Chapter 1: Element of Loyalty?
Rainbow Dash was laying comfortably in her bed of clouds. A cool morning breeze was blowing in the window. It was almost chilling, but Rainbow was too fast asleep to notice.
Her pet tortoise, Tank, laid on a small bed. It was similar to a cat bed, and was tied to some balloons. If he slept on a cloud, he would fall through.
The only noise was the breeze and the soft ticking of Rainbow's alarm clock. She had only bothered setting it because she needed to work later in the day, but not until five pm. Until then, she could sleep. Today would be her day of laziness, especially because she was sore from her sonic Rainboom at the Canterlot Wedding. It had tired her unnaturally, probably because she had fought hard in the battle with the changelings only a few hours before.
But, all in all, Rainbow didn't care how sore she was. The world wouldn't need saving before five pm, would it?
She could sleep soundly until then.
Crash
The cyan pegasus nearly jumped through the ceiling. The crash had startled her out of her sound sleep, causing her to bolt upright. Rubbing her head to get rid of the headache that had formed when she sat up too fast, her red-ish eyes scanned the room. Her gaze feel on a familiar purple pegasus mare in the window.
“Hey Rainbow!” the mare said cheerfully, seemingly un-dazed by her crash into the window. “Did I wake you?”
“Yes.” the rainbow pegasus muttered. “What are you doing here?”
“I'm sorry to wake you.” the mare said. She flapped her wings, carrying her all the way through the window and landing her in the middle of Rainbow's room. Her wings seemed to glow as she flapped them, but stopped when she folded them at her sides. “But I just heard great news about the Wonderbolts!”
Rainbow seemed to brighten with excitement. “Really? What is it?”
“They're doing a new show next week in Prance!”
Instead of excited, Rainbow Dash looked unhappy.
“What?” the purple pegasus asked.
“There's no way I'll be able to go. I would have to stay for at least two weeks. I couldn't get off work for that long, and my friends will want me nearby in case the changelings invade again.” Rainbow sighed. “But thanks for telling me, Aunt Star Song.”
Star Song frowned. “Oh.” she said sadly. “I was hoping if you went, I could go.”
“Why couldn't you go by yourself?”
“I don't have the extra money to buy tickets.” Star Song explained. “I've got to take care of Drift and you know I put a lot of money into my new sing and dance restaurant.”
Rainbow glanced at her dresser; a beautiful piece of furniture with many little carvings of her cutie mark on it. Hidden in the top drawer was her wallet. She had a lot of money, and it would be a shame is Star Song couldn't go. After all, it was she who had taught her a lot of the flying tricks she used.
Her aunt was a respected stunt pony, and would undoubtedly be invited into the Wonderbolts if she hadn't chosen a musical career. She usually liked to do little tricks in the sky, like she is dancing to non-existent music, and she is well known for it.
Of course, she wasn't as good and Rainbow Dash, but if she was well known...
“It's okay, I'll buy you a ticket.” Rainbow said.
Star Song shook her head. “No.” she said. “I will not accept such an expensive gift.”
“Who said it was a gift?” Rainbow asked. She flew over to her dresser, opened the top drawer, and dug around for her wallet full of bits. “I want something in return for it.”
“What is it?” Star Song asked. She trotted over to see what the cyan pegasus was doing, her hooves making no sound of the soft cloud flooring.
“I want you to tell the Wonderbolts about me.” Rainbow explained. “If you tell them how great I am, they're sure to let me join!”
“That makes sense, I guess.” Star Song said, but she still looked doubtful. “I dunno, it doesn't feel like a fair trade. I really don't want you to spend too much money for my entertainment.”
Rainbow waved a dismissive hoof. “It's okay. Getting into the Wonderbolts would be worth all my bits. Deal?”
“I guess.”
“Alright then, I'll go buy the tickets later today.” the cyan pegasus flew back over to her bed, dropping her wallet on her beside table. “Until then, I want to sleep.”
Star Song nodded and flew back out the window, wings sparkling as she took off.
Star Song landed softly on her porch. The wind was now blowing so hard she felt like it was moving her entire cloud house. It whipped her long pink mane into her face, making it hard for her to see where the knob was on her door. When she brushed the hair out of her eyes and located the doorknob, she turned it and raced inside, the wind closing the door behind her.
She gasped.
Her blue eyes stared over the destruction of the living room. What was once a beautiful cloud couch with music note cushions was now a black stained mess. The table in the shape of an eighth note was flipped and up against the wall. The wall itself had large black burns on it, smudging out the wonderful orchestra posters.
But it wasn't all burns and blasts. Some things looked like they had been crashed into. For example, the lamp was smashed, there was a small dent in the cloud flooring, many bookcases were barely balanced on the walls and had many books falling out, and the ornamental bird hanging from the ceiling was now on the floor.
“What happened?!” she shouted in surprise.
Two small figures tried to back out of the room slowly, but was hindered by the fact one of them had never walked on clouds before. Star Song noticed them and ran over to block their path. “Drift, what happened to the living room? And who is this?”
The smaller of the two, and a pegasus, swallowed guiltily. “Well mom, this is... my friend... Thunder Blast.”
“How is he even standing on the clouds?” Star Song asked. Thunder Blast was a small dark blue unicorn colt with orange eyes and a lighting strike for a cutie mark. Drift was a smaller purple pegasus colt with light blue eyes, a messy black mane, and no cutie mark.
“I learned a new spell that lets me walk on clouds, miss.” the little unicorn colt explained.
Star Song shook her head, clearing it and dismissing the current conversation. “What happened to the living room, Drift?”
Drift hoofed at the cloud floor, not meeting his mother's eyes. “We were playing around. I'm sorry, mom.”
Star Song sighed. “Now I have to figure out how to clean the living room. I'll have to get a new couch, but I guess the rest can be fixed with replacing the clouds.” Then she turned her attention on Thunder Blast. “Do your parents know you're here?”
“No, ma'am.” Thunder Blast shook his head. He almost lost his balance on the cloud, as he was not used to standing on them.
“Then I guess I'll take you home.” Then Star Song looked back over at Drift. “Drift, you shouldn't have brought a friend over while I was gone. I'll lecture you properly when I get home.”
She crouched down on the floor, leaning to the side and motioning with her wings for Thunder Blast to climb on. The little colt did so, hanging on tight to the mare's mane. Star song stood again and trotted to the door. Right before she walked out into the wind again, she ran a hoof over one of the burnt patches of the wall.
“How do you burn a cloud, anyway?” she wondered. She shrugged, not noticing Thunder Blast holding onto her mane harder as she moved as if in fear of falling off, and flew out the door.
Unnoticed by Star Song, Thunder Blast and and Drift gave each other hateful glares before the unicorn colt disappeared into the windy morning skies outside.
“I'll get you next time.” Drift muttered. He prodded his right wing with his hoof. The wing hung limply, which his mother hadn't noticed. “Now he's gone and broken my wing!”
One week later, Rainbow Dash sat in her house by the door, waiting for Star Song. Her aunt had promised to use the door this time, instead of crashing through the window. It was about noon, as the clock beside her chair said, and she was supposed to be here by now.
Hearing the familiar sound of Tank's flying device, rainbow turned around to see Tank flying into the room.
“You're getting way better at flying.” Rainbow complemented her pet. “When you get really good, I'll show you how to do a Sonic Rainboom!”
A smile slowly spread across the tortoise's face. Everything about him was slow.
Suddenly, there was a knock. It was followed by a groan and what was probably complaining. Rain stood from her chair and trotted over to the door. She opened it, expecting to see only Star Song waiting for her. However, her aunt had her son, Drift, laying on her back.
“I don't want to spend two weeks with her!” Drift was moaning.
“Quiet, you.” Star Song said. “I can't leave you alone anymore, especially not for two weeks.”
“Excuse me?” Rainbow asked.
Star Song smiled at the rainbow mare. “I'm sorry, Rainbow, but can you watch Drift until I come back from the Wonderbolts show? He can't be left alone for that long, especially because he's broken his wing.”
Rainbow thought about it. She wasn't that good with kids, but Drift had always been a good kid. He never acted out or got in any trouble, at least that she knew of, and she had babysat him before a few years ago. She could probably handle it. After all, it was only two weeks.
“Sure, it's no problem.” Rainbow said.
Drift groaned.
Star Song shifted her weight, forcing Drift to roll off her back and onto the floor of Rainbow Dash's house. “Drift, Rainbow will be nice to you, so you better be nice to her. If I find out you've annoyed her at all, you'll be grounded when I get back.”
Drift muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” Drift muttered, a bit more loudly.
“Exactly.” the mother looked back up at Rainbow Dash. “I hope he wont be any trouble.”
“No problem.” Rainbow replied. He would probably have a better attitude once his mom left and he got settled. The Drift she knew would never be angry or upset for long.
“Okay.” then excitement lit the purple pegasus's eyes. “Do you have my ticket?”
“Right here.” Rainbow grabbed a small piece of paper from the nearby table. Star Song took it and slipped it into a saddlebag she was wearing. “Enjoy the show. And make sure you don't forget our deal!”
Star Song waved goodbye with a wing. “Goodbye! And I won't forget!” then she turned and flew out the door, wings sparkling. But before she was out of hearing distance, she shouted, “And Rainbow, please keep him safe!”
“I will!” As Rainbow closed the door behind her aunt, she pumped a hoof in the air. “AWWW YEAHH!” she shouted. “I'll be in the Wonderbolts in no time!”
“Wonderful.” Drift said sarcastically. “And tomorrow I'm going to become king of all Equestria.”
“Hey!” Rainbow snapped. “What's that supposed to mean?”
Drift turned around, trotting over to Rainbow's chair with his small legs. “It's supposed to mean that you getting into the Wonderbolts is as likely as me becoming king of Equestria tomorrow.” He turned around and gave Rainbow a glare and added, “Dummy.”
What was this all about? That little jerk was at the Best Young Fliers Competition! Rainbow Dash thought. He saw me do a Sonic Rainboom! So why is he insulting me? The Drift I remember wouldn't even consider insulting anypony!
“Hey!” Rainbow Dash glared at the colt. “What's with the insult? And I could to get into the Wonderbolts!”
“The insult is because I feel like it.” Drift stuck his tongue out. “And you could not.”
Rainbow growled. “You'd better not get on my bad side, you little-”
“If I did, what exactly could you do to me?” the purple colt asked.
“I would-”
“Throw me out?” Drift interrupted her again, “Beat me up? Stop feeding me? Tie me to a chair?”
Rainbow opened her mouth to speak again, but the colt continued speaking before she could. It was clearly starting to annoy her.
“You can't do any of that stuff.” he said slyly, “Because you just promised Star Song that you would keep me safe. None of that would make me any safer, in fact they would endanger me. Tell, are you loyal to Star Song?”
“Yes.” Rainbow said. Something's up, he never calls Star Song by her name! He always calls her 'mom'.
“Then you should live up to your element and keep me safe.” Drift laid in the chair, forelegs hanging off the arm with his head resting on it.
“I don't remember ever telling you about the Elements of Harmony.” Rainbow said, suspicious.
“Star So-mom told me.”
I want him to tell me what's wrong. Even if it isn't really Drift. But I can't do this like I want to, you can't attack a kid. Maybe... questions? “Really? You know, in all my years of knowing you, I don't think I've ever hear you all your mom by her name.”
“I guess I'm just calling her that since I'm getting older.”
“Uh-huh. Do you remember being at the Best Young Flier's Competition?”
“Of course, you performed your Sonic- thingy.”
“It's a Sonic Rainboom. And do you remember what you said to me after the competition was over?”
“Maybe. Why?”
“Tell me exactly what you said.”
“I can't remember, it was too long ago.”
“Um-hm.” Rainbow Dash was getting frustrated. It seemed like evidence was piling up that something was wrong with Drift, but each time she came up with something wrong, he dismissed it. Then she remembered the last time Drift had stayed with her. It was when Star Song was sick at the hospital, and Drift had been so worried that he wouldn't eat for an entire day. “Did I ever babysit you before?”
Drift seemed to think over his answer. “...Yes.”
That sounded like a guess. “Correct. Do you remember why?”
Drift was silent for about a minute before Rainbow continued.
“You were worried. You wouldn't eat. Do you remember what I said to calm you down and get you eating again?”
“I don't really remember.”
“It's not something you would forget that easily.”
“I guess that-”
“You said you would never forget!” Rainbow snapped. She flew up into his face and glared at him. “It was 'It doesn't matter how sick Star Song is, mothers never leave their children'! If you were really Drift, you would remember that! Who are you? What are you?”
'Drift' jumped back, toppling out of the chair. “I'm Drift!” he shouted.
“No, you're nothing like Drift!” Rainbow growled, “Drift is nice colt who would never insult a pony! He would be sitting in that chair, worrying about his mother instead of sitting there and insulting me!”
The little purple colt's eyes grew wide, and he scrambled to his hooves. He turned and ran out of the room. Rainbow flew after him. He can't leave the house safely with that messed up wing. She turned down a hallway, her excellent flying abilities making it possible for her to maneuver in such a small space.
Up ahead, Drift tripped in his hurry. He started to roll down the hallway. He was about to hit the staircase at the end, but right before he did, he was encased in light green flames.
Rainbow Dash recognized these flames. It only made her fly faster.
The 'Drift' changeling got to his hooves and turned around, facing the pegasus. His horn glowed with magic and he fired three blasts of green fire. But Rainbow was too good. She dodged the fire and landed a foot away from the changeling. She quickly planted a hoof on his back, pinning him down.
“Wait!” the changeling gasped for air, face pressed into the cloud flooring. “You can't hurt me!”
“Why can't I?” Rainbow growled. He's a changeling! Is he a spy? He's probably planning an invasion of Cloudsdale!
“Your Element!” he gasped. “Loyalty! You're loyal to Star Song, and you told her that you would keep me safe!”
“I never said that!”
“Yes, you did! She said 'Keep him safe' and you said 'I will'. She was referring to me!” the changeling was getting his breath back now, but his voice was still muffled by the cloud.
“She didn't know you were a changeling, and neither did I. I'm being more loyal to her by exposing the changeling pretending to be her son!”
“But breaking a promise- or not keeping to your word- isn't loyal! You told her you would keep me safe , it doesn't matter what I am!”
“So? I'm still loyal to Equestria by getting rid of you little bugs!”
“Changelings are part of Equestria too!” the changeling struggled in her grasp until he was facing Ranbow, his face no longer in the floor. “Don't you remember what happened the last time you didn't follow your element? You weren't loyal to the Element of Magic, and the we changelings almost won over Equestria.”
“It wasn't because of that, it was because the changelings stopped us from getting to the elements.”
She's not listening! the changeling thought. But I need a safe home away from the ponies and the others. Here goes nothing... His horn began to glow with green magic.
“What are you-” Rainbow started to ask, but then her head was encased in the magic and her eyes got a glazed look.
The changeling crowd behind them advanced. The few they had defeated were getting to their hole-filled hooves, fleeing to safety. “We have to hurry!” Twilight said. The mane six ran for large doors.
Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash pushed the doors open. Inside was a large room with stained glass windows. For some reason, Rainbow was expecting the room to be filled with changelings, but it was remarkably empty.
“The elements are right there!” Twilight pointed with a hoof. The familiar box that held the Elements of Harmony was laying in the center of the room.
Rainbow got there first, flying at top speed. She landed, ignoring her injuries from the fight, and tried to open the case. It wouldn't open, but Twilight picked it up with her purple magic and opened the small lock.
Levitating the necklaces with her magic, Twilight put all the elements on her friends. Lastly, she placed her tiara upon her head. “Come on, let's go save the ponies of Equestria!”
“On it!” Rainbow flew ahead of her friends and through the large doors. Her friends caught up, and they ran for the wedding room.
~~
“Queen Chrysalis!” Twilight shouted, running into the room. Her five friends followed, rainbow the only one flying.
The changeling queen's eyes were filled with fear as she spotted the element. However, she didn't have time to run before the mane six started to power the gems.
A pink butterfly flash flew past Rainbow's head, soon followed by and apple, a gem, and a balloon. What's going on? Why isn't mine working? Rainbow wondered, panic filling her.
Twilight opened her eyes, revealing them as solid white with power. She started to float into the air, followed by Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. But Rainbow was stuck where she was. Why wasn't she floating up with the rest of them?
Suddenly, the other five ponies landed on the ground. “They didn't work!” Twilight whispered in panicked surprise.
It's my fault; mine's not working! Rainbow landed on the cold floor on the wedding hall. Nothing seemed real anymore. Was she not the Element of Loyalty anymore? Why?
“It's because you abandoned Twilight when she needed your help- she needed somepony to listen to her.” a voice told the pegasus. “You weren't loyal to her, and now the changelings will take over Equestria.”
The green light faded, and 'Drift' gulped nervously. I'm going to regret doing that, aren't I?
