Chapters Rainbow Dash looked down at the body laying on the ground, then looked up at Twilight Sparkle.
“You did this.” she said, tears streaming from her eyes.
All Twilight could say was “I’m so sorry.” her head slumped down, Applejack put her hat up to her chest. Suddenly, everypony looked at Rainbow Dash as she started flying into the night sky.
“You’ll pay, Twilight! You’ll all PAY!”
**************************************************************************************************** Five days earlier ****************************************************************************************************
It all started out innocently enough, during her daily cloud swimming, Rainbow Dash had heard a filly cry out from a well and saved her, many ponies gathered around her and started to cheer for Rainbow Dash. Of course, she instantly took up to boasting her accomplishment. After several heroic acts, she became a complete show-off. However, when Rainbow Dash was signing autographs, a pony’s hot air balloon popped and started to fall. Rainbow Dash took a few more autographs and sped toward the falling balloon. Right before she caught it, a Mysterious, fully dressed mare caught the pony in peril right before Rainbow Dash and she was sent sprawling into the balloon. The balloon landed in a tree and Rainbow Dash watched as the town gave their admiration not to Rainbow Dash, but to the mare. They dubbed the masked hero Mare Do Well as she sped off.
Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what had just happened. Saving the town was her job and now someone was trying to steal her thunder. After losing attempts at saving Ponyville’s residents to the Mare Do Well, Rainbow Dash gave up, until she heard about a celebration that would have the Mare present. She thought up a plan to unmask the mysterious hero and left for the party. When she got there, the Mare Do Well showed herself and Rainbow Dash ran up on stage to unmask her. The Mare fled and Rainbow pursued her throughout the town, but it seemed like the hero was everywhere. After finally cornering the Mare she went in to unmask her only to be surrounded by two more Mare Do Wells. Rainbow Dash was confused and the lead mare took off her mask and revealed herself as Twilight Sparkle.
Rainbow Dash was confused and listened to what Twilight had to say. “We all took up the role as a hero so that you wouldn’t show off as much, it’s fine to boast, but don’t go overboard.”
Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Twilight didn’t seem to realize just how much her plan had affected Rainbow Dash’s reputation. Everypony had forgotten about the former hero of Ponyville. Everywhere Rainbow went she was just ignored or laughed at when she tried to explain who she was, even her fan club had changed to the Mysterious Mare Do Well’s fans.
“Everypony hates me because of you, Twilight.”
“No they don’t Rainbow Dash, they just see you as a normal pony now.”
Rainbow Dash looked up, and a part of her heart turned black. “You know what, Twilight?”
Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash with a confused look. “You learned a lesson?”
Rainbow Dash looked Twilight straight in the eye. “No, you can go ahead and be Ponyville’s greatest hero…because I’ll just be its greatest villain!”
Twilight couldn’t believe it, her plan had failed in the worst possible way,which Rarity had no trouble stating, and she had accidentally turned Rainbow Dash evil. “No you don’t have to do that! Please, just think it over."
“You don’t understand, Twilight.” Rainbow ran off in a random direction. The other five ponies watched at she left, then Applejack spoke up, "We screwed up, didn't we?" Her question was met by a series of sad nods. After they were sure that Rainbow Dash was gone, they decided that they would all go to their homes. The next day, Rainbow Dash stood in front of Twilight's Library, she had been thinking all night and had come to a conclusion. She knocked on the door with one of her hooves and heard a voice from inside, "Twilight will be there in a minute!" Rainbow Dash identified the voice to be Spike's. After a few seconds, she heard rummaging from inside and finally the door opened and Twilight stood in the doorway. "Did you rethink your choice?"
"Yes, I in fact I did. I have decided to stay the villain." A measure of color seemed to drain from Twilight. After a brief awkward silence. Twilight responded, "You've seriously over-reacted on this one, Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow glared at her, "You think I'm kidding?" Twilight seemed to regain a bit of color, "Well, yes, I don't know...maybe?"
Rainbow started to become agitated as Twilight went into a rant about how Rainbow Dash wasn't serious a lot of the time. Rainbow Dash kindly shoved a hoof in her mouth. "I can be serious, Twilight. Like I am being right now." She pulled her hoof out of Twilight's mouth and shoved her back.
"Twilight, is everything ok?" Rainbow Dash heard Spike say from atop the staircase. Twilight looked up at Rainbow Dash and responded to Spike, "Yea, I'm fine Spike. Nothing more than the mail." Twilight quickly closed the door with her magic as she stood up. Rainbow Dash started to walk away, but Pinkie Pie had been waiting for her in a nearby bush. She reached a hand over and much to the surprise of Rainbow, pulled her in the bush.
"So you're gonna be the villain?" Pinkie Pie was jumping up and down inside the bush. "Ooh! Are you gonna fight superheros? Are you going to be beaten by a superhero? Are you gonna stop being Twilight's friend? Have you made a costume yet?" Pinkie let out a barrage of questions at Rainbow Dash. "Pinkie, be quiet. I need to get back to my house."
The Pink part pony opened her mouth and Rainbow prepared herself for the worst, "Well ok then, by the way, heres a cupcake I made! Pinkie Pie gasped and thought for a second. "I should throw you a 'Good Luck Being a Super villain' party!' Pinkie Pie squealed and jumped out of the bush, heading for Sugarcube corner. Rainbow Dash face-hoofed, "Sorry Pinkie, but I'm gonna have to refuse this invitation, I have work to do." Rainbow Dash whispered to herself before flying off to her home.
Rainbow Dash spent the entire night planning out what she would do in her first evil attempt. She had meant everything she said to Twilight and she was determined to bring her down. Rainbow created her own costume, which looked like a wonder bolt costume, but black instead of blue. She also learned that the evil inside of her was actually something that stayed when Discord had taken away her Element of Harmony. She had the ability to absorb dark energy and use it to her advantage.
“I will have revenge on Twilight…and anypony who stands in my way.”
She also had noticed how Spike had taken up the occupation as Twilight’s sidekick. I’ll need a sidekick too, to help me confront Twilight, she thought. Rainbow started thinking about all the people who still thought she was cool, there was…well there wasn’t anypony. She had told the entire town about her change of heart and nopony stood beside her. “There must be somepony who would be willing to aid me in combat against Twilight and Spike.” Then a thought came to her mind, the filly known as Scootaloo. She had been the president of Rainbow’s fan club and when the fan club changed to adoring the Mare Do Well, she quit the club. “She might be a good sidekick to me, if she has any combat ability.”
Rainbow Dash thought of a good villain name and flew to the clubhouse. When she got there she found it had been poorly fortified. Mostly likely to keep me out, she thought. She easily flew over the tiny fence and silently floated over to the window. When she looked inside she saw Applebloom at the pedestal talking about Twilight’s latest heroic act. Something about saving Fluttershy’s bunny. She looked around the room and spotted Scootaloo in the corner. She looked rather sad and held a poster of Rainbow Dash in her mouth.
She dropped the poster and looked at Applebloom. “Could we at least keep some of the Rainbow Dash posters up?”
Applebloom looked at Scootaloo sadly and shook her head. “She isn’t a good pony anymore…we don’t want the townsponies to think that we still like her.”
She waved her hoof like she was dismissing Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash couldn’t stand this. She walked up to the door of the clubhouse and, using her new found dark powers, she blasted the door off its hinges. It missed all the ponies and landed next to Applebloom’s pedestal, and she screamed. “It’s Rainbow Dash! Run!”
None of them could run since Rainbow was blocking the doorway. Using her newly made up name, she spoke to the ponies. “I, Rainbow Dark, have come to find a sidekick to aid me against Twi- I mean…the Mare Do Well.”
All the fillies just looked at her like she was crazy, then Applebloom spoke up. “Nopony would help you! You’re a terrible pony Rainbow Dash!”
Irritated, Rainbow Dark looked at Applebloom and pinned her against the wall with her powers and looked at Scootaloo. “I know you still have some loyalty to me, Scootaloo. I would appreciate it if you were to accompany me to fight Twilight in future time.”
Scootaloo’s eyes went wide and she looked at Rainbow Dark. “You…you would really let me be your sidekick?”
“It would be…awesome for you to accompany me, Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dark looked at all the scared fillies around the clubhouse and said “You will not be harmed, I am only here to recruit a sidekick. There is no reason for any of you to be frightened, mostly.” This didn’t seem to comfort any of the ponies. Rainbow Dark just looked at Scootaloo again, waiting for an answer.
“I…I will be your sidekick, as long as you make me a costume as awesome as yours!” Every other pony in the room, save Rainbow Dark, looked at Scootaloo with a look of pure horror.
One of the ponies spoke up, “How could you say that Scootaloo?!” “Rainbow Dash is evil now, she hurts ponies!”
Scootaloo merely looked at the colt who had spoken up, “I don’t care…she is still awesome and my number one role model. So I might as well start being evil too.” Scootaloo approached the colt and looked him square in the eye. To much to bear, the poor foal fainted.
Rainbow Dark watched in delight and then spoke up, “You are getting used to being evil quickly, that was hilarious!” The two shared a horrible laugh and Scootaloo hopped on Rainbow’s back and they sped off in the direction of Rainbow’s home.
<>
Rainbow Dark and Scootaloo watched as the residents of Cloudsdale fled in fear. They both had spent the night frightening pegasi and showing off Rainbow Dark's new power. Scootaloo still hadn’t made up an evil enough name, but her costume was completed. It looked like a miniature version of Rainbow’s except it had lightning bolts down the side that read, “Partner”.
“Wow Scootaloo, I haven’t had this much fun since I first preformed the Sonic Rainboom!” Rainbow Dark let out a long series of evil laughing, in which Scootaloo attempted to copy, but only got out a few normal laughs.
“We can work on your laugh once we conquer the rest of Cloudsdale.”
Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dark and smiled.
“Yea, it could use some work.” Scootaloo looked down at a nearby house of clouds and fired a bolt of dark energy, destroying the house immediately and making several ponies flee in terror.
“That is hilarious!” “They run from anything!” Rainbow fired a massive ball of dark pony power at the castle of Cloudsdale, sending cloud everywhere and making the remaining pegusi flee for safety.
“Well I guess we own Cloudsdale now, I was hoping for a tougher challenge.” Just as she finished the sentence, a hot air balloon floated up in front of them and Twilight Sparkle hopped out. She was then followed by Spike, who’s costume was just a full body cloak with a few runic designs across it.
Twilight spoke up first. “I can’t believe you would do something like this, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow Dark looked quite irritated, and then yelled, “MY NAME IS RAINBOW DARK!”
Her response was only met with a spark of magic hitting her in the stomach, pushing her back a few inches. “Aah!” Rainbow Dark looked up and said, “You aren’t the only one who has magical abilities anymore, Twilight.” At this, she fired a bolt of dark electricity at Twilight, who teleported away. The dark energy hit the balloon, sending it down to Equestria.
“Hey!” “That was our only way back down!” Twilight said when she reappeared.
Rainbow Dark laughed and looked at Twilight, “Do I look like I care?” “That just means you will be easier to defeat now that you have no way to back out of the fight.”
Twilight seemed to realize this and quickly picked up a nearby rope from the balloon with her magic and whipped Rainbow Dark in the face with it, causing her cheek to cut and bleed. She looked at Twilight and yelled “Ouch, hey you shouldn’t fight with those stronger than you!” She ran at Twilight who quickly dodged, only to be hit in the face by Scootaloo.
“Ha!” “Take that Twilight!” Scootaloo seemed happy at her sudden hit, only to be tackled to the ground by Spike. As they engaged in a struggle, Twilight and Rainbow’s eyes met and they both started to fire off bolt after bolt, blast after blast, of Dark energy and magic. Scootaloo and Spike were nearly hit a few times, but they continued their struggle and started hoof fighting up close. “Stand down Spike, there is no victory waiting for you here!”
Spike looked at Scootaloo and replied “Says the crazy Pegasus who joined the bad guy…err girl.” Spike was able to say right before getting sucker-hoofed in the face and falling to the cloud. Meanwhile, Twilight and Rainbow were locked in mental combat, blasting each others very willpower with mind shattering energies.
“Give up Rainbow, it still isn’t too late to admit your mistakes, there is still time to stop!” “Please just give up before somepony gets really hurt!”
Rainbow Dark paid little attention to what Twilight had to say and while she was talking, Rainbow began charging a large amount of energy. Right as Twilight opened her mouth to speak, Rainbow Dark let out a full fledged cone of abyssal energy. Twilight didn’t have any time to react before being thrown straight off of Cloudsdale.
“Hey Spike, I think your master just took a swan dive.” Rainbow Dark said, watching Twilight fall.
Spike looked away for a second and watched as his friend fell off of the clouds into open air.
“Twilight!’ “NOO!” Spike ran over to the edge and revealed a new feat of his own, the back of his cloak lifted up and wings unfurled. He dived down to save Twilight, catching her and flying off toward the library.
“Please Rainbow, you can still change your ways!’ Twilight could only say one thing as Spike flew them both off to their home. Rainbow Dark and Scootaloo sat in Rainbow’s home in the sky.
Rainbow Dark thought over her encounter with Twilight and pondered how Spike grew his wings so quickly. Just yesterday he was a little dragon and now he looked matured. Twilight must be using some kind of growth spell on him… Rainbow thought.
“Whatcha thinking about, Rainbow?” Chimed Scootaloo from the other room.
“How Spike grew his wings too fast.”
“Yea, that is a little confusing, maybe he is growing up quicker?”
“No, I suspect that Twilight is using a growth spell of some kind.
Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dark. “You mean she is magically making spike grow bigger?”
“Yea, he is getting stronger faster than he should be.” “He might be Twilight’s ace in the hole.”
“We’ll have to get rid of him then…” Scootaloo said before putting her costume on.
“Hmm we aren’t going to kill him, just capture him.”
“Understood Rainbow!” Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dark a small salute before walking out the door
“Hmm, but if we do need to…I wont hesitate to kill the pest.” Whispered Rainbow to herself.
Rainbow Dark and Scootaloo went to Sugercube corner and walked inside the bakery. Their appearances were met by screams, fleeing ponies, and Pinkie Pie hiding behind the counter. Rainbow Dark approached the counter only to find that Pinkie Was gone.
“You should re-think your decision of being evil Dashie.” Said a voice from behind Rainbow.
“Pinkie, I’m not even going to ask how you did that….I came here to see if you would join me.” Said Rainbow Dark as she turned around to see Pinkie giving a cold look toward Rainbow.
“I chose to be evil and I’m staying that way Pinkie Pie.” “And don’t call me Dashie…It brings back bad memories…it’s Rainbow Dark now.”
“Rainbow Dark?” “That is such a silly name Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie pie fell on the floor laughing at Rainbow Dark. Then she climbed into the air and walked over the counter, much to the surprise of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dark. “I’m not gonna join you, but I’m also not joining Twilight.” “I just bake cupcakes and bring happiness to everypony.” “I could never pick sides!”
Rainbow Dark face-hoofed. She turned to Scootaloo. “Maybe Pinkie Pie wasn’t the best pony to ask first.”
The two left the bakery and headed for the Fashion Boutique. Rainbow Dark trotted up to the door and found that it was locked from the inside.
“You better let us in Rarity.” Rainbow Dark said, pounding on the door with her hooves.
A voice from inside said, “Rarity isn’t home right now.” “I’m not allowed to unlock the door until she gets back.” Rainbow realized that the voice wasn’t Rarity’s, but her little sister SweetieBell.
Rainbow thought up an idea. “Oh don’t worry, you can let us in Sweetie Bell.”
Sweetie Bell’s response was brief “You’re evil!”
Rainbow Dark become irritated and thought up a better plan.
Scootaloo looked at Rainbow. “Your first idea was just to ask?”
Rainbow Looked down at Scootaloo. “Hey you try thinking up ideas in the field.” Rainbow Dark then put her second plan into action. “Actually I’m going around town telling everypony that I have stopped being evil, and I wish to apologize to Rarity.”
Rainbow heard several locks opening up and then the door swung open to reveal Sweetie Bell covered in cooking equipment like it was armor, in her mouth she held a large wooden spoon. She dropped it and said, “Hey if you’re not evil…then why are you still wearing your evil costumes?”
Rainbow Dark laughed at Sweetie Bell and said, “Because we are still evil, and you just let us in.” She concentrated her powers and conjured a cage of night energy in which she locked sweetie bell in. Then she took a piece of fabric and put it over Sweetie Bell’s mouth so she couldn’t scream for help. Rainbow Dark and Scootaloo sat there, waiting for the fashionista to return.
Twilight sat in her library reading books on how to suppress dark energy. Spike sat nearby her finishing off a bowl of amethyst. Twilight looked down at spike and said, “Thanks for catching me back there, I would have ended up a puddle for somepony to clean up.”
“Don’t talk like that Twilight, nopony is gonna die on my watch.”
“Right, sorry Spike.” Twilight wondered how Rainbow had acquired the power to concentrate dark energy into powerful blasts and bolts. “Do you have any idea how Rainbow Dash could have gained the power for dark energy?”
“I have no idea.” Spike looked through all the books on the shelf and his eyes landed on one book in particular. “Maybe there is a way to return Rainbow Dash back with the Elements of Harmony.” he said, grabbing the book off the shelf and sitting next to Twilight.
“Well it might, but there is one problem…Rainbow Dash is one of the elements.”
“Oh, right I forgot.”
“Yea it looks like the only thing she is being loyal to is the darkness….” Twilight said, looking at a picture of her former friend. Suddenly, her door burst open and the mail pony known as Derpy Hooves flew into the Library. She bumped into a few shelves, scattering books across the floor.
“What’s up, Derpy?”
“We have spotted Rainbow Dash.”
“Where is she now?”
“The Fashion Boutique.”
Twilight stood up, she quickly put on her costume and ran out the door nearly throwing Derpy to the ground. Spike noticed the sudden rush and flew after her with his wings. When he had caught up to Twilight he said, “Whoa!” “What’s the rush?”
“Rainbow Dash is recruiting ponies and she seems to be starting with her past friends.” “Right now she’s at Rarity’s house.”
Spikes eyes widened. “Not my Rarity, Rainbow Dash can’t have her!’ Spike summoned all his might and blasted past Twilight, arriving at the boutique very quickly. From inside he heard ponies talking and things being thrown and moved around. He put his ear up to the door.
“You will join me Rarity, even if I have to force you!” Spike didn’t wait at all before he broke down the door and found Sweetie Bell imprisoned in dark magics and Rarity cowering in the corner throwing cups and fabric rolls at Rainbow, who just everything thrown.
Rainbow spotted Spike and turned her head. “Ah so the little pet decided to play hero?”
“Or are you waiting for your master?”
“Shut up Rainbow Dash.” Spike said as he readied his claws.
“Ooh!” “I’m so scared!” Rainbow said sarcastically when she looked at Spike’s claws. Twilight ran into the boutique panting, “Spike!” “You shouldn’t fly ahead of me like that!” her eyes then focused on Rainbow. “Oh great, she is still here.”
“Get out of here, Twilight, this doesn’t concern you.”
“Actually it does, or must I remind you that I’m the good pony?” this response was only met with several jolts of pain as Rainbow Dark’s black magic connected with Twilight’s body, sending her backward onto her back. Spike looked at Rainbow Dark and lunged for a hit, only to be intercepted by Scootaloo.
“Oof.” Spike hit the floor, next to Twilight.
Rainbow Dark smiled, “You aren’t very good in combat.” “Guess you never had a reason to fight before eh?”
Twilight rose from the ground and made a magical barrier. “Let’s see you hit me now.” Rainbow Dark seemed irritated from the sudden obstacle, “Pffft.” “I can still hit you.” Rainbow Dark had only a few seconds to say this before a bolt of magical energy collided with her face, sending her into the wall.
Rarity just watched the entire ordeal, “Hey!” “You should watch where you throw her darling, I just made a new dress.” she said, pointing a hoof to a rather elegant dress hanging from a mannequin.
Twilight looked away only to respond to Rarity, “Really?” “I think fighting Rainbow Dash is a lot more pertinent.”
Rarity just scoffed at Twilight and crossed her hooves. Rainbow recovered and used her powers to throw Twilight through a nearby window, then Spike ran up to Rainbow Dark, but this time he was expecting Scootaloo. He slid under Scootaloo and punched her in the stomach in the process, she fell to the ground and let out a groan. Spike ran up to Rainbow Dark, who was looking to where she threw Twilight, and he kicked her in the shin. Rainbow Dark let out a small yelp of pain as her front right leg buckled. Spike and Rainbow Dark were now eye level, and Spike cracked his knuckles. Rainbow just picked him up with her power, and threw him into the kitchen. Twilight walked back through the door, with a dazed look on her face. She shook her head and picked up a roll of fabric with her magic and threw it at Rainbow Dark. It collided with the back of her head and she stumbled around a bit before falling down. Twilight walked up to her, "Hmph." She started to grab Rainbow with her magic but Scootaloo had quietly walked up behind Twilight, Scootaloo jumped on her back and bopped her in the head with her hoof once, twice, three times until she fell bucked, and sent Scootaloo into the wall.
Rainbow Dark attempted to stand up but was pulled down by something, she turned her head to see Spike holding on to one of her wings. She bucked at him, but it was fruitless. Spike was easily dodging her attacks and maintaining a good grip on her wing. Rainbow lifted her wing up and quickly threw it back down, and Spike stumbled backward. She then got a good hit on him in the stomach, which sent him on his rear, holding his gut. Seeing that she wasn't going to win this fight anytime soon, she ran up to Scootaloo, and threw her up onto her back and then flew out of the Boutique.
Once Twilight had finished cleaning up the mess left by her and Rainbow Dash’s last battle, she and Spike headed for the library to search for anything that could give them an upper hand in the fight. “I can’t believe this is happening.” Twilight said, reviewing a few books on magic.
“Yea, and to think this all started out because of us wanting to help her.”
Twilight sighed, “what friends we are.” Twilight levitated the book that held the Elements of Harmony over to her. She thought about all her friends and remembered their encounter with Discord, when he had drained them all of their elements, and how they each fought. In retrospect it was foalish.
Twilight thought for a moment, 'Wait a second…what if Discord is the reason she has her powers?' Twilight looked around the room and levitated another book to her which had an infected white blood cell on the cover. She read through the book and then put it down. "Hey, Spike."
Spike looked up, "Yea Twilight?"
"Go get some sleep, I have some reading to do." Spike perked up at the mention of sleep, then walked upstairs, saying goodnight to Twilight. Twilight started looking through all the books in the library that were related to the one she had just read. She could already tell it was going to be a long night.
Spike woke up and walked downstairs, into the kitchen, and opened the fridge. He grabbed a half eaten emerald and went back into the main room. Which was when he noticed that Twilight was sitting on the couch, she looked incredibly tired, but also highly determined. She was levitating a cup of coffee nearby and was reading a book with a couple of blood cells on the cover. "Uh...whatcha reading Twilight?" Twilight noticed Spike and looked up, she had bags under her eyes, she took a sip of her coffee.
"Well after reading through most of the books I have on blood cells and the immune system, I believe that Rainbow was infected, in a way, when Discord drained her of her Element of Loyalty." Spike looked at her and then at the nightstand next to her, it had three more empty cups on it. "Twi, you should get some sleep." Twilight looked away from the book again.
"Spike, I really need to research more, I think I have a lead." Twilight took another sip of her coffee, finishing it off, and set the cup down. Spike wouldn't give up, "C'mon Twi, just get a little bit of sleep. It's not like the world is going to end while you're asleep." This was apparently not the best choice of words, because when he said it, he could see the paranoia growing in Twilight's eyes, "But what if it does?" Spike couldn't help but chuckle a little at what she said. He found it kinda funny that a pony as smart as Twilight could become paranoid over simple things. Sadly, things weren't as simple to Twilight.
"What if while I'm asleep, Rainbow recruits the Princess!?" Spike pulled his hand up to his face, "I doubt Princess Celestia is going to join Rainbow Dash and become evil." Twilight shook her head.
"I meant Luna, what if Rainbow brings back Nightmare Moon?" Spike sighed.
"Like Luna would spoil her good record after being banished for a thousand years." Twilight sighed, maybe she did need some sleep, she decided it would be a good idea, and left the book on the table and headed up for her room.
Memeory Streams and Rainbow Dreams
Rainbow Dash moved around in her bed, fast asleep. In her mind she was having a nightmare. She woke up on the ground of Canterlot, the town was on fire and the streets were littered with the bodies of dead ponies, they’re faces seemed to be frozen in a look of pure terror. One that sat nearby almost made Rainbow Dark throw up, his brain was in half. Part of it still in his head and the other part was splattered against the road like something had hit him from the front. Several ponies were in heaps of bloody mush on the ground, their organs piled in the middle. Rainbow looked around wondering who would do this. Her eyes then focused on a single mare standing on a hill overlooking the town square. She was surrounded with a dark aura and wore a dark looking costume that reminded her of her own. That is when she realized that the mare she was looking at was her. Rainbow Dash looked at her counter part in awe. The other Rainbow Dash seemed to acknowledge her existence, but addressed her with a name that shocked her. “Hello Twilight, are you surprised?” Rainbow Dash took a look at herself and realized she was in the body of Twilight Sparkle, seeing through her eyes. Then, without acting, she started to speak in Twilight’s voice.
“I-I don’t believe you Rainbow Dash. I didn’t think you would do something this horrific to the ponies of Canterlot…”
The Rainbow Dash looked at her, “You should have thought about that before y-
Rainbow woke up in a cold sweat, “What was that? Was it just a dream or did that really happen?” “She looked out her window and saw Canterlot in one piece, with a few late night party ponies walking through the streets. “Ok…so it didn’t happen, but is it going to happen?” Rainbow Dash thought of all the horrific looking ponies, laying there dead with their blood dripping from their bodies. She quickly shook her head. The dream had seamed so real and yet so fake at the same time. She didn’t want to believe that that Rainbow Dash was her. She pushed the idea out of her mind as the sun started to rise. She heard a knock at the door and opened it to find Scootaloo looking up at her with a smile on her face. The smile quickly subsided as she saw the sad look on Rainbow Dash’s face. “What’s wrong, Dash?” “Did you have a rough night?” Rainbow Dash looked down at her and tried to force a smile.
“It was a little tough, but I’m ok. You don’t need to worry about me.” Rainbow Dash saw the Scootaloo had started smiling again, “Ok then, should we go get some lunch?” “We haven’t eaten in days.” Rainbow Dash finally felt the hunger eating at her and almost doubled over from the pain, she hadn’t realized how long it had been since they had eaten. “Ok then, let’s go to Pinkie’s, she isn’t selective of who eats there at least.”
The devilish duo headed over the Sugercube corner, avoiding anypony they saw, they were only able to get around from the cloaks they wore. Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow, "If Pinkie Pie doesn't care that we eat at the bakery, then why are we wearing cloaks?" Rainbow Dash looked down at Scootaloo, "Because we don't want somepony screaming in terror when they see us, we might never get something to eat." They entered the Bakery and walked up to the counter, which was being manned by Pinkie Pie.
“Hello, welcome to the Bakery!” “What can I get you today?!” Pinkie Pie must have been hyped up on a larger amount of sugar and sweets than usual because she talked so fast, Rainbow Dash had to think about what she said before she could answer. “Um…yes, we’ll take about twelve cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie eyed them suspiciously, and Rainbow Dash was worried for a second that she might noticed, but after a moment she walked into the back room and the sounds of dough being tossed emanated from the room. Scootaloo’s stomach started growling ferociously and she counted wait much longer, thankfully Pinkie quickly hopped back into the room with a box of cupcakes in her mouth. She set them on the table and Rainbow put some bits on the counter, and walked out the door.
In her haste, Rainbow Dash bumped into a pony on her way out and her cloak dropped, when she looked up, she was face to face with Twilight. “Oh fit.” was all Rainbow could utter, with the box stuffed in her mouth. Twilight gasped and readied herself for battle. At that moment however, Rainbow Dash’s stomach growled loudly and Twilight realized how hungry she must be. Twilight straightened up and sighed, “Go.” Rainbow Dash looked confused and then flew off with Scootaloo. Twilight shook her head and walked into the Bakery. When Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo got to Rainbow’s home, they quickly devoured the cupcakes. “Whew, if I went any longer without food I would have had to devour some of the rainbows outside your house!” Scootaloo exclaimed, jokingly.
“Yea me too, hehe.” Rainbow and Scootaloo shared a good laugh. Rainbow now thought of Scootaloo as a sort-of daughter, because she now cared for her and taught her since she was expelled from school for almost blowing it up. She bought her food and even had finally taught her to fly. Now a new question dawned on her. How would she earn her cutie mark now? Rainbow knew that Scootaloo’s special talent wasn’t evil, and it seemed that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been disbanded so Rainbow didn’t know how Scootaloo would earn her Cutie Mark. Scootaloo seemed to notice Rainbow Dash looking at her thigh.
“Don’t worry about my Cutie Mark, I don’t want it anymore. It isn’t important to me now.” This was, of course, a lie. Scootaloo just wanted to make Rainbow feel better.
Rainbow Dash looked down at Scootaloo. “We need to continue our recruiting, let’s head to the forest.”
After several minutes of flying, the two arrived at a house made from a tree. Rainbow Dash knocked on the door with her hoof. A yellow pegasus opened the door, thankfully the two were still wearing their cloaks so the pony didn’t notice. She looked at them both with a shy little smile. “Anything I help you with anything…?” she said almost silently.
Rainbow Dash pulled down her hood, “We want you to join us, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked at Rainbow Dash and slammed the door in their faces. “Oh geez…they always have to fight back?” Rainbow Dash bucked the door open, and they both walked inside to find four rows of animals wearing little makeshift army helmets. They all looked at the two and Fluttershy yelled, “Um..uh, charge? Oh! But don't be too rough!" Rainbow Dash instantly regretted trying to recruit Fluttershy before Applejack as she and Scootaloo were jumped on and thrown to the ground by an army of woodland creatures. The two were bitten, kicked, and pushed out of the tree house. “That didn’t work at all.” Rainbow Dash said, blasting a bunny in mid jump. Scootaloo grabbed at a mouse sitting on her head and she threw it on the ground. "Yea that could have gone a lot smoother." Rainbow Dash could sense the irritation in Scootaloo's voice.
Rainbow raised her head, "So you wanna go try and get Applejack?"
"No, we're probably going to get bucked in the face. It's just me and you." Scootaloo stood up, and dusted herself off. Rainbow followed suit and they both started walking back toward Ponyville. Halfway there, they slung their cloaks back on. Rainbow Dash stepped into the Town Square and her eyes widened. Celestia herself was there talking to Twilight, who looked like she was giving Celestia a status report. Scootaloo wondered why Rainbow had suddenly stopped, and looked ahead. She almost yelped when she saw Celestia. Rainbow took a step back, "I think we should go back home." Scootaloo looked up and gave her a simple nod, and the two flew off. That night, once Scootaloo had gone home, Rainbow fell fast asleep in her cloud bed.
Rainbow Dash looked down through the eyes of Twilight Sparkle, holding a familiar pony in her arms, crying like crazy. "It's ok, Twilight, it doesn't hurt. I'm going to a better place."
"No! I can't live without you!" Twilight looked down at the sword jutting out of his chest at an odd angle, then Rainbow Dark landed nearby her. "My vengeance will continue until you have nothing left, Twilight Sparkle. Prepare to have everything you ever loved extinguished before your very eyes." She pointed a hoof toward the stallion in Twilight's hooves. With a wave of her hoof, the sword cut its way up through his chest, sitting right below his heart. The stallion's eyes were riddled with tears, Rainbow Dark looked into his eyes and for a moment she could see his fear and pain. Twilight yelled as Rainbow lifted up her hoof, "Shiny NO!" Blood splattered her face, the ground, and Rainbow Dark. All the dark pony could do was smile at Twilight's pain. She was absolutely miserable. Rainbow Dark loved seeing Twilight miserable.
Rainbow Dash sat up, sweating profusely. She grabbed the journal next to her bed and wrote down the dream she just had. She set down the journal, and looked around. Why was she having these dreams?
Because it is your future, it is what must be done.
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. Where had the voice come from? It certainly wasn't her thoughts. So why did they feel so right?
You must embrace the darkness within you, so that you may release the darkness within us.
The words were from a female voice, they were sharp and full of curiosity. Rainbow Dash felt that the voice was right. This was her destiny, she must embrace the darkness. The words were so convincing, Rainbow Dash found herself in a trance thinking over the words. She shook her head and looked outside. It was still dark, she looked at her clock to see it was about four a.m. She stood up, walked over to the fridge, and got some milk. She opened the cabinets and obtained a box of cereal. She made herself a bowl and walked out onto her "porch". She looked down and saw Ponyville, a few early ponies walking around. Sugarcube Corner's lights had just flicked on, symbolizing "Now Open". Rainbow Dash watched as her nemesis, Twilight, walked into Sugarcube Corner with Princess Celestia. "Wait a minute, that doesn't make any sense." Rainbow said, looking down at the two walking into the bakery. She finished her cereal, and put on her cloak. She jumped off of her house, and flew down to one of the windows of the building.
"I fear she may be returning. We must take emergency precautions." Celestia said, looking down at Twilight.
"But I though that she disappeared forever when we used the Elements of Harmony on her." Twilight said, a look of concern on her face.
"Yes, but there is an odd disturbance in dark magic somewhere in the land. Luna has been lapsing in and out." Celestia said. She looked down at the table the two were sitting at.
Yes, I have been fighting Luna for the body lately.
Rainbow Dash nearly fainted when she realized who she was talking to. Somehow, Nightmare Moon had found her way inside Rainbow Dash's head.
Don't worry so much, it isn't like I'm trying to take over your body.
Rainbow Dash found herself compelled to believe Nightmare, and she let out a relieved sigh. Her terror quickly returned when Celestia started to looked her way. She wished that she wasn't there, as the punishment was almost definitely going to be severe. Celestia looked right at her, looked around a little bit more, and then returned to her talk with Twilight. Rainbow Dash wondered why Celestia hadn't seen her. She flew down from the window and felt a little weird. She held up her hooves and noticed that they were blending in perfectly to the darkness. She looked at the rest of her body as much as her vision would allow. She was pitch black, melding with the darkness as if they were one.
I have allowed your powers to mature, try experimenting with a few of them. Goodbye for now, Rainbow Dark.
Rainbow Dash felt as if an anvil had been lifted off of her head. She thought about everything that was happening. Nightmare Moon was escaping due to an evil energy that was manifesting itself somewhere, and was helping Rainbow's powers to grow quickly. Nightmare apparently needs Rainbow Dash's help to emerge from Luna, but does she really want to set Nightmare Moon free? Rainbow dash thought this over. Something inside her made her say yes, a lost part of her mind. She was going to free Nightmare Moon somehow, and then Rainbow Dash would be taken seriously.
She would crush Twilight, but first she needed a reason. The Rainbow Dark in her dreams had a reason, she would most likely find the same. She anticipated her next dream. Rainbow looked over and saw Scootaloo in a bush near an ally.
* * *
Nightmare Moon stood in a gigantic dark room, she had been listening to Rainbow Dash's thoughts. "I will give you the reason, Rainbow Dark. It will show you the Darkness and the path to crush Twilight." Nightmare Moon said to herself, looking down upon Ponyville. "All I need is one more overload in chaotic and dark energy to escape Luna's mind. This is perfect." Nightmare Moon looked around Ponyville, spotting her target. She laughed and began to think of a plan.
* * *
Rainbow Dash flew over to Scootaloo, who standing in an ally near Sugarcube Corner, and had seen Rainbow blend with the dark. "That was so cool!" She said, spreading out her wings. She looked up at Rainbow with a huge smile on her face.
"Yea I guess it was cool, but we have other things to do right now." Rainbow Dash said as her and Scootaloo sped off toward the cloud house.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat in Rainbow's house, devising their next crime. They had realized just how minor their evil attempts had been, and decided it was time for a change. Rainbow Dash had a map laid out in front of her, and she had drawn a few circles around spots on the map. "And after that we use the bits we stole to buy a better place for a base of operations." Rainbow Dash said, planting a hoof down on part of the map. Scootaloo had been listening and chose this time to speak up.
"But isn't robbing a bank kinda clique?" She said, sipping from the drink she had.
"You have a better dea of how to get that many bits?" Rainbow said, taking a drink from her water.
"No, not really. We might be able to rob one of the nobles though, I don't think we even have the resources to rob a bank." Scootaloo said, looking around. "We barely won against Twilight the last time we fought. In fact, if I remember correctly, we didn't win against her the last time." She pointed out, spreading her hooves for effect.
"Yea yea I get it Scoots, we didn't win last time, but I know this time we can do it right. I have a new confidence in my ability." Rainbow said, a small glint in her eye.
"Ok, but if we get arrested time I'm quitting." Scootaloo said, finishing her drink and peering down at the map. "But do we really have to ride the train to get to Canterlot?"
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat in the back cart of the train, they had sneak on or risk exposure. So they sat in the back of the train just talking about plans and Rainbow Dash's powers. The train lurched to a sudden stop, and Rainbow Dash looked out the window. "Took them long enough." She said, looking out the window to the night sky over the Canterlot train station. The moon's light was shining through the large skylight of the station, and Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were wearing their costumes. Since they were black nopony would notice them from afar, but if somepony got too close they could be identified by their eyes. As the two stepped off the caboose, Rainbow Dash put on a pair of goggles and handed a pair to Scootaloo.
"Ok, to get into the back undetected we will need to use the sewer system. Then we will use my powers to sneak into the main vault. After that, I will break open one of the safes and take the bits. If somepony comes to check on the vault I want you to tell me right away. Got that?" Rainbow Dash said, as they approached a sewer drain.
"Eww, why do we have to use the sewer?" Scootaloo said, putting a hoof to her nose.
"We use the sewer because nopony expects us to rob the bank, and even less to use the sewer to do so." Rainbow said, looking at the locked sewer drain.
"So how do we get in, mastermind?" Scootaloo said in a not-so-serious tone.
"I'm gonna shoot the buck outta this lock!" Rainbow said, channeling her energy. A brilliant dark blue beam shot from her head, the lock caught fire and melted off.
"As awesome as that was, is the language really necessary?" Scootaloo said, looking at the melted lock.
"I doubt that argument is anywhere near pertinent, so let's continue." Rainbow said, blending into he darkness as she had done at the bakery. Scootaloo was sitting on Rainbow's back so that she too was blended with the dark. Rainbow dash walked through about a mile of sludge and sewage before coming to a large intersection of sewer systems. there were engineer ponies and maintenance workers walking around a few metal walkways suspended from the ceiling. Many of the workers stood near giant turbines that mixed the sewage with chemicals to clean it. Several of the workers wore white lab coats while about two of them had on blue lab coats.
Rainbow Dash had to sneak around most of them, which was not hard int eh darkness of the room. Many of them were walking around casually and talking with each other about everyday matters such as kids. It took Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, who was now walking, half an hour to navigate the room without being seen. As they both neared a door, it opened and a pony stepped out wearing an orange vest and a hard hat. He looked at the two and opened his mouth to shout something. Right at that moment, a bolt of energy slammed into him, knocking him backwards and throwing him to the ground. Scootaloo walked up tot he pony, and poked him with a hoof. No response. Rainbow put a hoof on his neck and her eyes became small.
How does it feel to murder, Rainbow Dark? DO not let the guilt get to you, continue on and find the vault
'Oh great, she's back. Well now guess I can add murderer to my list of achievements.' Rainbow thought to herself. She lifted the body and threw it into one of the giant pools of sludge. The turbine tore the body to shreds and the remains floated to the top of the water for a little before sinking down into the muck. Rainbow Dash felt something build inside of her, a desire to do it again. The adrenaline that pumped into her veins fueled her lust for more death. She continued down the hall that the worker had come from, she turned a corner and was met with a brick wall. "Now comes the messy part. Make sure to hold your breath." Rainbow said, looking at the wall. Scootaloo was confused, why would she need to hold her breath, and why would it be messy? For a second Scootaloo thought that Rainbow Dash had finally lost it.
Rainbow Dash looked at the wall, and built up er emotion. All her rage and destructive nature, and then she let it flow out. The wall exploded and sewage water flooded out of the wall, filling the corridor and spilling out into the main room. Rainbow Dash took in a deep breath and jumped in. Scootaloo took a breath and grabbed Rainbow Dash's tail as she swam through the muck. Rainbow Dash stopped at the ceiling of the corridor and fired a powerful bolt of energy and the ceiling exploded upward.
Scootaloo was thrown upward and onto a fine looking marble floor. Rainbow Dash pulled out of the sludge next to her, gasping for breath. They both looked up and saw a giant metal door in the shape of a gear. Rainbow Dash cursed and stood up. "Great we ended up on the outside of the vault." Rainbow said, her hoof connecting with her forehead.
"Nope!" Scootaloo said, turning around. Rainbow Dash followed her gaze and saw millions of boxes lining the walls. They all had little slots in them where you would fit the key card. Rainbow Dash walked up to one of the boxes and read the label. "Rarity has a bank account?" She said, looking at the name tag on the box. "I'd expect her to keep everything of value with her." Rainbow Dash said shrugging and walking away.
"So which pony's name are we looking for exactly?" Scootaloo said, looking over the massive amounts of boxes.
"Fancypants, the second richest pony in Canterlot." Rainbow said. Scootaloo walked up to a box that said Ereyal. He looked over and saw that the next box had Gerald on it.
"Oh great, Fancypants is one of the boxes near the roof." Scootaloo said. She then face-hoofed herself. She and Rainbow Dash were pegasi. Rainbow Dash looked up and lifted off the ground. She gazed at all the boxes, until her eyes fell onto a gold trimmed diamond encrusted box that read Fancypants. She rolled her eyes looked at the key card slot. She channeled her magic into the slot and pushed forward, hitting the code with dark energy. The slot flashed green and the box slid open.
The entire box was filled to the brim with bits, and Rainbow Dash greedily shoveled it all into the saddlebags she had sewed onto her costume. She lifted Scootaloo up and filled her saddlebags with bits from surrounding boxes after overriding their codes. The entire effort took about twenty five minutes and as they headed for the hole they entered through.
The vault door let out a hiss as metal scraped metal and the door opened. Two royal unicorn guards in full armor rushed in, swords at their sides. They looked directly at Rainbow Dash and both held up their front left hoof. They yelled at her in unison.
[size=12] STOP CRIMINAL SCUM, YOU VIOLATED THE LAW! Rainbow Dash looked up as they both ran toward her. One of them unsheathed his sword ans lunged at her. Rainbow Dash imagined him being grabbed with magical energy and having himself thrown across the room. She opened her eyes when she heard a slam and a groan. The guard was lying next to one of the deposit boxes, an imprint in the wall where he hit, and his armor was bent crudely. He was bleeding from his left side where his side hit the wall. The second guard unsheathed his sword and slashed downward. Rainbow Dash felt a splitting pain go through her right foreleg. She looked to see blood trickling down her leg, and a small pool of blood was already gathering on the floor.
Scootaloo ran up and punched the guard in the part of his head without protection. He rubbed it with a hoof and looked at Scootaloo. He raised the sword and brought it down. Rainbow Dash felt anger take hold, the royal guard would bring a sword down upon a foal? No. Rainbow Dash felt herself switch from Rainbow Dash to Rainbow Dark. Her entire mind screamed for blood. She ran up to the guard and rammed her head into his chest before the sword impacted Scootaloo. The guard fell backward onto his haunches and looked up.
He was greeted with blood red eyes looking at him through goggles. He gulped and Rainbow Dark thought of the most painful thing she could think of as she closed her eyes and visualized it. She heard the ripping of flesh as she opened her eyes. She saw the guard screaming in pain as his flesh ripped itself apart. Blood flowed through the tearing skin, his organs fell out of his destroyed stomach and his brain slumped through the fractured skull. What was left was a mere pile of blood, guts, and mutilated flesh. Scootaloo gagged, but Rainbow Dash fell to the floor, an intense pain in her chest. 'Ok, use too much power and I will hurt as well. Noted.' She thought to herself.
She stood up and looked at the cut on her leg. She wouldn't be able to swim through the gunk of a mess in the tunnels. And the train left in about twenty minutes. "I can do this." She whispered to herself. She swept Scootaloo onto her back and took off upward. She blasted the roof open and flew out into the night. Rainbow Dark left, and Rainbow Dash reclaimed control. Rainbow Dash thought of them blending to the darkness once again as they both flew off to the train. As they boarded the back cart, the royal guard was rushing up tot he train, the conductor didn't seem to notice though and the train pulled away from the station. They had done it, they had robbed the bank and now were getting away clean. Rainbow Dash had a lot of packing to do. The next few months were gonna be crazy.