Equestria. My home. I used to love it. . . . Before the tragedy happened. My friend Twilight Sparkle was trying out a universe spell and accidentally transported me to this world. I was captured. All of the ponies in Equestria. Celestia only knows if they’re trying to get me back.
Some of them were unicorns. Some of them were earth ponies. But mostly all of them. They were my friends.
My name is Rainbow Dash. I am the element of Loyalty. And I would die before letting myself get trapped here.
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My eyes shot open. And in a daze I tried to fly out the dark room I was in. But my effort was met by failure as I banged my head on the wall.
Still here. . . . It’s not a dream. Why can’t It be a dream? I’ll go mad if I have to stay locked up here one moment longer. I’ve been here with these creatures, tall hairless two legged creatures for at least half a month. I’m trying to make the best of it. The food here is terrible. I can’t believe I’m supposed to eat it! But it’s cold and wet outside. And warm and dry in here.
The biggest creature brought me here. A big two legged male. He’s not going to hurt me. I don’t think. They can’t understand me, that much I know.
They like me a lot. They might even love me!
And the thing is. . . . I do kind of like it here.
Is that wrong? I don’t know.
Yeah, it is wrong. I’m locked up in here.
Lost.
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Finally. . . . I finally get my chance.
The door Is open! The female left the door open! I try to soar out, with my wings high and my mane blowing. I feel awesome!
“Stay inside!”
She kicked me. The creature punched me back hard with her foot. Wow, that’s one way to make me feel stupid. I go up the stairs to find a window to escape out of. And there is one!
I have to get away from here. Back to Equestria. Back to Ponyville. Except. . . .
WHRRIIIIN CHUP CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP WHRRIIN
All these strange sounds… All these scents…
TAK TAK TAK CHUP CHUP RUMBLE
I dash back inside. The female thinks I’m scared. . . . And she’s right. . . But not about all that craziness outside. These creatures kept me inside too long. And now I don’t know how to get home!
********************************
Okay, new day. Time to try again. I escape out another window and step out. Hmmm.
This isn’t too bad. I see a red bug with black spots. I want to catch it. I crept up on it and pounced!
“There she is! There she is!” The creature’s foals ran out. Or at least I think they are. They look like younger versions of the things that brought me here.
“Has she got a buggy bug? Has she got a little lady bug?”
“Wanna balloon? Wanna balloon?”
Huh?
Is that a balloon? Twilight sent a balloon from Pinkie for me to get back! Joy swept through me like adrenaline rushing through my hot blooded veins. I have never felt so more happy in my whole life! No mor of this lousy fake life!
I jump up and grab it and it pops.
This is no magic balloon. This is a foal toy. And I’m no foal! I rip it up and then climb to the roof watching the foals cry.
I’ve upset them. I fell bad about that. But I’ve got to stop pretending I could ever live this way… and start exploring.
Maybe I can find a way back to Equestria. I get chased by a dog. A non talking dog. I run into a small grass cutting monster. A rushing red monster on a black path.
Dogs. . . . Monsters. . . .
“Whuh?” The creatures picked me up. They hugged me.
I’m never going to get out of here!
****************************************
How long has It been now? Weeks? I can’t keep track anymore. The foals think I’ll try to escape if the let me out again. Why are they watching me so closely? I try to escape out of a window. Female two leg hit me again.
Bu they’ve got to realize. . . . Scary out there or not. . . . If I stay in here much longer I’ll explode.
“What’s gotten into you? Stop it! Stop it right now!” She hit with a broom.
I can’t take it here anymore! I just can’t! I- an open window in an empty room.
“Hello…” I escaped!
“Praise Celestia! I’ll show everyone! An equestrian Pegasus will not be held prisoner!”
A butterfly! Fluttershy would’ve loved that! I chased it. What am I doing? Only foals chase butterflies! Being here is turning me into an overgrown infant!
Time to go. NOW.
I jump over fences, yards, and even more fences. How many of these could there be?
Look at that! This strange world goes on forever!
My head starts buzzing like a bee’s nest. It’s too much! TOO MUCH!
I jump down. I have to hide. I have to think!
“And just what do you think you’re doing?”
I whipped around. A black and white horse.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“This is my territory. I anybody comes here or goes here, it’s by my say so. And you and your fake wings and dyed pelt and fru fru mane don’t have permission.
FRU FRU?
“Oh, I am SO sorry. I didn’t realize fat, lazy horses ever had territory of their own.”
“RRRRHHH! Here’s your fat and lazy!” He jumped at me, bit my neck. I slammed him against the wall and slammed him down to the ground. He slashed with his hard hooves at my soft stomach and that did it. I slashed his face and we both fell backwards. “This fat, lazy horse is about to rip your head off!” He snapped right at my throat. I ran.
His voice made me run away. “Yeah! That’s right! Tail between your legs, you little RUNT!”
**************************************
Run. . . . I have to run! I can’t believe it! Beaten by a horse pet! Either he was the toughest thing ever. . . Or . . . What if I’m losing my skills? What if I’m getting soft? A familiar voice waked me up from my hollow sadness.
“Nopony’s ever won a fight against Duke.
I wouldn’t feel bad if I were you.”
I turned around and saw who I never thought I’d see. A Wonderbolt! Soarin! I let the shock run out into the black ground.
“Uh, I’m Rainbow Dash. How did YOU get here?”
“Some magic testing went bad in Canterlot. Rainbow dash? I remember you! You saved my pie! And won the best young flyer’s competition! It’s an honor! I’ve seen you around before, I just wasn’t sure if it was you! You’re new here, huh?”
“Yes. You could say that. You LIVE HERE? You’re a horse pet?”
“’Horse pet.’ That’s funny! Yes, I live here. But I want to get back to Equestria. Some people in white suits tried to capture me for some testing. Apparently, they don’t have Pegasus here in this world.”
“People?” I was confused. Was that what the two legged creatures were called?
“I haven’t spotted you this far from your home, Rainbow Dash. Do you know how to get back?”
“Uh. . . . Well. . . .”
“That’s fine, then. I’ll bring you. Just don’t fly. They can capture you like that.”
He led me home. An actual Wonderbolt actually let me hang out with him! I’m so excited I can barely breathe, but then we’re back home.
“Well, here we are. It was very nice seeing you again, Rainbow Dash. I’ll see you around again, right?”
“Yes.” Lose a fight with a horse pet then get to lost to find my way back here? I just want to curl up somewhere and die. But Soarin’s the first pony from Equestria I’ve met since the “people” captured me. I hope I get to see him again.
*********************************************
I dream that night.
Part of me knows it’s a dream. But that doesn’t matter. I’m not about to wake up.
Because in dreams, sometimes you can meet ponies who are no longer with you.
And when I see the slim, purple unicorn coming towards me. . . Part of me doesn’t ever want to wake up.
“Hello, Rainbow dash.”
“Twilight! It’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you so much!”
“I’ve missed you too, Rainbow. I’m sorry for sending you to that place.”
“Oh, Twilight. I never thought I’d get to speak with you again. Are you all right? Is Equestria fine?”
“Rainbow. You don’t have to worry. You have nothing to fear. Your friends are okay. I was so proud of us when we defeated Queen Chrysalis. You should know, too. That I have some ponies here with us.”
“My friends!”
Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were all in front of me. My heart literally stopped beating.
“You’re all okay?”
Pinkie Pie bounced happily. “Yes, Rainbow Dash! Twilight found a spell to visit you in your dreams and she figured we could figure out where you were like that!”
Applejack wrapped around Dash. “Everything alright, SugarCube?”
Rarity put her hooves up and looked around. “In this dreadful place?”
Fluttershy had tears inside her eyes. “I want you back.”
I felt my heart break. “I do too.”
Twilight answered my silent plea with something nopony wants to hear. “We must go now.”
“What? You just got here!”
“Don’t fret, SugarCube. Rest assured, we will always be with you/ You will see us again soon. The dream visitor spell only lasts for a few short moments.”
And with that my best friends all disappeared. Leaving my heart dead inside.
******************************************
Dreaming about my friends. . . So sad and happy they were. . . . It only makes me more determined not to become a horse pet.
But first things first. I have to get to know this place where I’m trapped.
“Soarin? Soarin! Can you hear me?”
“he isn’t around here stranger.”
I whipped around. I saw a black horse next to a female white horse.
“It’s true. We haven’t seen or heard from her all day.” The female said.
“But he comes around here sometimes, right?”
“I suppose. But anyway, we’ve heard about you.”
“Huh?” This confused me more than Twilight’s spells.
“Are you a real Pegasus? Do you eat bones?”
“Bones.” Ridiculous!
“Yes, I ate bones! Especially the bones of soft, lazy horse pets like you!”
They neighed and ran away quickly.
That wasn’t as much fun as I thought. I’m not an awesome Pegasus anymore. But I don’t feel like a horse pet either. I really just feel lonely.
*****************************************
Finally… A few days later.
“Rainbow Dash! Hey, Dash! Wake up!”
“Huh?”
Soarin was there staring at me. “C’mon! You’re sleeping the day away! I have something to show you!”
Turns out Soarin was out looking for Equestria. But when I see his surprise, nothing is important.
“Do you like it? You can fly here without anypony seeing you!”
“Like it?” Soarin had brought me to huge forest. “I love it! How can I repay you?”
“I’m just glad you’re happy.”
“Well, come on then!”
I think it’s a dream. I chased a mouse, but I MISSED.
“Are you all right?”
“That was pitiful! I knew I was getting soft, but I’m more out of shape then I realized!”
“Come one. Never mind the mouse. It’s a sunny day. Tell me more about your real life.”
It’s fun telling Soarin’ about my life. The joy and love of my friends. The pride and loyalty of being me. My independence and self-reliance. I knew a horse pet could never fell any of that. I guess I’m doing a great job, cause’
“Teach me to do a Sonic Rainboom!”
“What?” A Wonderbolt? Asking me to teach HIM something? Now how awesome is that?
“I’m serious! Show me how!”
He’s serious All right.
“Keep your weight low and even. You have to be fast enough to turn clouds around.”
Soon we change from movement to power.
“Concentrate for a long time then just let your power out.”
He did it! I can’t even describe how I feel.
“Well done, Soarin!”
*******************************************
“So, you’re loyalty in the elements of harmony?”
“Right.” I can’t believe I’m telling him all this. An actual Wonderbolt!
At first, I think he’ll just forget about me.
“And twilight’s magic? She can cure anything?”
“Well, nearly everything.”
“Wow, sounds like a lot better than a trip to the doctor.”
But he doesn’t forget, and he’s really awesome! We practice for days.
“It’s just like an adventure! Every day of your life. You never know what to expect! Not like here at all.”
“Nope, It’s not like my life here. Not at all.”
And let me tell you, I’m glad we practiced.
“Well, would you look at that? Foals play-flying in the woods?” Duke, He laughed meanly at our fights.
Soarin’ surprises me though. “he doesn’t fight. “We don’t want trouble, Duke. We’ll leave.”
“You say that like you think I care. I know what you’re going to do. You’re going to take a serious beating.”
I’m not mean, but I wasn’t taking any junk from a horse pet like Duke!
“Rainbow, we should go.” Soarin’ said.
“No, we fight.”
Duke rushed at me and sprang at me hooves outstretched.
We jumped at each other and we hit each other.
Right off the bat, Soarin’s awesome.
That Pegasus is one fast learner!
Duke pushed me to the ground, but I rolled him over and bit HIM on the neck.
“Let go!” I let go of Duke’s fat neck.
“What are you doing? You could’ve killed me! What a pair of savages you two are!”
I watched him go and memories rushed back to my head.
Discord, Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, all the fights. And all my old feelings come rushing back. What it’s like to be awesome!
Something else stares me in the face. This life, this play flying. I’m not me anymore.
*****************************************
I had another dream that night.
“Twilight!”
“Rainbow Dash. It hurts to see you in this place. Especially when you know what you have to do.”
“Twilight. I don’t know what to do. I miss my friends so much. I wish you all were here.”
“You’ll be back here soon.”
“You really think so?”
“If you look, I know that you’ll see you have a traveling companion already.”
**************************************
The next day I went to Soarin’s.
“Soarin!”
“Good morning, Rainbow dash. What’s up?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking…. We need to go back to Equestria.”
“That’s fantastic! Oh, you came to say goodbye?”
“No! I mean, you can come with me!”
“Come with you? Now?”
“But I thought you wanted to go back?”
“I do! But will Spitfire welcome me back?”
“Of course!”
“I- I can’t.”
Heart sinking, I turned away. “Bye then. I’ll miss you. Take care of yourself.” I could hardly believe Soarin would do that.
*******************************************
As days go by, I realize just getting out of this place is easier said than done. Six days, I can’t remember being full.
All my life, I never tried doubting my awesomeness. But after ten days. . . . I think I’m done.
Rainbow Dash!
“Twilight!?”
I hear voices all around me.
Pinkie Pie: ‘She’s an evil enchantress! She does evil dances!”
Rarity: “And that’s the art of the dress!”
Fluttershy: “We’ll get you a pet.”
Applejack: “I wills ell them. All my appletastic treats.”
Even Celestia and Luna.
“Rainbow Dash! Wake up!” I woke up and Twilight was in front of me! “Are you all right? What’s wrong? Oh my! You’re burning up!” She turned to leave.
“Don’t…Don’t…Don’t go….Please.”
“Okay, I can help. I’ll get some water. Just stay here and cool down.”
“Twilight!”
I wake up to cool water on my tongue. “Soarin? How’d you find me?”
“It wasn’t easy. What can I do for you? Can I help?”
“Food, and a bed. Please?”
While I rest, Soarin tells me how he found me. I’m amazed and very appreciative at all he’s done. And then he surprises me again.
“Rainbow Dash? Why’d you call me Twilight?”
“Huh? Oh I must’ve been delirious. She’s my best friend.”
“Everything will be better after we find your friends.”
“Now? Are you sure?”
“Do you think you’re strong enough?”
“I think so. Besides, if I need any help, I’ve go you, don’t I?”
“Yes. Yes you do.”
And so we set off to find Equestria.
Soarin and I had begun our journey. We wanted to fly so bad, but we knew the ‘people’ in the white suits would some to get us again.
I climbed up a big brick wall blocking the way to a ‘road’ to look out at it. Soarin had said he was sure that Equestria was this way, so I listened. We crossed the road and I just felt. . . Felt. . . Weird. There was this soft feeling in my heart I couldn’t describe.
Was it love? I hoped not. I didn’t want to become too soft! After a few days of traveling and crossing fields Fluttershy would’ve loved, we came across a huge road. We had to cross it, but for some reason Soarin stopped. In his eyes was fear. I rolled my eyes, I didn’t want to have an issue with Soarin about crossing another one of these! I tried to be nice. “We’ have to cross here, is that all right?”
Soarin looked at me. Then he looked down and said, “I. . .I think so.”
I looked and saw a gap in-between the cars. Now was the perfect time to run! I dashed across never feeling more alive but Soarin hadn’t even moved yet! “Come on!” I shouted. I raced back over and pushed his side with my head. “Come on!” He still didn’t move and I just got mad and pulled him across the road and we fell into a corn field.
Soarin glared at me. “Was that really necessary?”
I was exasperated. I’d just saved his life! “You wouldn’t be asking that if you’d seen the car that was about to murder us!”
VRAAAHR!
I whipped around quickly to see what was making that loud noise. It was a giant, huge, monster-car thing. Now in Equestria, we don’t drive. We walk, teleport, or fly. I would’ve flown away with Soarin right then and there, but if those crazy scientist things weren’t after us! I had no time to think now though. Soarin hadn’t even thought at all, he’d run the other direction!
I can barely tell up from down. These corn plants are everywhere, and that corn drill thing is so loud. I have to find Soarin! I have to get help! I found my way out the wretched corn field and saw a big farm. Like Applejacks! But Applejack didn’t have a corn field or a giant drill. But still maybe there’s help there.
*************************************************
I had found help! In the barn was a pony. He didn’t have a cutie mark. His name was Husky and he was big and brown with an orange mane! He had a black mare mate. And a black and white cat that helped too. We found Soarin quickly but his eyes had been scratched by the corn leaves. Husky was nice enough to bring us back to his barn to let us stay for a while. And rest and food. It was what we needed most.
When we were resting and healing I introduced us. “My name is Rainbow Dash. This is Soarin.”
Then Husky introduced himself. “You know me. I’m Husky. The black mare is Moss. And my cat is Spalsh." Me and Soarin and the barn animals talked for a long bit and then fell asleep.
In the morning, I went out to eat some grass and the people that live in the house, they sent their pet dogs after me! I'd never run so fast in my life. I run past the field and inbetween the houses.
Not the best choice I've ever made. . . . . . . I was trapped in a dead end. I'm not supposed to be flying either!
Okay, Okay I can fight them. . . . But I'm outnumbered. There's 2 dogs and 1 of me. I can try to fight them, Myabe if I jumped over them. . . .
But Soarin comes through in a big way! he jumps down from the side of the house and glares at the dogs. "Don't worry," he said to me. "I've got this." He glared a the dogs and to my surprise he barked at them! I wanted to laugh. I'd never thought I'd see a wonderbolt bark at a dog!
Then incredulously, the dogs turned and left. I didn't think I'd be more surprised if Princess Celestia floated down from the sky and licked me on the nose.
************************************
I thought I was shocked by what Soarin did with the dogs, but it was nothing compared with the reaction from the barn animals. They wanted to learn how to talk to the dogs too! Soarin taught them and they learned quickly. He taught them just like I taught him how to do a Sonic Rainboom. It's hard not to think this, but I'm beginning to be proud of Soarin like he was my very own foal.
After he teaches them, we both go out ot eat grass.
"You're skills are top notch, rainbow Dash. You could compare with the best of Wonderbolts easily." I was shocked and flattered to hear Soarin say that to me. I mean, my biggest idol! Complimenting ME!
"Oh, you're just saying that." I hope this isn't a dream.
"No, I mean it. You- Hey!" He stopped and I turned to see what he was looking at.
"The people that sent the dogs after us! They're baby is about to walk into the pond!"
Suddenly all my instincts and worries disappear. I don't think the baby's parents realize just how close their kid is to falling in the pond. I could hear them yelling things at their kid, but I ignore them. I didn't want to do this. But I had to. I made my eyes as sparkly as they could get and mustered the most adorable squee I could. The baby looked at my huge sparkling eyes.
"Pony!"
The baby wrapped her arms around me and started petting my mane. Soarin came over ot me. "That was really well done, I have to say."
"Yeah?" I had saved the baby! I tried not look boastful, but I couldn't help myself. I'm kind of a bragger!
Soarin laughed. "I can't wait to tell the Wonderbolts how my brave, tough mare saved a baby. By acting cute."
"Wha-Huh? You wouldn't!"
He looked me in the eye, eyes sparkling. "Plus I'm sure the rest of Cloudsdale would like to know."
"Soarin!"
Then the baby's parents, those wretched people that sent the dogs after us, they came over too. I could only fell gratefulness and happiness coming from them, and I know not all people are bad. But when they get this close. . . . . It's too much. I can't do this. Not yet. I ran away back into the barn.
*************************************************************
Soarin tells the barn animals all about the little baby. He downplays the whole "cute" thing for which i'm grateful. But I'm not even listening. This has just driven home the point that I keep coming back to over and over. I belong in Equestria, not here.
******************************************************************
When the sun comes up the next morning, I wake up with a feeling, at first I can't tell what it is. But when Soarin and I come back form eating, it gets clearer. It's the feeling that things are about to change again.
When we get back in the barn, we found the people that we saved in the barn with Husky, Moss, and their cat Splash. They were petting each other and having fun and. . . . had a connection. A new one. Love.
I'm pretty sure I know what I'm looking at here. I'm looking at the animals' future. And it's a good one. Time to go.
The people hugged us and I think they thanked us for saving their kid. But we have to leave. Before they notice our wings. Soarin licked my ear. He whispered, "Time to go home."
********************************************
"Time to go home." Those words buzz in my head like bees now. Why did this have to happen to us? I know what we have to do now. We have to complete our journey. And get back to our friends and Equestria.
