Dashie: A Hero's Tale

Princess Celestia carefully went over the data Twilight had been sending her. She was just as captivated by the findings as her former pupil. Never in her life had she seen a change of this magnitude take place. With the most recent analyses, the sun princess began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. She may not have seen or heard of this phenomenon before, but she knew its explanation all too well. Celestia felt the time was right to intervene. She wrote two separate letters and sent them out to the respective recipients - Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.

Rainbow read the letter sent by the princess when it arrived. It was a request to meet with the sisters and the other elements. Rainbow's curiosity was piqued. She placed the letter on her kitchen table and headed out.

"Hello, Rainbow," Celestia greeted the Pegasus.

"Hey."

"Princess, what's going on," Twilight requested to know.

"I'm sure you have many questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability."

"We believe we have found the source of your friends' transformation," Luna announced.

"That is correct," Celestia confirmed, "Based on my examinations of Twilight's analyses, we believe that Rainbow Dash has begun traversing the path of the hero."

"Path of the hero," Twilight wondered out loud.

"Precisely," Celestia said, "You were the first to make the connection, Twilight."

"I follow you so far. You mean the correlation between her actions and the changes, right?"

"Yes. However, it extends deeper than that. I believe this awakening has occurred because of the balance in her original personality."

"What balance," Rainbow questioned.

"Until recently, aside from the occasional assistance in fending off a villain, you were more of a neutral force. You were neither wholeheartedly good nor evil. In layman's terms, you could have gone either direction."

"Are you saying I could have gone dark side?"

"It was not out of the realm of possibility."

"So...Why did you want to see me, exactly?"

"I have a proposal for you."

"Proposal? You wanna' marry me or something?"

Celestia and Luna started laughing.

"Guess you guys have a sense of humor after all."

"Forgive us," Celestia spoke, "We haven't adjusted to your lighthearted mannerisms yet."

"No sweat. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't think it was funny, right?"

"Very true."

"What did you guys have in mind?"

"My sister and I wish to aid you on your journey."

"How?"

"There are rumors of a changeling roaming the streets of Canterlot. We cannot personally investigate at the moment."

"You want me to try to track them down."

"Will you help us?"

"Of course. I'm an element of harmony, after all."

"Thank you. We will prepare the necessary accommodations."

Twilight approached her sister in arms.

"Are you sure about this, Rainbow?"

"I'll be fine, Twilight. I learned from the master egghead."

Twilight chuckled.

"You jerk."

Rainbow's friends saw her off the next day. They gave her small gifts to take with her so they could be with her in spirit. When the goodbyes were said and done, she flew off with the princesses to Canterlot castle. She would be staying there until the changeling was found. After decorating her room with the gifts her friends had given her, she began her search.

Three days came and went without any luck. The guards did most of the ground searching while Rainbow took to the skies. During patrol on the third day, two guards saw a green flash in an alleyway. They instantly recognized it as the mark of the changelings. They cornered the creature. It had taken on the shape of an average mare. The guards were not fooled. They instantly restrained the creature.

Rainbow continued flying until she heard a series of grunts and yells. Following the sounds, she located the guards and their captive. The changeling's disguise had been negated by its captors.

"What are you guys doing," Rainbow protested.

"Our orders were to capture it," the guard restraining the changeling said.

"We must interrogate this monster," his partner finished.

"Wait! There might be another way," Rainbow offered.

The changeling stopped resisting to hear what the temporary recruit had to say.

"What's your name," Rainbow asked it.

"Seera," it replied with a feminine voice.

"You're hungry, right? Maybe I can help."

"Yeah, right. I doubt that."

"Ms. Rainbow," one of the guards objected, "We can't..."

Rainbow gave the guards a pleading stare.

"I got this..."

The guards released the changeling into Rainbow's care and left the alley.

"Now do you trust me," Rainbow asked.

"Fine. I'll hear you out."

"Follow me to the castle. I think we can work something out with the Princesses."

"And what makes you think that?"

"It's been done before. I don't see why a second time should be any different."

"This better not be a trick."

"Why would I lie to you?"

"So you could lock me in a cage."

"I don't have anything to gain from that. I may believe in the princesses, but they can take a challenge."

"Alright, already! I get the point. Just spare me the speech."

"You're the one who asked."

Seera made a huffy face, but flew to Canterlot castle with Rainbow nonetheless.

"And that's pretty much what happened," Rainbow informed Celestia.

"I see. What do you intend to do?"

"I can show her how to create her own food supply. If regular ponies can create love, maybe she can too."

"I've never entertained the idea before, but perhaps you're right."

The sun princess turned her attention to the black creature next to Rainbow Dash.

"Seera, I'm willing to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. Do you accept?"

"I mean, I could try, I guess..."

"Very well. I leave you in the capable hooves of Rainbow Dash. I hope you understand, failure is not an option. Should you revert to your evil ways, I will be forced to imprison you."

"Whatever you say, lady."

Rainbow and Seera exited the castle. Celestia put a hoof on her face and sighed.

"I don't think I'll ever understand today's youth."