A quiet fog rolled over Ponyville. Like a thief in the night, it pounced on unsuspecting victims. Sweeping through the towns magic defenses as if they were nonexistent. Rainbow Dash slept blissfully unaware of the danger. Too tired after a day of errands to notice letter after letter stuffing her mailbox. Soon enough the poor thing was suffocating. Gasping for any air it could find. Sensing its impending death, the mailbox quickly ballooned to the size of a typical beach ball. Then died in a fiery passion. The first victim of the fog.
Rainbow Dash jolted awake. Not by any choice of her own. She was having the most amazing dream. After getting a distress call from Daring Do, she sprang into action. Flying over to Amarezona in record time. Just as she was about to save Do from the most troublesome pit of quick sand, fireworks exploded by her front door. At least, she thought they were fireworks.
Waking up to reality, Rainbow Dash recoiled in horror. She'd been sucking her thumb in her sleep. Violently wiping her childlike behavior on her pillow, she ventured outside. If it the deviant saw anything, there would be hell to pay. Even as a adult, Scootaloo still saw Rainbow Dash as the cool older sister. She'd take her persona to the grave.
Rainbow Dash burst from her house. Her senses were more active than normal. A minor miracle. She still had crusts in her eyes. Her heart was pounding so heavily she feared it would rip a hole in her chest. Breathing solved nothing. Dash had to solve this mystery. Before her heart betrayed her.
She saw a large paper trail. Letters quickly racking up in the hundreds. Rainbow Dash pretended to count them all. An exact figure was cooler. Made her feel invincible.
Picking a letter up, she howled in pain. It felt burnt. Like someone had doused the whole parchment in fire. Several times. Then it hit her. The letters must all be from Spike. They were all the way in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash knew Alicorns were basically omnipresent. They could feel when disaster struck. Her heart sank. There was something about to go down in her home town.
Apparently retirement never came for those who were friends with the Princess.
She opened the letter.
Dear Rainbow Dash
I'm writing this letter in haste because I haven't got much time. Remember a few years ago when we uncovered the prophecy of the destruction of the world? That I entrusted you alone with its secrets? Well it was an arrogant mistake on my end. I figured the prophecy wasn't going to come this quickly. Or in your life time. I thought I had more time to prepare.
But this fog. In case you forgot (which would be in line of how you normally keep secrets), then let me remind you. It's the first sign of the End.
We as ponies have a very limited scope in judge of scale, and time. As a relatively new Alicorn I haven't developed that skill yet. Celestia said it takes centuries. Which I don't think I have the patience for. Anyway, I bring this up because the End starts when our planet runs out of its Life Force.
I'll remind you in case you forgot, Life Force is the amount of energy each of us has. Once it runs out, then we pass away from natural causes. Of course, if your times comes early, then your energy is depleted quite rapidly at the time of your death. This is what's happening to our world.
If you're able to, I want you to arrive at the Palace as soon as you can. If the Fog's already arrived in Ponyville then we don't have much time.
See you soon,
Twilight.
Memorizing the letter, Dash then swiftly gathered the remaining envelopes, and shredded them. No one, not even Applejack could know of the impending end of the world. Not until her and Twi could figure everything out. Rainbow Dash tried her hardest to forget the prophecy. To only make sure Twilight was the only pony in the world to remember it. How could one forget such a bombshell of information?
She was lucky Applejack was a heavy sleeper. Nothing could wake the sleep-freak. It impressed her. Fifteen years of living together, and AJ's stubbornness never ceased to amaze. Their house was tiny. A downgrade in Dash's mind from the farmhouse. It was a minor miracle AJ decided to move in.
Rainbow Dash looked back towards her bed. AJ was sound asleep. And snoring. A slight tingle of electricity flowed through her heart. She jokingly called it lovers shock. Different than if a pony were to get chills on their body. Or scared. It was a feeling she couldn't quite describe. Did it need to be described? Sometimes the most wonderful feelings never need to be. She took an extra long look at her sleeping beauty. In the moment, Rainbow Dash made peace with the fact they may never see each other again. If it does turn out the prophecy rings true.
Arriving in Canterlot a few hours later, Rainbow Dash thought she had landed in the wrong place. Even in the dead of night there would be a few poor stragglers. Someone looking for the last bit of fun. There was no laughter. No noise. No nothing. If she dropped a pin, it could be heard for miles. She would try, but not with her own bobby pin. She didn't want to throw out of balance any semblance of order her hair still had. Flying for hours at high altitude caused the worst bad hair days imaginable. She chuckled. The older she got, the more she sounded like Rarity. Her tomboy days were long over.
The other thing which shocked her was, she could barely see. Rainbow Dash had stumbled into extremely thick fog. The fog manifesting itself greater than the imagination of Equestria's top scientists. Breathing was almost rendered useless. Rainbow Dash thanked Celestia she was an element. If not, she may as well been good as dead. She still didn't take any chances. Pegasi had the ability to breathe in very thin air. It was risky. She didn't really have any choice to pull the trigger. She could only imagine Twilight's emotional state seeing her best friend collapsed at the top of the castle stairs. Dead due to exacerbation.
Rainbow Dash knew the area well. Ever since Twi's coronation, they'd been successful in keeping in touch. Every moon the reunion was held at a different friend's house. Nearly two decade's worth of information was enough to guide even the most blind pony. Let alone someone as healthy as Rainbow Dash.
She could feel her lungs stretch. Hers were twice the size of earth ponies or unicorns. And a smudge bigger than other pegasis. The minuscule difference was huge when confronted with thin air. Non-existent air more like. Rainbow Dash mentally braced herself. Preferring to dive in head first. Against AJ's wishes. Somethings never did quite change.
Getting through the first few steps was easy. Almost like running through snow. If the snow was vertical. And causing the end of the world. Rainbow Dash was almost gliding through the fog. Almost too easily. As if on cue, she slammed into an impenetrable wall. Somewhere, fate was laughing at her.
Trotting back, Rainbow Dash geared up for another round. She had no choice. The fog had enveloped her by now, and if she fled back out, who knows how long she'd be trapped. She could hardly tell which way was forwards, or backwards. It was like she was trapped in a cage of infinite confusion. Never one to back away from a challenge, she sprinted once again head first. This time creating a bit more of a dent. Yelling as she hit the wall. In an odd desperate attempt to let Twi know she had arrived.
Ironically, her insanity would be her savior. Life was cruel. She had to keep pushing forward. It was the only thing Rainbow Dash knew. Eventually she would be rewarded one way or another. Either she would meet Twi. Or die. Being sucked up into the fog.
Maybe this was why the streets were silent. She hoped everypony had ample time to escape this same fate. Or Twilight might have called an early evacuation order.
Standing firm in her insanity, Rainbow Dash tried again. She would have to switch things up a bit. Her reserve oxygen was getting really low. It wasn't lethal yet. Rainbow Dash knew when it would be. The last time she had been pushed to the brink was during her sonic rainboom all those years ago. Nothing, not even Tirek or Cozy Glow caused as much damage to her. She only had one or two more good attempts in her. She'd rather not see what the second one would be like.
Rainbow Dash took ten paces back. She arched her wings. Preparing to take off like a Wonderbolt. She imagined a runway. Taking off in front of thousands of adoring fans. All cheering her name as loudly as they could. Silencing the crowd, Rainbow Dash took a deep breath in. Pretending the moisture from the fog was an energy boost, she mentally strapped in. And took off. Pulling her hooves inwards, as she pushed for the castle entrance. As she picked up speed, Rainbow Dash could feel her eyes begin to pop. She'd been training over the years, and even though she was pushing fifty, her training made up for old age. The difference was in her knees. She swore she felt one pop trying to navigate the infinite sea of death fog.
To prevent herself going blind, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes. While it stopped her eyes from dislodging themselves, it made it even more tempting to blink. Just once. But if she did, Rainbow Dash didn't know if she'd even see her eyes again. Though when the world was ending did it really matter? Of course it did! Rainbow Dash shook the negative thought from her mind. If it was the end of their world, then they could always find another. Knowing Twi for decades, she was confident they were both of the same mind. She'd bet her life savings on it.
Penetrating through the fog, Rainbow Dash felt it start to lift. She did nothing. For the fear of her eyes popping. What if it was a trick? Caused by some sort of unknown agent of chaos. The best thing she could do was keep them closed. Having what little control she could over the situation.
Zooming close to one-hundred miles and hour, she was only paying attention to her body control. Not realizing the fog had completely lifted. Or taking into consideration the castle doors were completely open. Slamming into a stray wall.
"Hey, who put that there?" Rainbow Dash said. Shouting in pain to no pony in particular. Picking herself up, she noticed the fog wasn't coming into the lobby. Even if she couldn't quite see.
The lobby was the darkest she'd ever seen it. Normally Twilight always had candles burning. During all hours of the day. Dash figured it was if Twi needed to get some late night studying done. Or if her friend couldn't sleep. But now? It was pitch black.
"Rainbow Dash?"
Her head was groggy, but Rainbow Dash had enough mental fortitude to turn her neck towards the stairs. Twilight.
"Hey Twi," Rainbow Dash said. She slurred her words. As if she'd had one to many to drink.
"I ran downstairs immediately when I heard the crash." Using magic, she sat Rainbow Dash upright. Healing part of her broken ribs in the process. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's alright. Except for the massive pain in my ribs. And my eyes. And well, everywhere." Rainbow Dash could only muster a half hearted chuckle. Anything more, and she would have collapsed.
"I can do my best to get that fixed. Right now, I need you with me in the old Friendship room," Twi said. Her tone becoming increasingly erratic. More subtle than when they first met decades prior. Deep down, some part of Rainbow Dash missed the old Twi. If the end of the world wasn't imminent it'd be quite entertaining.
"Do you mind levitating me? My knees are jello right now?" Rainbow Dash asked sheepishly. Speaking so quietly she hoped Twi wouldn't hear her.
"Nope, I don't mind. And don't worry about me Dash. I'll be fine. We both, will be fine." Twi said. Confidence breaking through her neurotic nature.
"Let's hope so," Rainbow Dash said doubtful.
The duo remained silent walking up the stairs. The last two moons they weren't able to hang out. No matter how much she pined to catch up to her old friend, Rainbow Dash remained silent. They both knew the severity of the stakes of what possibly would be their final journey together. In her youth, Rainbow Dash would be ecstatic about saving the world. Having repelled the apocalypse would be a huge boost to her ego. As a mare heading into her twilight years, Rainbow Dash knew better than to celebrate.
Their Friendship Room had been dedicated soon after Twilight's coronation. Almost identical to their throne room back home, it served as a second home for Rainbow Dash. And the rest of her friends. Normally sporting a very warm color scheme, it was often the host of personal galas. Twi never did like the extravagance of the past. Even if it was done more or less as an obligation towards foreign dignitaries.
Usually organized and meticulously clean, the room was a mess. Rainbow Dash did a double take. Did Queen Chrysalis return from the dead and take the form of Twilight? She'd seen Twi grieve before. It never got to the point of complete chaos. Ages ago before her coronation, Twi would have a panic attack if one book in her comically oversized library was out of place. Rainbow Dash was unsure if this was progression, regression, or plain old depression. She was too scared to ask, feeling the matter was out of place.
Instead, focusing on the table in front of her. Books and parchment randomly scattered across the table. Rainbow Dash studied Twi's face. Not an ounce of pain or regret. Rainbow Dash had to take a risk.
"I don't mean this in a negative way, but Flash Sentry's death is taking a tole on you isn't it?" Rainbow Dash said, fixing her friend's hair.
"Yeah, I guess more than I would've thought," Twi sat down, and lowered her head. "Celestia did warn me to not fall in love. Even though we're Alicorns we still carry over thoughts and feelings. Guess I was naive in thinking it wouldn't affect me since I'm immortal."
"Are my ears deceiving me or am I hearing correctly that Queen Twilight Sparkle is arrogant?" Rainbow Dash playfully jabbed her friend.
"Maybe you've rubbed off on me after all Dashie." Twi laughed. While Rainbow Dash could tell it was more of an obligatory, a forced laugh was still a laugh. Now Pinkie Pie was rubbing off of her.
"Took your brain long enough to catch up, Princess." Rainbow Dash's grin got even wider.
"Before we plunge into uncontrollable fits of laughter, let's get down to the real business at hand." Twi stood up, and walked over towards the table. "We can laugh when everything's over."
Rainbow Dash started to protest, then bit her lip. It was clear Twi wasn't ready to move on. "So what's all of this then? Stuff related to the prophecy?" Rainbow Dash scooted next over to Twi. Wincing every step.
Twi nodded. "I've gathered books from the secret archives. No one knows what I'm about to tell you. Not you, not even the others who are still with us. I do not want this information made public. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am." Rainbow Dash squeaked. Taken aback by Twilight's use of authority. Her younger self would have relished for this moment to playfully mock Twi. An impending apocalypse was not the best time to do so.
"Now we've got that covered, remember for me all of those years ago when we defeated Starlight Glimmer," Twilight said.
"There was something written in the cave about the prophecy wasn't there?" Rainbow Dash said. She still couldn't remember much if any of what was written. Her memory falls back to some crudely drawn paintings about some doomsday. There wasn't any mystery why Starlight never took up art. Young preschool aged foals could do a better job.
Twilight nodded. "Turns out Starlight must have somehow gotten wind of the prophecy existing at all. From what I know, Celestia, Luna and Cadance kept their mouths shut." Twi began to frantically pace. Rainbow Dash knew all too well things were about to fly off the rails. "Was Starlight right all along?"
"If you're asking me then I don't know. We've known her for years, and she never spoke up about the prophecy. That alone should be enough proof she was wrong. At the very least her conduct was awful if she wanted people on her side. And we know how that went," Rainbow Dash said.
"Still, something's burning inside. She was the next person I had Spike send letters to. If anyone can help crack the prophecy then its her," Twilight floated a few books her way. Levitating them above her head, all of them open at bookmarked pages.
"From what I remember the prophecy included the Elements of Harmony right? Like we can't forget about the anti-Discord religion that popped up after his reign of terror," Rainbow Dash said. She shifted through the books along Twi's gigantic book shelf. Wrapping around the room, it took a few more precious seconds than normal. Her body still hadn't healed.
"Celestia and Luna have told me they thought Discord being freed was the beginning of the end. We've since learned several more key pieces of the prophecy were missing. With our current data bank our educated guess couldn't have been more wrong. Discord was a sign. CMC or not, he would have escaped sooner or later-"
"And we're lucky it was sooner," Rainbow Dash interrupted.
"I'm amazed at how Fluttershy was able to reform him. We're definitely lucky he's not clawing out of his statue right now. We have enough to worry about with this fog. Let alone a multi-dimensional psychopath running around," Twilight said.
"Speaking of the fog. Why is it a sign of the apocalypse?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I remember what you wrote in your letter, but why does fog signal the end of our planet's Life Force?"
"Our planet has begun to break from the seams. Geologists have been reporting cracks in the planet's mantle for the past six months. Which is partially why you didn't run into anyone in Canterlot. I made sure to come up with a reasonable excuse, and convinced as many as I could to retreat high into the mountains," Twilight explained.
"So then the rest who refused or straight up didn't believe you are gone?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Sadly yes. I'm sure you've realized by now that because you're an element the fog affects you differently. Normal ponies would have been crushed by the pressure. I'm not too sure how it works yet. Think of it like being born with extra stats. I know how much you and Apple Jack love playing those dungeon raid games," Twi said.
"If we are born with some extra talent, then why us? Are we a direct match for the prophecy, or close enough to fit in like puzzle pieces?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"The latter," Twilight handed Rainbow Dash a book. Page fifty-three of The Beginners Guide to the Elements of Harmony . "One of the first books I read as a foal. Read the page that's highlighted."
Squinting as hard as she could, Rainbow Dash obliged. The big, overused technical jargon made it nearly impossible to read. The perfect Twilight book. "You were able to understand all of this as a foal? I can't make out what half of these words mean now." Rainbow Dash sounded like she rain a marathon. Did she also have a concussion from the impact?
"Basically in short, the elements are reincarnated every so often. We don't know how often. Just that it does. The six of us just got lucky. Right place right time I suppose," Twilight explained.
"So like fate?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Kind of. Though I don't know if our fate is positive. We're being tasked with stopping the end of the world," Twilight said.
"Hey it's something that we've gone through plenty of times," Rainbow Dash snuggled up next to Twi.
"I just hope we have enough strength to go on one final journey," Twilight said. "And that Starlight Glimmer doesn't get crushed by this fog."
