Author's Note

Yep! I'm on the Twidash train now.

Also... first time writing Luna. Well... as one of the main characters, so... her dialogue :may be off.

First Twidash story.
And... man... my pacing sucks.

Shadows of Darkness

Rainbow Dash was standing on her cloud, eyes looking incredibly dull, but soft. Magenta eyes scanned around the area peacefully and furiously. There was no sound. It was just quietness. Pure silence. No problems. No schemes. No noise.

It was perfect.

Suddenly, a bright blue flash of light came from behind her. Well... almost perfect.
Rainbow didn't have to turn around to notice who it was.
She already knew who it was.

Princess Luna.

"Something is bothering you my fateful student," Luna said, causing Dash to lower her head in humiliation of why she was down.

Luna placed a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "You must not feel fear my child. You know it must be done," the Princess of the Night said. "You must tell them."
Princess Luna saw Rainbow avoiding her gaze, like she was afraid, but she also saw Dash controlling herself. Not on the outside, but deep into her eyes.

Luna used her hoof to grab Dash's chin so she can look at her, deep into her eyes.

"You must face them Rainbow Dash. If you don't tell them soon and the inevitable happens.... they'll grow more heartbroken by the experience than the situation itself. You must tell them before it happens so that they can slowly grow more comfortable for when it happens," she said, blue eyes sparkling.

Rainbow found a lump in her throat. Her voice was weak and she couldn't let her mind process this.

Luna said that this would happen and before it does, she should tell them. Luna explained it earlier, but Dash couldn't bring herself to do so.

She just couldn't stop seeing the hateful faces of Applejack and Rarity, the confused yet shocked look of Pinkie, the terrifying looks of Fluttershy, her oldest and bestest friend, Scootaloo, her adopted sister, and Twilight, her marefriend.

She just feels a warm connection with Twilight.

Of course she didn't start having these feelings when she first met her. There was no such thing as love as first sight. But when she and Twilight began to spend more time with each other and their friendship had developed, she started to have feelings for her and that's what startled their relationship.

But she have to push them aside. She has to. For her sake.

She hasn't been slipping up lately so that's good.

"Are you alright my child?"

Rainbow didn't answer.

Luna sighed.

"I know of your relationship with Twilight, "she stated flatly.

One of Dash's eyebrows twitched, but she didn't change expressions.

"And I know you feel like your a danger to her. To everypony. But your not. Your smart, your gifted, your creative, your strong," Luna listed.

Rainbow shook her head in disagreement.

"You can't let these thoughts get to you my child,"Luna says, wrapping the cyan pegesus in a tight but loving hug. Luna felt Dash's body tense, which caused Luna to pull away a bit. "Just relax my child," Luna instructed softly.

Rainbow felt tears in her eyes. "I just don't want to hurt them," Dash cried.

"You won't, "Luna assured her. "I know you won't."

Luna finally released her to dry her tears. "Remember that you are a smart, strong, and creative pegesus Rainbow Dash, and the last thing you do is hurt others."

And with that, Luna disappeared into a flash of blue light.

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing. Everything was just so perfect.

Twilight trotted around. She hasn't seen Rainbow all day. Not in the sky, not on the ground, not at Sugar cube corner. But maybe she was with the others already at the picnic that they scheduled for today.

"Twilight! Over here!" Pinkie waved.

Twilight trotted even faster to reach her destination.

"I thought you might've gotten lost silly filly," Pinkie smiled.

Twilight smiled back, but she began to look around the red and white picnic blanket they always use for picnics.

She saw Pinkie, of course, she called her over here, Rarity was beside Applejack , clasping their hooves together; 'It's so nice to see them together,' thought Twilight.

She saw Fluttershy with Angel Bunny, feeding him a carrot with an unamused look on his face.

'That rabbit,' Twilight thought.

And finally, she sees a sleeping Scootaloo with her back against the tree.

But she doesn't see Rainbow Dash.

"Where's Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked.

"I haven't seen her all day darling, "responded Rarity as she placed her head on AJ's.

"I flew around and checked her home and all over Cloudsdale, but to no conclusion, " Fluttershy said.

"She didn't come fer any of mah cider either, "AJ said, rubbing Rarity's mane.

"Still didn't see her at Sugar Cube Corner," Pinkie said, shaking her head.

There was a painful silence which Fluttershy broke instantly. "Oh dear."

"What?"

Flutters placed her gaze on the others. "You don't think she's doing it again do you?"

"Doing what?" Pinkie squeaked.

"Avoiding us," Shy said straightforward.

Pinkie's eyebrow twitched a little, but she forced a smile. "Please! Dashie never avoids us!" Pinkie disapproved with a wave of her hoof.

"When we try to help her, it seems like she doesn't want it."

"Crazy talk!" The Element of Laughter responded quickly.

Fluttershy didn't respond to Pinkie's exclamation. "When we ask her what's wrong, she waves it off as nothing. When we try to spend time with her, she avoids us. When we ask her more questions... she gets really upset. Then she'll show remorse and dash off. "

Pinkie Pie nervously bit her lip. "But it won't happen this time," the pink mare assured. "Dashie must be stressed is all. With the Wonderbolts and everything. She must not be thinking clearly. Last time won't happen again."

"I've never seen Dash so upset before," Rarity chimed in.

"Please don't make me flashback," Pinkie said, rubbing her temples uncharacteristically.

"Especially with little Scootaloo," AJ whispered for affect, her left hoof pointing towards the orange flightless filly.

Rarity nodded. "Indeed. She has been a little sad lately."

Twilight swallowed the lump from her throat and narrowed her eyes. "We must go out and look for her. Maybe she returned home right after you checked her place."

"Guess it's worth a shot, " Fluttershy whispered. "But during this search, we must keep Scootaloo asleep."

They all nodded.

"I simply adore this cloud walking spell. Makes me even more attractive when walking on clouds than the ground, "Rarity bragged as she flipped her purple mane.

"Sure does," whispered AJ with a smirk, causing Rarity to blush.

Applejack laughed, then snorted. "Yer blushin' redder than a juicy red apple," the blonde eased.

"Stop it, " Rarity said playfully.

Pinkie bounced from behind. "Just kiss already!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily.

Rarity blushed even harder and AJ gave Pinkie an annoyed, yet angry look.

"Oh come on! You know you wanna!"

"Oh dear, I hope she's okay," Fluttershy said while she carried the filly on her back.
"You and me both," responded Twilight. The purple alicorn's horn then consumed in a purple aura.
"What are ya doin' Twilight?" The Element of Honesty asked.

"I can't wait any longer. We must get there immediately. Something horrible might have happened to Rainbow!" Twilight yelled in panic and fear, which caused Scootaloo to stir a bit on Flutters's back. Luckily, she didn't wake up.
"Sorry," Twilight said with remorse as they were gone in a purple flash.

The Mane Five and a sleeping Scootaloo ended up by Rainbow's house.

"Goodness, is she sleeping?"

"Only one way to find out," responded Twilight. She knocked on Dash's door three times. "Rainbow! Are you in there!?"

The door creaked open, revealing Rainbow Dash in a dark black cloak.

Rarity hesitated for a moment. "Darling, you are wearing your cloak. Is something the matter?"

Pinkie bounced by. "Yeah! I haven't seen ya wear that in a longgggg..... time! If ya subtract the times we were fighting villains like from last month, but other than that, ya seem cloak free!" Pinkie exclaimed, smiling innocently at her friend.

"But it stills look great on you Rainbow," Twilight complimented, using her magic to lift parts of it.

Dash's right eye twitched at Twilight's compliment, but relaxed instantly, eyes simply closed. "Yes, well, I thought I needed to... dress up a bit. I was... kinda on my way to our destination anyways."

"YAY!" Pinkie exclaimed happily, giving her friend a loving embrace, but Dash's muscles tensed. Pinkie felt how Dash was actually letting her arms tense like someone's kidnapping her.

The party mare released Rainbow instantly and faced her. "Are you sure your okay?"

"Fine, "she said unconvinced.

"You don't SEEM fine," Pinkie said in exaggeration.

"Pinkie is right Rainbow. Your not... exactly yourself. Please, if anything is bothering you, you can tell us."

"Ya, we won't judge," AJ says with a smirk.

All eyes were on her now in concern and confusion, which caused her to tense up.

Twilight saw this first as she trotted beside her. "If... if your not ready to tell us, we won't force you, " Twilight said with a smile, placing her forearm lovingly around Dash.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

The Mane Six and Scootaloo were enjoying each other's company now that Dash and Twilight are here to complete it. Though they let go of Dash's behavior for now, they won't let it go forever. Twilight especially. She was her marefriend. Dash should tell her everything that's going on with her, right?

The alicorn noticed that her marefriend wasn't exactly having fun like the rest of her friends were. Her eyes looked dull and she wasn't moving. She was breathing, she was sure, but she was still off to her.

She thought for a moment. Maybe she should do something a marefriend would do to their partner to bring Dash to reality. It does seem like the pegesus was in a trance or distracted by something that wasn't there. Slowly, but carefully, she placed her lips on Dash's neck with love and passion. She reacted unexpectedly to Twilight.

Rainbow flinched when the warm temptation touched her neck and she forced her neck away from Twi.

The alicorn looked incredibly hurt by Dash's rejection. "Dash," she called to the pegesus quietly.

Rainbow 's eyes went to Twilight, finally making eye contact with her.

" Yeah Twi?"

"Your not having any fun and your acting weird. Like I said earlier, I'm going to force you to talk, but... it just feels like you don't like us anymore despite a problem we might can help you with."

Rainbow grunted quietly. "I want to tell you, but I can't. "

"Is it something personal? "

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Dash grunted. "You won't like it. You won't like me."

"That's not true. I love you," Twilight said.

"Your just saying that Twi-"

In an instant, Twilight passionately kissed the tomboyish mare. After a few seconds or so, Dash kissed back, forgetting about everything else. Twilight's hooves were clasped tightly onto Rainbow 's hooves in absolute power, causing Dash's muscles and mind to relax.

Twilight placed her tongue deep into Dash's mouth with some hesitation. Rainbow on the other hoof was just letting Twilight make out with her and letting her powerful hooves clasp onto hers.

The alicorn slowly took one hoof from Dash's to touch the cyan pegesus's right wing. She did it with hesitation. Rainbow, without thinking, unlocked her wings from her body and cloak which gave Twilight an answer that she can do it cause she wouldn't mind.

Twilight placed her hoof slowly onto Dash's wing which caused Dash to kick the tree with her right hind leg. Twilight didn't notice.

The princess began to rub the wing softer which caused Dash to groan into the alicorn's mouth.

But that moment was only shortly lived.

'Rainbow Silver Dash,' someone whispered.

Rainbow's ears shot up which caused her muscles to tense again. Twilight felt this and parted away from her. "What's wrong?"

Black dark magic came from the ground. It took form into a stallion who had a snowy white coat, a black mane and tail, blue eyes, and a silver dagger for a cutie mark. He was a pegesus.

Scootaloo began to tremble. "H... how did you come out of the ground like that?"

"I have my ways."

"Who are you?!" Applejack exclaimed in commanded, placing herself in front of Rarity to protect her, ready to fight or pounce.

The pony smirked. "Silver Dagger is the name." He then turned towards Dash. "Rainbow Dash, you never told me you had such cute friends. Especially the lavender one."

"Leave. Now."

"Remember what I said Dash, I will destroy everyone and everything you love. Thought I was lying?"

A dark magic wall was placed between Silver and Twilight and everypony else. His blue eyes turned red for a while. "Starting with you Lavender. "

Dash tried getting out with her strength along with Rarity's magic and everypony's else strength but it wouldn't budge.

Meanwhile, Twilight 's horn powered up in a spell and blasted Silver in the chest. Once he was down, Twi kicked him two times in the face and then blasted him again.

"Your a fighter. I. Like. That. "

Silver tackled the alicorn who used her magic to levitate him off of her. He was then thrown onto he ground five times then onto the tree six times. She finally levitated high enough to blast a large energy spell onto him.

Silence.

Twilight floated back down, but she wished she didn't.

Silver Dagger was still standing without a scratch.

Twilight gulped in surprise and fear. "How... How did you..."
"Lesson 125. Remember that Rainbow Dash?"

Dash's eyes were filled with no emotion.

With incredible speed, Silver placed his hoof onto Twilight's throat and placed her back onto the tree. Twilight tried powering another spell, but Silver used his hoof to grab her horn to stop her spell.

Silver smashed Twi's head onto the tree bark as Dash's attempts to escape can be heard.

"You no nothing of Rainbow Silver Dash."

Dash grunted in pain.

"She's darkness, she's Equestria's downfall, she's like me."

"What are you talking about? "

"Rainbow Silver Dash is a mastermind demon. Or should I say she's a former member of the White Clan."

The wall finally blew to bits. Everypony saw Dash's eyes blazing red and teeth demon sharp.

"Stroke a nerve didn't I? I guess getting under your fur is easier than I thought."

Silver was tackled by a dark rainbow blur. Rainbow held him by his back and kicked him so hard that blood spread around the tree. The cyan pegesus snapped his neck with both hooves earning a mockery gasp from the stallion she knew all too well.

Rainbow's fist was consumed in magic beyond even Twilight 's comprehension. Twilight used dark magic before, yes, but this seemed something beyond the dark magic she would use.

The blast had send Silver further away from her. Dash's body consumed in a black and red falcon. Smoke covered her body as she blasted Silver with force. Rainbow tackled Silver as she dug from her cloak to receive a silver dagger to stab him in the head and then the chest.

"Stay. Away. From. My. Friends."

Rainbow grasped the dagger tighter. "And if this didn't make it clear, I'm not afraid of you anymore."

Silver chuckled. "Answer this question for me Dash, what's worse? Having a fear or being feared?"

"R... Rainbow... D... Dash...?" the timid voice of Fluttershy trembled.

Rainbow saw the look of her friends, her little sister, and her marefriend. And each of their looks could be locked into her mind forever.

Dash's grip onto the dagger loosened some causing Silver to grasp Dash's hoof and grasp it tightly. He placed his warm breathe onto Dash's ear and whispered, "I'll tell Father your still powerful as ever. "

And just like that, he disappeared.
Silence.

"R... Rainbow... Da... Dash..." Fluttershy said nervously.

"Rainbow Dash, Darling, you... you didn't ... you wouldn't ..."

"Rainbow Dash, why didn't you tell us that..."
"... YA WERE A MEMBER OF THA WHITE CLAN?!"
Scootaloo trembled, hiding behind AJ. "B... B... Big... S... Sis?"

Pinkie appeared by the orange filly. "Don't be scared little one, Rainbow Dash just pulled this prank on us! She can even out prank me you know?! And using Sorain as part of your plan? Genius! Alright Rainbow, that was a good one! A great one even! You scared me there! This probably took WEEKS to plan right Rainbow Dash?!" Pinkie exclaimed.

Silence.

"R... Rainbow Dash...?" Pinkie asked her, her voice wavering.

All of their full attention was placed on Dash who collapsed onto the ground.
"RAINBOW!"

Twilight and the others galloped by her.

Rarity trotted up to her and placed her horn on Dash's forehead.

"Is she alright ? What's wrong?!"

Blue sparks was sent into Rarity 's horn. "Wowzers."

"What was that?"

"Something is blocking me out from my spell."

"But what?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe I can be in assistance. "

Suddenly, Luna appeared, 'Princess Luna Style.'

"Princess Luna!" They all exclaimed, bowing to her, even Twilight.

Luna held up her hoof. "Just Luna please. And no bowing please. Especially you Twilight, your a princess after all."

They raised up as the purple alicorn blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, " she said sheepishly.

Pinkie appeared by Luna. "You said something about fixing Dashie?!" Pinkie exclaimed.

The Princess of the Night levitated Pinkie back onto the ground. "Yes, but we must take her to the Inn. She's safer there."

"As long as it helps Rainbow."

"Very well. Gather around me my little ponies," Luna kindly instructed as they did as what they were told.

Twilight held Dash tightly in her hooves as Luna, the Mane Six, and Scootaloo disappeared into a flash of light.

Luna knows there is still hope for Equestria.