The Eternal Rainbow

Everfree Forest, Equestria-899 Years after Luna's Banishment

"Well, slap me an' call me sassafrass! There's apples growing in this here forest!" said a young Earth Pony filly with a light green coat who seemed to be around the age of 10 with a blonde mane and tail that was braided together, and who was wearing a nightgown and brown work boots as she stood before a small grove of trees that seemed to be shaped like bolts of lightning. Each tree bore a fruit that resembled an apple, but were every color of the rainbow.

Setting down the burlap sack she was carrying, the filly began to pick the trees clean of their fruit as quick as a whip. After a few moments of collecting fruit, the mare heard something: a wolf's howl. Thinking nothing of it at first, the mare continued picking apples.

Until, out of the corner of her eye, the filly caught something moving lightning-quick in the shadows. She turned around faster than she could think she saw two yellow eyes glaring at her and growling. The creature stepped forward a little more revealing itself to be none other than a monstrous Timber Wolf.

“Hey! Get lost ya varmint!” the young filly yelled at the Timber Wolf. The wooden monstrosity, unfortunately, did NOT heed the young filly's command, and instead let out a loud howl. Beckoning the call, several more Timber Wolves joined up with the other one, growling as they approached the increasingly frightened filly, who decided that maybe she should start running.

And so, that's what Ginger Smith did, with a pack of flesh-eating Timber Wolves hot on her heels. Unfortunately, she was was starting to run out of running room. As she found herself backed against the side of an impassable boulder with a pack of hungry monsters closing in on her, she began to come to terms with what could only be described as failure. She'd come into these woods to find some food for her family, despite them being the best Monster Hunters in the entire world and perfectly capable of fending for themselves, and instead she'd gone and gotten herself eaten.

What Ginger Smith DIDN'T realize, however, was that another shadow was watching her and the wolves, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce on the wolf pack.

And now... here comes food. thought Achroma as she leaped down to the pack, and landed behind the Timber Wolves.

"Hey, dogs!" Achroma called out to the pack. The Timber Wolves turned their heads to face the mysterious black robed figure that had come in their midst, and snarled at her. "Leave the kid alone, and come and play with me!" she said, drawing a sword in one hand while holding a stake with the other.

Ginger Smith could only gaze on in horror as three of the wolves jumped at what she could only assume was another Monster Hunter. The figure managed to slice through one of the beasts with her sword and impaled a second with her stake. However, the third managed to sink its teeth into her shoulder. Achroma managed to tear the creature, and a piece of her flesh, off of her, causing blood to start to gush out from the wound. To make matters worse, the damn mutt had managed to make her arm go numb, thus preventing it from being of much use in even holding the stake, which fell at Achroma's feet.

Achroma shot a quick glance around, sizing up her enemies and taking note that that kid was still here, standing around like an idiot. I can't cut loose with that filly around... she'd go and get some misguided fool with a crossbow and Holy Water. Or worse, a Hunter. So, I've got two options: drain her dry and kill these monsters, which would be VERY counterproductive since I'm trying to save her, or get the kid to start running, she thought to herself, before shouting out to Ginger.

"Hey, kid, what are you waiting for?! Go and get some help!" Achroma yelled as another Timber Wolf jumped at her, sinking its fangs into her other arm.

"But-"

"Get going! I can't take these-ARRRRGH!" screamed Achroma as a Timber Wolf swiped its claw into her back, leaving a large scratch.

Ginger, seeing no other option, quickly hefted her bag full of apples and started running as fast as she could towards what she hoped was home.

As two Timber Wolves took off after the mare, who was long gone and out of earshot, a dark and devious grin spread across Achroma's face as her eyes turned black and crimson, channeling the dark energy she needed for her Vampire Magic.

“Now you mutts are dead meat,” said Achroma as with one quick slash she cut a Timber Wolf in two with utter ease. The other three growled and circled her with glowering eyes. The first one charged and managed to bring its jaws down on her arm causing more blood to spray on the ground. Achroma roared in pain as she snapped its neck and ripped the head off, causing the body to shudder to a halt and die. The second wolf got an even better deal as it managed to slash her gut causing Achroma to stagger for a bit.

Damn. If I don’t pick up the pace soon these wooden mother buckers are going to tear me apart,

Growling in sheer anger, Achroma fired a blast of jagged black and red lightning at one of the wolves, causing it to explode in a blast of splintered wood and flames. No doubt horrified by the utter destruction of its pack mates, the final Timber Wolf whimpered in fear a Achroma advanced upon it, blood and sweat dripping off of her, before it decided to turn and run away.

The battle won, Achroma fell to the ground and crawled up to a nearby tree, weak and weary. As her eyes began to close from the loss of blood, even though her superpony healing factor was already kicking in, she silently wished that she wouldn't wake up again, and that she'd finally be reunited with her family.

Fat chance, thought Achroma as unconsciousness took hold of her mind.

...

Achroma found herself floating in a dark void, almost as though her spirit had finally been released from her body. After blinking a couple of times, a small bright white light  appeared that she felt herself being drawn towards. Finally, she reached the end of the tunnel, and found a most wonderful sight before her: her mother, father, and little sister were sitting at a table with all of her favorite things and an empty seat.

“M-Mom… D-Dad….. I-I’m home.” said Achroma with a smile on her face as she walked to the table. They were all beckoning her to come to them but suddenly Achroma started slowing down.

“No… NO! NO PLEASE! DON’T! LET ME MEET THEM! PLEASE!”she yelled, desperately reaching out for her mother's hand as her mother reached out for hers.

But, alas, it was no use as finally, Achroma was pulled backwards with a sharp yank, and plunged into the darkness once again...

...

Achroma groaned as her eyelids fluttered open... and NOTHING made sense.

She appeared to be lying on a bed in a house. Sunlight poured in from the open window nearby, which obviously meant she was mortal again. She wore a dressing gown of some kind, and bloodied bandages covered her arm, back, and midsection.

Wha... where am I? thought Achroma.

Not even a split second later, an Earth Pony mare dressed in a brown shirt, blue jeans, and brown cowboy boots entered her room, before she turned and shouted, "Ma! Pa! She's awake!"

“Ma? P-Pa?” asked Achroma as she tried standing up but her stomach ached something fierce. Just then, an orange Earth Pony stallion with a blonde mane and tail entered the room wearing a red checkered shirt, blue jeans, and his own brown cowboy boots entered but he had a tan cowboy hat on his head.

“Well… nice to see you awake, there, ma’am. Had us a might worried when we found you in them there woods. Thought you might not make it, if’n the truth be told,” he said.

“Who are you? Where am I?” asked Achroma, as she tried sitting up at least, only for the stallion’s hand to force her back down.

“Easy there, pard. Them Timber Wolves used you as a claw an’ tooth sharpener. You’d best take ‘er easy for awhile,” said the stallion.

“But, that doesn’t answer my questions. Where am I, and how did I get here?” asked Achroma.

“You’re at the Sweet Apple Acres plantation. Mah name’s Applejack, but most folks call me Jack. Mah daughter, Ginger Smith, came and got us after you went and rescued her from the Timber Wolves… mighty interesting haul, she had, too, them rainbow apples,” Jack said.

Rainbow apples… those sound like… thought Achroma, her mouth watering at the thought of that sweet, sweet lightning fruit. “Zap Apples…” she muttered.

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Pardon me? What’s a ‘Zap Apple?’” he asked Achroma.

“Huh? Oh… those rainbow apples your daughter found. They’re called Zap Apples. They’re some of the best, and not to mention rarest, apples in Equestria, maybe even the world. Don’t worry, they’re not poisonous,” said Achroma, answering the question Jack had on his mind. “Oh, just you wait, though. Plant those seeds, and the trees will grow like lightning. Then, if you can pick them all in time, you’ll be able to have Zap Apple Pies, Zap Apple Crepes, and even… Zap Apple Jam.”

“Uh-huh… and I take it you know how to make those, uh, Zap Apple goodies?” asked Jack, raising an eyebrow.

“Not entirely but I’ve tasted some versions made by machines. It’s...okay. But a plain Zap Apple… oh yes please.” said Achroma as she once again tried to stand up only to have her body ache once again.

“You need rest is what you need,” said Jack as Achroma sighed.

“I know… and I hate resting.”

…

A few weeks later, Achroma had managed to gain enough of her strength back to start helping out around the farm. She figured it was the least she could do after the Apples had taken her in. Oddly enough, though, there had been a few mysterious deaths that seemed to be the work of a vampire, or some form of dark creature not long after Achroma arrived.

It was then Achroma learned the Apple family’s “side job,” as they called it; Monster Hunters. The Apples had been Hunters since their great-great-Granny Smith over 600 years ago. But, even though the risks of staying with the Apples were great, Achroma couldn’t help it. They were starting to become the family she’d once had all those centuries ago.

Jack was a dependable, hard-working stallion who’d give an entire bumper crop of apples to a mare just so they could feed their starving children for a while. His wife, Ida, was the perfect mother to her children, giving her kids enough room to run, but just enough leash to run. Red Delicious was a stallion of few words, but boy, was he powerful, even if he wasn't the brightest bulb on the Hearth’s Warming Tree.

And then, there was Ginger Smith. Ever since she and her father had planted those Zap Apple seeds and grown the trees, she’d made it her mission in life to perfect the Zap Apple Jam recipe. So, far, she’d become convinced that you had to be extra friendly with bees, otherwise their honey wouldn’t be right to mix in with the jam, and that you needed to talk to glass jars like they were soldiers in a boot camp.

It was true, the Apple Family was everything Achroma could ever ask for in a family… but, just as she’d lost her first family, there was tragedy on the horizon… and it was coming fast.

…

You remember what I told you?

It’s just a family. What does it matter to you?

They’re a family for HER. SHE doesn’t deserve her happiness… she gets NOTHING. Understood?

You’re jealous of ONE vampire?

She took MY place. She stole what should have been MINE! Now I’ll take from her another family.

Someone sounds jealo-ACK!

Keep talking… I’ll remove your head and stake you faster than you can react. Now, go. And remember: no mortal gets off that farm alive!

...

Meanwhile, Achroma sat in her bedroom, dreading what was about to come that night. Tonight was the night of the New Moon, the night where all vampires threw rationality and sanity out the window... and tonight, she was in a house full of mortals. Mortals who'd cared for her and trusted her... and now, unless she got out of here, they would be nothing more than a meal.

Suddenly, something caught Achroma's attention: three new presences, vampiric ones, just outside the front door. As if on cue, the doorbell rang.

"Now, who in the wide, wide world of Equestria would be calling at this time of night?" asked Ida as she went downstairs. Acting as quickly as she could, Achroma got out of bed, pulled on her clothes, and followed her... only to find she was too late.

Ida screamed before one of the Dark Vampires, as Achroma immediately recognized them to be, sank its teeth into her, draining her dry. “NO!” screamed Achroma as she pulled out a stake and threw it at the vampire who turned to dust instantly. All over the barn she began feeling the Dark Vampires enter the home which meant that the family still had a chance if they could just stab them in the heart or cut their heads off. However tonight was also a New Moon meaning that these Dark Vampires were more or less rabid animals. She flew fast as she got upstairs and saw that Jack was fighting a rabid Vampire who was bearing a set of teeth instead of just two fangs. Suddenly Achroma felt a pang in her head and she realized... she was starting to lose control to her dark side.

No! I can't give in... not yet! Achroma thought desperately, using her willpower to try to maintain control.

"Achroma! Get Ginger out of here! Me and Red will try to hold them off!" yelled Jack. Barely registering this, Achroma made her way to Ginger's room, staggering towards the door... only to find that it was empty, and that a window was open with a lasso rope dangling out of it, indicating that Ginger had made a clean getaway.

Smart... kid... thought Achroma, before she was pounced upon from behind by a Dark Vampire. Managing to somehow toss the monster onto the floor, Achroma wasted no time in stabbing him in the heart.

"Bastard!" snarled the vampire before he turned to dust.

No sooner had Achroma done this did she feel another pang in her head, followed by an intense thirst for blood. A second scream from a voice she recognized as Jack's meant that only Red was left standing.

However, one glance behind her would prove this to be false, as it turned out that Red... had been turned into a Dark Vampire, with a little blood leaking out of a wound on his neck. She growled as she rushed forward roaring like a wild beast as she tackled Red and tried to stake him. However he kicked her off into the fields outside. Achroma used her wings to slow down her fall, before using her Shadow Swarm to fly back into the farmhouse and stake a vampire as she began to reform.

This didn't go unnoticed by Red, however, and he pounced upon her, only to get his head severed from his body by Achroma's sword, causing both the body and the severed head to disintegrate into dust.

"Anypony else want some?" snarled Achroma. The vampires hissed at her in response. “Okay, then… let’s party.”

Achroma to this day couldn’t really remember what happened next. Stakes, swords, and crossbows flared, blood was spilled, and in the midst of it all, was Achroma enjoying every last bit of it with a demonic sense of pleasure.

In the end, it was Achroma who stood supreme among the piles of dust and ashes.  She chuckled a little... but then fell down having lost consciousness.

I admit it wasn’t my proudest moment, but I tried my hardest to save them... I was lucky that Ginger was able to survive though. She nursed me back to health... for awhile though we didn’t talk… we both knew why. It wasn’t just Ginger who'd lost her family to a bunch of bloodthirsty monsters. Jack, Ida, and Red had been my family too. Or, at least the closest thing I'd had to family for nearly a thousand years.

A couple of relatives moved into Sweet Apple Acres to watch over Ginger, who finally perfected her Zap Apple Jam recipe. Turns out the apples really like pink polka dots. But, as Ginger always said, "Magic is as magic does. It's just funny that way."

I, meanwhile, had decided that it was time for Achroma Burst to disappear. But, I couldn't just leave Ginger alone to fend off those Dark Vampires if they came back to finish the job. So, I began to fake my own mortality. As far as anyone from Granny Smith's fillyhood and early marehood knows, Achroma Burst is dead and buried.

With my Achroma identity gone, I had to make up a new one. After considering names like Firefly and Rainbow Blitz, I eventually adopted the name... Rainbow Dash. After I had my new mask picked out, I moved to Cloudsdale, and began the nearly impossible task of faking my fillyhood, using my Vampire Hypnosis and Illusion abilities. So, when the other colts, fillies, and griffons looked at me, they thought they saw a cocky filly who could fly at supersonic speeds, rather than an immortal vampire pegasus.

I "earned" my Cutie Mark when I proved my own legend of the Sonic Rainboom to be true. And before I knew it, a hundred years had passed, and it was time for the 1,000th Summer Sun Celebration.

And, well... you know the rest.