocked her path. The creature then withdrew into its shell and spun after Rainbow Dash again, but she flew out of the way of the assault. The Blank stopped at the center of the area, Rainbow landing at the edge, and she flew hovering across the ground towards the turtle Blank. Her fist landed under its jaw with an uppercut that made it rear its head back in the air with more cracks being heard. Rainbow Dash clenched both her fists, and as the Blank's head came back down she delivered another punch that lifted it into the air. She flew above it, and punched it diagonally back down into the ground so hard it bounced, before hitting the floor lifeless and disintegrating.
Rainbow Dash watched it disappear, and then heard several voices saying her name. She turned around to see the villagers, even Lola, come out of their hiding places, and begin to bow to her in prayer of thanks. She scowled in disgust and said, "Stop praying! This is pathetic…" Then Rainbow Dash realized she wasn't the only one being bowed to, and looked up to the sky to see a fleet of military ships in the sky. Lotus pods fell from the fleet, landing in the courtyard and letting loose several earth pony soldiers and large stallions. "This is madness."
The villagers looked elated by their arrival, and rushed to Rainbow's sides, bowing and chanting prayers to the soldiers. The soldiers stepped aside, as a familiar face floated towards Rainbow Dash with a stuffed bunny in her arms. "So this is the reason for the unusual Mantra concentration in these parts…" Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth in anger when she saw who it was. "How disappointing," said Fluttershy as she hovered before her old friend with a sarcastic smirk. "I suppose I should collect the Mantra and report back to Lord Celestia." She looked out to the villagers and lifted Angel above her head as she said in her ventriloquist voice, "Mortals! The Blanks have defiled your land! Before your tarnished souls fall to Limbo, miss Fluttershy will guide you to Heaven! Isn't that nice of her? Boing boing!" She motions to a nearby soldier, who activates an odd looking machine which makes sounds like it's charging up. Then she motions to one of the large stallions, who made his way toward the villagers.
Rainbow Dash watched in confusion as he pointed to the sky, and the villagers excitedly began to bow. Suddenly, the stallions fist crushed one of the villagers into the ground, killing him. Rainbow Dash cried out, "Stop! What are you doing!?"
Fluttershy gently stroked a finger over her dolls head and said, "I need not explain our ways to the fallen. A monkey like you wouldn't understand anyways." The villagers stared at their dead friend terrified, and began to bow and pray again with renewed vigor. The large stallion made his way to them, and began to stomp and punch them all to death one by one, and what shocked Rainbow Dash the most was they appeared to be happy. Then she watched as their Mantra floated from their bodies, and was sucked into the machines ends by propellers, the one large eye on the machine glowing with their souls.
Rainbow Dash shook with rage and ran towards Fluttershy, punching her in the face. Her hand went through her though, as the Fluttershy before her was simply an illusion. Rainbow Dash was shocked by this and stepped back as the Fluttershy hologram said, "What could you accomplish by trying to hurt us?" She waved Angel at her and said in her alternate voice, "Enjoy your new lease on life, doody head. It won't be very long." The hologram vanished and the soldiers began to kill all the villagers.
Lola was nearby, screaming at a pony who was obviously her parent. "Father, get up! Stop praying! Don't just sit there and wait to die! We don't have to die!" Her father just shook his head in tears staring at the floor. She held her baby close terrified as one of the stallions walked towards them, rearing his fist back.
When he stuck for them, his punch was caught in Rainbow's palm, blocking his way. She glared at him and said, "What the hell are you doing?" She pushed his fist back, and as he stumbled, she leapt into the air and punched him in the chest. He flew back into the wall behind him so hard his shirt exploded and a small crater formed. Lola nuzzled her filly, and her father and she rushed off. "I won't stand for this." She turned to the rest of the soldiers clenching her fist. "Your lives will end here!"
Another large stallion walked up to her and said, "Surrender your soul to us. You must be saved." He took a fighting stance as if to intimidate her.
Rainbow Dash looked at the stallion dumbfounded, before charging her hands with aura. "Did you say something?" Rainbow tackled through the front line of soldiers, the stallion leaping into the air. Rainbow Dash flipped back out of the way as he came slamming back down with a body slam. She roundhouse kicked him in the face and sent him flying with a broken nose, twisting around to continue the kick and cut through the earth pony soldiers poleaxes. She punched the ground to create a shockwave that sent them back, and as they flew back, a pegasus soldier flew past them with his sword outstretched. Rainbow Dash stepped to the side of his thrust and grabbed the blade and his wrist, spinning him around and throwing him back the way he came.
The stallion came back behind Rainbow Dash, slamming into her and sending her flying towards a wall. She landed on her feet and pushed off the wall, flying a fist straight back into the stallion's gut and sending him flying back, knocking over the smaller troops like bowling pins. He climbed to his feet, only to have both of Rainbow's feet stomp into his face, flipping him upside down as he flew back into the wall. Rainbow Dash flipped off his face and landed gently, flapping her wings. She turned away and held her face as she said, "Can nothing quell my anger?"
She stomped towards a lone earth pony soldier, the last standing in this field of destruction, lacking a weapon thanks to the earlier shattering kick from Rainbow Dash. The soldier cringed and cowered, shaking her head in terror as Rainbow Dash approached. She grabbed the soldier by the neck, who tried to cover her face and look away. Rainbow punched past her hands, and the poor mare cried, "Leave me be!"
"What?" Rainbow Dash reared her fist back and punched her harder, breaking her nose.
She whimpered and said, "We were only saving the souls of the mortals!"
"That matters not to me!" She reared back and the earth pony began to cry, shaking her head as she desperately tried to pull out of the angry mare's grasp.
The two of them paused hearing a thumping noise, and looked behind Rainbow to see Lola slamming a rock against one of the dead earth ponies. "Monsters!" the poor mare cried as she weakly assaulted the already lifeless soldier.
Rainbow looked to see Lola's father and child laying lifelessly nearby. Rainbow Dash stared at this for a moment, before her grip loosened and dropped the earth pony soldier. She screamed and ran for her life, as the cyan pony walked over to poor Lola, catching her wrist in mid swing. Lola sniffled and looked back at Rainbow Dash as she said, "I know how you feel." Lola dropped the rock and stared at the floor for a moment. Rainbow Dash turned to the fleet, clenching her fist as Lola stared up at her. "You let me handle them."
Lola wiped her eyes and said, "This isn't the first time… When I was a little girl my mother and I visited a nearby village that came under attack by the Blanks. The Seven Deities came at purified them, but not just them. A lot of villagers were caught in the cross fire, including my mother. Rather than defy this tyranny, everyone sees it as an honor, as being guided to heaven, and gladly give their lives. When I found your shrine, I heard tales of the aura it gave off that scared away Blanks, but I felt no fear. You reminded me of my mother when I saw your face, and I visited you every day, offering you flowers. Everyone just stood there, but you didn't. You took action!" She scowled with puffy red eyes and said, "Make them pay!"
Rainbow Dash nodded with a small smirk and said, "I intend to."
End Pt. 2 Ch. 8
