Fearless

The next day...

"My sister has sat idly by for far too long. It is the will of the people that the divisive, controversial way of life comes to an end. Now, we must take action. Henceforth, every territory south of Everfree shall be united under a new banner as the sovereign nation of the Lunar Republic.

"Our borders will be open as long as it takes to safely transfer those who wish to secede, and those who wish to remain citizens of the Solar Empire. I encourage my sister not to act rash in response to this development.

"We only wish for the hostilities to end. Please, do not consider this as a validation to them. This was the final measure, the last resort."

Rainbow Dash fiddled with the zipper on her hoodie. She felt a coldness inside of her, spiderwebbing through her veins. For not the first time in her life, Rainbow Dash was nervous.

She stood in line at the Lunar Corps recruitment center, along with many other ponymorphs (and a handful of humans). Fluttershy would probably be very angry, and distraught once Rainbow Dash told her.

I'll do it tomorrow, Rainbow told herself. I want at least one last normal night with Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash suppressed an exhausted, longing sigh.

"What?"

"She must have left right after dropping you off, because she never came back. She quit her job at the store last night."

Fluttershy couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"I'm going to go talk her out of it," Fluttershy said into her cell phone.

She groaned as she tossed her graduation gown onto her bed and grabbed her wallet. Why would Rainbow Dash keep something like this from her? Especially now?

She got the idea that Rainbow wasn't telling her something, but this? This was insanity!

"Where are you going?" Fluttershy's mother demanded as she sped down the stairs.

"I have to go get Rainbow, before she does something stupid!"

Her mother scoffed. "When is that troublemaker not doing something stupid?"

Fluttershy ignored the comment. "I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Make sure you are! The whole family is flying in for the celebration."

Nodding, Fluttershy took off through the door. Heading for the nearest bus stop, she realized that she hadn’t run so fast in a long, long time.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow shrunk at the voice. "Dad." She growled in complaint. Who else could have figured out and told Fluttershy where she was going?

Rainbow Dash turned around. Sure enough, Fluttershy was already storming across the street towards her. Rainbow slumped. She was almost to the front of the line, now. So close.

She bit her lip. Maybe this wasn’t the right choice. Maybe she wouldn't even see Fluttershy again. There was nothing Rainbow wanted more than to make Fluttershy happy. But what did that mean? What could she possibly do?

I'll just have to find out.

Rainbow Dash knew that it would be hard, and confusing, but she and Fluttershy could figure something out. Together.

A hesitant smile on her face, Rainbow Dash raised a hand to wave. She opened her mouth to speak. But something struck her. Rainbow felt an odd cold sensation in her gut, and milliseconds later the world erupted in ear-splitting noise.

Wobbling slightly, Rainbow felt her knees give out underneath her. Just before collapsing, her eyes locked onto Fluttershy. Even though Rainbow heard nothing but ringing in her ears, she could swear Fluttershy was screaming her name.

Fluttershy didn't even see it. But she certainly heard it. The muzzle flash of a gun illuminated the shooter, who had fired into the line at the recruitment center. Fluttershy watched in horror as Rainbow Dash stumbled in mild confusion, before sinking to the ground, 3 holes in her chest.

"RAINBOW DASH!!!"

Fluttershy shrieked at the top of her lungs. She raced over to her girlfriend, past a tussle where three passersby were wrestling the disarmed shooter, a lean man with silver-blue hair, to the ground. She slid down next to Rainbow Dash, who was gasping like a landed fish.

"Omigodomigodomigod Dashie, Dashie!" Fluttershy screamed in despair. "Somebody call an ambulance!"

Several people gathered around, tending to a few others who had been shot. All that approached Rainbow moved back, a sorrowful grimace on their face.

Rainbow Dash's unfocused eyes landed upon Fluttershy once again. She smiled drunkenly, her face turning pale.

"Hi, Butterfly." She whispered hoarsely.

Fluttershy sobbed, stroking Rainbow's hair. "Nononononono, god, please no!"

Her tears dripped onto Rainbow Dash's shirt, which was already soaked in warm, sticky blood.

Rainbow Dash still smiled, the cold feeling spreading deeper and deeper. Her vision began to darken around the corners. She giggled; it made Fluttershy look like an angel. A sad angel.

"Why ya crying, Butterfly?"

"D-Don’t leave me, baby." Fluttershy begged.

Rainbow Dash giggled again, as if Fluttershy had just told a joke. "I'd never leave you. You'll always be my little Butterfly."

Fluttershy's shoulders heaved. Rainbow's jagged breathing was slowing.

"It's-It's gonna be okay, baby. Th-Th-There's an ambulance on the way."

Rainbow Dash suddenly laughed out loud. The corner of her mouth spilled blood. Her eyes dulled, and she gasped again. She weakly grasped Fluttershy's arm. Rainbow sobbed once, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Her lip quivered as she shuddered, as if only just now realizing what was happening.

Fluttershy's vision was blurred from the tears streaming down her face. Why did this happen? Why Rainbow Dash? The girl who always made small sacrifices for Fluttershy. The girl that loved reading and jogging and just wanted to be a pilot. The girl who taught Fluttershy what it was like to be fearless.

She looked up at Fluttershy with pleading eyes. In a childlike voice that broke Fluttershy's heart, Rainbow Dash whimpered.

"I'm scared."