Cursed Bonds of Loyalty

Chapters

A Dark Influence
Amethyst eyes and Ruby Necklaces
Breaking Bonds
Learning from History
Loyalty

A Dark Influence

The skies of Equestria were bathed in deep blue, the sun shining high in the sky. Rocketing across the horizon, on her usual afternoon flight path, was the high spirited Rainbow Dash. She looked down on the valleys surrounding Ponyville as she passed them by, feeling the wind rush through her mane and tail. She let out an annoyed sigh as she did a quick dive and recover. Every day she would fly the same path, moving along the breeze, it was enough to drive a pony insane. Looking over the eastern sky, she spotted the small mountain range that separated Ponyville from it's neighboring town, Campolina. Straying off toward them, she made her way through the peaks to the other side, looking down on the unfamiliar town. Even from above the skies looked different from those she was familiar with. Campolina was slightly larger and more together than Ponyville, it's streets hidden amongst the buildings. Distracted by the scenery, she didn't happen to notice the pegasus colt speeding toward her until he knocked her aside passing by. After getting her bearings back, she looked ahead to see the rude pegasus who had brushed her by. His mane and tail were a fiery red with a streak of black flowing through them. His body was a deep grey, a storm cloud on his flank. He turned his head and gave her a smug smirk, his confident emerald eyes staring at her. She glared back, racing after him as he sped away. Seeing he had caught the competitive mare's attention, he went into a dive into the streets of Campolina, leading her through dangerous turns and twists. Nonetheless, Dash stayed directly on course, keeping tabs with her challenger. Seeing that the winding streets were doing nothing to discourage his fellow aerial acrobat, he emerged from the city, moving into a nearby forest. Even through the unpredictable trees, however, Dash managed to keep up with the colt. Finally, Dash was able to push herself enough to get a lead. Feeling proud, she turned back and stuck out her tongue at the colt. Unfortunately, her shameless gloating worked against her, as she failed to miss the branch in front of her. She slammed her head hard into the branch, rolling to a stop on the ground before blacking out.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Starting to regain her senses, Rainbow Dash stood up, rubbing her head. Looking around, she could see she was in a cloud home, but it certainly wasn't hers. Getting out of the bed she had been lying in, she made her way up to the ice mirror on the wall. She wasn't much worse for wear, save for a bandaged bruise on her head. “Well, good morning.” Came a voice from the bedroom doorway. “You must have hit your head pretty badly, You were out cold all night.”
Turning her attention to the source of the voice, she saw the pegasus that had led her through the troublesome forest in the first place. “You!” she screamed, speeding up to stand in front of him.
The colt took a surprised step back, smiling. “Wow, you're as fast as they say you are, Rainbow Dash.”
“How.....How do you know my name?”
The colt smirked again, carefully removing the bandages on her head as he replaced them. “How could I not hear of you? Not only are you the embodiment of the element of loyalty, you're the winner of the best young flier competition, savior of three members of the Wonderbolts and one unlucky unicorn, and the only pony in history to pull off a sonic rainboom!”
Dash couldn't help but be surprised. Of all the things that she thought might happen by going off course, she never thought she would meet a fan. “Yeah, well...it was nothing really, I was just helping my friends.” she said with a false modesty. “Though I can't say I'm flattered, what's your name?”
“Dark Streak.” he replied. “I'm a weather pony for Campolina, in charge of creating storms.”
As he talked, Dash began looking around the room, examining the architecture. “Storms huh? I'm more of a cloud clearing weather pony. I guess creating storms must be really fulfilling, huh?”
Dark sighed and looked to the ground, flapping his wings once. “You'd think, but nopony likes a pegasus that hails thunder and lightning. The ponies of Campolina aren't big fans of my storms.”
“I guess that's why you live so far away from it.” Dash said, looking out the window.
Through the window, she could see the town below them, at the bottom of the mountain's slope. Moving away from the window, The two made their way to the door. The scenery on the cloud home's porch was a sight to behold. The mountain beheld a lovely meadow, a deep green scenery surrounding them. Dash turned to Dark and smiled. “Thanks for helping me out. I have to get going, They're probably worried about me over in Ponyville.”
With that, she spread her wings and rose into the air. “Hey,” he called out, “Could we do it again? Flying together I mean, I'd really like that.”
“Uh, yeah alright. How about I stop by tomorrow?”
Dark smiled and waved goodbye as Dash flew off. “Alright, I'll see you then.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
“You met a fan?” Twilight asked, using her magic to repair the bruise on Dash's head. “I mean, no offense Rainbow, but it's kind of hard to believe.”
Dash fidgeted back and forth, the uncomfortable tingle of Twilight's magic on her forehead. “It's true, his name is Dark Streak, he's a weatherpony in Campolina.”
With her bruise fixed, Twilight began putting away the books she had taken out, and throwing away the bandages from Dash's head. “I don't know, it just seems a little suspicious is all. If he was a fan, you'd think he'd have come by Ponyville once or twice.”
Dash took a look in the mirror, making sure her forehead was back to normal. Once she was sure it was, she turned her attention back to the conversation. “Well he lives up in the mountains, I guess he's been watching me fly around Ponyville. He seemed like one of those fans from afar types, you know?”
“Wait, he lives up in the mountains?” Twilight asked, starting to get confused. “I thought you said he was a weatherpony in Campolina, why does he live up in the mountains?”
“Well, his talent is making storms, not everypony can appreciate a pony who covers your town in thunder and lightning right?”
Twilight sighed and shook her head, looking worried. “It all seems really suspicious to me, just be careful, alright?”
“Be careful of what? It's just a flying session Twilight.”
Dash made her way toward the door, leaving a concerned Twilight behind in the library.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark stood outside his cloud home, watching the skies intently. As the sun reached the center of the sky, he began to worry that she wasn't coming. As his hopes were about to fall, he saw the rainbow blur making it's way across the sky toward him. With a delicate landing, Dash stood in front of him, smiling. “Sorry for taking so long, one of the weatherponies in Ponyville called in sick, I had to clear her cloud section. We've still got plenty of time to fly right?”
Dark smiled, nodding as he flapped his wings, jumping up off the ground. As Dash did the same, the two began flying across the skies over Campolina. Dash did a quick spin as she took the lead, turning back and smiling at the dark hued pegasus. “This time it's my turn to lead you.” she told him, folding her wings in for a dive.
Dark couldn't help but laugh as he followed in suit, being led down into the city streets. He found that, when she was paying attention, Dash was incredibly agile in the air, able to react to new obstacles in a split second. Dark was equally skilled, following behind the rainbow pegasus with careful agility. Feeling confident, Dash led him into the forest, Winding between the branches took more effort than Dash realized, and she began to lag behind. Dark caught up to her and the two flew side by side. “Come on,” Dark told her, banking to the left, “I want to show you something.”
Dash followed behind her black streaked friend, winding through the trees as she tried to keep up. It wasn't long before the two were out of the other end of the forest. Dash's eyes went wide as she looked over the scenery in front of her. The sun was setting in the background of a large lake. Dark stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the lake. Trotting over to join him, Dash took a seat and stared out at the water, reflecting against the orange sunset. “Wow, the view up here is amazing.”
“I thought you'd like it.” he said. “I like to come here at sunset and watch the water, it's really calming after a day of flying.”
The two were silent for a while as the moon hid itself behind the landscape. “Hey, did you bring me here to try and impress me?” Dash asked with a smirk.
Dark blushed and turned to his cyan friend. “Did it work?” he asked, smiling.
Dash thought for a moment, smiled and leaned over, kissing his cheek softly. “I'd say it all went according to plan.”
Dark's blush deepened as he raised his hoof to his cheek. As he got over his shyness, the two pegasi leaned on each other until the sun fell below the horizon.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Once the two were back at Dark's cloud home, they bid each other good bye. Dark made sure Dash was well into the sky before he made his way inside. As the door shut behind him, a sly smirk went across his face, his kindhearted look turning devious. “All according to plan.”

Amethyst eyes and Ruby Necklaces

It was a normal, uneventful day in Ponyville. Ponies roamed the streets, shopping and conversing with friends and neighbors. It was a very calm day for everypony except for Ponyville's local speedster. High above the streets, Rainbow Dash was moving from one cloud to the other, clearing them from the sky with a swift kick. Though her head was in the clouds, her eyes constantly stared at the clock on top of town hall. As the clock struck noon, Dash finished the last cloud in the sky and immediately began flying in the direction of the mountains. “Rainbow Dash! Wait up!” came a voice from below.
Looking down, she could see Twilight staring back up at her. Though she didn't really feel like the detour, she had missed her chance to fly off as though she hadn't heard. “Hey there Twilight, I almost didn't see you.” she said, descending to the ground.
“Yeah, you've been doing that a lot lately. Nopony in town has seen you during your free time for the past two weeks, are you okay?”
The worried look in Twilight's eyes would be obvious to anypony any other time, but with Dash in such a hurry, she wasn't thinking very hard. “Jeez Twi, I'm fine. I've just been going to...Well you know that colt I told you about? The fan of mine?”
“It's hard to forget.” Twilight told her. “You were going on and on about him.”
“Well after I talked with you, I went back the next day and we had another flying session. And at the end, he led me to this cliff that overlooks a lake. And I kind of....well...”
Dash paused, blushing a bit as she kicked the dirt with her hoof. By this time Twilight had leaned in, eagerly awaiting the conclusion to the sentence. “You what?”
The blush got slightly deeper on her face as she turned her head. “I kissed him...on the cheek.”
“You kissed him on the cheek? Why?”
“I don't know, he had flown me all the way back to his house, taken care of my head injury, invited me back again, showed me that amazing sunset. I guess I just felt like kissing him.”
By now Dash had dug a small hole in the dirt where her hoof was, her mind wandering back to the past two weeks. “Well, that's quite a story, I take it the story doesn't end there though, does it?” Twilight asked.
Dash shook her head, smiling a sheepish smile. “No, we've been hanging out for a while. Anyway, we're going flying through the mountains today, it should be fun. Sorry to run off on you but I'm running late as it is.”
Without a reply, Dash flew off into the sky, leaving a concerned Twilight to stay behind and wave goodbye. She shook her head and made her way back into town. “I hope you know what you're getting into Rainbow Dash.” she said quietly.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark looked over the horizon intently, keeping his eyes out for that telltale rainbow that would arc it's way across the sky. It wasn't long until he saw his flying partner speeding right toward the cloud home. As she sped in, she slowed to a stop in front of him, a smile on her face. “Sorry, I got caught up with work, I hope I'm not too late.”
Dark shook his head, springing into the air. “Nah, you're right on time, you ready to get going?”
Dash nodded back, rising into the air as well. “Let's get started, what's the route today?”
Dark began flying, leading Dash down the mountain range. “We're gonna start on this side of the mountain range and work our way to the other side and then back to my cloud home. I'll see you back there.”
Once the two reached the last of the mountains they made a U-turn and began flying in between the peaks of the mountains, winding back and forth. Feeling creative, Dash dove down further into the mountains and wound her way around and through straight tunnels, making her way through. Halfway through, she lost sight of Dark, but assumed he had found his own creative route. She got worried as she sat at his house. She had finished an hour ago and still hadn't seen him. It was another half hour before he came back, landing in front of her. As he landed, he winced as his front left leg hit the ground. Dash immediately stepped forward, looking at the cut he had on his leg. “What happened out there?” she asked, a worried tone in her voice.
“I went into a tunnel that turned out not to be a tunnel.” he explained. “It was dark on my way back out and I brushed against a stalactite. I'll be fine.”
“Well, as long as you're okay.”
With worries out of the way, the two sat on the porch, staring at the sunset across the sky. “Dash, I'd like to ask a favor of you.” Dark said.
“What is it?” she asked, turning toward him.
He took a pause and a deep breath, turning toward her. “You know a zebra mystic right? Do you think she can brew something that will make me unnoticeable?”
“Unnoticeable?” she asked, a bit confused and suspicious. “Why would you want to be unnoticeable?”
“Well, there's this tree in the park in northern Campolina, it's a beautiful tree. I like to sit in the park and stare at it, but the ponies of Campolina always chase me away. Do you think your zebra friend could help?”
Dash thought for a while, sitting silent as she stared at her hooves. There was a lot of concerns to think about. What would her friends think? Would Zecora even help? Eventually she decided. “Alright, I'll ask for you.”
He smiled, wrapping his hooves around her. “Thanks Dash, I knew I could count on you.”
Dash hugged him back, and they stood that way for a while. Finally, as the sun fell beyond the horizon, and the moon rose from it's resting place, Dash began making her way back toward Ponyville. Once she was out of sight, Dark made his way in, limping on his hurt leg. He stopped to take a look at himself in a large ice mirror, looking at the cut on his leg. “Obviously doing this alone isn't an option.” he said, an agitated frown across his face.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
It was well into the night before Dash made it back to her cloud home. It had been a tiring day, but as she looked down at the small orange filly sleeping on her front porch, she knew it wasn't over. “Scootaloo?” she asked.
Slowly, Scootaloo began to stir, yawning softly and stretching. “Hi Rainbow Dash, welcome home.”
“Welcome....What are you doing here anyway?”
“You said we could hang out today remember?” she explained. “I've been waiting here all day for you to come home, I guess I dozed off.”
Dash got a knot in her chest as she remembered, feeling guilty. Her mind was so focused on her own endeavors, she had forgotten about her promise to the little fan at her doorstep. “Oh right, I....Well I was really busy with the clouds today, and I had a lot of chores to do so....Sorry, how about next week?”
The excitement in Scootaloo's eyes left and were replaced with disappointment as she looked to the ground. “Oh, I guess that's alright. I mean, I can't help it if you're busy. Can you give me a hand to the ground? I'm still not so great at flying.”
Dash nodded as she picked her up, flying her slowly down to the ground. “How'd you get up there anyway?”
Scootaloo yawned again as she hit the ground. “Pinkie helped me. After the first hour when you didn't show up at my house I thought you might've forgotten.” she told her, making her way toward home. “I'll see you next week Rainbow Dash.”
“Uh, yeah, see you then.” Dash replied, waving goodbye.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
The sun shone high in the skies over Ponyville, sending down strong rays of heat on the town. A little heat, however, wasn't stopping the town's local apple farmer from getting her work done. Applejack was hard at work in the orchard, bucking the trees hard to get every last apple off the trees. She wiped some sweat from her brow as she looked out at the rest of the orchard left to pick. It was lucky she was in no hurry, otherwise the sight of the trees would have her head over hooves panicked. As she looked out at the orchard, she spotted her rainbow hued friend casually flying toward the forest. “Rainbow Dash!” she called out, galloping up.
She was able to catch the pegasus' attention immediately, and met her halfway through the orchard. “Hi Applejack, what's up?” she asked, hovering in the air.
“I just wanted to talk.” she explained. “Feels like I haven't seen ya in a long time. Applebloom told me you postponed on Scootaloo yesterday, too.”
Dash sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, trying to brush off the guilt. “Yeah, my bad. I've just been busy lately is all.”
“Is this about that colt friend o' yers in Campolina across the way?”
Dash flew back a bit, surprised. “H-how did you know about that?”
Applejack shook her head as she tapped her stetson. “Twi told me 'bout it the other day, she said you've been spending an awful lot of time over there. Just don't forget about your duties here in Ponyville alright? I'm counting on you to avert that storm tomorrow or our vegetable harvest is gonna be flooded out.”
Dash was only half paying attention as she looked up at the sun. “Yeah yeah, listen Applejack I'm fine, I just lost track of time yesterday. I'll see you later, I've got stuff I need to do.”
Without waiting for a reply, she sped off toward the Everfree Forest. Applejack tried to call her back, but her mind was in another place. Applejack sighed as her stetson fell back down her face. “You can't lie to the Element of Honesty, sugarcube.”
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Deep in the Everfree forest, in a hollowed out tree, Zecora was stirring up a brew in her potions room, when a knock came on the door. “The door is open.” she said. “Please come in.”
Dash stepped in, making her way down the steps and toward her zebra friend. “Hey Zecora, what's up.”
Zecora smiled, setting down a jar in her mouth. “Ah, if it isn't my spectrum colored friend, what brings you around my bend?”
Dash took a moment to decipher Zecora's clever wordplay before she was able to reply. “Well, I have a little favor to ask you, I need you to brew me a potion, it's for a friend.”
“well, a brew I can make I'm sure, but first please tell me the customer.”
“What? Oh, I see. Well it's like this....”
Zecora listened as Dash explained about Dark Streak and his intentions with the potion.
“The answer I can clearly see.” Zecora told her. “What you need is a potion of invisibility.”
Dash smiled, relieved that she could keep her promise. “Thanks Zecora, that'd work great.”
“However,” she continued, “invisibility is a powerful potion, I'm not sure this is a positive notion.”
Dash sighed, it was like all the others. “Ugh,” she said, frustrated, “Why does nopony trust me? Dark is a good colt, a great colt even! He's really nice and an amazing flier!”
Zecora looked into Dash's eyes. She saw in them desperation, frustration, and a spark of deep emotion. With a sigh, she went over to her work bench and got to work. It didn't take long for her to finish, placing the resulting liquid into a sealed jar. “A mere sip of this powerful poultice and your friend should go unnoticed.”
Dash reached out to take it, but Zecora held her back for a moment. “But before you disappear, there is a warning that you must hear.”
Dash sighed, sitting up and rolling her eyes. “Alright, go ahead, you aren't the first pony to scold me about this.”
Zecora sighed, chewing some leaves and spitting them onto her fire. They created a small presentation in the air, adding to her point. “For some ponies, it is easy to lie, be sure you are looking, in their third eye.”
Dash, once again, was barely paying attention, wanting to get on with her day. “Yeah yeah, I get the idea.” she said, taking the potion. “Thanks Zecora, I'll see you around.”
As she finished, she sped out the door, intent on getting to Dark's cloud home for some flying time before it got dark.
Zecora sighed, shaking her head as she shut the door to her hut. “Love and loyalty blind your eyes. I pray you don't uncover a dreadful surprise.”
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
The sun stood at noon, another day past. Dash sped down and landed with a crash on Dark's cloud home, out of breath. Dark came in behind her, also out of breath. The two sat and smiled at each other, catching their breath after their race. “Looks like I win.” Dash said, victorious. “So, did you get to use the potion yet?”
Dark nodded, looking over into the town. “The fruit is blooming on the tree, it's nice.”
Dash nodded, happy to have helped him out.
For a while the two were silent, staring out at the sky around them. After a while, Dash noticed that Dark had been staring at her instead. She couldn't help but blush as she looked back. “What is it?”
“You have the most beautiful eyes.” he said with a chuckle. “They're like a set of amethyst jewels.”
Dash looked away with embarrassment, smiling as her blush grew deeper. “Y-you're just saying that.”
Dark shook his head. “No it's true, and you know what goes well with Amethyst?” he asked, producing an object from the feathers in his wings.
She turned and saw him putting a beautiful ruby pendant on her. It was supported with a lovely gold chain. “Rubies.” he told her.
Dash was speechless, looking down at the pendant. “Dark I....I....”
She looked over at him, they were both blushing. Slowly, she began to lean in. He took the hint and leaned in as well, the two shutting their eyes in tandem. Finally, the two met in the middle and shared a kiss. They held it for what felt like eternity, but after five minutes it was over. “I...” Dash stuttered, “I have to get going, I'll...see you tomorrow, alright?”
Dark nodded, waving goodby as she sped off. She made her way quickly back to Ponyville, her heart aflutter. As she glided toward home in the evening sun, she moved her way through a storm, and remembered her job for the day. Speeding up, she landed amongst a group of pegasi and apple family members, all crowded around the Twilight and the mayor. “There she is!” Twilight yelled, galloping up to her friend. “Where were you?....Where did you get that necklace?”
Dash caught her breath as the group surrounded her. “I-I'm sorry! I lost track of time and I-”
“You abandoned us!” Applejack yelled back. “We were counting on you! Now the year's crops have been cut in half! You're just lucky the weather team got there in time to save the other half.”
Dash backed up as the group loomed over her, feeling frustrated and, more importantly, contained, a feeling she hated more than anything. “Alright, I'm sorry. I know I left you high and dry, and-”
“If we were high and dry we wouldn't have a problem.” Big Macintosh added.
Following that statement, it wasn't long before everyone was chiming in with their own criticisms, filling the air with yelling. Dash's anger was rising, reaching it's boiling point. “Enough!” she yelled, raising herself into the air. “I don't need to take this! I'm outta here, I'll be back when everypony's calmed down!”
She sped off toward the mountains, leaving behind an angry mob, a guilty Applejack, and a curious Twilight. “Rainbow Dash! Wait!” Applejack yelled out. “Twilight, can you bring her....Twilight?”
Applejack turned around and saw Twilight making her way toward home, a suspicious thought in her mind. “I know I've seen that pendant somewhere before.”
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark Streak was laying in the living room, relaxing on his couch, when he heard a knock on the door amongst thunder and lightning from the storm that had rolled in. When he answered it, he found a sopping wet Rainbow Dash sitting there, her face was streaked with droplets, none from the rain. “Rainbow Dash?”
Dash sniffled, standing in the doorway. “Hi...Can I stay the night? I...I don't think I'm welcome in Ponyville right now.”
Dark nodded, stepping out of the way. “Of course, of course.”
Once she passed by, a devious grin went across his face. “Make yourself at home.” he told her, shutting the door.

Breaking Bonds

Morning had descended upon Ponyville, the bright sun making it's way across the horizon, drying the dew from the grass. There was one dampened spirit, however, that the sun couldn't dry. Applejack made her way down the dirt roads of Ponyville, her head hanging in guilt over the previous night's events. No matter how many times she tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn't help but feel that she was in the wrong backing Rainbow Dash into that corner, no matter what she had done. With her thoughts in tow, she found her way to her destination, the Ponyville Library. The door swung open without much difficulty, and the orange apple picker stepped in. “Twi? Are you in here? I wanted to talk about what happened last....what in the name of Granny Smith is goin' on in here?”
Applejack did her best to move around the various stacks and piles of books, finding her way to her unicorn friend's work bench, where she was hastily turning the pages of one book after the other. “A Hundred and One Trinkets? No. Jewelry Throughout the Ages? No. Ugh, It has to be in one of these books.”
Applejack put a hoof on her friend's shoulder, which must have startled her as the book she was reading flew across the room. Twilight turned to face her friend, catching her breath after the short scare. “Oh, it's just you Applejack.” she said, relieved.
Applejack was still a bit bewildered by the scene. It was true Twilight would go on research binges given any excuse, but she had never seen quite a mess as this before. “What the hay has gotten into you Twilight? First you run off in the middle of the night, and then I come by and find you buried under a pile of books.”
“I've been looking for something.” she explained, turning her attention to Ancient Equestrian Artifacts Vol. VII. “Do you recall that pendant Rainbow Dash was wearing?”
Applejack thought back to the night. Breaking through the tension and anger, she recalled the ruby pendant that had been resting on the pegasus' shoulders. “What about it? I thought it was just a gift from that colt she's been seeing.”
Twilight nodded, skimming across the pages of the book. “It probably was, but it looked so familiar to me, I know I've seen that exact same pendant somewhere before, I just need to figure out....Oh no. It can't be.”
Applejack's mood immediately changed to concern to match Twilight's, moving quickly over to see the book. “What's this? The Griffon's Eye?”
Twilight nodded, looking worried as she closed the book. “We need to notify the princess immediately, this is serious.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark yawned as he rolled out of bed, checking his mane in the ice mirror in his room. Once he was happy with how it looked, he made his way into the hallway. Halfway to the kitchen for breakfast, he crossed paths with Rainbow Dash, who was looking up at a portrait on the wall, the pendant still around her neck. He looked up at the portrait and smiled. It portrayed an old pegasus, wearing armor traditionally worn by the Equestrian Royal Guard. Around his neck was a familiar ruby pendant. Dark smiled as he approached the filly. “His name is Silver Streak.” he said, surprising his house guest. “He was my great great great grandfather. He was a general during the Griffon Territory War.”
Dash looked over to her host, then up to the portrait again, putting a hoof on her pendant. “It's the same one, isn't it?”
Dark nodded, putting a hoof to her cheek and turning her to face him. “That's right, that amulet belonged to him, and it's one of my most prized possessions. I trust you with it Rainbow Dash, please don't let it leave your person.”
Dash thought for a second, taking in all that had happened in such a short time. She had met a pegasus who loved racing as much as she did, who spent time with her each and every day, and who trusted in her loyalty enough to give her his family heirloom. Finally, she took a deep breath and kissed his chin softly. “I promise.”
Dark smiled, nodding back to her. He beckoned her toward the kitchen, and she made her way in the right direction. As they made their way in, Dark noticed Dash limping on her back left leg. “Did you hurt yourself?” he asked.
She stopped for a second, following his gaze to her leg. “Oh, yeah I was in a rush last night. I flew right through the storm and ended up getting a bolt to the leg. I'm not used to flying through storm clouds.”
Dark smiled, walking past her. “Well it's not too hard. There's a storm scheduled in Hoofington to the north this afternoon. If you don't mind a bit of a fly, I can teach you how to fly through storm clouds.”
Dash smiled, sitting down at the table. “Yeah, sounds like fun.”
The two continued to talk through breakfast, until finally Dash decided she should be getting home. Dark waved her off, making plans to meet her in Hoofington later that day. When she was out of sight, he made his way back in to the hallway where the portrait hung. He stared at it for a while, before finally he spoke to it. “Soon.” was all he said.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Applejack galloped as fast as she could toward Rainbow Dash's house. She had to tell her the news immediately, she had to at least try to help her. As she skidded to a stop near her friend's cloud home, she noticed the rainbow hued pegasus stepping out onto her porch. “Rainbow Dash!” she yelled up, catching her breath.
“AJ?” Dash questioned, looking down on her orange friend. “What do you want?”
Applejack could feel the anger and tension in Dash's voice as she asked, it was clear she was still mad about the night before. “Rainbow listen to me, That Dark Streak isn't who he claims to be! He's not looking out for ya!”
Dash growled. “You too? I thought you of all people would understand Applejack, you've always shared my spirit. Don't you think I can make judgement calls just fine?”
The question was an obvious trap, but Applejack didn't have time to dance around it. “Look, just listen alright? That necklace is bad, you need to take it off now before you get into some serious trouble!”
“Why can't any of you be happy for me?! You know what? Forget all of you, I didn't stick around to get yelled at last night and I'm not gonna stick around for this. I'll talk to you and Twilight about this later at the library, if you're ready to listen. See ya around.”
With that, Dash began flying off, leaving a rainbow in her wake. “Dash wait!” Applejack called out. Rainbow Dash was already out of range by the time she spoke up, leaving AJ alone and worried. “You have no idea what he's planning Sugarcube.”
“Rainbow Dash wait!” a small orange filly called out, hastily making her way toward Applejack. “You said we'd practice flying today!”
Applejack looked down at the disappointed Scootaloo and sighed. “Rainbow Dash had to attend to some business Sugarcube, she's in a bit of a confusing place right now.”
Scootaloo looked up at AJ, a bit concerned. “Well, I hope she'll be alright.”
The young pegasus began walking toward home, part disappointed and part worried, leaving Applejack to stare up at the sky. “Me too.” she said softly.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark watched the skies to the south from a cloud above Hoofington, occasionally turning his gaze toward the storm moving eastward toward the town. Finally, he caught sight of the spectrum heading toward him, watching it land in front of him. “Just in time, what took you?”
Dash looked a bit tense and annoyed as she stepped closer, flapping her wings irritably. “I had to blow off some steam, I almost forgot about our lesson.”
Dark smiled, shaking his head. “It's fine, you're here just in time. Now, there isn't much you really need to know about flying through storms. You know how to fly through a regular cloud right?”
Dash nodded, smiling. “You just follow the light, it's the sun shining through the other side of the cloud.”
Dark nodded, the rain starting upon them as the thunder rolled. “Right, now to fly through storm clouds, you do the opposite. The patches of light are static electricity building up. When you see a light, bank away from it, into the dark spots. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of thinking backwards.”
Dash nodded, eager to fly up into the clouds. Dark smirked and the two stared off, readying themselves. Finally, the two flew up into the air, soaring through the storm. Dash fell off course a couple of times, but Dark managed to keep her from serious injury. The two followed the storm almost until nightfall.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dash flew straight home toward the library after her flying lesson, soaring through the window to the main floor, where Twilight and Applejack were waiting for her. “Alright, let's get this straightened out.” Dash said, eager to get it over with.
“Rainbow Dash, please, just listen for a second please.” Twilight pleaded, sliding Ancient Equestrian Artifacts Vol. VII in front of her. “This is a piece called the Griffon's Eye. It's an artifact from the Campolina Museum. It was stolen.”
Dash looked at it, reading it over. It was clear it was the same amulet, but Dash could hardly believe that it was taken from the museum in Campolina. “N-no, there's no way Dark would do that.”
“A lie works in mysterious ways, masquerading as truth untill it has spent it's days.” Came a voice from the basement doorway.
Dash looked over as Zecora revealed herself. She was carrying a newspaper on her back, which she slid across the room to Rainbow Dash. The front page held a story of the Campolina Museum's recent robbery, a visiting exhibit on the Griffon Territory War. It spoke of the Griffon's Eye Amulet that had been taken from under the guards' noses. Once again the picture was of the exact same amulet. Dash took a step back. On any other day this may have been enough, but her mind was clouded by the beating of her heart. “Th-there's no way, how could anyone break into a museum anyway?”
It was then that Zecora produced a bottle from her satchel, setting it down. “A pony could not get past unseen, that is, disregarding invisibility.”
Dash's head began to ache as her mind battled with her emotions. She put a hoof to her head, which only succeeded in making her friends more worried. “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight spoke up, “Princess Celestia will be here shortly. Please cooperate and give us the amulet, take her to Dark and we can get all this sorted out.”
Dash's head continued to ache, to the point where she could only give into her instinct. Spreading her wings, she zoomed out the window in the direction of the mountains. The three worried friends galloped out of the library, watching their friend disappear into the night. “Rainbow Dash wait!” Applejack called out.
“Oh no, it appears I've arrived too late.” Came a regal voice.
The three turned around to see Princess Celestia land nearby. She had a worried look across her face as she looked down at the three. “Princess, we tried to stop her but she left with the amulet.” Twilight explained.
“I'm afraid it's worse than you think Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia told her. “Much worse.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark shuffled toward the door as the knocking upon it got louder. He took a deep yawn before opening the door. On the other side of the door was a glaring Rainbow Dash, stepping forward toward him. “You lied to me! You said that it belonged to your grandfather, but you stole it!”
Dark backed away in shock, but Dash took a step forward for every step back. “Rainbow Dash what are you talking about?”
“The amulet, this one here. You stole it from the Campolina Museum. I saw the paper Dark Streak, I know what you did with that potion I gave you. Why? Why did you lie to me?”
Dash's eyes had gone from angry to upset as she fought the tears back. Dark took a sigh, looking at her. “It's true, I did steal it from the museum.” Dark told her, dampening her spirits further. “I had to lie to you about the park, I needed the potion. But don't think I did it for no reason. Though it's true that I stole the amulet, it was first stolen from me.”
Dark beckoned her to follow, and led her to the hallway with Silver Streak's portrait. He pointed to the amulet around his ancestor's neck. “You said you saw the amulet in the paper? Well can you deny that the very same amulet is around his neck?”
Rainbow Dash looked up at the amulet, then down at the one on her neck. It was clear they were the same. “Rainbow Dash I was going to tell you, the guilt was eating me up inside, but I needed to first know that you would trust me enough not to tell the authorities. Now, do you trust me?”
Dash took a moment, her head still aching. Once she got her thoughts in order, she took a deep sigh. “A lot has happened to me tonight.” she told him. “I was told you're a thief, I've found out my friends don't trust my judgement, and now I'm finding out that the story I thought was the truth was hiding a deeper truth. Dark, I trust you, now tell me the whole story.”
Dark once again led her into another room, a sitting room. He took a seat in a chair, offering her use of the couch. “My grandfather fought as a general in the Griffon Territory War. He was a storm maker, just like me. Being a war with Griffons, most of the battles took place in the sky, and our control of the clouds was a vital key to victory. He was rewarded for his bravery and valor with the Griffon's Eye Amulet. Later in his life, near his death, he was approached by the Canterlot Museum to donate the amulet to their exhibit on the war. He refused, explaining that it was to go to his daughter, Bright Streak. From there it would descend down the family line to my father, Winning Streak, who was a lesser known flying ace. Then it was to be mine, but it never got that far. The museum didn't take no for an answer, and instead stole it from under my grandfather's nose. They waited until his death and the aging of my great great Grandmother before opening the exhibit, making sure no one would recall the origins of the amulet. My family never forgot, and when I heard that the Campolina Museum was hosting the exhibit, I had to ask you. I didn't feel good about it, but it had to be done for my family. Rainbow Dash, do you understand?”
Dark was tense, angry. Dash thought for a moment, taking in the story. Finally, she stepped off the couch and walked over, putting her hoof on his cheek. She gave him a soft kiss to calm him down. “I believe you Dark, and I won't let Celestia find you.”
Dark shot up, surprised. “Celestia?! She knows?!”
He jumped off the couch, shutting all the blinds on the frozen windows. Dash watched worriedly as he did. “What's wrong?”
Dark made his way up to her. “If Celestia knows we may be imprisoned, I don't want anything like that happening to you. Listen, we need to lay low. Can you trust me for just a bit longer and follow me?”
Dash was shocked, and feeling a bit idiotic. She hadn't once thought that she could be imprisoned over this. “A-alright, I trust you. Now where are we going?”
Dark made his way to the front door and singled out a mountain. “On the eastern side is a cave, wait for me at it's mouth, I'll be there momentarily.”
Dash nodded and flew off, making her way toward the mountain. Dark stepped back in for a moment, standing in the hall and staring up at Silver Streak. “It's finally time Grandfather.” he said. “With Celestia in place and the amulet in my hooves, It's finally time.”
Dark trotted through the door and dove off the cloud, doing a dive before levelling off toward the mountain.

Learning from History

Princess Celestia paced back and forth, taking the occasional look around at the group of worried ponies in front of her, getting her thoughts together. “Princess,” Twilight spoke up, “Whatever is going on you can trust us enough to tell us. We care about Rainbow Dash, we just want to know what's going on so we can help her.”
Celestia took a deep breath. “I'm afraid that it goes far deeper than that Twilight Sparkle. Back to a secret I've held since the Griffon Territory War.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Celestia looked out the window, where she saw dark clouds on the horizon of the night sky. She sighed, ready to relieve part of the grief she'd been holding on her shoulders. “I'm sure you've studied up on the Griffon Territory War, correct?”
Twilight nodded, floating a book over to recite from. “The Griffon Territory War began with a direct offence on Equestria's eastern border, destroying a pair of towns. General Razorfeather had decided that the griffons deserved more territory than they had, and was not open to debate on the subject. Seeing no other choice, Princess Celestia sent out a battalion to hold back the griffon armies, but due to lack of air support the battles often went back and forth. Seeing no end in sight, Princess Celestia issued Canterlot's unicorns to create a magical amulet which would turn the battle in their favor. The result was the Griffon's Eye Amulet, which was awarded to....General Silver Streak. The amulet, in his hooves, allowed larger, more powerful storms to be created with less effort. The control of weather was Equestria's trump card in winning the Griffon Territory War. Princess, could this Silver Streak be related to Dark Streak?”
“I'm afraid it may very well be.” she agreed. “But there is much you don't know about the Griffon Territory War, a story that we've hidden from you, from everypony, for years.”
Celestia sat down, and the rest followed in suit, circling her as they listened. “It was a long time ago, I had known General Silver Streak for a long time, and I trusted him.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Silver Streak led his battalion across the eastern sky. His second in command, Wispy Winds, wasn't far behind him. “Silver,” she said, “How many griffons do you think we'll encounter this time?”
“It's hard to tell.” he replied. “In our last battle we were outnumbered, but you never know in this-”
His thought was interrupted as a griffon brushed past him, leading a troop. Without second thought, Silver's group split into position and prepared for battle. Wisp went back to back with Silver, looking around the skyline. “Silver!” Wisp screamed. “Clouds on the eastern horizon.”
Silver nodded, pointing his hoof toward the direction of the clouds. The group of soldiers nearest the clouds were quick to go retrieve them, but the group was quickly set upon by griffons. It wasn't long before the rest joined in, and a dogfight began. Silver sighed as he bucked away a griffon from nearby. “This is going from bad to worse.” he said, a griffon dive bombing him from behind.
He was saved by Wisp, who flew in from below and bucked the beast out of the air. “You said it.” she said, brushing her silvery mane out of her face. “Escape time?”
Silver nodded and moved next to Wisp, holding her hoof. The two began flying in circles, building up a strong breeze, and eventually a tornado. The pegasus soldiers were wise to the trick and folded in their wings, letting themselves be taken by the tornado. The griffons dared not to pursue in fear of an ambush. As the ponies approach the eye of the storm, they opened their wings, escaping through the top of the funnel, moving above the cloud line that had formed near the top. Silver and Wisp were the last to flee through the tunnel. As the storm died down, the griffons searched the skies for the enemy troops, but they were gone from sight.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark Streak and Rainbow Dash looked into the mouth of the large cave, staring into the dark opening. “So, what's in here? Some sort of a shelter?” Rainbow Dash asked, staring over the edge of the entrance to the bottomless pit beyond.
Dark nodded, flapping his wings. “The Streak family has always had this secret cavern, only accessible to pegasi. It's a flight gauntlet, a series of three trials requiring two pegasi to fly straight into the mouth of the cave, through the various traps set to keep intruders out, and eventually make it into the inner sanctuary.”
Dark stepped forward and opened up his wings. Rainbow Dash, still feeling nervous about entering the cave, opened her wings with him. “When we get inside the cave will split off into two different tunnels, but it'll eventually cycle back into one. There's a major trap in each cavern, the first is a series of swinging blades, too many to maneuver through. Look for a lever on the wall on your side, that will be the switch for the trap on my side, and I'll do the same for you. We'll meet on the other side.”
Dash took a large gulp, nodding. Though she said she was ready, it was obvious from her shaking wings that she wasn't. Dark folded his wings in, stepping toward the rainbow mare. Her eyes were still staring into the pit as he turned it to face him. Her eyes went wide when he suddenly kissed her. The kiss was broken almost as quickly as it had happened, staring into her eyes. “Please, you have to trust me.”
Dash nodded slowly, smiling as she unfolded her wings again. Dark smiled and nodded to her, unfolding his own wings. The two arched back and lifted off, flying in. As the cavern separated into tunnels, Dash took a look over at Dark and sighed, preparing herself for the adventure ahead. She rid herself of fear as the two separated.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Silver Streak took a deep breath as he opened the door to the Canterlot Royal Courtroom. Trotting down the long walkway, he came to sit in front of the court. Four unicorns stood on either side of a regal throne, where Celestia sat. Though she was the one to sit there, it was clear from the starry cushioning that it was not originally intended for her. Celestia looked on the pegasus with concern, an expression she bore far too much in this time of war. “Hello again Silver Streak, are you ready to give your report on your last battle?”
“Your highness,” Silver began, bowing, “I'm afraid that it isn't good. The griffons are getting wise to our weather tactics. We couldn't even get the clouds over to us. We're going to need to change our methods or we're definitely going to lose this war.”
Celestia sighed. That was the last thing she wanted to hear. “I'm sorry to hear that Silver. Are you sure that you can't find a new tactic to turn the clouds to storm clouds?”
Silver shook his head. “I'm sorry milady, but making storm clouds is an incredibly delicate process, to do a single thing wrong could risk a stray lightning bolt, or maybe something worse.”
“There's no need to beat around the bush Princess.” a unicorn on her left said. “General Silver Streak, we've developed a new weapon for you.”
The unicorn turned and nodded to the nearby guard, who was quick to retrieve a box. The box was placed in front of Silver, and opened to reveal the item inside. A unicorn on the right of the princess used his magic to raise the amulet into the air as he explained. “This is our newest weapon, we call it 'Griffon's Eye.' It's been imbued with magic related to weather. We've done rigorous testing on it and have deemed it to be safe for military use. You have been chosen to wear this amulet.”
Silver looked over the amulet, staring at his reflection in the ruby. As he looked deeper, he thought he saw a cloud, billowing around in the jewel. “I....humbly accept this honor.”
The jewel was placed around the colt's neck, and he bowed to the court, unfolding his wings. “Thank you, General Silver Streak.” said another unicorn. “You are dismissed.”
Silver walked back down the walkway and out of the room, the giant doors closing behind him. Celestia sighed, feeling deeply guilty. “I wish there were some other way than that....that weapon.”
“It had to be done milady.” said a unicorn on her right. “It will end the war, and that is the most important part.”
Celestia hung her head, staring at the star print pillows on either side of the throne. “Luna was always so much better with political affairs.”
“That is why you brought us together, your highness.” explained another unicorn. “Please, trust our judgement.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dash breezed through the tunnel and landed on a large platform, finished with the first part of the gauntlet. Her wings hung down, tired. She looked around and saw that Dark wasn't there. Starting to get worried, she turned to the cavern exits and looked toward his. Her heart was pacing as she stared. Did she pull the lever too late? Too early? Or maybe he didn't make it that far. Every second felt like an eternity as she watched. Finally, Dark came flying out of the tunnel, panting as he landed. Dash wrapped her relieved hooves around his neck, smiling. “Good, you made it through.” Dark said, smiling.
Dash released his neck and nodded, still smiling. “So what's next?”
he led her along to the edge of the cliff, pointing down toward a stirring storm of black smoke. “We dive down at the same time, falling through the cloud. We have to dive and leave at the same time, otherwise the storm will return us to the entrance.”
Dash looked down, at the storm, feeling intimidated. “There's no rush.” Dark told her. “We can sit here for a little while if you're afraid.”
Dash shook her head, taking his hoof. “No, let's go.”
Dark nodded, smiling. “1......2.....3!”
The two dove down into the pit at the same time, falling into the black smoke. Dash looked over at Dark as he disappeared into the shadows.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Celestia smiled as she looked over the peace treaty, hoof delivered by Silver Streak. Taking a quill in her magical grasp, she signed the letter and sent it away to the Griffon King. Silver stood proud and tall, wearing the amulet around his neck. “Silver Streak, for your bravery in battle, you have my eternal gratitude.”
Silver bowed to the court, smiling. “Thank you all, I am happy to accept this gratitude, and this amulet.”
The unicorns looked between each other, confused. “General Silver Streak,” said the same unicorn which had placed the amulet around his neck, “You were not to be given the amulet as a war medal, your use of the Griffon's Eye was only during battle. We ask that you give it back now.”
Silver took a step back, surprised. He looked around at the serious faces of the court. Looking down at the amulet around his neck, he saw his reflection in the ruby again. He liked the way he looked in the stormy ruby, the way he looked wearing it. Silver shook his head, looking back up at the court. “No. No I won't give it to you, it's mine. You gave it to me.”
The unicorns looked at each other, then back down at the pegasus. “If you refuse to give it to us, Silver Streak, then you give us no choice but to take it by force.”
Guards began surrounding Silver, ready for their orders. The court watched him, waiting for his final answer. Silver took in a deep breath, as if to sigh in surrender. When he exhaled, black smoke billowed from his mouth, creating a smokescreen to allow him to escape. “Guards, stop him!” called one of the unicorns through the coughing in the black smoke.
Silver Streak had flown out of a window, being pursued by pegasus guards. Silver stopped in the air, glaring down at the guards. Nearby clouds pulled to him, darkening as they approached. As if by his whim, they began shooting lightning bolts at the guards, causing them to plummet to the ground. One bolt was deflected by a unicorn horn as it came close to her. Celestia flapped her wings, trapping Silver in a powerful binding spell. Silver struggled, but he was unable to fight her magic with the magic of the amulet. As Celestia approached to talk to the pegasus, she was caught off guard as another pegasus whizzed by her, taking the amulet from around his neck. Silver looked over and saw, it was Wisp. “Run!” Silver yelled.
She didn't take a second thought to it as she began to escape with the amulet wrapped around her hoof. Celestia watched as the mare got away, unable to chase, in fear of moving too far away from her binding spell. Silver laughed, feeling victorious as he was levitated back toward the courtroom.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
The pegasi both opened their wings as they fell through the other side of the dark cloud, landing gently on the ground. The two smiled at each other, happy to be through another trial. There was a final trial left, and the two stared it down. “Cloud flying.” Dark said, stepping toward a corridor filled with storm clouds. “These clouds are enchanted, electrical surges are all over the place. We need to traverse the maze and avoid the charges of electricity, it's the same as flying through storm clouds.”
Rainbow Dash didn't hesitate as she stepped forward next to him. The two looked at each other and nodded in tandem, arching back on their back legs. With a mighty leap, they flew into the storm clouds.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Silver walked back and forth in his cell, taking the occasional stare up at the storm outside his cell window. He perked his ears as he listened to the sounds of the guards talking. “I thought the rain was scheduled for tomorrow, not tonight.” one said.
“They're probably starting early to get it over with.” another explained.
Silver smirked, sitting down in his cell, staring out the window. He set his sights on a particularly large spark in the sky, brushing his unkempt mane out of his face to watch it carefully. As the spark grew to it's maximum, he covered his face with his wing. The bolt shot straight down toward the prison wall, destroying it. The guards ran toward the source of the explosion and saw Silver staring up at a mare, an amulet around her neck. Silver stood up, smiling darkly as he approached the mare, and the two shared a kiss. The guards started searching their keys for the cell key, causing a racket. Silver turned toward the noise and saw the guards staring at him. He smirked as dark clouds covered the pair. “Tell the unicorns that their time is running out.” he said, disappearing in the black fog.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Rainbow Dash was the first to make it out of the labyrinth, Dark Streak not far behind. In front of the two was a giant gate, a depiction of two pegasi with crossed necks, their wings extended out. There was a small pedestal in front of it, a familiar embedding carved into it. “Pass me the amulet.” Dark said, holding out his hoof.
Dash slid the amulet off her neck, handing it to him. He stepped toward the pedestal, sliding the amulet into place. With a loud creak, the door slowly slid open, revealing a large room behind it. The two stepped in, as Dash looked around with awe. Dark's eyes were brought toward the center of the room, where a staircase led up toward a shrine. “So this is a hiding place?” Dash asked, staring at the empty room around her. “Where are all the provisions?”
Dark made his way toward the staircase. “I'll go pull the switch at the top of the stairs, that'll reveal the supplies. Wait here.”
Dash nodded, starting to explore. Dark smiled as he made his way up the stairs, ready for what was waiting for him at the top.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
“It would be many years before I would see Silver Streak again.” Celestia continued. “He was caught by letting himself be chased to allow his family, Wispy Winds and two foals, escape. He had what we thought at the time was the Griffon's Eye Amulet, but later found out was a replica. We called off the search following that, posing the replica as the real amulet, making Silver Streak out to be a hero, passing the amulet off as a war medal, and disbanding the Unicorn Council. I only spoke to Silver Streak one more time after that, when he requested me personally.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Silver Streak was hunched over, looking very old and thin. His mane had grown out of control, his wings tucked in at his sides. He raised his head as he heard hoofsteps approaching, looking across the hallway at Princess Celestia, being escorted by two guards. “Ah, Princess. I'm so honored that you have decided to visit.” he said sarcastically.
“I was told you wished to speak with me Silver Streak, what is it you wanted?”
“Come in here, I want to talk to you personally.” he said, smiling.
Celestia nodded to the guard to open the door, and she walked in, giving a shake of the head to the guards who wished to follow. Silver stood up carefully, trotting back and forth. “I'm at the end of my life Celestia, my final hours are upon me.” he told her, stopping in front of her. “So I've decided I want to share my final words with you. Come closer.”
Celestia leaned in and allowed Silver Streak to whisper in her ear. Her eyes went wide at the information she had been given. “What do you mean by that? What are you planning Silver Streak?” she challenged, staring down at him.
Silver didn't answer her. Instead, he sat back down, lowering his head. Celestia stood there for hours, ordering him to explain himself, but he never said a word.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
“Silver Streak never said another word until his death.” Celestia said. “His last words were indeed the ones that he spoke in my ear. For the longest time I've never questioned them, the final delusions of a colt on his death bed. Now I'm beginning to wish I had payed more attention to those words, for they have come true.”
“Princess,” Twilight spoke up, standing to look at her mentor. “What is it? What did Silver Streak say to you?”
Celestia took in a deep sigh as she looked at the five worried mares in front of her. “I will return from the grave for you.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dark ascended the stairs, a dark smile on his face. It wasn't much longer before he was at the top, and his prize was in front of him. “All that work, all that effort to bring this plan together.” he said to himself, staring at the amulet in front of him. “Years spent following the key, searching for a pegasus who could complete the trials with me, manipulating her trust to work with me, it's all come to this grandfather.”
He took the amulet from it's resting place, feeling the power around his neck as he exhaled a small storm cloud. He chuckled softly to himself as it began to grow, evolving into a giant storm. “This is it, the beginning of your world.” he said aloud, watching his creation continue to grow. “A world without unicorns!”

Loyalty

Rainbow Dash woke up, picking herself up off the cold cave floor. Her head was extremely sore, there was a bump under her mane. She rubbed the lump, wincing a bit as she took in her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was the cave, the same cave she was in, where she had gone with Dark to lay low. There was a significant difference in this cave's features, a large hole in the ceiling. She stared out of the hole and saw that the sky was painted with black clouds. As she stared at the billowing dark sky, her memory began coming back, and she jumped up into the air and darted out the hole, flying toward Ponyville.
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
As Dash explored the cave, waiting for the supplies to appear, she heard dark laughing coming from behind her. Turning around, her eyes went wide at the sight of the growing storm cloud, Dark Streak standing on it's edge, a ruby amulet around his neck. Dash flew up on top of the cloud, landing on it's surface. “Dark, what's going on?” Dash asked. “And where did you get that? Isn't that the Griffon's Eye?”
Dark turned around and flashed a devious smirk at the mare. “It is, but this time it's the real one, the powerful one.”
“Powerful one?”
“Yes, the weapon the unicorns of the ancient world developed to allow us pegasi to overcome the griffons. The amulet that was given to my grandfather and then forced out of his hands.”
“I don't understand, you said your grandfather was a war hero.”
“Fool.” Dark said, shaking his head. “He was a war hero, a hero of more than just the Griffon Territory War. Soon, he will also be the hero of the Equestria Purification Movement.”
“The what?” Dash took a step closer, putting her hoof on his cheek. “Dark, what are you talking about? Why do you have that look in your eyes?”
Dark smiled at her, a look of evil in his eyes. “I needed you to traverse the traps designed to protect the amulet, and now that I have it, I'm ready to put my grandfather's plan into action. Rainbow Dash, you and I are going to bring about the downfall of the unicorns.”
Dash took a step back, surprised. “Downfall of the unicorns? I...why? Why would you want to destroy the unicorns?”
Dark shook his head. “Unicorns are the enemy, they've held back the pegasi for centuries. Come with me Rainbow Dash, let's purify Equestria.”
Dark held out his hoof for her to take. Dash stared at it, and shakily reached out her hoof. She slapped his hoof away, shutting her eyes. “I'm sorry Dark, but I can't do that.”
Dark gritted his teeth, glaring at the rainbow hued pegasus. “Then you are useless to me.” he told her.
Dash screamed as she was electrocuted by the storm clouds below her. As she began to fall on her side, the clouds opened and she began descending to the cave floor. “It's a shame, we could have had such a happy life, king and queen.” he told her.
Dash's vision blurred as she fell, she watched dizzily as a bolt of lightning broke a hole in the ceiling, and Dark left, riding the cloud out. She blacked out as her head hit against the cold stone floor, leaving her limp on the ground.
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
Everyone in the library was trying their best to help in their own different ways while Twilight and Princess Celestia stood over a series of maps, examining the topography to find the most likely area they would find Rainbow Dash and Dark Streak. “It's pointless.” Princess Celestia said with a sigh. “We searched for years but were never able to find the hidden location, there's no way we'll find it now. We have no choice but to wait until the two plan to show themselves.”
“Don't say that Princess.” Fluttershy told her. “You're just tired is all, you've been so preoccupied with trying to catch a ghost, you haven't even taken the time to raise the sun yet.”
Celestia's eyes went wide as she turned her head to the clock. It was already eight, the clock had turned past the midnight hour. Twilight saw the worry in her mentor's eyes and immediately galloped out the door. The rest of the group followed behind, and stood in awe at the sky they saw above. All across Ponyville, ponies were staring up at the menacing dark sky above, which seemed to stretch on forever in all directions. Celestia leaned back on her back legs, getting ready to jump into the air, when a bolt of lightning came dangerously close to her front hooves. “I wouldn't do that if I were you.” a voice warned.
Descending on a cloud, mane blowing in a powerful wind, was Dark Streak, the amulet around his neck. “You must be Dark Streak.” Celestia said, glaring at him.
“I am, and you must be Princess Celestia. I must say, so far I'm unimpressed.”
“Unimpressed? What about me wouldn't leave you impressed?”
Dark smirked as he brushed his mane back. “Well, though I'll admit I've seen you before, I thought in person you'd be more intimidating. Honestly, I can't see how such a frail filly like you was able to force my family into hiding.”
Celestia's horn began to glow as she glared at the overconfident colt. “Then perhaps it's time I showed you what I'm capable of.”
Once again a bolt of lightning passed by the alicorn's vision, breaking her concentration. “Oh, that's definitely not a good idea.” he told her. “You see those clouds up there? They're pretty heavily charged. If you were to attempt to capture me then you'd certainly break my concentration, and that would set off a series of lightning bolts. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what unfortunate little lightning rods those horns of yours are.”
“Where's Rainbow Dash?” Came an angry southern voice.
Dark turned his attention to Applejack, who had been glaring holes in him since he had shown himself. “Rainbow Dash? I imagine she's still unconscious in that cave I left her in.”
“You better not have hurt her!” Twilight yelled.
“Or what?” Dark asked snidely, floating in close to meet her eye to eye. “You'll hit me with a spell? Go ahead and try, as soon as I see you light up I'll send one hundred thousand amperes through that pretty purple hood ornament.”
Twilight met his sly smirk with her own angry glare as he patted her horn. Dark's amused look left his face and was replaced with a bored frown and he floated back. “Oh lighten up, I only stunned her so she wouldn't get in the way, I'm not a monster. Now, onto my demands.”
“Demands?” Celestia asked. “What demands?”
“You didn't think I created this storm for nothing did you?” he asked, smiling up at the storm. “I did this for my Grandfather, now let's get down to business. It's nothing too hard, all I ask is that the unicorns of Equestria pack their bags and cross the border, and never enter again.”
“You want to ban unicorns from Equestria?” Rarity asked in surprise. “Why on earth would you want to do that?”
“Didn't your dear princess tell you? It's your kind that caused all this in the first place. The unicorn council gave my grandfather the amulet during the Griffon Territory War, and then, when all the fighting was done, what did they do? They wanted to wrap their greedy little hooves around it again, with little more than a thank you for his services. The council was the one to decide that my grandfather decided life for wanting to hold on to a war medal, and they were the ones that chased my grandfather to his own death for wanting little more than to have a family! You unicorns, you believe your magic is the ultimate power in this world, you don't deserve to exist in the same country as the masters of the sky, you do not belong in Equestria, neither on her land, nor in her skies!”
Dark's voice was raised, his true anger and emotion showing. “Dark Streak, I apologize for your grandfather's life.” Celestia told him. “That is why I disbanded the unicorn council, and why I stopped the search for your family.”
“And you think that makes it okay?” he asked, taking his turn to glare down at the group. “A pathetically worded 'I'm sorry' and a 'let's pretend it never happened?' Not good enough! My grandfather should have been master of the skies, he would want you dead! Be lucky I let you leave this country with all your feathers intact.”
“We will stop you!” Twilight declared.
“With what? Your unicorn magic? Do I have to spell it out for you? This is MAGIC lightning, as soon as you charge up your horn my storm charges up a bolt.”
“Then we'll use the elements of harmony!”
“With just the five of you? I highly doubt that. I can see you need some time to mull it over, so I'll make it brief. You have one hour to decide, if you disagree, then I'll begin a storm across all of Equestria that will home in on any unicorn who peers their head outside their door. I'll be in the clouds whenever you're ready.”
Dark began to ascend toward his storm. Letting out a high pitched whistle, the clouds cracked with thunder, and a heavy rain began pouring down. The ponies of Ponyville all ran in their houses, worried for their safety. None were more worried, however, than the unicorns, most of which had hurried inside long before.
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
“We could send somepony up above the clouds to negotiate with him.” Twilight suggested, speed reading through books, trying desperately to find a solution.
“I don't think he's open to negotiation.” Celestia told her, staring out the window. “At best he would listen to the negotiator, deny anything we ask for, and we'd be down another ten minutes.”
Twilight ran her hoof through her mane, which had frizzed out of frustration. “Then what about telling every unicorn to stay inside?”
“We don't have time for that, it would take more than an hour to go across all of Equestria.”
“Then we could send up a team to stop him.”
“That would require our best stealth team, and we don't have the time to put together a group like that either.”
Twilight sighed as she let her head rest on a book. “It's hopeless, there isn't anypony who can stop him.”
“I can stop him.” came a familiar voice from the door.
The group turned to face the source, staring across the room at a soaking wet Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie said excitedly, pouncing on the back of her cyan friend. “I knew you were okay.”
“Now's not the time Pinkie.” Dash said seriously, shrugging her party friend off her back. “You need someone to go up and stop Dark, right? I'll go.”
Fluttershy flew toward the door to help Pinkie up, giving Dash a worried look. Twilight stepped forward, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Rainbow Dash, you don't have to.”
“Yes I do, it's my fault this happened. If I had listened to you and Applejack when you warned me about him, if I hadn't ignored the signs, this wouldn't have happened.”
“Sugarcube, we don't blame you for this.” Applejack told her. “You were misguided by him, it could have happened to anypony.”
“No, it couldn't have.” Dash turned to her southern friend. “He chose me specifically, for my loyalty.”
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight pleaded, turning to her mentor, “Please, tell her she doesn't have to go.”
Rainbow Dash stared up at Celestia, and she stared back. The two watched each other for what felt like ages, having a silent conversation with each other. Celestia shut her eyes and nodded. “Very well, Rainbow Dash. If you truly wish to make things right, then go. He's up above the clouds.”
Dash nodded, turning and galloping out the door. The group chased her outside into the rain, Twilight and Applejack taking the lead. Celestia stepped out behind them as the pegasus rocketed up into the storm clouds. Twilight turned to her mentor, a mix of worry and upset in her expression. “Princess, why did you let her go? You know it wasn't her fault.”
“It is neither your business nor mine to decide where blame is placed Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia told her. “All I can say is that this is her fight.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
Dash weaved around the electrical pockets in the clouds, gritting her teeth. All she could think about as she forced her way through the thick cloud cover were the past weeks of her life, starting at that fateful turn toward the eastern sky. Finally, she broke through to the cloud tops. It was an awe inspiring view, the sun cascading across the cottony plains. It was almost impossible to believe that such a demonic storm could have a utopia hidden above. Dash set her hooves down on the cloud tops, looking around the horizon. It didn't take long for her to spot the cloud castle in the distance. Beating her wings irritably, she began walking toward it, holding back her emotions behind a serious face. The doors to the castle opened without much effort, revealing a beautiful entrance hall. Dash walked down the hall to another set of doors, which opened quietly into a throne room. In the center was a dark cloud throne, inscribed with pictures of pegasi. Sitting in the throne, drawing his attention to the doors, was Dark Streak. His startled look turned to a smile as he saw who had entered his kingdom in the sky. “Ah, it's just you Rainbow Dash.” he greeted as she approached. “Welcome, it's good to see you again. So you've changed your mind about my offer?”
Dash didn't say anything, instead she let the glare on her face do the talking for her. Dark frowned as he watched her unchanging expression. “I see, then what are you here for?”
“You can't go through with this Dark.” Dash told him. “You can't exile the unicorns, that's not purification. Please, just tell me you'll turn yourself in, I don't want to see anything happen to you.”
Dark shook his head, letting out an annoyed sigh. “You don't understand, do you? This is the real me, this is Dark Streak, grandson of Silver Streak. This is my family's dream and I intend to make it come true.”
Dash's face changed so slightly, it was almost unnoticeable, but her heart sank at his answer. “I was hoping you wouldn't say that.” she told him.
Without hesitation, she jumped at him, using her wings to extend the arc as she pounced him. He tried to stop her with a bolt of lightning, but she barrel rolled around it, knocking him off his throne and into the clouds. The two flew through multiple electrical pockets before Dark was able to buck her off and open his wings, flying back up above the clouds. Dash wasn't far behind as she flew at him again, but Dark was quick to buck her away again. “This is for the good of the pegasi, Rainbow Dash. How can you go against your own species?”
Dash opened her wings to save her from a fall on her back, jumping up into the air again at her target. She evaded the bolts of lightning he sent at her, spinning around his attempt to buck her away in order to buck him to the ground. “You're wrong Dark,” She told him, “You're doing this for nobody but yourself.”
Dark let out a painful cough, putting a hoof to his chest. She had delivered a hard kick straight to the ribs. He glared up at her as a mighty wind began blowing. “This is not my will, it is my grandfather's, it is his legacy, a legacy I carry on as his blood descendant.”
The mighty wind turned into a black and red cyclone. Dash didn't fight against the wind, but instead flew straight into the funnel, adding some of her own color to the spinning wind. The two stared off as they flew with the cyclone's spin. “Don't you understand?” Dark challenged. “This is the real me, not that pony that you met, you can't change me into that!”
“I don't plan to change you.” Dash told him. “I plan to stop you!”
Dash slowed down and bucked him again, straight in his abdomen. Dark flew out of the cyclone, throwing the wind off balance and breaking the funnel. As he hit the clouds the amulet flew off his neck, landing a few feet away. He coughed hard, starting to turn himself over. Before he could get around onto his hooves, a rainbow streak breezed by him, taking the amulet and pinning him within a matter of seconds. Rainbow loomed over the black colt, staring down at him with the amulet around her neck. The dark clouds began to lighten in color beneath them, dissipating. Dark sighed, a look of defeat staring up at his opponent. “I spent my life working on this plan.” He told her. “I thought I was melding the perfect partner, but all I managed to do was gain your anger and make you hate me.”
Dash shook her head, tearing up. “You just don't get it Dark Streak.” she told him, tears dripping onto his face. “I didn't stop you because I hate you.”
She brought her face down next to his, nuzzling his cheek softly as she fought to stop her shivering hooves. “I had to stop you....because...I love you.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
It took until late in the afternoon to clean up the mess Dark Streak had created, but would have taken significantly longer if it weren't for Rainbow Dash and the amulet. After bucking away the last of the clouds, Dash landed near the Canterlot Royal Police wagon, where two soldiers had Dark Streak in quadruple hoof cuffs. “Rainbow Dash,” Dark streak pleaded, “I don't know what came over me, the....the amulet, it messes with your-”
“Save it,” Dash told him, hiding her emotions until her back was turned, “You've done enough damage.”
“I can repair any of the buildings that the lightning-”
“That isn't what I meant.”
Twilight and the group galloped up to their cyan friend, wrapping her up in a relieved group hug. “Thank goodness you're okay Rainbow Dash.” Twilight told her.
“We were mighty worried for you.” Applejack added.
“Yeah, thanks guys.”
The group disbanded the hug as they heard Celestia approach, her face expressionless. Twilight stepped forward, staring up at her mentor. “Princess Celestia, please don't punish-”
“No Twilight.” Rainbow Dash stopped her.
She beckoned the unicorn aside, and Rainbow Dash stood in front of the alicorn, looking ready to face her fate. “Rainbow Dash,” Celestia began, “You have assisted in a plot to destroy the unicorns of Equestria, a plot that caused all of Equestria to be covered in a thick and deadly storm.”
Rainbow Dash said nothing in her defense, merely dropping her head. “However,” she continued, revealing a smile on her face, “You risked your life in a fatal attempt to make up for those errors, and in doing so saved all of Equestria from destruction. You are forgiven.”
“Thank you, princess.” Dash said, keeping her head bowed. “I know it is not my place at this point, but I would like to ask a favor of you.”
Confused, Celestia bowed her head, and the cyan pegasus whispered in the alicorn's ear. Celestia smiled and stood straight, nodding. “Very well, I will honor this favor, as a thank you for your bravery, and an apology for the events that I can't say I didn't have a hand in creating.”
Rainbow Dash smiled, though she kept her head low. “Thank you.”
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
Scootaloo put all the effort she could muster into flapping her wings, smiling as she felt herself levitate off the ground. She only made it a couple of inches off the ground before falling back down with a thud. Dash clapped her hooves, smiling at the filly pegasus. “Nice job kid,” she said, “keep working on that form, it's not all about how fast you can flap your wings.”
Scootaloo smiled, looking excitedly at her flying coach. “Thanks Rainbow Dash! I be I'll be flying before the end of the month with you helping me.”
Dash trotted up to the eager filly and tussled her hair. “That's the spirit kid. You'd better get going, the sun's starting to set. We'll continue tomorrow afternoon, alright.”
Scootaloo nodded and hopped on her scooter, buzzing away toward home. Dash smiled as she watched the young protege speed off into the distance. With a sigh, she jumped up into the air and flew toward home. Stepping inside the familiar walls, she made her way directly to bed, the moon starting it's journey across the sky. She stopped at the wall to mark off another day on the calender and smiled weakly. “A month to the day.” she told herself.
She stepped up to her bed, unlocking the drawer in her night stand. She stared down at the Griffon's Eye Amulet, a small smile across her face. Shutting the drawer again, she crawled into bed, falling into a sound sleep.