Iron and Blood: From Ash to Dust

Rainbow Dash sat on a stool by the stove, watching the percolator as it worked its magic. Her eyes felt like they would explode out of their sockets. She rubbed them and let out a tired huff as she glared at the percolator. “Hurry up!” She mumbled.

“Oh… What the hell….”

Rainbow Dash turned around and saw her mother, Windy Whistles, sit up from the couch. Her mother looked around the room as she rubbed her head. “What time is it?” Windy Whistle’s turned to look into the kitchen at the clock. However, her eyes are drawn to her daughter, who stared back at her with dull eyes. “What are you doing?” She asked as she stood up with a groan.

“Making coffee.” Rainbow Dash frowned. Her wings twitched at her mother’s tone. “Good morning, Mommy.” She forced a smile.

Her mother gave her a slight nod. ”Morning….” She walked up to her daughter and gave her a tired hug. “What’s on the menu?” She teased.

Rainbow Dash felt the tension fade as she pointed at the fridge. “I bought some pastries last night.”

Her mother hummed. “And how did you get the money to do so?” She playfully questioned as she opened the door.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she took the coffee off the stove. “I help Steel Bit.” She poured her mother and herself a cup. “And he pays me.”

Her mother’s mood soured as she picked up her cup. “Oh… Yeah, I forgot.” She walked up to the couch and sat back down.

Rainbow Dash's body shivered as she bit her tongue. She let out a troubled sigh as she grabbed her own pastry and coffee and walked up to the couch. She sat beside her mother and took a timid sip of her drink.

“Thanks for breakfast.” Windy Whistles said dully.

Rainbow Dash looked up at her mother and gave her a small smile. Her mother smiled, but only briefly as she returned to her meal.

Silence filled the room. An uncomfortable silence.

Rainbow Dash felt her brow begin to perspire as she nibbled on her pastry. “Um…” She shifted in her seat. “How long do you have to work today?”

Windy Whistles raised her brow as she looked down at her daughter. “Why do, you ask?”

Rainbow Dash tapped the rim of her cup. “I wanted to know if you would go to the lake with me after work?”

Windy Whistles bobbed her head as she pondered her daughter’s question. “We’ll see.” She stated, her voice dull as she pulled out a bottle of pain pills from the side table beside the couch. Scanning the bottles on the coffee table, she grabbed a bottle of bourbon and took three pills along with a large swig of liquor.

Rainbow Dash’s optimistic mood soured as she watched her mother pour some of the bourbon into her cup of coffee.

Her mother felt her gaze and glared at her. “What?” She watched her daughter’s magenta eyes dart side to side, clearly unable to say anything. “You have no right to lecture me! I know you drink! You take some of my bottles when I sleep, you brat!”

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. “At least I don’t pop pills when I drink!” She sat up.

Her mother let out a growl. “Oh, look at you!” She spat. “You had to go and ruin breakfast by being all pissy!”

“It's not even eight o’clock!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she entered her room, slamming the door behind her.

“So, what!” Her mother took another swig of her bourbon. She kept her eyes on her daughter's room for several minutes before sighing as she slumped in her seat. “Fine, go sulk in your room…. You fucking brat….” Hearing the door open, she looked over the head of the couch and saw her daughter dressed in a simple red dress with a black cotton vest jacket and a black flat-cap. Seeing her saddlebag over her back, she glared at her daughter as she neared the door. “Where the hell are you going?”

“TO WORK!” Rainbow Dash spat as she grabbed the door’s handle.

“I told you a million times to stay away from that stallion!” Windy Whistles sat up and pointed a bottle at her daughter.

“And I thought I told you to stop whoring yourself!” Rainbow Dash growled back.

Her mother glared at her with raged-filled eyes. “I have to work two jobs to keep a fucking roof over our heads. How am I supposed to do that with one job?”

“I’m trying to help, so you don’t have to!” Rainbow Dash cried.

Her mother rubbed her eyes. “Don’t you start crying like a little baby bitch! You can help by cleaning up this fucking pigsty!”

Rainbow Dash felt a sharp stinging sensation run down her back as she opened the door. A strange mixture of emotions washed over her as she glared at her mother. “How about you start by throwing out your bottles!”

“Why, you little!” Her mother threw her bottle of bourbon at her daughter.

Rainbow Dash quickly bolted out the door and shut it. She heard the bottle shatter on the other side, followed by several expletives from her mother. Her chest felt heavy as she began to lose her composure. Swallowing her emotions, she shivered as she ran down the hill to the pub.

Steel Bit mulled over his bottles of beer and hard liquor lining the back wall of his bar. He counted them in his head, his right hand pointing at the bottles as he counted. Lilly Drops sat at the bar’s counter. She watched him as he worked with dull amusement as she laid her head in her arms. “She’s late.”

Steel Bit picked up a bottle and blew off some dust that clung to its surface. “I’m sure she’s almost here.” He laughed. “Knowing her, she slept in.” Hearing the bell over the door, they looked over their shoulders and saw the filly in question. “Speak of the devil. How are you doing this morning, squirt?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders as she sat beside Lilly Drops. “Alright.” She mumbled.

Lilly Drops and Steel Bit looked at each other with concerned looks. “I love your outfit.” Lilly Drops commented. “It’s so you.” She smiled at the filly.

Rainbow Dash looked at the mare and smiled.

Seeing that her mood was improving, Steel Bit clapped his hands. “Well, since the gang is all here, let’s get to it!” He walked up the stairs to the second floor of his pub. Lilly Drops and Rainbow Dash looked at the stallion and giggled as they followed after him.

Lilly Drops sat around several large Poison Joke plants in a back room. She plucked some of their blue flowers and placed them on a bronze tray to dry under several bright white halogen bulbs. The heat coming off of them made her sweat as she worked. Wiping her brow, she sighed as she took out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it. Giving it several puffs, she sighed a happy sigh as she went back to work.

Steel Bit and Rainbow Dash were in another room adjacent to Lilly Drops. Steel Bit stood over a two-gallon pot resting on a gas stove. The pot contained a pound of plucked Poison Joke flowers soaking in a solution of water, honey, whisky, lemons, and their natural hallucinogenic properties.

Rainbow Dash sat in a chair at a table by the back wall, cutting and dividing twenty grams worth of marinated flowers into small burlap pouches.

“Damn…. I can’t wait to relax and smoke some.” Steel Bit sniffed the brew’s aroma.

“Sounds like you’re already getting high.” Lilly Drops teased.

“I want to get stoned, not high!” Steel Bit stated in mock sadness.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the young couple’s playful bickering. She moved her lollypop to one side of her mouth as she tied a pouch.

Steel Bit looked over at Rainbow Dash and saw that she had already filled eighty pouches. “Hey, squirt?”

Rainbow Dash looked up from her work. “Yeah?”

“I think you have enough to start the run for today.” He looked at the flowers in the pot. “We’ll save these for tomorrow.” Rainbow Dash nodded as she set her saddlebag on her lap and began filling it with the tiny pouches. Steel Bit smirked at her eagerness as he lifted the ladle to his mouth to taste the brew. “Holy hell!” He coughed.

“Did he just lick the ladle?” Lilly Drops yelled.

“No!” Steel Bit choked.

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash sang as she exited the room, saddlebag full to the brim. Lilly Drops poked her head into the room and glared at Steel Bit. The stallion laughed nervously as he went back to stirring the pot.

Stepping out of the pub, Rainbow Dash put on her flat cap and made her way to her first destination on the list, walking through the narrow alleyways that made up the Popper Hollows sector of Lower-Cloudsdale. After a ten-minute stroll to the docks that ran alongside the river's edge, she walked up to a disheveled shack and knocked on its door. Muffled grunts echoed back. The door swung open, revealing an elderly stallion in his late sixties. He smiled as he laid eyes on Rainbow Dash. “Dash, how’s it been?”

She giggled at the stallion’s funny-sounding voice. “Good, just making the rounds.” She handed him a pouch.

The stallion laughed as he handed her several coins. “Be safe little filly.” He looked around. “There are dangerous ponies a-hoof.”

“You know I will!” Rainbow Dash gave the stallion a nod as she went to her next stop.

Entering the downtown district of Lower-Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash flew six feet above the ground. Some pegasi looked up and watched her as she flew on past them. Some elderly pegasi grumbled disapproval of her for not obeying proper flight etiquette, but she didn't care.

Nearing her destination, she landed on the cobblestone road and looked up at the large sign above the building's double doors. ‘Soft Clouds and Little Homes.’ Staring at the home's cloud brick façade, Rainbow Dash sighed as she walked up to the gate, flew over the iron bars, and made her way to the back of the orphanage. Peaking around the corner, she saw three pegasus colts and two pegasus fillies playing at the far end of the playground near an inner corner of a neighboring building.

“Yo!” Rainbow Dash called out as she walked up to the children.

The group turned their attention to the prism-maned filly and waved to her. “Hey, Dash!” The older colt, about thirteen years old, waved as he held a rubber ball in his right arm. "How are you?

“Doing good.” Rainbow Dash placed her saddlebag on the ground as she sat on the swing next to the older filly of the group. “How are you guys doing?”

“Doing alright.” One of the younger colts said as he threw his ball at a basket that hung on the neighboring building.

“On your rounds, Dash?” The younger filly asked as she hung upside down on the monkey bars.

“Yeah….” She swung on the swing. “Still trying to beat your record, Sunny?”

Sunny hummed as she stuck out her tongue, using her leg strength to keep herself glued to the bars. However, her legs gave out, and she fell into the soft cloud surrounding the playground. Sunny emerged from the misty cloud and pounded it with her fists. “Darn!”

“Do you need our help again?’ The older colt asked.

Rainbow Dash smiled at the colt as she gave him a silly grin. “Yes, Hoops.” She tilted her head to the side. “Could you help me?” She gave him big puppy eyes.

The colt blushed as he looked elsewhere. “Y-Yeah, of course.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

Rainbow Dash smirked at his expression as she opened her saddlebag. She handed each of them ten pouches. “You know the drill. Make it quick and snappy and be back here by three.”

“Are we taking the same cut as last time?” A colt with yellow fur asked.

“Yes, Bolt. Same cut as last time.” Rainbow Dash stated as they made their way to the gate. Flying over the gate, they fist-bumped each other before going their separate ways.

The wispy wild clouds to the east that slowly drifted across the sky collided with the thicker foundational clouds of Upper-Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash watched the calming scene above as she sat on a wooden bench.

She found herself in the heart of Lower-Cloudsdale’s industrial district. A mass of warehouses and smoke stacks as far as the eye could see

Biting into her hay sandwich, Rainbow Dash turned her attention from the sky to the pegasi mulling about. She watched a large group of construction workers building a new factory a few feet from her. She stared at them as they worked, amazed at how skilled they were and how fast they could build. The last time she was here, the foundation was barely laid.

To be honest, the overload of visual sensations overwhelmed her young mind. So much activity and noise caused her to fold her ears. How could anyone work in this environment for hours, she wondered. Then again, she was here to see someone she knew who worked at one of the factories in this polluted district.

Swallowing her bite, she opened her saddlebag. Seeing a single drug pouch, she hummed to herself as she gave herself a mental pat on the back. She beat her record. She finished in under two hours. She took another bite of her sandwich and placed the other half in her saddlebag. Throwing her bag over her back, she finished her sandwich and flapped her wings, taking off into the sky as she flew to her destination.

Landing a few feet from the factory, Rainbow Dash walked up to the large warehouse and knocked on the side door. The metal door opened, revealing a tired-looking mare in her mid-thirties. Her light blue mane is tied back, highlighting her round facial features. “Oh, hi, Rainbow.” The mare smiled at the filly. “Here to see your mother?”

Rainbow Dash could smell the distinct smell of cotton as it washed out the door. “Yeah…. I brought her lunch.” She held out the other half of her hay sandwich.

The mare gave her a sad look. “Sorry, sweetie, but your mother isn’t here.”

“What?” Rainbow Dash felt her mind spin with confusion.

The mare sighed. “Yeah, she only showed up and worked a few hours before leaving.” She looked out at the endless sea of factories that hugged the mountainside. “She left in quite a hurry. I don’t know why. Do you?”

Rainbow Dash’s mind stopped spinning as she thought of where her mother could be…. Her eyes narrowed as she put the sandwich back in her saddlebag. “Yeah…. I think I know where she could be….” She gave the mare a half-hearted smile.

Stepping out of a narrow alleyway that cut through several buildings haphazardly, one would assume whomever laid its stone was mad. Rainbow Dash found herself close to a small park with several willow trees beside a pond. This part of downtown would be a nice place to stay. But Rainbow Dash knew it wasn’t, especially after dark. A filly or colt who found themselves outside in this part of town at night would go missing or worse…. She shivered at that thought as she continued walking.

Two mares, one in her late forties and the other just barely eighteen, stood in front of an Italian Villa-like home. Both mares wore skimpy outfits that revealed enough to entice ponies of the opposite sex and maybe some of the same sex into their house of thrills.

The younger mare noticing Rainbow Dash approaching them, smiled. “Darla, it’s that filly.”

Darla looked at the bouncy young mare. “Wildfire, calm yourself! You’re going to scare away clients.” She sighed as she looked at Rainbow Dash. “What do you want?”

Rainbow Dash returned the mare’s glare. “Has my mother been by?”

The mares looked at each other with mixed emotions. Darla was calm as she mulled over her thoughts. On the other hand, Wildfire looked around nervously as she tried not to make eye contact with Rainbow Dash. “I think she’s been by. Wildfire, why don’t you alert the Mistress.” Darla looked at Rainbow Dash. “She would know if your mother showed up for work.”

Wildfire looked at her coworker. “You know the Mistress has a strange obsession with her.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms.

Darla rubbed her brow. “The Mistress is the only one who knows where we ladies go, so please let her know that the filly is looking for her mother!” She pointed at the building's entrance. Wildfire let out a small squeak as she ran into the building.

Walking past several doors, Wildfire stood in front of a set of double doors and knocked on them. “Come in, darling.” She opened one of the doors and stepped inside. Wildfire stared at a mare in her early fifties who sat at a grand oak desk at the back of the room. The two large windows cast her in an eerie silhouette.

“Mistress, Feather Gale?” Wildfire mumbled to herself.

“What is it, dear?” Her mistress looked up from her paperwork and eyed one of her best ‘ladies.’

Wildfire played with her dress’s skirt. “Well, mistress, you know that filly you’ve always liked. You know, Windy Whistle’s daughter?”

Feather Gale’s ears stood erect. “Yes?” She smiled. “Why do you ask?”

Wildfire wrapped her tail around her waist. “Well, she’s asking for her mother.”

Feather Gale hummed as she took a drink of her gin. “Well, bring her in.” Wildfire bowed as she exited the room. Leaning back in her chair Feather Gale laid her elbows on her desk and pressed her fingers together. Seeing Rainbow Dash peek her head into the room, she hummed and waved to her to enter. Rainbow Dash grabbed her tail as she timidly walked up to her desk. “What brings you to my establishment?” She offered the chair in front of her desk.

Rainbow Dash slowly sat in the chair. “Um…. Is my mother here?” She stared at the mare, studying her expression. She couldn’t get a read on the mare’s intentions.

Feather Gale kept her sly gaze fixated on her. “Ha. Yes…. Your mother.” She leaned in her chair and took a sip of her gin as she pulled out a datebook. “She did come in for work today. Worked a couple of clients.” Rainbow Dash frowned at her words. She ignored the filly’s glare and flipped through some pages. “Then she left around one-thirty to see a client in Upper-Cloudsdale.” She hummed as she smiled at Rainbow Dash. “I have to say she’s moving up the social ladder.”

“I didn’t know there were promotions for fucking?” Rainbow Dash spat.

Feather Gale frowned as she closed the datebook. “Darling, please,” She stood up and walked up to the filly. Her cane made a loud snap with each step she took. “You must understand, at least your mother is using her given….” She placed the end of her cane under Rainbow Dash’s chin. “Talents.” She ran the end of her cane against Rainbow Dash’s chest to her groin.

Rainbow Dash shivered at the feeling and pushed the cane away. “When will she be back?” She said with almost a cry in her voice.

“Dear, dear, dear…. Didn’t you listen to my words?” Feather Gale leaned on her cane as she hovered over Rainbow Dash with a menacing aura. She caressed the filly’s cheeks, then gently ran her fingers along her lips. “I have to say, little one.” She scratched Rainbow Dash behind the ears. Rainbow Dash squirmed under the embrace and tried to jump from the chair. Feather Gale grabbed her neck and held her against the chair. “I know when I see talent filly!” She smelled her mane. “I know that you’re wasting yours. Think of how popular you’d be if you used it? How rich you’d make us?”

Rainbow Dash shivered and began to cry. The mare’s presence was intimidating. Her mind swam with thoughts a filly of her age shouldn't be thinking of. Feather Gale sighed as she let go of her. “Look at you. You have a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Rainbow Dash jumped out of her seat and took a defensive stance. She glared at the mare. Her mind swam with mixed emotions as she slowly backed up towards the door. “Where's my mommy?” Her voice cracked.

Feather Gale sighed. “Dear, I just told you. She’s somewhere in Upper-Cloudsdale.” She stepped closer to the scared filly and placed her hand under her chin. “Why, if you miss your mommy so much, why don’t you turn it into a family business?”

Rainbow Dash growled as she pushed the mare’s hand away. Flipping the mare off, she ran out of her office and out of the brothel.

Feather Gale stared at the door as she leaned against her desk. “One day, you’ll know your place.” She grabbed her drink and finished it off.

Rainbow Dash dragged her hooves as she walked up to the pub. With a tired sigh, she placed her hand on the door. Pushing the door open, she stepped in, “Here’s the cash. Make sure the others know of….” Steel Bit stopped as he saw Rainbow Dash standing under the doorframe. “Hey, squirt.”

Rainbow Dash stared at Steel Bit and four other pegasus stallions who stood at the bar. One of the stallions smiled at her as he took the sack of coins. “We should get going.” He nodded his head at his comrades. “Looks like you got more important things to attend to.” He made his way to the exit. As he passed Rainbow Dash, he gave her a wink as he left.

Rainbow Dash raised her brow as she watched the stallions fade from view. “Who were they?”

Steel Bit sighed as he walked up to her. “Just some friends of mine.” He patted her on the head as they walked up to the bar.

“What did they want?” She asked as she placed her saddlebag on the bar’s countertop.

“Oh, they needed help with something.” Seeing the gears in her head-turning, he playfully flicked her snout. “I will tell you when it's time.” He gave her a wink. “It’s a secret.” Rainbow Dash didn’t like his answer but dropped her line of questioning as she laid her head in her arms. Steel Bit’s smile faded as he saw her mood sour. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m alright….” She lazily took out his cut of knicks.

He took the coins. “Is it your mother?” She nodded. “She’s prostituting herself again?” Again, she nodded. He bit his lip as he looked at the bottles lining the back wall of his bar. “Did you go there?”

Rainbow Dash shivered as she stared at the strands of fur on her arms. “Um….”

“Dash! How many times did I tell you not to go there!” Steel Bit huffed. “She could’ve kidnapped you!”

Rainbow Dash grumbled. “I was fine….” She fidgeted with her fingers. "And besides, I know she wouldn't kidnap me."

"How so?" He questioned.

"You'd kill her if she did." She stated flatly.

"True, but still," Steel Bit rubbed his brow. “that’s not the point.” Rainbow Dash moaned as she grabbed the last drug pouch from her saddlebag. She unwrapped it and put the bluish mash to her lips. “You shouldn’t be taking that.”

“So, you let me drink!” Rainbow Dash growled.

Steel Bit frowned at her tone. “Really, you criticize your mother for drinking at taking drugs?” He tilted his head. “What makes you different from her?”

“I can handle it!” She held up the hash to his face. “And this is natural!”

Steel Bit stared at her as she took the poison joke. “Why?”

Rainbow Dash raised her brow. “Why what?”

“Why don’t you hate Lilly or I for doing the same thing as your mother?”

Rainbow Dash stared off into space as she pondered his question. Sucking her contaminated saliva, she laid her head on her arms. “You’re nice…. Not mean like her.”

Steel Bit watched the sunset as it fell behind the horizon. The warm orange glow brought calm to his pub. “Why don’t you lay on my bed for a while. You can go home once the drug wears off.” He patted her on the head. “I’ll be getting the pub ready for tonight.”

Rainbow Dash nodded as she walked up the stairs.

He watched her ascend the stairs. Letting out a held breath, he walked to the back of his bar and poured himself and drink. “Oh, Dash…. What am I going to do with you?"

Getting to the top of the stairs, Rainbow Dash walked to the end of the hall and into a large room with a queen-sized bed, two nightstands, and a dresser. Stepping up to the bed, she saw Lilly Drops face down on the opposite side of the bed, snoring the day away.

Groaning, Rainbow Dash flopped on the bed. Crossing her legs, she placed her hands behind her head and stared at the ceiling fan as it spun slowly. She listened to its soft creaking. A perfect melody to be put to sleep. Feeling the drug entering her system, she closed her eyes and drifted off into a drugged-induced slumber.

Its eight o’clock by the time Rainbow Dash stepped onto her home’s porch. She groaned as she rubbed her head to rid it of its headache. She stepped inside and found the light was on in the kitchen. It was quiet as she walked up to the couch. Seeing that the couch was empty, she let out a little huff as she walked up to her mother’s bedroom door.

Putting an ear up to the door, she could hear soft feminine moans and masculine grunts. Her face reddened as anger flooded her mind. She glared at the door. Her eyes trembled as she squeezed her hands into a fist. Holding back the urge to scream, she pulled on her mane as she paced in front of the door. Snorting, she pounded on the door. “Mommy, I’m HOME!”

She heard murmuring and panicked shuffling as hoof steps walked up to the door. The door swung inward, revealing her mother. Her mother’s appearance was a disheveled mess. Her mane was wild. Her eyes were bloodshot with bags under them. Her neck was bruised, and her mannerisms were drunk. The right shoulder strap of her nightgown hung loosely off her shoulder.

Rainbow Dash bit her lip as she glared at her mother, but before she could scold her and the stallion that used her, the appearance of said stallion halted any actions she had planned.

The stallion’s figure was an imposing one. He was taller than Steel Bit, and his shoulders were broad. His pale greyish blue fur made him stand out in the dim light of her mother’s room. His bright yellow eyes stared back at her, piercing her soul. But it was the color of his mane that ultimately caused her to cower under his intense gaze.

The color of his mane was prism…. Like hers.

Rainbow Dash instinctively touched her mane, running her fingers through it. She moved her tail in front of her and stared at the bright variety of colors. She felt her knees go weak as she looked back at the stallion.

What were the odds?

The stallion smiled as he clipped his belt. “Damn Windy, I have to say she’s a smart one.” He looked at his lover with a smirk.

Windy Whistles looked back at the stallion, uncomfortable with the situation her daughter got her into. “Hey, sweetie, why don’t you head to bed? Mommy will be their shorty to….”

“NO!” Rainbow Dash yelled, her voice cracking. “Tell me now!” Tell me!” Tears fell from her eyes. “Is he my? My?”

“Father?” The stallion stated as he walked up to her. He noticed Windy Whistles’ lack of words and only saw her eyes glaring at her daughter with hate. Placing a hand to her lips, he gave Windy a stern glare. She cowered under his touch and looked down at her hooves in shame. He turned his attention to Rainbow Dash and smiled as he stood before her. “Yes, little one, I’m your father.”

Rainbow Dash felt her stomach twist itself into a knot as she stared up at the stallion. “What?” Her head spun as she tried to comprehend his words. “Why? Why?” He laid a finger on her lips. Rainbow Dash shivered under his touch.

He smiled as he ran his hand through her mane. “Damn, there’s no mistaking it. You got my mane.” He scratched her behind the ear. “One of a kind, little filly.” Rainbow Dash tried to fight the wave of conflicting emotions overwhelming her mind. Tears trickled down her face as she looked up at her father. “Got a lot of your mother in you too.” He studied her petite frame with a smile. Patting her on the head, he put on his jacket and walked to the door.

Scared, Rainbow Dash stumbled toward her father. “Where are you going?” Why did you leave?” He didn’t respond as he opened the door. “ANSWER ME!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.

The stallion stopped with the door halfway open. He looked back at her with a dull gaze.

“Why did you leave?” Rainbow Dash sobbed.

Her father gave her a smile. “I’m looking right at her.” Rainbow Dash felt her mind shatter as the world around her blurred. White noise filled her ears as she kept her wide eyes on the stallion. Her father shook his head at her trembling form. “Goodnight, you two. Who knows, we might cross paths again….”

Staring at the closed door, Rainbow Dash felt like she would collapse on the floor. She steadied herself as she placed her hands on her knees. Tears swelled her eyes as she stared at her hooves. Something caused her mind to snap. Letting out a cry, she ran her hands through her mane as she turned around and glared daggers at her mother.

Feeling her daughter's harsh gaze, Windy Whistles returned her daughter’s glare with one of her own. “What?” She spat with venom.

“What? Is that it?” Rainbow Dash moaned. “You said daddy died before I was born!” She stomped her hooves against the floor.

Windy Whistles grunted in frustration. “It was a lot easier to say he died than I don’t know. He left us because of you!” She stormed into the kitchen.

Rainbow Dash choked on her sobs. “That’s not true! Maybe it’s because you’re a drunk!”

“Bullshit!” Her mother spat. “I was going to be somepony! Mary, my way out of the class I was born into!” Tears came to her eyes. “Then you were born….” She hissed. “And he didn’t want kids. Left me to defend for myself!” She glared at her daughter. “With an ungrateful daughter!”

Rainbow Dash felt her stomach twist itself into a knot. “Mommy!” She began to sob uncontrollably. “I am grateful!”

“You’d be grateful if you’ve kept your mouth shut!” Windy Whistles spat. “I was this close to getting him back!”

Tears poured around Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “B-But why didn’t you tell me!”

Windy Whistles glared at her daughter as she went to get a glass of water. “Because it's none of your business.”

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth. “But he’s my dad!”

“I don’t fucking care!” Windy Whistles threw her glass at her daughter. “Just shut up, you brat!” Rainbow Dash dodged the glass bullet and hid behind the couch. Her trembling eyes stared at her mother. Her body told her to flee, but her young mind wanted to show her mother that she was deserving of her love.

What love remained.

Upset that she’d missed, Windy Whistles went up to the medicine cabinet over the sink and took out a needle filled with a strange orange-colored liquid. “It’s time to take your medicine, Dash…. It's way past your bedtime!”

Rainbow Dash recognized the liquid in the syringe. She remembered her mother giving it to her when she was younger. Oh, the terrible nightmares it caused. The painful spasms it inflected upon her small frame. Shaking in fear, she bolted to her bedroom.

Seeing her daughter fleeing to safety, Windy Whistles reached out and grabbed the back of her daughter’s jacket. “Stay still while mommy gives you your night-night medicine!” She held her in a one-arm chokehold.

Rainbow Dash struggled to breathe. Fear washed over her as she tried to break free from her mother’s haunting embrace. Feeling the needle piercing her skin, she panicked as she felt the drug enter her. Scared, she bit her mother’s arm, causing her to loosen her grip. Rainbow Dash threw her head back, hitting her mother’s snout.

Windy Whistles let go of her daughter as she grabbed her broken snout. “You little bitch!”

Rainbow Dash sat on her knees. Her mind throbbed as she stared at the floor. She felt her body’s temperature rise. Her pupils dilated, turning them into endless black orbs. Her wings twitched uncontrollably as she tried to crawl away from her mother. Her limbs felt like soggy noodles as she flopped about.

Blinking, Rainbow Dash’s world turned pitch black. She stared in awe as the items around her had bright white squiggly outlines. Muffled sounds echoed in her ears as she tried to find a spot that was safe from this horrid dream. But she soon found herself floating in the void. The objects of her home floated with her. Rainbow Dash looked at the scene with a goofy smile as she swung her limbs retardedly.

The feeling of nirvana faded, however. The air in Rainbow Dash’s lungs rushed out violently as she fell to the ground. The black void flickered back to reality for a split second. She shivered as she stared at a vast mass of eyes glaring at her. Its maw opened, revealing an endless abyss of razor-sharp teeth.

Screaming, Rainbow Dash tried to escape, but the monster grabbed her neck with its tentacles. Choking out her cries, Rainbow Dash clawed at the monster’s limbs. It screamed out in pain, letting her free. Her panicked stricken mind swam through its thoughts on what to do. Seeing a kitchen knife floating in the void, she lunged for it. The beast seeing her go for the weapon lunged after her.

Grabbing the knife, Rainbow Dash thrust it at the monster, scared that it would eat her. The beast screamed out in pain as the knife stabbed one of its eyes. Again, Rainbow Dash stabbed the monster and kept stabbing it until its screams stopped.

Feeling the monster’s warm white blood coating her body, Rainbow Dash dropped the knife and scooted away from its corpse. Finding a safe spot in the void, she curled into a fetal position and laid down.

Her mind was lost in a drugged-filled nightmare.

Rainbow Dash stared at a picture of her and her mother. She saw her youthful smile. She was five years old when the picture was taken. She stared at her mother’s smile, more like a dull smile, emotionless even. She felt her throat tighten. Could she have not seen it? Did her mother always hate her?

She swallowed hard as she ran her right hand across the cool hardwood floor. She felt a strange sensation on her fingertips. It felt like dried mud was caked on them. Confused, she put her hands to her face and saw a reddish-brown substance staining her pale grayish-cerulean fur.

She felt queasy at the sight of blood and became even more confused.

Rubbing the palms of her hands against her forehead to rid herself of the heavy haze lingering in her mind. She sat up, “Oh….” She braced herself against the wall near the front door. “Mommy?” She moaned as she looked around. “Mommy!” Her voice cracked as she stared at her mother lying face down in a pool of blood.

Shaking, Rainbow Dash crawled on all fours to her mother’s side. Staring into her mother’s lifeless eyes, she felt her stomach twist itself into a knot. Her limbs felt numb as she began to hyperventilate. “Mommy?” Rainbow Dash poked her mother’s shoulder. “Mommy?” Again, she poked her shoulder. “MOMMY?” She grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

Her mother stayed lifeless on the floor. Unmoving and uncaring.

Tears flooded Rainbow Dash’s vision. “MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY!” She sobbed as she shook her helplessly.

A pathetic sob escaped her lips. She sucked in phlegm and coughed as she backed away from her mother and looked down at her hands. She noticed that her dress and jacket were stained. She was stained with blood…. Her mother’s blood…. She felt sick. Her gag reflex overreacted, causing her to vomit.

Coughing from the bile in her mouth, she crawled away from the corpse and headed into her mother’s room. “S-she's not dead….” She moaned. “No…. no…. no…. no….” She dragged a blanket from her mother’s bed and laid it over the corpse.

Rainbow Dash looked down at her mother and stared into those hollowed eyes with crazed eyes. She’s in a fog…. A horrid fog. Sobbing to herself, she went to the fridge and placed the last pastry beside her mother. Shivering, she backed away from the corpse and bolted to the door. Steeping outside, the mixture of cold air washing over her fever-racked body caused her to vomit.

Unable to control her emotions, she ran to the only place she could think of where she felt safe.

Steel Bit laid on his back. His wings twitched in his sleep, and he snored what could only be described as a melody of sorts. If one found snoring to be enjoyable. Lilly Drops slept beside him. Her arms wrapped around his waist as she laid her face on his chest.

Muffled knocking entered Lilly Drops’ mind. “What?” Again, she heard the knocking. She grumbled as she groggily patted Steel bit on the head. “Steel….” Again, she heard more knocking. “Steel, somepony is at the door….” More knocking. She moaned as she looked down at the sleeping stallion. “Steel, wake the hell up!”

“G-ah!" He jumped with fright. “What?” He glared at her.

“Somepony's at the door.” She pointed at their bedroom door.

Steel Bit rubbed his head. “At this time of night?” He got up and made his way downstairs. Hearing more knocking, he cautiously walked up to the side door. “I’m coming….” He grabbed the bat by the door and held it behind him as he opened the door. “Do you know what time it is…. Squirt?” He stared at Rainbow Dash’s appearance in disbelief.

Rainbow Dash kept silent as she stared off into space. Her eyes and body trembled as she mumbled to herself.

Seeing blood covering her, Steel Bit dragged her inside and placed a hand behind her back as he guided her to the stairs. “What the hell happened to you?”

“What’s wrong?” Lilly Drops asked before she laid eyes on Rainbow Dash. “Oh my….” She placed a hand to her lips. “What happened?”

“I don’t know? She’s not saying anything!” Steel Bit huffed. “Can you bathe her, wash off that blood while I go over to Mrs. Silver Wind’s place, and borrow one of her daughter’s nightgowns.” Lilly drops nodded as she took Rainbow Dash upstairs. Steel Bit rubbed the back of his neck as he watched them ascend the stairs. Letting out a held breath, he ran out of his pub.

Rainbow Dash stood in the tub. The warm water fell over her, soaking her fur and warming her skin. Lilly Drops manipulated the showerhead aiming the stream of water onto the parts of the filly’s body that needed attention. Rainbow Dash stared at the red-tinted water running across her body, past her hooves, and down the drain. “I….” She felt her throat tighten. “I…. Killed her….”

Lilly Drops stared at her worryingly. Sitting on the tub's rim, she lifted the filly’s chin and looked into her eyes, studying her hurt expression. “What was that you said?”

Rainbow Dash's eyes trembled as she stared into Lilly’s blue eyes. “I…. I killed my mommy….”

“I’m back. Hopefully, this fits her…. What’s wrong?” Steel Bit looked at Lilly Drops and Rainbow Dash, studying their expressions.

“She said….”

“I KILLED MY MOMMY!” Rainbow Dash sobbed. Tears fell from her eyes. Her body shook violently as she wrapped her arms around her chest. “I killed her!” She cried as she fell on her rump. She tried wrapping her soaked tail around her for protection.

Steel Bit felt slightly uncomfortable as he knelt down beside the tub. Seeing Rainbow Dash’s bloodshot eyes, he put his concerns to the back of his mind as he ran his fingers through her mane. “Shhh…. It's okay. I’m here. Lilly’s here. Everything will be alright” Lilly Drops shut off the water and handed him a towel.

“I…. I saw my daddy! I saw him!” Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms around Steel Bit. “He hates me! That’s why he left!” Steel Bit and Lilly Drops looked at her with stunned eyes as they listened to her slightly incoherent ramblings. “I got angry… Then mommy got angry!” She sobbed. “Then…. Then she gave me medicine…. I hate taking it, but mommy likes it when I take it!” She tightened her grip. “I saw a horrible monster. A scary monster! And I killed it!” She coughed her sobs into his chest.

Steel Bit and Lilly Drops looked down at the sobbing filly with hurt in their hearts. They know of the drug she spoke off. It was a drug made on the cheap, one that gave its users the fix they needed, but at the cost of awful highs.

With a tired sigh, Steel Bit lifted Rainbow Dash out of the tub and quickly dried her off. Throwing on the nightgown, he carried her into their room, laid her on their bed, and fell back to sleep. Rainbow Dash’s sobs slowly faded as she drifted off to sleep in the comforting embrace of her friends.