To Turn on a Light

Rainbow Dash flew. It was pointless. "Chaaaarrrge!!!" She shouted as she led her troops into battle. Many of them wouldn't return. Why even bother? she thought. We're losing this war. Why not surrender? At least we won't die that way... And yet her soldiers charged forward. And she led them. Her mechanical wing beating ferociously in time with her flesh one. They met ranks with the crystal army. Rainbow threw punches and kicks. Not even thinking, just doing. Ponies fell around her. She could see them. Falling. Dying.

And then she saw him. He was rising into the air on black crystal pillars. Sombra. The reason for all the suffering. And Death. The hatred Rainbow Dash felt in that moment was unwavering. If she could just get to him. No. If she could just Kill him.

She took off towards him. Other pegasi tried to get to him, but he just kept knocking them away. She didn't seem to notice. All she could think was how much she hated this stallion. She got closer... almost...

"Spitfire!!" Huh? Rainbow Dash stopped in midair and turned around. There, on the ground. She saw two of her best fighters, an injured Soarin running through the battle to a helpless spitfire. One of the crystal slaves towering above her. Rainbow turned around. Some of her initial hatred had depleted. Soldiers upon soldiers kept trying to get to Sombra. He knocked them away easily as if swatting flies. If she had kept going, she probably would have gotten herself killed.

She made her decision in an instant and charged towards Spitfire. She lifted her off of the ground. Most ponies would have killed the crystal pony that was about to kill her, but Rainbow tried to avoid killing when she could. These ponies were slaves after all.

They landed a safe distance away from the battle. "You Saved me" Spitfire said "But why? You could have killed Sombra"

"Soldier" Rainbow Dash Replied "If I had kept going forward, Sombra likely would have killed me."

Spitfire nodded. She seemed intimidated. Rainbow used to look up to this pony.

They both took off into the battle again.

Rainbow Dash flew. It had purpose. She often forgot why she had the rainbow lightning bolt cutie mark that she did, but in that moment, she remembered with clarity.

Flying to save an ally is much better than flying to kill a foe.