Chapters This was the day.
The day they finally had a date. They would fly together, lay on a cloud in the night sky and finally
they would kiss.
The perfect plan.
Or so Rainbow thought.
The Pegasus flew to the friendship-castle, only to be met by a glowing horn.
"YES!!! The spell works!!!"
"Twilight, what the heck?"
"Oh, right. Hey Rainbow!"
"Yeah.. Hey. What's.. going on?"
"I found a new spell. I can make magic visible!"
Dash froze and backed away.
"Y-you can.."
"Um..yeah...is something wrong?"
Dash snapped out of her trance.
"Oh, no. Nope. Everything's alright."
"Oh, okey-"
"As long as you don't use that spell anywhere near me."
Now Twilight was taken aback. But she stopped the spell.
Rainbow landed next to her.
"So..uh...wanna fly?"
"Oh, right. Of course."
And the two flew into the sky. Rainbow was performing some tricks to impress Twilight while they were flying through the sky. Twilight wasn't paying any attention to it. She was trying to figure out why Dash reacted that way to her spell. She expected the Pegasus to be eager to find out how strong her Pegasi Magic is. Or to maybe find out if Scootaloo had enough to fly.
Anything but...That.
"Twilight? Hello? Equestria to Twilight! Anypony home?"
Twilight almost fell out of the sky, her wings froze from the shock. She was about to scream when she found herself carried in Dash's very hooves. She gave a sigh of relief and started flying on her own again.
"What was That all about?"
"I'm sorry...I was thinking..-"
"Thinking that you could top Me? Hah! Dream on."
"No, I meant-"
"Come on, let's have some fun without you going all into egghead-mode, alright?"
"Yeah..alright."
The alicorn sighed, but couldn't help but smile. Seeing Rainbow soaring through the sky got her thoughts away. Dash was in her element. The sky. If Pegasi could sleep while they fly, she bet that Rainbow would probably never land ever again.
The sun was setting and the two winged ponys were laying on a cloud side by side. Everything was according to the plan. Everything was just perfect. As it got darker, the air got colder. Once Rainbow felt Twilight shiver, she laid her wing around the alicorn. Twilight immediately turned her head to the Pegasus. They smiled at each other. Just perfect. And now the last part. The ki-
*twitch*
'Oh no! Not now! Not now in all moments!!!'
"Rainbow? Are you okey?"
Then her horn was glowing in the brightest shimmer. To her surprise in every color of the rainbow.
'Oh, perfect.'
The Pegasus got up and jumped off the cloud, flying straight to the ground. Twilight watched it with a blank face. What the heck was going on!?
She followed Dash to the ground, but couldn't find the Pegasus anywhere anymore. She looked around, her horn giving out. Dash wasn't here anymore. Still, she had to find out what in the name of Celestia just happened.
She searched for hours with no avail. Dash wasn't at home, not in the sky, not on the ground, just nowhere. Finally giving in, the alicorn went back home. This was not how she thought this day would went...
Her horn was glowing when Dash was twitching. Without using any Pegasi Magic except for the staying on clouds. Her spell is only detecting magic that she isn't using at the moment. And this was the most powerful magic she felt so far.
And the colors!
Something was off about Rainbow, and Twilight was eager to find out what.
As the days went on, with Rainbow still nowhere to be seen, Twilight got anxious. What was it with Rainbow? Was it her fault? What was going on!
No answers, no help, no cyan pegasus in the sky. Twilight was lost. She got over to her desk, grabbed a quill with her magic and began writing on a scroll.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
after I found a spell that makes magic visible, something happened and now Rainbow Dash is nowhere to be found. I'm afraid it's my fault...I don't know what exactly happened. All I know is that she was twitching and my spell activated itself by the amount of magic. Then Rainbow left and I don't know where she could be.
Yours sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle"
"SPIKE!!!!"
---Canterlot Castle---
"So, she has a spell and found out about your magic?" Celestia asked the cyan Pegasus that was sitting next to her in the throne room in the castle.
"Not exactly...she only knows that I have magic, but she doesn't know what it is."
"It's not safe for you anymore. You need to stay at the castle. Guards, bring her to her room, lock every door. We can't take a risk."
Dash gulped and got carried on her arms by two guards.
A scroll appeared in front of Celestia. She grabbed it with her magic and read it.
"Guards. Get a carriage. We have to get my student Twilight Sparkle in here before she tells somepony about Auroras magic."
The guards nodded and took off.
Author's Note
I wrote this a reeeeaaally long time ago. My dear iPad deleted most of it for whatever reason so I stopped writing. Now I found out how to find messages on Facebook, since I always sent it to my friend, and here we are.
---Twilight---
"All we have to do is wait for her answer. I'm sure the Princess got an idea."
"Oh and you know that, why?"
"Because I-"
The guards with the carriage stopped in front of Twilight.
"Twilight Sparkle?"
"Uh..yes?"
"Get in. Princess order."
Twilight and Spike shared glances but she stepped in. Spike wanted to get in too, only to be blocked by a wing from a guard.
"Sorry. Only Twilight Sparkle is requested."
Then they took off. Spike shrugged it off and went into the kitchen, going back to baking a gem-cake.
---Canterlot Castle---
The carriage landed in front of Celestia right before the castle.
"Princess, I'm so happy to-"
"No time, come on in, hurry!"
Twilight was once again confused by the way she was talking, but went inside anyways.
"I don't understand...what's going on? Where's Rainbow Dash? Why did you send me here?"
"Guards, take her to Auroras room. She'll explain you everything."
"Aurora?"
The guards took Twilight to the room Rainbow Dash was in. The Pegasus was half asleep on the oversized bed. The door unlocked and her head and ears perked up. She stared at the door that opened. Then she saw purple and sat up, desperately searching for a place to hide. Twilight stepped in, only to get more confused by the way Dash was acting.
There was only one question in her mind ever since Dash left that night:
WHATS GOING ON?!?!?!?!
"Dash?"
"H-h-hey T-Twilight..."
"Rainbow, what's going on? Why are you here? And why did Celestia call you 'Aurora'?!"
Dash chuckled nervously. Twilights death-glare stared her down. The alicorn walked towards her until she got onto the bed. Dash sighed and closed her eyes.
"I'm not who you think I am..."
"Yeah, kinda figured that since you got hidden magic and are now locked up in the castle and called Aurora!"
Dash turned away from Twilight, hopping off the bed.
"Where do you think you're going?! You've got some explaining to do! Just leaving me alone worried sick-"
"I know. I heard you calling."
"What? No you couldn't have heard me. You weren't anywhere to be found!"
"No, you misunderstood. It's..more a feeling."
"Explain."
"Well..you already know about my magic. I'm not sure you could understand my abilities..."
"Rainbow. I'm totally confused about everything that's going on. You're going to tell me what's going on. Right. NOW!!!"
"Okey okey calm down, will ya?! Okey...where to start..."
"How about what happened the night I last saw you. Why did you leave?"
"Well..okey. You see I.. I can't let any pony know about my magic."
"Why not?"
"It's...kinda hard to explain. Let's just say if it gets in the wrong hooves, Equestria is in great danger."
"Um...o-key....so what is this 'magic' about?"
"I... can do things like mind-control..."
"You WHAT?!"
"Wow wow wow calm down! Mum doesn't allow me to use my magic except for training."
"WHAT?!?! Wait, 'mum'?"
"You asked why Tia called me Aurora."
"Wait. Let me get this straight. Princess Celestia is your MOTHER.
YOURE ROYALTY AND NEVER TOLD ANYPONY!?!?!?!"
"Twilight calm down! I don't want the guards taking you to the medics!"
"You're telling me that you can turn every pony in some kind of Zombies, that you're Celestias daughter, and YOU are telling ME to calm down?!?!"
Dash tackled Twilight over, standing over the alicorn on the bed.
"Lower your voice or the guards get suspicious!" She whispered.
The door unlocked, getting both ponies attention.
"Princess Celestia!"
"Hey mum."
"Good to see you are both safe and sound."
"Princess, I still don't understand. Why is Rainbows magic so dangerous and why am I here too?"
"We will explain you more in time. But first: Aurora!"
Dash stood up.
"Come with me. You need to get back to your training."
Dash grunted. Celestia went out of the room. Before Dash left too, she gave Twilight a sign to follow her.
The three ponies were in a big hall underneath the castle, a place no pony except the royal family knew. Twilight was stunned that they even Had another room, in the ground.
Celestia brought a little bunny in and placed it into a freedom-cage that would normally be used in a garden. A few meters away from it was a normal cage. Both were opened.
Celestia nodded to Dash. Twilight stood next to Celestia, eager to watch whatever was going to happen.
Dash walked over to the bunny. She took a deep breath and relaxed. Then she stared the bunny in the eyes. They were practically glued to each other.
Twilight had no idea what they were doing.
Dash began to close her eyes, her face completely in concentration. The bunny was still frozen like in stone and stared at Dash with his ears straight to Dash. The Pegasus began groaning from the effort.
Now Twilight got concerned.
Dash began to glow lightly in a full rainbows colors. Her legs became shaky. With a last grunt, more a deep sigh, she finally collapsed to the ground.
"Rainbow!"
Twilight ran over to her. She helped the panting Pegasus to her haunches. Then their attention went to the bunny, that was hopping straight into the cage, still having this blank stare like Dash and it were still staring into each other's eyes. Once it was in, it turned back to face Rainbow. Then it got his normal bunny face back and began preening itself.
Celestia closed the cage and nodded to Rainbow.
"Not bad, the first try after years of no training, Aurora."
"Thanks"
Dash said weakly, still panting.
"Maybe you should get some rest. Can you stand?"
Dash tried to get up. Still shaking she managed to walk out off the room with Twilight by her side.
They went back into Rainbows room. Dash's shivering grew worse. Twilight and Rainbow laid on the bed, Twilight wrapping the shivering Pegasus into the blanket.
"Rainbow? Are you okey?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
"You don't sound so cold, but you're shivering like you were freezing."
"I'm not cold. Well, I'm not feeling cold."
She said, rubbing her hooves together. Twilight got curious and touched one of Dashs hooves. She shrieked back in not even a second.
"Wah! Dash your hooves are ice cold!"
"Well, do you know now why I don't let Anypony touch my hooves?"
Twilight nodded. The throbbing feeling in Dash's stomach made her groan again and she turned to her side.
"What's wrong? Does anything hurt?"
"Well, it's not really 'pain'. I just hate that feeling."
She placed a hoof over the place on her stomach. It was getting moved up and down by the pulsing. Twilight raised an eyebrow. Then moved a hoof to touch it too, but Dash moved it away.
"I don't think you would like that. Either you would get the creeps or have to throw up."
"What? Why?"
Dash rolled her eyes. She sighed and grabbed Twilights hoof. Twilight slightly jumping from the cold touch. Dash placed her hoof over her stomach. Twilights eyes widened. It felt like Dashs heart would be in her stomach, without anything covering it. Only that it was more like a ball. The more pressure she put onto it, the more her hoof was moved by the pulsing.
Dash was just looking at her like it was nothing.
"Twilight."
The alicorn was still frozen.
"Twilight!"
No reaction.
"TWILIGHT!!"
She shoved the hoof from her stomach. Twilight finally snapping out.
"Twilight, you can't tell Anypony about this. This is TOP SECRET."
Twilight nodded, then she passed out.
Dash sighed and wrapped her blanket around the alicorn, snuggling up to her until the shivering finally left.
Twilight awoke in the middle of the night by wheezing and panting sounds. She didn't really care about it until she heard sobs and screams. She bolted up and looked around. She followed the sounds into the bathroom, where a figure sat there in the corner, screaming even more.
"Rainbow! What's wrong?"
As she came nearer she could feel the Pegasus shiver. Then she finally remembered the events of the past evening. She gasped.
"Oh no! You're having an attack!"
She stormed back to grab the pills and the water and rushed back to the hyperventilating Pegasus.
"Here, take this. You'll feel better in no time."
"NOO!!!"
Dash tried to escape but tripped over her own legs. She just continued to cry out.
"Rainbow! You HAVE to take these!"
"NOOOOO!!!!"
"RAINBOW!!! WHY WONT YOU TAKE THEM?!?!!?"
"What is going ON in here?!"
Both ponies were looking at the white alicorn standing in front of them. Dashs panting grew worse until her world went black. Twilight rushed over to her collapsing friend.
"Rainbow! Please say something!"
"Guards! Get her to the medics! Hurry!"
Twilight got tears in her eyes when Dash got carried into the medical centre for the second time today. And there was nothing she could do about it again.
Why was Dash against the pills?
Probably just the attack taking over her mind.
She followed them to the medical center. Nurses noting everything of Dash, doing what they can to bring her back and make her stable.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Somewhere in the background Rainbow could hear a nasty sound she always hated. Sometimes it had been faster, sometimes it stopped, sometimes it was slower.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Urgh. Can't they turn off that stupid thing already?!
Beep. Beep. ....
Finally.
*SHOCK*
Ow!
Beep.Beep.Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Sigh...
"She's coming back!"
Dash opened her eyes to see... black.
AAAH I'M BLIND!!! I'M BUCKING BLIND!!!!!!
She tried to move but found that she was being held down. She could feel hooves all over her body as she struggled to escape.
Where am I?! Why can't I see?! Why won't that beeping stop?! WHERE IS TWILIGHT?!
Tears were streaming down her face as she was completely lost. She felt something cold stab into her neck.
Can somepony..please...switch on the light..?
She calmed down and fell asleep again.
"That should give her rest for a good hour. But this time she needs to stay here."
The nurse glared at Celestia.
"Doctor orders. I won't complain. Just make sure she takes the pills."
Celestia left Dash, Twilight and the medics behind and vanished into the darkness
Twilight didn't leave Dash for the entire night. She had been by her side the whole time. Dash just wouldn't wake up. Twilight was too worried to even think of falling asleep. Either that or the heart monitor kept her awake. Over the first hours her heartbeat finally went down, but it wouldn't become stable. The medics got nervous since no medicament would work.
Twilight couldn't bear it anymore. She shook the Pegasus, calling her name.
"Dash, wake up! Wake up! Please..."
As a tear fell down on Dash, it got rainbow colored before it vanished. Dash opened her eyes. She saw the purple alicorn with closed eyes sobbing silently.
"Twi?"
Twilights eyes shot open.
"Rainbow! You're awake! You're okey.."
She sighed in relieve and pulled Dash into a hug. Dash just stared at her.
What the hay? Did something happen?
"You have no idea how worried I was!"
Tears were streaming down her face. Dash began twitching again.
"Oh no, what's wrong?"
Dash began shivering too.
"It's her magic. She can sense deep emotions."
"Princess! I'm so glad you're back. Is this sense something bad? Can it hurt her?"
Dash shook her head.
"It's harmless. As long as she can control it so it doesn't overtake her."
Celestia glared at Dash. The Pegasus shivered even more.
"It's okey Dash, I know you can."
Twilight said warmly. To her surprise it made another reaction. Dash began crying again, shook her head and threw herself back into the bed.
"Twilight. She can't. She never wanted to learn it. Even if it could kill her."
"K-K-Kill?!"
"I think we should leave her for now. And Aurora, maybe you should take your medicine for once."
Celestia placed the pills on the table next to her bed. Then she and Twilight left. Dash sighed.
"Princess, what did you mean by 'even if it could kill her'?"
"If she can't control her magic, it would overtake her and she would die from the impact. You know what happens when unicorn magic is too powerful for the caster?"
Twilight nodded. A cool shiver went down her spine at the thought.
"It's the same with her magic. You know that she already has a powerful Pegasi magic. What do you think how powerful her secret magic is?"
Twilight thought back to the night where Dash twitched and her spell activated itself from the immense magic coming from Dash. Twilight stopped in her tracks.
"Oh gosh.."
Was all Twilight could say and she fell to her haunches.
Celestia nodded back to her. Then she left Twilight back alone and went to her room.
Twilight would save her friend. She wouldn't let her down. Even if She didn't want to take her medicine. Twilight would MAKE her take them if she needed. She would prevent the worst from coming. She would prevent her from having another atta-
Come to think
What kind of attack is she having? Twilight had never really seen anything like this. Was it because of fear? Was it her magic? Wait, no. Her magic is blocked by the spell.
"Twilight?"
She turned to see the Pegasus standing behind her. She looked so much...weaker than when she woke up. A nurse joined them.
"We gave her the medicine. She should be fine for today."
The nurse left again.
"How are you feeling?"
Dash looked away for a moment and hesitated. She looked back at Twilight and frowned.
"Does it matter?!"
She flared her wings in anger, startling Twilight.
"Rainbow...what's wrong..."
Dash just walked past Twilight into her room and slammed the door.
Something was off. Totally. Why was Dash acting this way?
Twilight tried to puzzle the peaces together.
The pills, the attacks she still didn't know what about they were, the uncontrollable power, the way Dash acted, the way Celestia acted, the magic barriers...
What in Equestria is going on!?
Dash laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling, her wings spread. The door opened. She didn't care. Somepony stepped in and closed the door. She didn't care. She felt the bed sink a bit to her side. She didn't care. She felt a hoof touching her wing. She jumped, sat up and folded her wings.
"HEY! WATCH YOUR HOOVES!!!"
Twilight pulled her hoof tightly back onto her body. Defeated she left the Pegasus alone again and went to Celestia's room. She wanted to know what was going on, and nothing and no pony could stop her.
"Life is hard for her..."
"I can tell."
"She never wanted to be royalty. She only wanted to fly. We couldn't let her outside. It was too dangerous for her. If she had her magic activated while she's with other ponies, she would be in great danger."
"So..if you didn't let her outside, how did she earn her cutie mark? How did she perform the Sonic Rainboom? How did she meet Fluttershy and the rest of us? How-"
"Twilight!"
"I'm sorry..."
"Like I said, Aurora never wanted to be a royalty. She didn't want to know anything about her powers. She only wanted to fly and we forbade it. So one day she ran away."
"Okey, that sounds just like what Dash would do."
"Since she was only a filly-"
"What?!"
"-the guards were fast enough to catch her and bring her back. We had a little fight and then she was living by her father for a few years."
"Her father?"
"Twilight, I think you are aware of how fillies are made."
"I know, I just..never mind."
"Then she moved with Fluttershy to Ponyville. She would have gone anywhere only to stay away from the castle."
"Weren't you afraid that something would happen and that Dash would be in danger?"
"Of course I was. I am every single second she isn't here."
"Wait, what about her father? Where is he?"
"Twilight. He died years ago."
Twilight looked down. Celestia sighed.
"Why does she need those pills now? She never took anything...well at least I think so."
"Because she-"
A guards rushed into the room.
"Princess! We have four bearers of the elements of harmony and a dragon waiting outside, they want to come in."
"Let them inside."
Twilight awoke the next morning by the sunlight shining through the window into her face. She got up and stretched herself. The floor was harder that it looked like. She looked over the bed.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
The scream made Dash jump and she fell out off the bed.
"What the hay?"
"Sorry! I just...Look for yourself!"
She pointed to the bathroom. Dash took the hint and went for a look in the mirror.
"Oh no..."
"Oh no? Oh no?! You're gray and black and all you say is 'oh no'?!"
"Geez Twi, calm down will ya?"
"Oh SORRY that I'm freaking out because my once colorful friend turned GRAY over night!!!"
"TWILIGHT SHUT UP!!!"
The door opened and the guards stormed inside.
"What's the prob-"
He lost his words when he saw Dash in all shades gray.
"We'll get the Princess-"
"-and the medics!"
They stormed back out. Twilight and Dash sharing glances.
"How can you just play it cool?"
"You're talking to the princess of awesomeness."
"Point taken."
"Aren't you even a little bit worried?"
"Maybe. I don't care."
"You don't care?"
"Yep."
"Dash. Sometimes you're more random than Pinkie Pie."
"Nah, I think no pony could EVER be as random as Pinkie."
"You seem to be feeling better than yesterday."
Dash looked away.
"Yeah.."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Let's get back into the main room before the medi-"
The door swung open and the medics came inside, grabbing Rainbow and taking her to the medical centre. Again. Twilight was hoping they knew what was happening.
And they knew it perfectly.
Twilight wanted to follow them but got stopped by the guards.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To my friend?"
"We are sorry, but we can't let you."
"What?"
Without another word they locked Twilight inside.
This whole thing was starting to creep her out.
The medics tried to inject something into Rainbow, but she wouldn't let them. She struggled, screamed and called for Twilight but couldn't escape the grips from the guards. After a while they had enough and held her with their magic. Now she couldn't move anymore. They got the poison into her and she fell silent. Then they took her into the secret lab at the end of the medical center. Dash was in a somewhat coma and got cabled everywhere. Her magic had been sucked out of her into a huge glass-like ball. The magic was glowing in every color of the rainbow.
Meanwhile Twilight was trying everything to get out of there. Something was terribly wrong here. She just knew it. Something was happening to Dash. It felt like she could hear her calling for her. She needed to get there as soon as possible.
She had to make a plan. Her eyes met the pills Rainbow had to take, then she looked at the door. She smirked.
"Help! HEEELP!!!"
The door unlocked and opened. As the guards wanted to run inside, Twilight spread the pills all over the way, causing the guards to stumble and fall. Losing not another second, Twilight stormed out and ran into the medical center. She walked through it, looking in every direction but couldn't find Dash, nor any doc for that matter. She found a door at the end of the way with a sign. 'Keep out!' She rolled her eyes and walked inside.
She had to shield her eyes from the light. As her eyes started to adjust a bit to the light, she could see what it actually was. A rainbow colored substance that was glowing brighter than the sun ever could. Then she saw the medics. Every one of them had some kind of sunglasses. Pretty clever. A few were surrounding the magic glass and took notes. Then she spottet the source for the magic.
Rainbow.
Twilight rushed down to her.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
The medics turned to face Twilight. Some in fear, some in anger, the others in confusion.
"STOP THE MASHINE ALREADY!!!! YOU'RE KILLING HER!!!!"
No pony moved. Twilight grunted and ripped the cables off the gray Pegasus.
"SOMEPONY STOP HER!!!"
Called a pony in the background. Then they all went towards Twilight.
"Rainbow! Please! Wake up! Please! Please..."
Out of nowhere, guards came and tried to grab Twilight. She fought them off. No pony ever would stop her from saving her friend!
This time, Dash did not twitch.
Twilight pulled the unconscious Pegasus onto her back.
"Miss Sparkle! This is for her own good!"
"She doesn't look so good to me!"
"We will fix that in no time!"
"Oh no. YOU don't!"
"What? Why not?"
"Because I am taking her to a REAL hospital!"
"No you don't!"
"Watch me!"
With that she ran out before any pony could try to stop her again. She made her way outside and teleported herself and Dash to the next hospital.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
There it was again.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Am I ever going to get rid of this?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Probably not.
"Is she going to be okey?"
I know that voice...
"We can't know for sure. She got a pretty strong anesthetic. She would need a lot of luck if she will ever wake up again."
Sniff. Sniff.
"Thank you anyway.."
"I'm sorry."
Hey! I can hear everything you're talking about! I'm right here!
"Oh Rainbow...I should have known there was something wrong..."
What are you talking about?
"Urgh, why couldn't I have been there sooner...I should have known they had a secret lab!"
What? Could you explain this whole thing? I have no idea what you're talking about!
"Please...wake up..."
What are you...wait a minute. Why can't I move? Or see? Or talk? AAAAAAAH AM I DEAD?! I DON'T WANT TO BE DEAD!!!!
BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep!!!!
"Rainbow!!!"
"Every pony step aside!"
"Shock!"
*SHOCK*
Ow!!
BeepBeepBeep Beep Beep. Beep. Beep.
Urgh...why do they always have to do this...
"She's waking up! She's waking up!"
Of course I'm waking up...wait, I was asleep?
She coughed.
"What the heck?"
Her voice cracked.
"Rainbow!"
Twilight hugged the Pegasus with tears running down her cheeks.
"Whaaat is going on..."
She released the Pegasus.
"Dash, you've been in a coma for two weeks! I thought you would never wake up ever again!"
"Wait, I what?!"
"You can't remember anything?"
"Nope."
"It must be the side effect of the poison. You are probably going to remember everything over the next few weeks."
"Poison? What poison?"
"Yeah, what poison?"
"They injected you a magical poison that made you fall into a coma. You are also regaining your color by the way."
"My co-"
She looked at her gray hooves that were showing a light blue.
"What the HAY?!"
She got up and walked into the bathroom of the hospital room and looked into the mirror.
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!"
"Well, when you were completely gray, you shrugged it off and didn't care."
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gaaaaawsh!"
"Calm down, you're getting your color back."
"OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!!!"
"Okey this is just silly."
"I REMEMBER"
"Oh.."
Dash began shivering and twitching, her breathing became shaky.
"Oh no, PLEASE don't get another attack!"
"I'm fine! I'm fine!"
She was panting for air. Twilight pulled her into a tight hug.
"Calm down, I'm here! I won't leave you!"
Tears were streaming down Dash's face as she watched the horrible memories right before her eyes.
After a few days stay at the hospital, Dash was now living with Twilight and Spike since nobody wanted to risk anything. Twilight was worried first that Dash wouldn't like the idea of living in a castle again, just after what happened.
Dash was almost fully colored again and her magic never activated itself again, yet. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or worried. But she didn't care so much, since there were more important things right now...
They still had to explain everything to Spike and the others...
"You still don't want to eat anything?"
She shook her head.
"Dash you're going to starve!"
"I'm just not hungry..."
"You haven't eaten in Days!"
Dash got up and left the table. Twilight sighed.
"What's Her problem? I know that she isn't eating much anyway, but this is redicolous!"
"I wish I knew, Spike...I wish I knew..."
Since Twiligt was lost about what was going on with Rainbow, she hit the books again. Everything about psychology, Pegasi behavior and Pegasi anatomy. She didn't leave the library so often anymore, kept reading day and night.
On the next day Dash was finally flying a bit again. She even ate a pancake, after Twilight wouldn't stop pleading her, but that's it.
That night, Twilight came to the depression chapter of her psychology book.
Meanwhile Dash laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She just wouldn't fall asleep anymore. She already got trouble sleeping with the nightmares about what happened to her in the Canterlot castle many years ago. She sighed and got up, walking around in her room.
She felt so lost, so empty. She didn't feel any emotion anymore. She wouldn't talk to anypony about anything. Why bother her friends with her problems..?
She walked over to her window, staring into the night sky. They would come one day. They would take her back again. They would continue this torture.
She felt tears in her eyes.
She had to do something. For some reason she wanted to climb out of the window. The fall should be deep enough to kill her.
Kill her?
Why was she thinking like that?
Why did it feel so.. right?
She breathed in shakily, tears streaming down her face. She wished Twilight would wrap her arms around her right now...but somehow she just wanted to be alone...
The nagging feeling to hurt herself was driving her insane. It felt like her soul was cut in several pieces. She looked around in her room. Of course. Twilight had made everything save. Or she just didn't have any sharp things.
Then she got an idea.
She opened her door, checking if the coast was clear. She was glad she could see in the dark so well, since she was a Pegasus.
She went down the stairs. She still wasn't used to them though. She had wings, but didn't really feel like flying. To her luck, she slipped with a fore hoof and fell on the stairs. She was biting back the yelp and tried to get on her hooves again. She felt a siring pain in her back leg.
Must have strained it...Urgh I hate stairs!
She finally got onto her hooves and walked into the bathroom carefully. She searched in every cabinet for anything sharp. Of course, the kitchen would be a better place, but then she would have to pass the library door and she really didn't want to get caught. As she was touching in one of the cabinets with her hoof, she shrieked back.
GAAAH!!! Hoof file!!!
The clattering sound of the file falling on the floor made Twilights ears perk up. She put the book on the floor and walked as silently as she could. She heard something open and close several times and grunts and sighs in disappointment coming from the bathroom. She opened the door a bit so she could stick her head through and see what was going on.
"Rainbow?"
She caused the Pegasus to jump.
"YAAAAH!!"
She slammed the cabinet shut and sat herself as if nothing happened.
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"I..couldn't sleep...and shouldn't you be sleeping too?!"
Suddenly Dashs voice rose up in an angry tone.
"Calm down. I just wanted to know what you were doing in here."
"I...I...I..uh..."
Her eyes wandered in the room. Not that Twilight could see it so much.
"I juss... I just wanted to wash my hooves."
"Wash your..hooves?"
"Yeah.. they um... were sweaty.. yeah."
Twilight didn't believe her, but she knew she wouldn't get a real answer from her. Dash walked back to her room. Gladly Twilight didn't notice that she had been hurt thanks to the darkness.
Twilight went back to her book.
Dash was still tortured by the feeling to harm herself. Out of pure desperation, she opened her right wing and ripped out some of the smaller feathers. She had a lot of them, Twilight wouldn't notice. The pain didn't last long. A few drops of blood were pouring down her feathers.
Darn it I forgot about that part!
She started licking her blood from her wing. Once the bleeding stopped she folded her wing back to her side. She just shoved the lose feathers under the bed. She felt so much calmer. She hopped on her bed, curled into a ball and finally fell asleep.
Over the next two days it went on like this. Dash was at least eating a bit again, probably thanks to her nightly feather ripping. It got worse. She did it now on both wings, since her right one didn't have so many small ones anymore and she couldn't do it on the outside or somepony would notice. Still, she even did it with a few big ones. The bleeding lasted longer thanks to her actions. She didn't even care about licking the blood anymore. She shoved bloodied feathers under the bed. It hurt her to move her sore, half-way naked wings, so she kept them closed over the day.
The next day Spike and Twilight would have their clean up day, and the castle was a bit of a mess. To make it more comfortable, and so she wouldn't stay in their way, Twilight had the idea that Dash would stay the day with Applejack. They haven't seen any of their friends since Canterlot, and maybe Applejack could cheer Dash up a bit so she would fly again.
At Sweet Apple Acres, they were met by Applejack and Applebloom arguing. A rare scene, considering they are more like a team than sisters.
"Um...hi?"
"Twilight! It's so good to see you home again!"
Since Applejack turned her attention to the new guests, Applebloom turned and ran off to her clubhouse.
"What was going on with you two? I've hardly ever seen you two having a fight.."
"Argh, that gal wanted to get 'er cutie mark for pig milking!"
"You can milk pigs?"
"No."
"Oh.."
"So..you got a reason ta come by? Sorry Ah dun wanna sound mean or anythin'."
"Oh, right. Yes, I do have a reason."
She looked around. She could have sworn Dash had been behind her on the way, even though she was walking kinda slowly. She still didn't know about her leg. She asked her once when she payed more attention to it, but Dash just shrugged it off. Said that Twilight would be so wrapped up in her books that she was imaginating things.
"Rainbow?"
Finally they spotted the Pegasus walking towards them.
"Howdy RD! Long time no see! How have ya been?"
Applejack greeted her with a warming smile. The Pegasus glanced downwards, away from the farm pony, head hanging low. Applejacks smile faded.
"Is...there somethin wrong?"
"Can we come in?"
"Of course!"
Inside the farm house, Dash was set upstairs into the guest room. Twilight found it a better idea to have her out of this conversation. She and Applejack were talking at the kitchen table.
"So, what's goin on with Dash?"
"She's...well...not very...happy at the moment. You see...there were...um...really..."
"Twi jes spit it out."
"There were very ugly circumstances and she doesn't want to fly. She isn't eating anything for days, I don't know what to do anymore..."
Applejack was stunned.
"Well, I thought maybe you could, cheer her up a little bit, make her fly again, while Spike and I are cleaning the castle."
"You don't have ta ask! I'd do anythin for a friend! Especially a friend in need!"
"Thank you Applejack."
"It's nothin."
"So... about Applebloom?"
"What about 'er."
"Applejack, I can see that you're still angry at her. You wanna talk about it?"
"Fine..."
Meanwhile, Dash was getting bored. What was taking them so long? Twilight said she would only tell her that she was going to stay here for the day...
She got up from the bed and silently walked down the stairs, wincing a bit as she felt her strained leg again. She heard yelling about somepony being too stupid to think things through. She came closer to the kitchen door, carefully not to be seen or heard.
"Why does she always have ta be so plain stupid?!"
"Applejack..don't talk about her like that. I thought you were sisters!"
"Well, ah thought that too."
"Applejack..."
"No. That gal is only making problems!"
Dash had tears in her eyes and she ran back upstairs into the guest room, ignoring the pain in her leg.
"Applejack, you know how little sisters are. She just wants to get her cutie mark."
"Yeah, ah know.."
Dash stared through the window outside. Her friends hated her. She sighed. Then she looked at a tree and got an idea. She went back down and searched for a rope. Big Mac found her as she was still empty hooved.
"Need anythin'?"
"A rope."
Twilight was leaving Sweet Apple Acres. She and Applejack waved their goodbyes.
"Thanks again Twilight!"
"No problem Applejack! I wish I could stay longer but I think Spike could use some help with the clean up."
"It's a'right. Ah think ah might be able to get Dash to flying again."
"Hopefully. That would be great."
Big Mac was pacing around. Something was wrong. Why did it feel so wrong to let her go with the rope...what did she need it for...
"Heya big fella, why so antsy?"
"Applejack. Ah think there's somethin wrong!"
"What's goin on, big brother?"
"Your friend asked for a rope. She hadn't come back yet."
"A rope? What would she need a rope for?"
"Ah dunno. A have a bad feelin 'bout this, sis.."
Meanwhile Twilight was cleaning up downstairs as a yelp coming from upstairs made her break the vase she had been cleaning with her magic.
"AAAAAAHH! SWEET CELESTIA!!!"
"Spike! Even if Dash isn't around, do you Really have to mention that name?!"
"Just get here and look at THIS!!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow but complied. She went upstairs into Dashs room.
Then she saw what he meant. A big bunch of blue feathers with blood laid in front of the bed, as Spike must have shoved them from under it.
"Rainbow..."
"For a second I thought there laid her wings..."
"Oh no.."
"What? It's no wonder she won't fly! Her wings must be naked."
"Not that. I've read that in depression they won't eat and can't sleep and aren't happy. They don't care about anything or anyone. So they get kind of insane and harm themselves, if not kill!"
"WHAT?! Wait, what's depression? Can you catch it too?!"
"No, you can't. I first thought about Dash falling into one but shrugged it off... Oh my gosh...I need to get back to Rainbow Dash..."
"What about this?"
"Just continue with other rooms!"
She grabbed a feather with her magic and stormed back to Sweet Apple Acres. She crashed through the front door, startling Applejack and Big Mac.
"WHERE IS RAINBOW DASH?!?!"
"Woah there nelly, calm down."
"Only if you tell me where Dash is!!!"
"Ah dunno."
"You don't know?!"
"Yeah, she left with a rope and...why are you so panicked?"
"GGGHHHHAAAAARRRRWWWW!!!!!!"
She ran outside, casting a finding spell on the feather and it flew into the wide open fields to a big tree. As she finally reached it panting, she saw Dash sitting there with the ends of the rope tightly grasped in her hooves, the rope wrapped around her neck, sobbing with her wings hanging low.
"Dash..."
She walked towards the broken Pegasus and pulled her under her wings, sitting beside her.
"It's gonna be okey... I'm here... I won't let anything happen to you.. I promise..."
Applejack and Big Mac approached.
"What in the Hay is goin on?"
Big Mac shushed his sister, seeing that the Pegasus was suffering.
"Twilight..."
"Yes?"
"...why can't I kill myself...why can't I die...why do I have to be alive..."
Twilight just hugged her even more. Tears finally falling down her face too. Applejack got curious and concerned about what Dash just said. She joined the two and hugged Dash now too.
Inside the farmhouse they all sat at the table, drinking hot chocolate. Since their friends still had no clue about what had happened in Canterlot, AJ just reacted like everything was okey.
"Now what in tarnation were you doing? You could have been killed!"
Twilight shot her a glare that said 'oh, you don't say!'. The farm pony was taken aback. Dash just stared into her cup, still circling the drink around with the spoon.
"Okey, what is goin on?"
No response. Twilight joined Dash with looking into her own cup. Applejack was a bit annoyed, but couldn't shake off the feeling that something was indeed wrong.
"We'll tell you.."
Twilight finally spoke up, looking at Dash, then at Applejack, repeatedly.
"We'll tell all of you. But now Really isn't the right time."
Applejack swallowed. She looked at Dash, who has her eyes closed, tears falling down into her cup.
-Friendship Castle-
"Rainbow trust me it's okey"
"No! Nothing's okey!"
"Guys. You wanna tell me what's going on."
The two princesses turned to Spike. Dash went upstairs into her room. Twilight and Spike watched her go.
"I get it. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
Twighlight sighed. She went upstairs to Dash.
She opened the door and saw Dash staring through the window outside.
"Rainbow...you know they can't hurt you anymore. You are safe in here."
"They'll come back, capture me and lock me up in the castle again."
"Dash, you're just being paranoid."
At this the Pegasus turned to Twilight and frowned.
"Paranoid?! Me?! Are you serious?!"
"Dash. You are a princess. They can't do anything to you if you tell them to stop!"
"No they won't! They only listen to Celestia!"
"Why?"
"What do you think she's using my magic for?! She isn't the princess that every pony thinks she is! Ponies that don't listen to her command get controlled by her!"
Now Twilight was shocked. Of course, Dash knew Way more than she did.
"I'm sorry..."
Dash sighed.
"I'm sorry too..."
Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"...shouldn't have snapped at you like that...not after you saved my life how many times now..?"
"It's fine."
Then a thought struck her mind.
"Wait, if she can control minds with your magic, why can't she just control you?"
"Um hello? Can you turn your own magic against yourself?"
Twilight shook her head. She looked at the bed and remembered something.
"Dash, show me your wings."
The Pegasus glanced nervously at Twilight. She looked down to a wing with a sorrowful face that said 'you don't want to see that...'.
Twilight walked towards the Pegasus.
"I just want to see it. I won't judge you at anything."
Dash sighed but extended her wings slowly and winced a bit.
Twilight couldn't believe what she saw. The wings were mostly covered with dried blood and the wounds were a bit infected. She felt her eyes tear up as she wondered why Dash would do something like This to her precious wings. Dash just looked away.
Twilight got up.
"Follow me, we have to get these wounds treated."
Dash didn't dare to move her wings and just got up with them hanging low, careful not to touch anything with them.
They went into the bathroom and Twilight was cleaning the wings with water to wash away the blood. Then she disinfected the wounds and carefully put an ointment on them. Last but not least, she bandaged the wings (closed) to prevent Dash from continuing this and for her wounds to heal.
"It's gonna be okey, I promise."
Dash cracked a smile. Twilight would protect her. Wow.. what an odd feeling.
Speaking of feeling
Dashs body twitched, almost throwing her on the floor. Twilight stared at her concerned.
"Are you okey?"
Dash stared at Twilight in fright.
"No no no no no no no..."
She got up.
"...no no no no no no no no..."
She trotted in a circle.
"...no no no no no no no Ow!"
She stopped dead in her tracks and lifted her hind leg, gritting her teeth.
"I Knew you were hurt! Are you okey?"
Dash sat down, wincing at the movement.
"I'm fine!"
Twilight groaned. Even when she was caught she still didn't admit anything. Typical for Dash.
"Oh Dash...what am I gonna do with you..."
"Twilight it's nothing!"
"Then what is it? You're hurt and I knew that for days!"
"It's just strained, like I said it's nothing."
"How did it happen?"
"I...fell down the stairs..."
"So that was the sound before I found you in the bathroom, to 'wash your hooves'."
She gave Dash a stern look. Dash scratched the back of her head and laughed sheepishly.
"Yeah..about that..."
"I can imagine. But it's not gonna get better if you keep walking around like this."
"I know..."
"Why don't we get something to eat? Spike should be done with cooking by now."
Dash looked away.
"You're going to eat. If you don't I can make you."
"Fine.."
The two got up and walked to the kitchen.
That night was pure torture. All the bad memories from the past, all the pain, all the agony...
..it all came back in her dreams...
Medics all around her, electricity surrounded her body as the filly was screaming in agony. All the ponies had blank faces with pitch black eyes. Celestia joined the scene, the filly pleading to stop, but Celestia ignored it and turned the machines higher. As the machines were about to blow..
Dash woke up screaming, still seeing the scene before her eyes she screamed 'NO' repeatedly as she tried to escape...
...and covered in the corner shivering
Twilight stormed into the room. She switched on the lights and walked over to the Pegasus, that was still saying 'No' every two seconds as she pressed herself against the walls.
"Dash it's okey, I'm here, no pony can hurt you.."
Twilight wrapped her arms around the Pegasus....
Then she heard she shrillest, heart wrenching scream she had ever heard. She had to cover her ears. But she didn't back away. She gently stroked the Pegasus' prismatic mane in an attempt to calm her down.
After they sat there like this for a about ten minutes, the panting pegasus finally calmed down. The visions faded. She finally realized she was in Twilights Castle.
Speaking of Twilight, Dash turned her head as soon as she noticed the stroking and saw her friend smiling at her. She let out a relieving sigh.
"Are you okey?"
Dash hesitated. "I am now."
"Come on."
Twilight got up and walked over to the door.
"What's going on?"
"You'll sleep with me or else you'll just have another nightmare if you try to sleep alone again."
Dash couldn't help but smile at the idea of sharing a bed with Twilight.
Twilight turned off the lights as they exited the room. They entered Twilights bedroom. Spike was still asleep, but both ponies didn't care, he had always been a heavy sleeper.
Cuddling up in the bed, both were smiling at the company.
The next morning began heartwarming as Twilight found herself in the embrace of a certain Pegasus. Something was off, though. What she felt, despite the warmth and the soft fur, was hard. She carefully turned around, careful not to wake the Pegasus, and gently touched Dashs chest. She was a little shocked as she felt the Pegasus' ribs. Knowing that she barely ate anything over that last week didn't make it any easier. She had to hit her books again, hoping to find anything about this 'not eating phase'.
She climbed as slowly and carefully as possible out off the bed and made her way downstairs.
About an hour later, Spike woke up. Stretching himself, he looked over to Twilights bed.
'Weird, normally she's awake before me...'
He walked over to it, closing his eyes and smiling kind of evil, he gently shook the pony at first.
"Wakey Wakey Twily"
Until he opened his eyes. The pony wasn't purple. It was all colors of the rainbow.
"Rainbow Dash?! Urgh figures, since when is Twilight sleeping at This hour."
Thanks to Spike, the Pegasus began to stir. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Spike right before her face.
"GAH!"
She shrieked and jumped, startling Spike.
"Wow wow, hey, calm down, it's me, Spike!"
Dash could only sigh.
"Dash, what are you doing in Twi's bed?"
Dash was blushing at that statement, finally realizing that this wasn't her room and she remembered last night. She looked around.
"Where's Twi?"
Spike crossed his arms.
"How should I know."
Dash blinked at him, not understanding.
"I'm not getting any answers here, huh?"
"Sorry.."
"Anyways, I'll be making breakfast."
He left Dash alone. She jumped from the bed and immediately regretted it as she lifted her hindleg. She sighed once again and made her way to the stairs on three legs, not daring to use her hurt one right now. All she had to do was getting down those stairs without hurting herself further.
One hoof after the other...one hoof after the other...
Luckily for her, Twilight was just on her way to get the Pegasus.
Seeing that she was definitely hurt, she wasted not another second.
"Dash, wait!"
The Pegasus didn't move another muscle. Twilight came flying up to her and levitated the Pegasus downstairs.
"Thanks Twi..."
"No problem. We don't want you to hurt yourself any more, do we?"
She gave the Pegasus a warm smile.
"I wish I could fly again... who even came up with the stupid idea of building those homicidal things called 'stairs'?!"
Twilight laughed at the statement. But as Dash brought up her wings...
"Come on, we still have time before breakfast. Why not check your wings?"
Dash nodded and they went into the bathroom.
Twilight unwrapped the Pegasus' wings, revealing better looking, healing, wounded, half naked wings. She asked Dash to spread them. Twilight gasped silently to herself, her eyes widened.
She wasn't really looking at the wings,
but at the skinny form of her friend. She could easily see the ribs, now that the wings aren't covering it anymore. She examined the rest of the Pegasus now. The hips were starting to show and her legs were pretty skinny. She didn't really notice anything of this before.
Twilight broke out of her trance as she saw she confused look from Dash.
"Uh.. right. Sorry, I kind of lost myself in my thoughts a bit, hehe.."
"Yeah, sure. Egghead."
Twilight didn't know if Dash either knew about herself or if she was just being herself again. She treated the wounds again and bandaged them again. Just in time. Spike called for the two to come for breakfast.
For Rainbow, life got better. Twilight was by her side and she felt safe. She cared for her. She Loved her.
Sometimes Dash could just kiss her for all she's doing.
Kiss?
The kiss.. this is how this all started. Her plan.
All ruined by her magic she had to keep hidden.
No, bad thoughts! I want to be happy
for Twilight!
Twilight looked confused at Dash's mood changes while she changed the bandages.
"Hey Rainbow, looks like your feathers are growing back!"
The alicorn cheered, breaking Dash out off her thoughts. The Pegasus looked at the wing, a smile forming on her face.
But it didn't last long. She tried to fight back the magic she felt growing inside her, clenching her eyes shut as she turned her head away from Twilight.
"What's wrong?"
Twilight asked, but the only answer was a twitch from Dash. Then she got it. It started the very moment she was thinking how cute Dash was when she was happy. She knew that strong emotions are causing her magic to tell her that.
"Sorry.."
She whispered. Dash was shivering a bit by now. The Pegasus turned back to Twilight, opening her eyes. To Twilights surprise, Dash was smiling at her. She could feel Twilights love. Twilight could even see her slightly blushing and chuckled a bit at what's happening. Dash joined Twilight and Spike heard the giggling from the bathroom. He wasn't a baby, but he was still a bit curious on what they were doing. It sounded like fun.
He sneaked up to the door and peaked a look inside. They just sat there next to each other and laughed. He stepped inside.
"Hey, what's so funny?"
They both gasped in surprise. Dash searching for anything to hide in as her magic sensed mixed feelings it couldn't cope with. In other words, she was twitching and shivering because her magic got overextended. She hid herself behind Twilight.
Of course, Spike got more curious, but also a bit concerned since nobody is okey when they are twitching and shivering, right?
"Uh, Dash? You okey?"
To her luck, Twilight answered for the Pegasus.
"Spike, please wait outside. We will explain everything when we're ready, okey?"
"Al..right..?"
He left the two, closing the door. Twilight went over to Dash.
"T-Thanks, T-T-Twil-light.."
She choked out. Twilight wrapped a wing around the Pegasus. Dash sighed.
"I'm s-sorry.."
"What? Why?"
"T-This stupid m-m-magic ruins e-everything..!" She buried her face into Twilights chest.
"Dash.. it's okey, really."
Dash looked up to her again.
"We will figure out how you can control it."
"B-But how?"
A long silence.
"I have no idea.."
Twilight whispered. She just noticed right then that Dash was calm now.
"Ready to go?"
"Y-Yeah... let's go."
They left the bathroom. Spike sat on the couch, reading the newspaper. As he heard the door close, he looked up to them and put the paper away. Dash wasn't looking up at him, her eyes were glued on the floor as her and Twilight walked over to him.
"I take it, this whole thing has to do something with you being picked up to canterlot and coming back with a colorless Rainbow Dash from the hospital, ripping out her feathers and trying to hang herself?"
Twilight looked hurt at him and saw that Dash wasn't happy about being reminded about what happened these last few weeks.
"Sorry. So, what's about this whole thing?"
Twilight glanced at Dash, who gave her a nod. And so, Twilight began with the story...
What happened on the cloud, the meeting with Celestia and surprisingly Dash, the explanations from Dash, the training with her magic, the pills, the attacks, and of course what happened in the castle lab.
"... and that's why I had to sent you outside. Sorry for that.."
Spike just stared back and forth between Twilight and Rainbow. Dash was silent the entire time, fighting back tears from the reminding of the events.
"So let me get this straight. Rainbow Dash is a PRINCESS and Daughter of Princess Celestia herself?!"
Twilight cringed at the mentioning of the name and turned to see Dash crying. She once again put a wing around her, trying to comfort her.
"Yes Spike."
"Wow. You are friends for how long now and you only know about all this because of the new spell you found?"
"Well.. yes."
"Bummer. So anyways, how do you want to figure out how she can control it?"
*sigh* "I have no idea..."
As the days went on, Dash was finally able to walk around without bandages and her leg healed as well. Her feathers were now almost fully grown back, only the few primaries still needed more time. Everything was growing. The bonding between Dash and Twilight, Dashs feathers.. and her magic.
She often found herself pacing around in circles when she tried to get herself under control. She never slept in her own bed anymore. She was sleeping with Twilight, and Spike, in Twilights bedroom. Even though she felt safer with Twilight by her side, she Knew that Celestia was coming back to get her.
Right now was the middle of the night. Twilight and Spike were asleep for hours now, but Dash couldn't fall asleep anymore. All she did since she was in bed was staring outside through the window into the night sky.
Suddenly she had an image in her mind. She saw Celestia and guards. "You all know what to do. So go. Go and bring me back my daughter!" said Celestia and the guards flew into the sky.
Dash broke out of her trance. Celestia was going to send her guards to bring her back again.
She turned over to see Twilight still asleep. She looked so peaceful...
No. She couldn't wake her up.
She needed someone right now... She couldn't be alone right now... She..
'I want to die...'
...broke down in tears. She curled herself like a ball, trying to shield herself. She was shivering and sobbing as tears streamed down her face. She had to end this.. that's all her mind was telling her.
She got up and left the room, walking silent enough since she was a Pegasus. She walked into the kitchen. Searching for something sharp. Knives to be exact. She opened the cabinet she knew the knives where in from watching Spike in the kitchen while he was cooking.
She took one out and tested it, running it along her side.
Sharp? Not sharp at all. The knife fell on the floor.
She took the next one and tested it like the previous one.
Sharp? Nope. This one too fell on the floor.
She took another one and tested it like the other ones.
Sharp? SHARP!!! She shrieked and the knife hit the ground.
Dash started panting as she felt a great tearing pain in her side. Once again tears flowing down. Her legs shook and she let herself fall to the ground.
What she didn't know was that Spike had followed her. He woke up not a minute after Dash left because he was thirsty and wanted to get a glass of water. When he heard the clattering sound from the knives hitting the ground, he stayed covered. Just like Pegasi, Dragons could see in the dark pretty well. When he heard Dash scream, he went for the light switch. The lights went on and he ran up to Dash, who was barely conscious due to the blood loss and pain. The sight of blood running down her side made a cold feeling in his stomach.
"Dash! What's gotten into you?! Are you insane?!"
He didn't really know what to do right now. Then the front door slammed open. Spike, in a slight state of shock, turned to see Fluttershy running towards him. She stopped the second she saw Dash, something falling from her hoof to the floor.
"Oh, oh my, I hope I'm not too late!"
She covered her mouth with a hoof, not able to bear the sight of her friend.
"Spike, go and wake up Twilight! I'll try to stop the bleeding!"
Spike nodded and ran upstairs. Fluttershy began to cry. She ran into the bathroom and grabbed a few bandages. Pressing them down on the wound she got a bit surprised by a flash of purple light when Twilight appeared. She ran over to Dash, her horn and Dashs body began to glow in her purple aura as she casted a spell to stop the bleeding.
Once the bleeding stopped, Twilight sighed. Who could have guessed she would do something like That? She was laughing just a few days ago...
Wait a second. Fluttershy could have guessed, why else would she be here?!
"Fluttershy? What are you doing here at this hour?"
"Oh, I'm sorry.. is it a bad time?"
Spike stared at her, looked at Dash lying next to them unconscious, then back to the yellow Pegasus.
"Oh.. right."
She turned to grab the bottle from the floor that she dropped when she first saw Dash.
She handed it over to Twilight, who read it out loud
"Anti.. Depressant?!"
She stared at Fluttershy in disbelief.
"She's... Rainbow.. Fluttershy, how.. how long..."
Fluttershy glanced sadly at Dash.
"She's taking them since she was a filly."
Twilight and Spike gasped in shock.
"Me and the others are always checking on her to make sure she takes them."
She looked up to Twilight.
"She has a bad depression since she was a filly.. When I found them in her home I was worried sick. I know what happens if she doesn't take them for a while. Even one day without could be her last... I don't want her to end like this!"
'Depression, of course! That's what my book said!'
Tears were now streaming down on the ponies faces. Spike only looked at Dash, listening what Fluttershy had to say.
"Fluttershy? Do you know what's causing her depression?"
Fluttershy shook her head.
"She never wanted to talk about anything with anypony. We tried to get her to open up but it was no use, so one day we gave up and just made sure she stayed happy.
I was there when it all started... I'd like to show you something."
She got up and walked over to Dashs front. Twilight came next to her. Fluttershy sat down and grabbed Dashs upper foreleg. She stroke against her fur, revealing lines where she had no fur. When Twilight looked closer to it, they weren't just furless lines. They were scars. Twilights eyes widened.
Fluttershy held Dash's leg up, stroking against the fur on the down side, revealing a big scar that had been stitched. Twilight got an idea on what Dash did back then. Fluttershy placed Dashs leg back down on the floor.
"I never knew..."
They stayed with Dash for hours talking about the past. Like Twilight guessed, Fluttershy didn't know a thing about Dashs magic. When Dash didn't wake up, Twilight began to worry.
"Maybe we should have brought her to a hospital?"
"NO!"
Twilight froze as the yellow Pegasus rushed to her and tackled her down.
"Have you Any idea of what they are doing when she gets there because she committed suicide again?! Twilight, if you are her friend, Never take her to a hospital when she did that. Never."
She wanted to ask her, but thought better of it.
"I'm sorry but I have to get back home. Some critters are only awake at night and I don't want them to starve."
"I understand. I think I can watch over her just fine."
"Yeah. Because I am going to stay with her!"
"Oh Spike"
Twilight chuckled. Fluttershy smiled and left the two. Their eyes fell on the still unconcious Pegasus on the floor.
"Maybe she's cold? I'll grab her a blanket, and some pillows for us."
"Thanks Spike."
They wouldn't get any sleep that night. Twilight was in so much fear of Dash never waking up, time passed painfully slowly. Every second could be her last due to the blood loss and her underweight. Spike suddenly broke the silence after minutes passed by where he played with the anti depressant bottle.
"Hey Twilight?"
"Yes, Spike?"
"What's depression?"
Twilight was about to tell him, but got up to grab her book. She handed it over to him as he began reading.
"Depression is not to cry for every single thing. Depression is a desire to stop breathing, because the simple act to do so hurts. It’s to believe you have to die because nothing will ever get better. It’s a sharp pain you feel every time you wake up and see that the only possible solution for all your problems is to cease to exist.
It’s a constant fight. You have to keep your mind busy with other tasks, petty as they are, to avoid those kind of thoughts. Still, suicide is lingering on your mind 24/7.
It’s not a simple frame of mind. It’s a psychological problem."
He blinked and looked over it again, hoping he read it wrong or the wrong page.
"Who would have guessed that there are ponies out there who think of suicide the whole day..."
"I don't know... it's hard to believe that one of our best friends is one of them.."
She answered while looking at the bottle in her hooves. She looked back at Dash and concentrated, casting a healing spell she knew from when Spike got hurt when he was smaller.
"I hope this will help.."
Spike put the book away and hugged the alicorn.
"It will. I'm sure of it."
"Thank you, Spike."
She responded with a smile.
They stayed like that a few more seconds until a light groan brought them back to reality. The best and, at the same time, worst thing happened. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes.
The best and, at the same time, worst thing happened. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes.
Her vision blurry, she looked around. She noticed that there were lights on above her. She felt numb everywhere and couldn't move. Slowly her hearing returned. She moaned as the light was piercing into her eyes and closed them shut.
As she tried to breathe in deeper, she noticed that something was odd. Something was around her, preventing her from doing so. She tried not to panic, trying to think of what happened before she passed out. Before she could do so, she heard voices.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
She knew that voice.. it was the voice of her lizard friend. No.. not a lizard.. a frog? No.. no it was.. a dragon. Yeah. Her friend was a little dragon.
"Dash?"
Oh no he's talking to me! What should I even answer? How Am I even feeling? Numb, Lost, Lifeless? No, I'm fine.
That's what she was going to say. But all that came out of her mouth was another groan.
She opened her eyes again. She knew that feeling from somewhere.. Like she was in the same situation once..
Finally her vision cleared a bit and she saw, very dizzy, a purple pony and a dragon. From looking around, she was in a castle.
Twilights Castle.
It all came back now.
"Twi-wiht?"
She tried to stand up. Her legs barely able to move, she managed to sit up. Only to have to be held up by her friends.
Damn why am I so weak?
Her mind wandered back to what's around her body. She turned her head around so see bandages wrapped around her chest and lower body. Then she noticed the blood on the floor. Her eyes widened.
Had she been attacked?
No, that's just silly. Who would attack her in a castle of a princess?
If she had been here the whole time, that is.
"Dash?"
She was brought back to reality again.
"Wha happen..?"
Twilight and Spike glanced at each other, then back to Dash.
"You don't remember?"
"No.."
"Dash. You committed suicide a few hours ago."
A few seconds of silence.
"Oh.."
She looked at her bandages.
"Is it that bad?"
Spikes eye twitched. She forgot it all?! He went to the fridge to get something for Dash. She needed lots of fluids right now.
"Rainbow, you should lay back down. You lost quite the amount of blood."
She didn't really get anything in her state, but she obeyed. Spike returned with a glass of juice and brought it next to Dash. The Pegasus looked at it, not getting what he wanted.
"Dash, drink it. You'll feel much better, trust me."
She gave another confused look until Twilight grabbed the glass with her magic and brought it to the Pegasus' mouth and she drank out of reflex. Dash tried to get a taste but her tongue remained numb like the lower part of her body. Twilight levitated the glass on the table in the kitchen. Not a second later she heard a soft snoring from next to her.
Dash had fallen back asleep. Twilight wondered if Spike put something in the juice or if she was just that beat. It was probably for the best.
In her dreams she saw her mother in Canterlot, how she stared into the sky as the guards flew off. Celestia was then joined by her sister Luna, who gave her a small nuzzle and guided her inside the Castle.
Then everything went black.
She awoke thanks to light. Her vision wasn't as blurry this time. It was a warm light. The sun was shining. And she figured she wasn't in the kitchen anymore. She was on a bed. Dash looked around, and from the looks of it, she was in the familiar bedroom she spent the last nights. Twilights bedroom. She was in Twilights bedroom...
Alone.
"Twilight?"
No response.
"Twilight!? Spike?!"
Again, no response.
Is this some kind of bad joke? Am I still dreaming? Wait.. what did I dream about...
She closed her eyes to concentrate, but found nothing but darkness. She wanted to breathe in deep to sigh, only to get reminded of her bandaged chest.
Memories flooded back into her mind. She only remembered peaces, and they were pretty blurry. She remembered being in the kitchen, pain and Spike yelling at her...
"Oh good, you're awake."
The voice almost startled her to death.
"Twilight!"
"I knew I heard something from up here. How are you feeling?"
"Urgh.. "
She grimaced as she felt a sharp pain in her head. She rubbed a hoof against her skull, trying to ease it. Suddenly it just vanished again as fast as it came.
"Dash? Are you okey?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Still, what happened anyways?"
Twilight blinked at her.
"Dash. You committed suicide last night."
Then Twilight grabbed the anti depressants and held them in front of the Pegasus.
"Looks familiar?"
Dash scratched the back of her neck.
"Y-Yeah... how did you get them?"
"Fluttershy brought them over last night. She knew what you'd do... she saved you Dash."
Rainbow looked down on the sheets. She thought she was okey. She thought she could finally live without them..
"And she showed me your scars."
Twilight added, getting Dashs attention back. She didn't answer, though.
"Dash.. I know I'm a bit mad, but that was a real shock. I just want to know.. why?"
Dash didn't move for a few seconds, then sighed. Her ears folded back, she turned to the window.
"Dash.."
"It's because of... mum. S-She sent her guards, or is going to do so..."
"What? How-"
"Twilight I have visions I can look into the future or present with. I'm surprised you had to ask."
"Right..."
Author's Note
Good news
I found the rest of what I got
Chapter 15
"Right..."
Spike joined the two, a tablet with breakfast on it.
"Hey Dash! Good to see you awake."
He placed the tablet in front of the Pegasus on the bed. All he got was another confused look.
"Come on, you Have to eat Something!"
It wasn't that she didn't Want to eat. She just didn't feel like it. But she knew that she wouldn't come through that without a fight with Twilight or Spike. Or both. But probably with Twilight.
"Come on Dash, it's just a slice of toast!" Spike continued.
Dash stared at the tablet.
And stared...
...and stared...
And after a minute she still didn't move. Defeated, she sighed, closed her eyes and let herself fall back into the bed. Twilight and Spike shared worried and confused glances. Spike, standing next to her, grabbed the toast and ripped a small peace off of it and held in in front of Dashs face.
"Come on, try it. I'm not a bad cook, you know."
Dash turned away from him.
'Why won't you get that I don't want it?'
Spike sighed and put it back on the tablet. He turned to Twilight.
"Got any ideas?"
Twilight thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I have to research on it."
Dashs ears perked up.
'No! Don't leave me again!'
Spike placed the tablet on the nightstand and left. When Twilight was going to leave too, Dash called out for her.
"Twilight! Please stay.."
The alicorn turned around, of course, looking confused at Dash, who was now sitting on the bed.
"You need something?"
"I don't want to be alone.."
Twilight gave her an odd look, but then she smiled. It Was kinda cute.
No, bad Twilight! You're just causing her magic to-
*Twitch*
"Sorry.."
"It's fine." She said, slightly shivering.
Twilight joined her on the bed. Still, there were questions on her mind, as she looked at Dashs almost completely healed wings.
"Hey Dash?"
"Yeah?"
"How come your wings healed so fast?"
"Twi, I'm a Pegasus. We can regrow our feathers pretty fast."
"Wow, I didn't know that. My books didn't say anything about that. Though, they didn't say anything about a Princess Aurora, alias Celestias daughter too."
Dash chuckled a bit.
"You're such an egghead. There are things out there that no pony ever wrote down on a simple book."
A pause.
"Really?"
"Of course! Like the Sonic Rainboom. There isn't any book you can find something about it."
"Hey.. you're actually right. If I think about it, nothing of you got ever mentioned in any book I've read.. And neither is your father."
At the mentioning of her dad, Dash looked away again.
"Celestia told me he cared for you after you ran away and passed away long ago.."
Dash frowned.
"I don't care what she told you! Why do you believe her?!"
"Right.. care to tell me the truth?"
"Fine. Some of it is true. I lived with him after I ran away. But don't think it was easy. Mum didn't want that I stayed with him outside where everypony could see me. But he didn't want me to live caged in the castle. He wanted me to have a life of a normal filly. I ran away after they first took the magic out off me. And trust me, it was Tartarus back then. I still know where the burning marks were."
Twilights eyes widened. She didn't want to imagine what happened all those years ago, to a little filly. It must have been traumatizing. Now she understood why Dash had those attacks.
"So I flew away to dads house. Followed by Celestia and some guards. They had a fight. She told him I was dangerous. He never believed her. They had to make a deal. If anything happened with my magic, he had to bring me back to the castle and never take me away again. Everything was fine. Since I was little back then, my magic took way longer to regenerate. Everything was perfect.. and then came the day I did that damn Sonic Rainboom. You know.. it's actually some kind of Aura Storm, produced by my magic... After Celestia saw it she came back and took me away from dad. That was the last time I saw him alive."
Twilight wrapped a wing around the Pegasus.
"Remember that they took my magic before I flew away?"
Twilight nodded.
"Celestia used it. She killed him. Just to show me that my magic was dangerous."
"Wait... how can she kill him with your magic? What abilities do I not know yet?!"
"Calm down. I can do nothing of the sort. She used the thing you watched me do in the secret training room with the bunny. She made him fall off the cloud without doing anything to save himself. And since she didn't have to touch him, ponies just presumed it as suicide or apoplexy. No pony could have seen the magic, so there were no proves that it was her. The only reason I knew it was her was that I know how it looks like. And I doubt you could put a princess into jail."
"Oh Dash, that's horrible!"
Dash said nothing. Twilight was crying.
Way to start the day...
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. One morning Twilight and Spike were downstairs in the library, researching on anything they could find on Pegasi. They decided to use the time they had when Dash was still asleep. Though one of them went up to her every five minutes to see if everything was okey. They had found out about their behavior and special senses. They could feel the slightest change in the weather through their feathers. They also have better reflexes and like Dash said, they could hear and see better than the other tribes.
"Twi? Spike? Guys where are you?"
"We're in the library!"
They both looked at the entrance to greet Dash. What they didn't expect was..
"Woah, what happened to you?"
"I guess I'm just becoming Aurora.."
They stared at Dash in disbelief. Her coat was almost white, still with a bit of her usual cyan fur. Her mane and tail were longer and her feathers seemed larger, though it was hard to see when she had them closed.
"Do I look that bad?"
They broke out off their shock.
"No, no, not at all! We were just a bit.."
"..overwhelmed by the sudden changes."
"Yeah.. what he said. You actually look pretty."
"Gross!"
Dash replied, sticking her tongue out in disgust. Twilight and Spike chuckled. Looks like their Dash was back.
A few minutes later, Dash and Twilight were in the bathroom. For the first time since her suicide attempt, she saw her wounded side. There were deep cuts in her side. The almost white fur around them was still bloodied. The sight sent a cool shiver down her spine. And she could sense that Twilight was feeling the same. The alicorn casted another healing spell, hoping that this would prevent that they would need to get stitched. After her spell they looked like it happened months ago. Then she grabbed a towel with her magic, watered it and started washing away the blood as careful as she could.
Dash was staring into the mirror all the while. She watched Twilight but also herself. The longer she stared, the more she lost herself in the visions in her head about her mother.
Twilight, having already finished cleaning Dashs fur, noticed her odd behavior. She watched Dash just staring into her reflection for minutes without even blinking. She almost started to worry and did the one thing she learned from her books.
She touched Dashs wing. Both her wings immediately opened and Twilight had to duck to avoid being hit. Dash was brought back, though in a bit shock. She blinked, then looked around, slightly panting.
"What the heck Twi? You never touch a Pegasus wing without permission!"
"I'm sorry about that. But care to explain what you were doing?"
"Uh.."
"Dash you were staring into the mirror for more than ten minutes, without even blinking!"
She could feel Twilights worry.
"Yeah.. sometimes I just...*sigh* get lost in my own world..."
Twilight was still completely clueless. She wrapped a new bandage around Dash and sighed.
"Dash... you know we still have to tell our friends about all this... I think that Fluttershy knowing what happened is just making them all worried sick."
"I know.."
'I just wish I didn't have to be Aurora and never had any problems...'
She closed her eyes and sighed.
"Rainbow Dash"
"Yeah?"
"We are going to our friends."
"Wait.. what?"
"We are going to our friends."
"Now?"
"Yes. Right now."
"Right now... as in.. right now right now?"
"Dash stop it and come on."
"Don't you think it would be safer if we all meet up here?!"
"What, are you afraid of going outside? I know that you think that Celestia is going to send guards, but-"
"Twilight, I don't Think so, I Know so!"
"That's just ridiculous. If she really sent guards then why aren't they here already? And if not yet, why would she send them weeks later?"
"I.. don't know."
"Now come on. We need to tell our friends."
"Do I really have to go?"
"Dash, they are our friends. They deserve to know the truth! Don't you think?"
"Yeah, but.."
"Shush and move your legs."
Twilight dragged the Pegasus outside and closed the door to make sure she couldn't just run back inside.
"Come on, where to first?"
"Twilight I still think this is a bad idea.."
"Oh quit your worrying."
"Hey, you're one to talk!"
"Hm yeah, but it's not me who's scared to see my friends."
"I'm not scared to see them."
"Then why are you so anxious?! Look, there's nothing in the sky!"
Dash sighed. No point in trying this any further.
'I just hope this stupid magic isn't going to show...'
They began walking down the street. It wasn't really a long way to get inside the village, but for Dash it felt like they were walking for hours. Ponies were walking by. Everyone either happy to see the princess or being confused about how Dash was looking. Then there were little fillies playing, filled with joy.
The magic inside her began to noticeably pulse with her heartbeat. It was the feeling she hated so much. Though it was a bit showing, due to her lost weight, no pony seemed to notice. Then they got deeper in the town. More and more ponies. More and more feelings. More and more auras.
More and more the pulsing grew and her vision went blurry. She felt like she couldn't breathe and her legs felt numb. Her entire body was twitching and shivering. She had to get away from here before she did something. She ran through a little alley out off town.
Twilight took notice of it and followed her.
"Dash, stop! Where are you going?!"
The words were lost in the wind. Dash tried to shut down everything around her. She would have flown away, but flapping her wings while she was twitching like This could dislocate her joints. After a few more minutes of running, she finally came to a halt. Twilight walked up to her, completely out of breath.
"How can... you run like... that when you..."
She never finished her sentence since her legs finally collapsed and she laid panting on the ground. After a few minutes she recovered from the little sprint. And before she asked what this was all about, she saw Dash sitting in front of her, staring at the town with glowing red eyes. She didn't move, nor blink. She didn't twitch or shiver. It was scaring her.
"Rainbow..?"
She continued to stare.
"Rainbow can you hear me?"
Still no reaction.
Twilight frowned. This odd staring-thing was getting on her nerves. Luckily she knew how to break her from it. Her hoof once again touched her wing.
Dashs wings opened in response. But this time it was as if through that there were strong winds. The wind was blowing through their manes, almost looking epic with Dashs new long rainbow mane. Twilight could see that the wind had the slightest touch of rainbow colors. Rainbows words echoed through her mind.
'Everything was perfect.. and then came the day I did that damn Sonic Rainboom. You know.. it's actually some kind of Aura Storm, produced by my magic...
An Aura Storm...'
It was a beautiful sight. But she knew she had to get Dash to stop or they had to fear that Celestia is really going to send guards.
"Rainbow! Come on, snap out off it!"
She shook the Pegasus. The wind still blowing in her face, she tried to think.
What would make her stop?!
She stood up, standing right before Dashs eyes. They stared into each other's eyes. Twilight could see a light rainbow shine in the glowing red eyes. She would give everything to know what Dash was feeling right now...
She would give everything to know what Dash was feeling right now...
A few seconds later the storm calmed as Dash closed her eyes and wings. She inhaled as if she didn't breathe the whole time.
Twilight could only watch. The Pegasus cracked her, now their usual magenta again, eyes open and looked at Twilight with a gaze that clearly said "I'm sorry".
The alicorn wrapped her arms around her.
No pony said a word for a few minutes. Then they broke their hug.
"Dash I'm sorry.. I should have listened to you.. I was just so determined to tell the others..."
"And we will.."
"How? You can't go outside obviously!"
"We send letters to them to meet us in the castle."
Twilight blinked at the idea.
'Why haven't I thought of this sooner?!'
"Come on, let's get back home. We can go around town."
"Thanks.."
They started their journey back to the castle. For a few minutes, they walked in silence. Until Twilight couldn't hold her curiosity any longer.
"What was this storm thingy all about?"
Dash hesitated, thinking on how to explain it. It was hard to explain Anything to another pony who has no idea. It was like Twilight explaining unicorn magic to her.
"Uh.. well.. my magic got overloaded and then it.. exploded."
"Exploded?!"
"Okey, wrong word. I don't know okey?! It set itself free without my permission!"
Twilight flinched at the sudden outburst. She thought about it and came to the conclusion that Dash didn't like her magic.
She would have to talk with her about that later.
Before they knew it they were back at the castle. Spike was wondering why they were back so soon again as he was cleaning the dishes, but he got his answer before he could ask.
"Spike, send letters to our friends and tell them to meet up here."
"You think that will work? What if they are too busy.."
"Dash. Our friends must be worried sick about you. I Think they can find the time to get here."
"All sent" Interrupted Spike after sending the last letter.
"Thanks Spike."
"No problem. Anything else you need?"
"Maybe some snacks and drinks?"
"Sure thing."
Spike left the two again to grab some supplies.
Twilight turned to see Dash pacing nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know.."
Twilight walked over to the Pegasus and stopped her.
"Dash please tell me."
"I don't..
...I-I don't know what to do..
..what to say...
...what if they hate me if they knew..."
" 'Hate you'? Why do you think-"
"BECAUSE I'M-"
She cut herself off while she threw Twilight away from her and walked away from her with her ears flat. A few steps later and she let herself fall to her haunches.
Twilight was once again confused about the Pegasus' behavior. She took a few steps towards her.
"Because you're what?"
"A monster? Not what anypony thought I would be? A complete mess up? A freak? How would they believe ANYTHING?!"
Her wings flared open as her temper got the best of her.
"Rainbow, you know that's not true! You're not a monster! And you're not a freak! They are your friends, why wouldn't they believe you?!"
"Believe what?"
A new voice asked. Twilight and Rainbow turned their heads to see that their friends have already arrived.
"Uh.. Hey girls, it's nice to see you again."
"Darling, what were you two arguing about? Who's a 'monster'? And what wouldn't we believe?"
Dash pointed a hoof on herself.
"That I'm..."
'..a total freak that can destroy the world? Definitely.'
"Am What, Darling?"
Twilight got between them.
"How about we sit down together and Finally Tell You Guys what's going on?"
They agreed, except Dash who stayed silent.
"So.. what's this all 'bout?"
"Yeah, where were you two?! I haven't seen you in AGES!!!"
"Pinkie, it's been a month."
"I KNOW!!! An ENTIRE M O N T H!!!! That's thirty days of NO FUN we could have had together!"
"Well, I guess it was for the better."
"Say what now?"
"Remember when you all came to the Canterlot castle?"
"Oh, how could I forget! It was so Dreadful! Urgh, how could Princess Celestia be so Rude on us?!"
Dashs ears perked up.
"What are you talking about? When were you in the castle?!"
"Oh, right. We couldn't see you. We wanted to, but Princess Celestia locked the door before our noses..."
Pinkies explanation only brought her more guilt.
'Guys I'm so sorry about what happened...'
"Let me explain. First of all, Rainbow Dash is Celestias daughter-"
The others gasped.
"I know, real shocker right? I only got filled in with this whole thing yesterday."
No pony cared about what Spike said.
"- And she has a secret, hidden magic that no pony was allowed to know."
"What? Why?"
"Because it's dangerous."
They all looked shocked at Dash.
"Rainbow! It's not dangerous!"
"It is. And so am I." She continued to stare at the same point downwards that she was not looking up from the entire time. She didn't dare to look at her friends.
"You're not..." Twilight almost whispered.
Dash could already feel the confusions of her friends in the center of her body. But what really hit her was Twilights heartbroken sadness.
She tried to fight it. She clenched here eyes, looking like she was in some kind of pain to her friends.
"Dash?! What's gotten into ya?!"
The feelings got stronger..
"Darling what's wrong?"
..and stronger..
"Twilight what's wrong with Dashie?"
..until...
*Twitch*
The ones who didn't know what it meant gasped in surprise and were about to get over to her.
"STOP!!! EVERYPONY STOP!!!!!" Dash cried out. The shivering got worse and her twitching annoyed her.
Everypony around her froze. Dash ran out off the room...
The ones who didn't know what it meant gasped in surprise and were about to go over to her.
"STOP!!! EVERYPONY STOP!!!!!" Dash cried out. The shivering got worse and her twitching annoyed her.
Everypony around her froze. Dash ran out of the room...
Twilight turned to the others.
"Spike, can you continue for me? I have to go to Rainbow."
"Sure thing Twi."
Twilight ran after Dash.
"Rainbow? Rainbow where are you?"
She searched around.
'If I was Dash right now.. where would I be?'
Her question got answered quickly enough by a clattering sound coming from the bathroom. Twilight felt like the world betrayed her. She ran inside.
"Rainbow Dash, I don't believe you!"
She walked towards the still shivering Pegasus. Dash had a small knife in her mouth and a few small cuts on her forelegs once again. Twilight sat down before her. Her magic levitating the knife in the air away from Dash.
"You have a serious cutting problem, Dash." She sighed.
Dash glared at her.
"No. The only problem I have, is that I need a sharper knife!"
Twilight was taken aback.
'Come on, she didn't mean it. It's the anxiety talking..'
Twilight washed away the bit of blood that was trickling through the cuts with water from the sink. Then she used her healing spell and the bleeding stopped.
"Come on Rainbow. The others are waiting for us."
She got up and turned around.
"No."
Twilight turned around again.
"What do you mean 'no'?"
"No."
Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Dash, come on! They are our friends! You've kept all of this a secret for way too long from us.."
Dash turned her gaze away from Twilight. The alicorn had enough. She grabbed Dash with her magic and walked with the Pegasus back to the others.
"..and that was when Fluttershy came in and saved Dash while I was getting Twilight downstairs and-"
He finally noticed that his missed friends were back. Twilight dropped Dash on the floor, earning a death glare from the Pegasus. Dash wasn't shivering anymore, but Twilight knew something was still up with her.
"So.. this twitching and stuff earlier was because of our emotions?" Rarity broke the silence.
"In a way, yes." Twilight answered, never looking away from Dash.
"But.. if this happens so often, why did it never happen when anyone of us was around?"
"Yeah, what's different to now? Why is Dashie all twitchy if it never happened through all these years?"
"Pinkie. I'm in Ponyville since a year and a half."
"But STILLLLLL!!!"
Twilight ignored most of the last part. She was lost in thoughts, trying to figure out why it never happened before.
'Let's see.. what's different now from everything before our night... She isn't flying.. she's self harming.. she.. wait.. THATS IT!'
Twilights gasp got everyponys attention.
"It's the anti depressant! Fluttershy, you said that Dash was taking them since was a filly. And since I never knew about them, I couldn't give them to her. It all makes sense now.."
"Wait Sugarcube.. yer sayin that a simple medication can block her magic?"
"Well.."
"Of course it does, silly! Dashies Happy Pills make her happy so she doesn't need to know how others feel! She can make everypony happy!"
All eyes were on Pinkie.
'It's true that her feelings can be relayed on other ponies.. wait, Happy Pills? Urgh it's Pinkie Pie, don't question it.'
Author's Note
Okey, NOW it's all I got so far. Hope you enjoy the story.
Celestia is coming. Dash knew it. She just kew it.
She wasn't ready for it. There was no way the pegasus could possibly win a fight against her own mother. And an army of guards nonetheless.
But Rainbow didn't have choice. She had to be ready to fight, if she wanted to or not. It was time to put an end to this torture. This slavery her mother was doing to Equestria. The suffering.
"Dash?" The pegasus spent hours staring outside thrugh the window into the night sky. She didn't move when Twilight approached her.
"She is coming." Was all she said. Her eyes never left the sky.
"Who?" Twilight asked softly as she sat next to her.
"My mother."
"How can you be so sure? Like I told you before, she didn't do anything until now, so why would she-"
"Because i know her!" Dash suddenly flared her wings in anger and glared at the alicorn. Twilight was taken aback. She knew Dash was tense, but something told her that it was more than her magic. Dash was scared.
"What do you think she's gonna do?"
"I'm not sure. All I know is what I've seen in my visions. She's sending guards. A lot of guards.. She has them under her control. They sucked out my magic before we escaped, remember?" Twilight nodded. "She has them all under her control."
"All of them?! But that would be like the Changelings! There are hundreds- if not thausands of guards! And she is controlling every single one of them?! How strong is your magic?!?!" Twilight shrieked. Dash could feel the fear Twilight was feeling. It wasn't helping her none. In fact. it made her worry even more. Her glance went back to the night sky.
Twilight noticed this. She tried to change the subject. "You still don't want to take your anti depressants?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't need them."
Twilight thought back to only a few weeks ago, when the pegasus had once again tried to kill herself.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive."
"Alright.. but at the first sign, you tell me and you're gonna take them."
Dash sighed. "Fine."
"I'm here for you, no matter what. And so are all our friends. You know that." Twilight said, snuggling up to the pegasus.
"Yeah.."
And that's why I'm gonna save you all...
Rainbow Dash woke up with a start that night. She hd another vision about Celestia. Looking around, she noticed that both Twilight and Spike were still asleep.
She got up and went to the window she spent to much time looking thrugh earlier. Judging by the moon stance, she figured it must have been around midnight.
She felt like she was being called. On auto pilot she opened the window and glanced one last time at the sleeping alicorn she loved so much.
"Don't worry. I'm gonna put an end to this. And then you'll be safe."
With that she took to the air and flew through the window.
At almost Sonic Rainboom speed the nearly white pegasus flew to the Canterlot Castle. From a few hundred meters away she could already see the huge army of royal guards.
No time to be afraid now. She thought as she crashed at full speed into the army of guards.
Breaking through the huge doors, Dash was getting pumped with adrenaline. It didn't take long for her to find the alicorn. Celestia sat on her throne with her eyes closed in concentration while her horn glowed in all colors of the rainbow.
She was using Dash's magic. Wasting no time, the pegasus jumped on her, throwing her off her throne.
"Aurora, you are here. What honor, and delight." She grinned evil.
"Stop this right now! You can't take control over everypony!!!"
"Oh, I can't do that? We shall see about that!" Celestia blasted a spell to throw the pegasus off of her. Dash only yelped in surprise and grunted as she crashed against a wall.
"Guards! End her! Once and for all!" Celestia called. Within the blink of an eye hundreds of guards stormed in and ran towards Rainbow Dash. The first ten, twenty, thirty guads were not much of a problem. It was when fifteen took hold of her at once that she didn't have much of a chance anymore.
"Last words, oh my traitorish daughter?" Celestia grinned, her horn charged and ready to shoot, as she came nearer. Step for step.
"Where is Luna?!"
"Oh, you wish to see her? Dearest sister, why don't you join us for a moment?" Celestia said as she turned to the side. Rainbow saw the princess of the night approaching. But to her horror, she had that look on her face. That mind-controlled sight in her eyes.
"YOU MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!" Dash screamed as she struggled in the guard's grips to get free. She panted heavily. Having not eaten in days was getting back at her now.
I wish my friends were here... I wish Twilight ws here..
"Oh how cute. Do you really think your friends ever cared about you?"
Rainbow Dash looked up. Was she for real? That was the worst lie she had ever heard.
"Don't tell yourself lies, my daughter. Your 'friends' are afraid of you. Because the only monster here is you."
Dash felt her magical power rise up into unbelievable levels. Her magenta eyes glowed in a deep red and rainbow hued winds started forming all aroud her, soon blowing the guards and any furniture in the castle around.
A strong blow of the magical wind hit Celestia and her horn stopped glowing immediately, freeing all the mind-controlled ponies.
"WHAT?!" Celestia shrieked before another, much stronger burst of magic hit her when Dash flapped her wings towards her.
*BOOOOOOOM*
Twilight and Spike, and probably most of Ponyville and Canterlot, awoke that night to the sound of the loudest explosion in their entire lifes. The purple alicorn and dragon ran to the open window to see a huge colorful hue in the air, that covered most of the night sky.
Twilight remembered when Dash had done something like this, when they wanted to tell their friends and her magic got too strong. She remembered what Dash had told her the morning after her suicide attempt.
Everything was perfect.. and then came the day I did that damn Sonic Rainboom. You know.. it's actually some kind of Aura Storm, produced by my magic...
An Aura Storm...
Then she remembered what Celestia had told her.
"If she can't control her magic, it would overtake her and she would die from the impact. You know what happens when unicorn magic is too powerful for the caster?"
Twilight nodded. A cool shiver went down her spine by the thought.
"It's the same with her magic. You know that she already has a powerful Pegasi magic. What do you think how powerful her secret magic is?"
"Oh no! Rainbow!" Twilight said and took off through the window. Spike didn't know what exactly happened, but the way Twilight was acting, it involved Dash. And whatever that was, it wasn't good.
Twilight thought she would do a Sonic Rainboom herself, she flew so fast. She gasped in shock when she saw the state the castle was in. The roof was missing on some places, the window glasses were shattered and smoke was rising from it. She got really scared for her dear friend.
"Rainbow! Can you hear me?!" Twilight called as she flew slow circles around the broken castle.
When she didn't get an answer, she tried again. "Rainbow!!!"
Then she remembered something.
The very thing that started this all.
Her spell.
Concentrating on the spell, she was hoping for the best.
And to her luck, her spell detected Rainbow magic. That meant she was still alive!
Twilight followed the magical trace until it it was strong enough for her to know where the pegasus was.
She flew in through a hole in the roof and started digging with her magic in the wreckage. Fortunately it didn't take her long until she was greeted by magenta eyes smiling back at her. Dash was alive. And concious.
"Rainbow.." Twilight felt her eyes start to water.
"Miss me?" Her answer was being pulled into a tight hug. For a moment Dash thought Twilight was going to kill her, it was so tight.
Then, to her surprise, Twilight planted a huge kiss on her cheek.
"Don't you dare do something like that ever again!!!!" The alicorn yelled as she pulle away.
"I promise."
"Aurora! Twilight! You are alright!" A third voice joined in.
Twilight released the pegasus and they both turned their heads to meet a familiar face.
"Princess Luna!" they both said happily.
"We are so glad that you are alright. And grateful for your rescue. Our sisters mind was taken over like ours once was." Luna bowed in front of the two ponies.
Twilight then realized something. "Where is Celestia, anyways?"
Dash and Luna looked up through a hole in the roof, into the still colorful sky.
"You didn't.." Twilight started.
Dash smirked at the alicorn. "Somepony is gonna have a looooong vacation on the sun."
They all shared a laugh.
"I'm sorry about the wreckage, though." Dash said to Luna.
"It is alright. We will take care of it and repair the damages. After all, it got damaged in your fight with your own mother."
"Yeah.."
"Come on, I think we should go home. I bet our friends are already waiting for us. They must be worried sick." Twiligt said. Luna nodded.
"Go. We will be alright. You must see your friends." The princess of the night said.
Twilight and Dash nodded to her and each other.
After a long explanation from Dash about her visions and how she defeated her own mother, her friends were shocked. Who would have thought that the princess they all trusted the most would turn into something worse than Nightmare Moon?
All in all, it is the understanding of the year that they were all more than glad it was finally over.
"You guys know what this calls for, right? A PARTY!!!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Her friends laughed with the pink party pony.
Some things never change. But that doesn't mean it has to be a bad thing.
Author's Note
So long, guys. Though it is much longer for me xD
Thank you all so much for reading!
I have finally decided to write the end of this story. But knowing my mind, there will never be an end to the Aurora-universe.
BE WARNED
The next morning, Twilight woke up first. She smiled at the Pegasus next to her and figured she was still asleep. She nudged her in the side with her muzzle, trying to gently wake her up.
Dash slowly opened her eyes, but before she could turn her head to look at the alicorn she was met by nausea and dashed into the bathroom, which was right next to her bed.
Twilight blinked in surprise and went towards the bathroom door, only to see, and hear, Dash saying goodbye to the contents of her stomach.
"Rainbow? Are you okey? Are you sick? Oh my gosh I'll go get help!"
Before Twilight could move, Dash spoke up.
"Twilight..."
The alicorn rushed to her side. She put a hoof on the Pegasus' shoulder, trying to comfort her.
"I'm fine. This is..normal.."
Now Twilights thoughts ran in a chaos. Maybe this magic really Is dangerous. For Rainbow.
The door unlocked and a guard stepped in.
"Princesses?"
"We're in the bathroom!"
Twilight answered.
"Breakfast is ready. Princess Celestia is waiting in the dining hall for you two."
"We'll be there in a minute."
"Very well."
The door closed. Twilight got up and helped Dash to her hooves. They went out of the bathroom.
"Maybe you should stay up here. I could bring you something if you want."
"No. I need to be there. You heard him, mum is waiting for us."
Twilight just glanced at her.
"It's never a good thing if she's waiting. Trust me."
The two walked out of Dash's room and into the dining hall. Dash fought the urge to throw up again from the fear of what Celestia would want to talk with her or Twilight, or both.
They got on seats at the table. Dash glanced over the table, that was covered in breads, toasts, pancakes and lots of other stuff. She could practically feel it coming back up, even before she ate anything. Twilight looked at her concerned, but tried to hide it so Celestia wouldn't get a hint.
"Good morning Aurora. Good morning Twilight. I hope you two had a pleasant night."
'Yeah. Stop covering up that something's going on and just tell us already!'
"What did you want to tell us."
Twilight almost glared at Dash.
"Why don't we eat first, my dear."
"I'm not hungry."
"Not even a bit? You must be half starved after what happened a few minutes ago."
"How do you-"
"Your room has guards for a reason."
Dash shrunk into her seat. Twilight got worried. Celestia probably knew about everything they did and talked about from yesterday. Maybe Dash was in trouble thanks to her! The last thing she would want is to make things more uncomfortable for Dash...
At that, Dash began twitching again. She shut her eyes and ran out of the room into the nearest bathroom to throw up again, leaving a stunned Twilight with Celestia in the room. Celestia closed her eyes and shook her head.
Dash was in trouble. Twilight just knew it.
She went after her again. Dash sat there twitching and shivering, her hooves clutching her stomach.
"Rainbow? ...is..everything alright?"
"Go away.."
"Rainbow..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Go!"
Dash yelled as the shivering and twitching overtook her.
Twilight was taken aback, but complied and went back into the dining room.
"Maybe I should have told you sooner, but she really hates it to show any kind of weakness to Anypony."
"I never would have guessed."
The alicorn said sarcastically as she got back onto her seat. Celestia stood up.
"If you don't mind, I need to talk to my daughter in private."
Twilight nodded and Celestia went into the bathroom and went out with Dash into Rainbow's room. Once they were in, the door slammed shut, causing Twilight to jump slightly and get more worried. The guards in front of the door even had spears, more than ready to attack every pony that came near the room. She gulped. All she could do now was praying. Praying that Dash would be okey...
In Rainbow's room, the Pegasus sat on her bed with her head hanging low.
"You need to learn to control your magic! Before you can do that, you are NOT leaving this room! Do. You. Un.der.stand.?!"
Dash just kept looking down. Finally she nodded.
"And I am not going to let you leave again. Even if the danger is over. You are staying here at the castle."
Dash fought back tears. She wouldn't see her friends ever again! She would never fly again! The Wonderbolts...
...would stay a dream
Her friends...
...would be worried sick and she would miss them so much
All she had now was Twilight, her strikt mother and the magic barrier to block her magic...
Celestia left her alone, slamming the door shut again.
This couldn't be happening...
A few minutes later, Twilight finally came into the room. Only to find Dash frozen on her bed, eyes glued on the floor and...crying?
The first tears were falling down.
"...Rainbow?"
Dash shut her eyes, jumped off the bed into the bathroom and locked herself in. Twilight walked over to the door and tried to open it with her magic, being reminded of the blocking spell.
She wanted to knock but froze when she heard the cries and sobs from her friend. All she wanted to do was being by her side right now, but the door wouldn't open.
"Rainbow? Are you okey?"
"NOOO!!!!"
She jumped by the scream.
"Rainbow...please open the door..."
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
Her crying grew louder. Twilight wanted to know what happened. The door to Dash's room unlocked and the two guards came in, unlocked the bathroom door with their magic while they broke the barrier for a second and grabbed Dash by her arms. Twilight couldn't bear the sight of her friend. She had never seen Rainbow so down since the Tank hibernating incident a few months ago.
Dash got carried out of the room by the guards, leaving the once again stunned Twilight alone in the room. The Pegasus just kept screaming and crying. She was taken to the medical centre of the castle, where she got a sedation. A few minutes later the castle was silent again.
Dash got carried out of the room by the guards, leaving the once again stunned Twilight alone in the room. The Pegasus just kept screaming and crying. She was taken to the medical center of the castle, where she got a sedation. A few minutes later the castle was silent again.
"Where is Rainbow Dash?"
Twilight asked a guard that came back to get her.
"Rainbow who?"
"Aurora."
"At the medical center of the castle."
"Wait. There is a medical center IN the castle?! Is there a fun park with roller coster too?!"
"Only for the royal family to keep the secrets hidden."
Twilight nodded in understatement.
"I'm here to get you. The princess will wake up soon and she needs you."
Twilight nodded again and they walked to the medical center.
They entered the room Dash was in. Still asleep she looked so peaceful, no pony would ever get the idea that she had a complete breakdown just minutes ago, screaming and crying.
Once Twilight reached the Pegasus, Dash opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry, she only could make out a few colored orbs. Most of them was the big lavender one right in front of her.
"Hey. How are you feeling?"
Twilight asked in a soft whisper. Dash only blinked a few times.
A nurse was writing down on her clipboard, while an other one was testing Dash's reflexes with light into the eyes and if her eyes followed her hoof when she moved it in front of her from one side to the other.
"She's stable."
"Good. Guards, get her into her room."
The nurse looked up and the other one blocked the guards.
"Princess. You can't take her into her room yet! She needs medical observation!"
"She needs to stay safe. She can't control her magic."
The nurses looked at each other. Then nodded. One of them grabbed a can filled with pills and handed them to Twilight.
Twilight was reading the instructions on them. Something didn't feel right, but she couldn't put her hoof on it. She shrugged it off and helped Dash out of the bed. The Pegasus was shaky on her hooves but managed to steady herself after a few seconds.
The guards guided her back to her room. A nurse whispered to Twilight.
"Make sure not to talk about what happened for the next few days, or she'll get another attack."
Twilight nodded and walked towards Dash's room. The Pegasus laid in her bed on her side, a guard placing a glass of water on her night table. The guards then left Twilight with Rainbow alone in the room. Twilight placed the pills next to the water and then got onto the bed and snuggled up to the Pegasus. She had to comfort her right now. It would make it all okey again. That was all that mattered.
For now.
Twilight and Celestia stood at the entrance while her friends stepped inside. Pinkie tackled the purple alicorn down.
"TWILIIIGHT!!! DO. YOU. REMEMBER UUUS???!!!!"
"Pinkie Pie! She can hear clearly."
"Oopsiii!"
The pink pony climbed off of Twilight and let the alicorn get on her hooves again.
"Do you have ANY idea how WORRIED we were to find out that you just vanished days ago without telling any pony?!"
"I-"
"Wait just a buckin minute there. Where's Dash?"
"In her room, I guess."
Pinkie wanted to get walking, but she didn't exactly know where to.
"Where IS Dashies room?"
"Um..I don't think it would be a good-"
"RD has 'er own room in the castle?"
Twilight fell silent. What should she do? She couldn't tell her friends about all this, could she? And if they'd see how Dash is acting they would just get More suspicious.
Celestia help me...
"All you have to know is that your friend is perfectly fine and is going to stay here."
"Can we see her?"
"Maybe some other time. She needs to rest."
"Rest? Ah thought she's a'right!"
"And she will. Now LEAVE"
The guards took the four ponies, and dragon, back outside and locked the doors. Twilight got angry at the princess for doing this to her friends. They didn't deserve to be treated like this!
"Sister?"
"Luna."
"Rest sister. I will raise the moon."
Celestia nodded and left the two.
"As for you, Twilight Sparkle. I think somepony could use a little company."
Twilight took the hint and went back to Dash. She carefully opened the door, hoping Dash would be in a better mood. She closed the door as silent as she could and went towards the bed, to find the Pegasus asleep. She sighed in relief. Not wanting to risk anything, she just slept on the floor next to the bed so she would notice whenever Dash stood up or got another attack.
What Twilight didn't notice in the darkened room, were Dashs grayish getting colors.