Ghosts of the Past

Rainbow Dash and Crimson Dusk flew high into the sky.  Discord didn't manipulate anything above his massive, dark clouds, so the scene was generally peaceful.  The stars winked dimly in the pale black sky.  The moon gave off a gentle light, as if it was trying to ease the pain of the ponies below.  Below them, the clouds quacked and weird fire taffy shot up at them from time to time.  It was a step up from his usual chocolate milk raining candy clouds, but Discord did enjoy mixing it up from time to time.

Rainbow Dash knew that everypony was counting on them to stop Discord. They were, after all, the ponies that represented the spirits of harmony.  Although, Rainbow Dash tended to lose herself when she took flight.  She loved it when the wind rushed through her gorgeous mane.  It felt as if nothing else mattered and she could just fly forever.  She noticed her new friend was staying close to her.  This came as a shock to the cyan pegusus.  No pony could keep up with her, even when she flew at half the rate she was flying now.

I can't believe he can keep up with me, thought Rainbow Dash.  No pony could ever keep up with me except Pinkie Pie, and only because she can do the impossible whenever she wants.  This guy is...awesome!  I wonder if...No, no.  Keep it together Dash.  You can't have feelings for him.  I'm too cool for that.  I don't even know the guy and he could be a total weenie.  But still....  Rainbow Dash was lost in thought.  Her heart battled her ego for dominance on the idea that she could possibly fall for a pony like Crimson Dusk.

Crimson Dusk noticed the looks that he was getting from Rainbow Dash.  He felt his cheeks grow warmer and warmer every time her lustrous eyes looked him over with curiousity.  He only felt this way once, and that was when he was in love with Countess Mirage.

Why is she looking at me like that?  It's kind of disturbing. Yet...I don't mind it.  I do like her spirit and that mane is quite colorful, he pondered.  No! I don't trust her.  She is just one of those selfish ponies.  I don't care how beautiful she looks in the moonlight.  She is probably as heartless as Countess Mirage was.

"Ah! This is boring!" said Dusk trying to break his train of thought.  "You fly way to slow for my taste."

"What are you talking about?" she replied a little irked.  "I can fly faster than this and I can definitly fly faster than you.

A puff of smoke left his nostrils as he snorted challengingly .  "I bet you could out fly anything with those tiny wings," he countered sarcastically.  "I think I saw flys that you could beat somewhere around here."

"Care to dare me Crimson Dork?" she said.

"Bring it.  It has been a long time since I beat somepony in a challenge.  Race you to that tree," he said pointing his hoof in the direction of a far off maple.

"Alright then.  Get ready to eat my...."

"HELP! HELP! SOMEPONY! ANYPONY! HELP!" came screams from the clearing below.

"That sounds like Pinkie Pie," said Rainbow Dash losing her competitive edge.

"Why are you talking about a pie?" asked Crimson Dusk quizzically.

"No, you blockhead!" she said annoyed.  "Pinkie Pie is my friend, and I think she's in trouble.  Come on."

She twisted and started nose diving down to the source of the paniced shrieks.  Crimson did the same, producing a marvelous streak of red from behind as if dusk was upon them in the dead of night.  Rainbow Dash couldn't help but notice the magnificant sight.  It was one of the most awesome things she has ever seen, but marvaling at it would have to wait.  She had to focus on the task at hand.

They landed in a small clearing surrounded by orange orchids.  The repulsive rain stopped falling and the clouds started to clear up.  The moon bathed the clearing in a warm glow that ignited the orchids in a dazzling display of beauty.

"Rainbow Dash!" said Pinkie Pie relieved.  "I'm so glad you're here!  Twilight is hurt!"

Rainbow's gaze fell upon her purple friend.  Her breaths were short and raspy.  She had lost some color and her mane was unkempt.  "What happened?" said Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie looked up and said, "She saved me from a mean old Ursa Major.  You should've seen her.  She was very brave."  Tears began to streak down her cheeks.  From the redness of her eyes, Dash could tell she's been crying a lot.

Rainbow's eyes widened.  "She beat an Ursa Major.  I thought that was impossible."

"She did, but the meanie head hit her really hard and she slammed into a stone wall.  She's been like this for awhile," Pinkie stated grimly.

Dash could feel the tears beginning to form in her eyes.  Crimson took note of how she felt and walked over to the dieing unicorn.  Pinkie moved over to Dash's side as Crimson began his examination. He placed his head over her chest to hear her heartbeat.  It was slow, but still there.  He proded her ribs gently and checked her legs carefully.

"Who's that?" whispered Pinkie gesturing at the crimson stallion.

"His name is Crimson Dusk.  He saved by life," replied Dash.

"He's kinda cute?  Do you like him?" asked Pinkie Pie with a smirk on her pale pink face.

"No!  No I don't!  Why would you ask that?" said a frantic Dash.

Pinkie giggled a litte and stated, "Don't worry, I won't tell."

"Tell what?  There's nothing to tell!" countered Rainbow Dash.

"Whatever you say Dashie," Pinkie said still giggling at her embarassed friend.  Rainbow Dash just blushed.

Crimson Dusk finished and looked at the ponies glumly.  "She has three broken ribs and I believe one has punctured her lung.  I don't know how long she has left, but she doesn't have long.  I'm guessing the crown on her head is her element of harmony.  It is keeping her alive, but even they do not have the power to stop death.  We have to act fast, or she might not make it through the night."

"Why don't you just slap some of that rank green gunk on her chest like you did for my wing?" asked Dash.

"I could, but it only heals bones.  It won't do anything for her lung and that is what needs to be taken care of," he said.  "Although, I do know of a local herb that would be able to seal it.  Unfortunatly, it's located deeper in the forest and only grows in the most treacherous terrain.  It will take me some time to retrieve alone and I...."

"I'll go with you," Dash interrupted.

"Why would you risk your life for this unicorn?" Crimson asked with a confused look on her face.  "It's very dangerous and you would get nothing out of it?"

"She's my friend!" Dash exclaimed with rage entering her voice.  "I would do anything for my friends, and they would do anything for me!"

Crimson Dusk just stared at her with astonishment.  I've never heard of this.  Ponies helping other ponies without wanting something in return.  What is wrong with her, or is there something wrong with me?  Am I the one that has been wrong all these years? He thought as he looked into Dash's fierce eyes.

"Fine, you can come.  Just don't get in my way," he finally said.

"I won't as long as you don't get in mine." she replied more determined than anything to save Twilight.

Crimson Dusk produced a phial of green liquid and some bandages from his worn saddlebag.   He carefully placed the medicinal items beside the mortally wounded Twilight Sparkle.  "Pinkie Pie, you have to rub this on her ribs and wrap her chest with these bandages.  I don't know how close they are to completely breaking off and it would be very bad if her other lung got puncutred.  With that in mind, don't put too much pressure on her chest.  Also, make sure to clean off the medicine in about two hours and replace the bandages.  If you don't, all the flesh on her chest will rot off.  Do you understand me?"

Pinkie nodded her head and got straight to work treating her friend.  Crimson and Dash nodded to each other and took to the air.  They began to fly deeper into the menacing forest.

"In about 5 miles, we will have to land and continue on foot.  The forest will get too dense for us to see the ground, and there's no telling what will be waiting for us if we try to land," said Dusk.  Dash nodded her head, acknowledging what he said.  Her eyes showed Dash's determination to save her friend, and Crimson started to respect the little pegasus.

Crimson's thoughts started to race about this majestic cyan pony.  She is different than any other pony I have ever met.  Her spirit and determination reminds me of me when I was a little filly.  She is also more beautiful than Countess Mirage ever was.  She is just...amazing!   I wonder if she thinks the same about me....  His thoughts trailed off as they flew faster into the area.  The wind was flowing through his glorious mane.  He relished in the pain that went through his wings.  It has been a long time since he had to fly this fast, and he loved it.  At this moment, he felt more alive than he ever had before.