A Rainbow's Shadow

by slowlearner46

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Nightmare Moon, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie
Length: 6397

And unknown secret comes out and an old threat rises again.

Dash has a secret. A secret that could cause an old enemy to return. A secret that Dash herself is not even aware of. The element of loyalty and their friendship is put to the test as Dash's life changes in one small moment.

...
Does contain a shipped couple.

Published 2012-09-20 15:14:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-27 17:59:30 UTC

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A Rainbow’s Shadow

A single lightning bolt cracked outside, revealing two silhouettes in the abnormally dark room, too quick for anything else to be seen. Thunder soon followed, shaking floor and walls of the massive, hollow tree. Storms like this were rarely seen in Equestria, but this was not a common night. Lightning flashed again,even more fierce than the last, this time showing in full detail of what was going on, if only for a couple seconds.

“I..I’m sorry”

“What are you waiting for?”

Again the thunder rolled over the library, more turbulent and profound than those before it. The storm was getting worse by the minute. It was far past the middle of the night; The storm was not one planned by the weather team, and too dangerous to forcefully remove. Lightning struck again, far closer than any that night, shining an almost blinding light through the window revealing the many drops of water clung to it. The room shone brighter than ever possible during the day for a few more seconds. Thunder hit with the lightning in tandem, like it was finally able to catch up to the song in an orchestra. And the choreographer was a pegasus lifting her hoof over another pony’s head in synch with the earth shaking, tears and anguish in her eyes.

“Just...just do it!”

Lightning hit again and again. She didn’t like the lightning. Not because the danger they hold or the thunder it bring, but because the light it created. The light that makes her have to look at the pony she shared memories with. The one that always helped her through tough times and peril. The one who she has always loved as a friend and in the end as a soul mate. The same friend that she had to kill that stormy night.

o.0.o

2 days earlier

“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled over the foggy ravine. “Don’t listen to them!”
The shadowbolt across the cliff looked at them, eyes glowing, and closing the fog around them to conceal the cyan pegasus from her friend’s view and influence.

“Well?” The dark figure asked in a sinister, yet enticing manner.

Rainbow Dash put her hoof to her chin in thought as the shadowbolt waited for the answer she was looking for. To be able to break up the group that was seeking to destroy with just a simple rouse.

“You-” Dash said, pointing a hoof at what she thought was a pony in front of her, who grinned in satisfaction of her plan coming to fruition.

“I want to join you”

“Then lets get you in costume” The shadowbolts dissipated like dust in front of her, then began to form into one magical wisp. It began to circle her feet, getting faster and faster until it created a small vortex around her. That was when the pain started. She screamed in agony.

“Rainbow!”

It was like her coat was being ripped by timber wolves and the skin below was being burned by fire. The vortex was gaining even more speed. The pain was getting worse, not just physical, but she could also feel her mind being pinned by something that felt heavy inside her. The presence began to rip away her thoughts and worse, her feelings. She could feel her wings shrivel and die, feathers falling off and skin drying up.

She could no longer scream. Her throat was intact and she had the ability, but she no longer had control of her body and mind. The pain continued, and with every second going by she could feel herself change physically and mentally. She watched in horror as her wings began to transform into a featherless, leather apangage that her bones shone through. She tried again to scream, but nothing happened.

‘Rainbow’ A separate voice entered her mind, one she recognized as the pony there were after. Nightmare Moon.

‘Rainbow, It’s time to fulfill your purpose Rainbow Dash. It’s time to wake up. Wake up and kill your friends’

o.0.o

Rainbow Dash woke up with a cold sweat pouring over her. She has been having nightmares every night for the past month and she didn’t know why. They were of all the same thing. It always had to do with the night that her and her friends defeated Nightmare Moon using the Elements of Harmony and her being taken over by the Nightmare that she figured took over Luna. But they were getting worse by the night and have only recently started to wake her from her sleep.

She moved herself from her bed and towards the the bathroom. It was early morning and she would soon have to do her daily job of putting the weather system on track before the sun fully rose past the horizon. She turned on the sink and ran her face under the cold water. She wanted to get the thoughts lingering in her mind out. She knew how it really happened that night and she knew she would never betray her friends like she always seemed to do in her nightmares. Turning off the faucet she looked above the sink where a mirror hang. She had bags under her eyes and her coat was pale as if she was sick. The nightmares have kept her from sleeping when she needed to and she already did little sleeping outside of naps as it was. And despite having an early day job, she was anything but a morning pony

Rainbow dried her face with a towel and headed for the door. She knew that some hard work will get her mind off of it. She had a small drizzle to set up over the town so that crops can grow and wells wouldn’t dry. She may not like the early morning, but she loved her job like nothing else. With a push off her front door, she was in the sky and already forming clouds.

It had only taken the cyan pegasus an hour to get the skies filled with rain clouds ready to do their own job. Another perk to her job: Once she was done for the day she, she had the rest of the day to hang with her friends. Pinkie Pie was always a good choose for a good time. She shifted on the cloud she was sitting on, so that she was facing Sugercube Corner that was barely visible through the cloud layer. With a jump, her wings were at her side and she was off towards her destination.

o.0.o

“Oh come on twilight. Please please pleeeeeease?”

“I said no pinkie Pie,” Twilight Sparkle said, getting a bit aggravated at Pinkie Pie’s way of never letting go when she wants something. “I am not going to use my magic to give your treats an enchantment that makes ponies party...that’s just too dangerous”

“Awwwww,” Pinkie whined, “But-”

“No, no buts” Twilight objected by putting her hoof in the pink pony’s mouth

“Hmmph hmm hmph” Pinkie tried to talk around the purple hoof, but Twilight just looked straight into her eyes with a stern look.

“No.”

“Hmmph hmm”

“Good,” Twilight let her free to speak again. “Now can i get those muffins i ordered Pinkie?

“Okie dokie lokie,” she said as she bounced to the kitchen to finish the baked goods for her friend. “Just give me an eensy teensy bit and I’ll be right out.”

Twilight, glad for the rare moment of silence, took out a book from her saddlebags and took a sit to read. After a couple minutes of surprisingly uninterrupted silence, the bell on the door jingled, catching the attention of Twilight.

“Oh hey Rainbow,” Twilight said, happy to see a friend that was at least sane. “What brings you here?”

“Oh nothing really. Just looking to see if Pinkie is free to hang”

“Oh, well she’s making me some muffins. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to do anything though. Mr and Mrs. Cake are on vacation to Canterlot with the little trouble makers”

“Oh,” Rainbow said with a frown.

“But,” Twilight sang with a happy voice and a smile, “I was actually hoping to bump into you today”

She reached into her saddlebags with her magic and pulled out a book, levitating it in front of Dash’s eyes, that then begin to widen with uncontrollable glee.

“The new Daring Doo?” She beamed, “But how? This isn’t even supposed to be out yet!”

“Being the princess’s personal student can have it’s benefits,” She explained with a slightly smug smile, “Luna is actually a big fan of the series and already finished it, so she gave it me when i asked. I hope you like it.”

“Like it?! I love it. Thank you Twilight,” She gave her a hug under the still floating book, “you are the best egghead, you know that?”

Twilight began to blush, “Just take it, I’m getting tired holding it”

Dash grabbed the book with her hoofs and hugged it to her chest and let a small giggle escape. She would at least have something to do for a while now. Even though Twilight could get on her nerves every now and then, she was still a good friend to have. As she began to open it to get a peek at the new adventure that awaits her, she could sense something about to close in on her. Something dangerous. Something not to trifle with. Something...pink.

“DASHIE!”

A pink blur crashed into Rainbow with a massive surprise hug from behind. Even with sensing the friendly attack, Dash couldn’t keep on her feet from the force of the pink ball that smashed into her. She fell over onto her face and for a second felt nothing. But then a shock of pain ran through her whole body the next. It was then she, and pinkie, realized that she has smacked her eye against the corner of the table. Pinkie Pie got off her friend quickly and put a hoof to her mouth, eyes starting to water a bit. Rainbow sat back on her haunches and put a hoof to her eye.

“Ow”

“Oh my, I am so sorry Dashie, I didn’t mean to-” Pinkie started to plead for forgivness.

“Pinkie it’s-Ow-fine. It was just an accident” Rainbow left her hoof against her eye and tried to give her friend a reassuring smile.

“Rainbow let me have a look at it” Twilight moved in to check to see how bad the injury might be.

“No, it hurts if i try to pull away” She tries again and winces at the lightning bolt of pain.

“Please. we may need to get you to the hospital” Twilight pleaded to her pegasus friend.

At that statement, Pinkie began to look sick. She hadn’t meant to do hurt Dash, and to think that she might have hurt her enough to cause a trip to the hospital. She didn’t like that thought at all. She tried to think of a way to smile again, just for a moment, but drew blanks.

“Ugghh, I really don’t want to end up back there again,” Dash said with a sick look, “But I’ll take your word for it Twi”

“Good” Twilight moved closer to Dash and slowly helped her move her hoove away from the eye. After her hoof was no longer obscuring the eye, a bruise could already be seen forming under it.

“Open your eye, I need to see if you ruptured a vessel”

Dash did as she was told and opened her eye, even though doing so cause pain to ripple through her face. What she didn’t expect was the audible gasps she got from her friends.

“What?! Is it that bad?” Dash panicked, putting her hoof to her eye again. “Am i gonna need an eyepatch?” As cool as she thought that might be, she didn’t want to miss any work because of sight problems.

“No, but...that isn’t normal?” Twilight began to contemplate her next actions and how to tell her friend what’s happening. It’s hard to do when you don’t know the answer to the said question.

“What do you mean? Tell me!” Dash was starting to get a little frustrated at twilight’s hesitance. Pinkie just stared at her quietly. Why were they both staring like that.

“Here”

Twilight levitated over a mirror and kept it in front of Dash’s face. She could now see the bruise that was forming, already threatening to swell her eye shut. She once again put a hoof to the eye and winced at the pain. Realizing she shouldn’t do that anymore, she put her hoof back down. She opened her eye as far as she could to see why her two friends were so stunned.

“What the...hay?”

What she say was not her eye. It couldn’t be. What she saw wasn’t what it should be. Her right eye was no longer the beautiful pink color it should be. In fact, nothing was the same. What she saw was the white of her eye turned to a dim blue. Her Iris was a much darker and menacing blue, unlike the gentle blue of Pinkie’s eyes. But the worst and most confusing thing she noticed was her pupil. It wasn’t round like it should be. It was a sharp oval shape similar to spike’s eyes.

“What...Why is my eye like this?” Rainbow whispered more to herself than the ponies around her.

“I think...I think i know where I’ve seen eyes like that before,” Twilight said with an uncertain and worried voice, causing an Dash to glance her an evenly worried, but curious look.

“Nightmare Moon”

Chapter 2

A Rainbow’s Shadow: Chapter two

“What do you mean Nightmare Moon?!” The stunned pegasus stumbled back from the mirror. Twilight having the decency to turn away the reflective surface with her magic. This was not something that any of the ponies in that room expected that day. Accidents happen, they knew that, but it wasn’t a normal occurrence for one of their physical features to change dramatically like this.

“Your...eye Rainbow. Those colors, y-your pupil. I can never forget where i have seen that before” Twilight said with almost certainty, that worried smile never leaving her face.

“But...but why?”

“I don’t know, but i plan to figure out” Twilight stated, replacing her uneasy look with curiosity. Hoof to her chin, she leaned in closer to get a look. An awkward silence carried on as she leaned in closer. It was enough to make Dash uncomfortable. Just as the cramped pegasus was opening her mouth to object to any further examination, Twilight cut her off.

“You haven’t been playing around in poison joke have you?”

“Umm...no. Not that i can remember,” Rubbing her hoof against the back of her neck in thought, “Besides, wouldn’t there be blue spots or something?”

“Well not exactly. Rarity, applejack, and fluttershy didn’t have any” Twilight explained.

“Oh. Right,” Still speaking in a confused tone, “But i am pretty sure. I wasn’t anywhere near the Everfree Forest recently” Still rubbing the back of her neck, Rainbow Dash just got a prickling thought in the back her mind.

“Pinkie Pie, This isn’t some prank is it?” Rainbow Dash whispered, giving the pink pony a hurt look from across the room. Twilight stopped looking at Rainbow and turned her attention to Pinkie Pie, who was being abnormally quiet this whole time. They both noticed that she was deep in thought and wasn’t even noticing the two staring at her. Her eyes shifted left and right as if she was physically looking for answers in the wooden floor at her hooves. Her mouth moving silently as if trying to figure out an equation in front of her. It wasn’t until Rainbow Dash cleared her voice that she snapped out of her thought process.

Huh?” Pinkie realizing the eyes that were on her, “Oh no no no no. I would never go this far with a prank. That’s when a prankster turns into a meany pants bully” She objected to the claims, waving her hoofs out in front of her. “Besides, I would be laughing if this was a prank, even though it isn’t. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” Going through the motions of the swear named after her.

It was enough to convince the other two that she was innocent in all of this. Twilight shrugged and went back to scrutinizing Rainbow’s eye. But the latter kept looking at Pinkie Pie. She was just happy that her friend wouldn’t hurt her like that. Pinkie can go a bit over the top with her pranks, but Dash didn’t like to think that she might hurt a pony just for some laughs. Dash gave her normally energetic friend a smile, but her own face grew into a more serious glare.

Rainbow Dash was suddenly afraid. Very afraid. She wanted to dart out of that building and run as fast as she can, away from this pony. Sweat began to form from her brow and the more she stared the worse her fear grew. It felt as if time slowed down to a near stop. She tried to move or fidget, but she couldn’t. Why was she feeling these emotions? She didn’t do anything wrong. Yet when she looked into those blue eyes, she felt nothing but fear. ‘She knows! That insignificant little foal knows. I can sense it, but how?!’

Rainbow Dash shook her head violently trying to get that voice out of her head, making Twilight lean back in surprise. When she looked back up at Pinkie Pie she was no longer glaring, but held a caring smile. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe she needed to get more sleep during the night. Yeah, that was it.

“Sorry” She mumbled, apologizing for scaring Twilight like that.

“It’s fine, get dizzy?”

“Yeah, my eye...just hurt”

Twilight just nodded and gave her friend a small smile.

“Well if you don’t mind, I would like to take you to the library and see if we can figure this out”

“Sure” Rainbow nodded and Twilight began to walk towards the door, “You coming with Pinks?” The former asked, turning her neck to look at her.

“Oh I would, but I have to watch the store, and if i don’t watch the store than something might happen and then we wouldn’t make any money. The cakes wouldn’t be happy if i didn’t do my job. And if the cakes aren’t happy, then I’m not happy, and i like being happy. An-”

“Pinkie! A simple ‘No thanks’ would do” Twilight told the rambling pony, losing some of her patients.

“No thanks!” She grinned ear to ear, almost mocking the serious pony.

“Anyway, we’re going to have to cover that eye. Not sure how the ponies walking around town might think of it. Do you have your sunglasses?” Twilight asked hopefully.

“No, I left them at home. I could get there and back real quick, I bet no one will even get a chance to look at me” Rainbow would normally gloat right about now, but after today’s events, she didn’t quite feel herself.

“No, too risky,” Twilight shot down her friends suggestion. “I might be able to cover it with a masking spell”

Twilight’s horn began to glow with the purple aura that signifies her magic, bringing it down meet Rainbow Dash’s corrupted eye. Eyes closed in concentration, Twilight let her magic flow threw her body and reach out towards her goal. The light from her horn intensified for just a moment, before dying. Twilight breathed a bit heavily. It may have been a fairly simple spell, but illusion spells always take their toll on her, especially when it is used on other ponies besides herself.

“Ahh it worked!” She beamed with her success. “Take a look”

Twilight’s horn glowed again, wrapping itself around the mirror that was placed on a nearby table and bringing it in front of the cyan pegasus’s face for her to see the spell at work.

Rainbow Dash took a look at the mirror and once again saw two normal, pink eyes. Albeit one of them was bruised severely and was swollen to the point where she couldn’t fully open her eyes, but it was still better than what it was.

“Now that spell will only last for an hour, so we shouldn’t waste much more time here. Bye Pinkie Pie,” Twilight’s magic reached over to the counter to pick up her box of muffins that pinkie brought out before she accidently caused pummeled Rainbow. Reaching into her saddlebags with her spare magic, Twilight threw some bits on the counter “And thanks again for the muffins.”

Twilight opened the door with her hoof and started for the library, Rainbow Dash close behind. Before walking out she turned her neck back to look at Pinkie Pie, who was back behind the counter and organizing the treats in the display case.

“Hey Pinks”

“Yeah Dashie?” Pinkie responded with smile

“Don’t feel bad about hurting me. I know it was just an accident and I’m tough enough to deal with it,” She gloated with hoof to the chest, before deflating. “I just don’t want you beating yourself about it”

“Okie Dokie Loki” Keeping her grin at full force.

“Haha, I’ll see you later Pinks” Rainbowdash waved before turning around to catch back up with Twilight, taking off into the air and leaving behind a rainbow contrail.

Pinkie waved and smiled until her friend was finally out of view. It was only then that she let her smile turn into a frown and her hoof drop down to the ground. Staring out to where her friend’s contrail was just starting to dissipate, she could feel her body start to shake and tears form in her eyes. Her head drooped down until it meet the glass counter top where she let out a single sob. “P-please...don’t make me hurt you Dashie...please.”

o.0.o

It was thankfully an uneventful trip to the library. Twilight was sure that the spell would fool everypony, but that didn’t stop her from being overly nervous. Rainbow Dash just fluttered besides her for the 5 minute walk it took to get there. Neither had said anything during that time, both occupied with their thoughts concerning the past hour. Rainbow didn’t like the quiet, but she wasn’t in the mood to talk either.

The library was a mess as always, probably the result of Twilight’s studies. Books and scrolls stacked up in corners and beside desks. A trash can, over filled with crumpled parchment, was next to the desk Twilight usually writes her notes on. Rainbow Dash didn’t mind, her house was usually a mess and at times could easily rival the battle ground she saw around her.

“Sorry for the mess, spike’s helping rarity with finding gems,” Twilight said to her chagrin, “even after reminding him what happened last time, so i haven’t really been organized”

“You did this in one morning?” Rainbow Dash gaped, “How is that even possible?”

Twilight just gave a sheepish smile, “I have a lot of studying to do. I’m going to make some tea, want some?”

Dash stuck out her tongue at the thought of drinking that leaf water everyone else seems to find enjoyable. That was all the answer Twilight needed before heading to the kitchen. After a few seconds of boredom, Dash remembered that she had a book to read. Finding the sofa, she laid down and took out Twilight’s gift out of her saddlebag. It was a good way to spend time when she was waiting for something and right now she was waiting for her friend to finish brewing her grass soup so they can figure out what to do next.

It didn’t take much longer for the librarian came back from the kitchen levitating a small china cup to her side. She walked over to her desk and surrounded all the books and papers that covered it, levitating them out of the way. After she had room, a piece of parchment as well as an inkwell and quill floated out from a draw and onto the desk in front of her.

“What are you doing Twi?” Dash said from behind her book, looking around it at Twilight writing on her parchment.

“I’m writing a letter to the princess,” Twilight answered, “I’m hoping she might have some answers. And even though i don’t have spike, i actually learned a spe-”

‘No.’ Rainbow Dash stared ahead into nothing. She could see Twilight’s mouth move, but couldn’t hear the words. She couldn’t hear anything, but the battle growing in her mind. ‘We can’t let this happen. That insolent snob knows too much. She will ruin everything we have worked towards.’ Rainbow tried to shake her head again to loss the stray voice that invaded her mind, but found that she couldn’t even make her body move. She kept trying to move her hoofs, mouth, anything, but all in vain. ‘This pony must stop.’ Rainbow’s body shot up, not under her own volition. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out what was happening to her. One hoof went forward and she started moving towards Twilight. ‘We must stop her.’ She was getting closer. Her resistance seemed to slow whatever was controlling her, but it wasn’t enough to stop herself completely. She was right behind Twilight now. Her front hooves slowly rose above her head. The purple unicorn completely oblivious to what was happening. ‘She must die!’ With a final push, the being inside Rainbow Dash took over. She could feel hatred towards her friends flow through her. Anger towards the ponies who ignored the night. The want to beat this pony in front of her. She felt it push against her mind. She fought it, but it hurt more than any physical wound. It was like her soul was being ripped right out of her body. Time seemed to stop. A small whisper escaped Rainbow Dash’s mouth, but it was not her voice.

“Die”

Chapter 3

A warmth passed over Rainbow Dash not unlike the warmth that could come from Celestia’s sun. It went through her very soul, the same that was currently being corrupted by darkness and a burning cold. The two forces clashed at the epicenter of Dash's being. Though these forces were not physical, they nearly ripping her apart from the inside. The warm, almost kind presence inside her was pushing back against the unforgiven, malevolent existence that was already inside her. She could feel her bones tense even more than before.

"Rainbow, are you even listening?" Twilight turned around, wondering why her friend was being so quiet.

What she found was cyan hooves hovering over her head menacingly and a face etched in pain behind them. Twilight didn’t move from her spot, but instead stared at her friend in worry. Rainbow Dash was almost as still as a statue, except her body slightly trembling all over.

“W-what are you doing?” The frightened mare let out in a shaky breath, watching unknowingly as her friend fought for control. Rainbow Dash ungracefully dropped to her knees, shaking worse than moments before. Twilight’s worry switched fully to the shaking pegasus rather than her own safety. She tried to help her up using magic, but that caused a scream of anguish from Dash.

The pain was reaching unbearable levels as the two forces fought inside her. She could hear distant screams in her soul, but couldn’t recognize any of the words through the pain. Rainbow Dash fell to her side and into a fetal position as the pain got worse. Twilight stared in shock, not knowing what was happening or what to do.

Face scrunched in pain, Dash let out a barely audible plea.

“Help.”

Twilight snapped out of her own shock and ran back to her study desk. Writing with more urgency than she ever has, she finished her letter to celestia and sent it away with a flash of purple magic.

She was about to gallop out the door to get her other friends, but feared that leaving Rainbow alone may not be a good idea. Said pony was curled up into a tighter ball and was shaking fiercely.

Twilight reached into her reserves of magic, lighting her horn. A second layer of magic formed, brighter than the last. With a loud pop, Twilight found herself where she expected to; inside the Sweet Apple Acres barn.

Looking behind her, Rainbow Dash was still curled in a tight ball. Thankful that her teleportation went without incident, she began to scan the fields for her apple bucking friend. On the horizon the Apple orchard took covered all points of view. Twilight scanned the bottom of the trees in the distant. There, she saw one of the trees shake, dropping their fruit in the distance. Her magic welled up again and with another subtle pop, she disappeared.

o.0.o

It was just a normal day for the apple farmer. She woke up before dawn, feed the livestock, and started the daily chores. She was always up an hour or so before the others. Granny was too old to do much, Applebloom would whine at being up at that hour, and it was near impossible to get her brother out of bed earlier than he intends to. Sure he was a hard worker, but he liked his sleep almost as much as Applejack loved her apple trees. Everything went as planned that day, except for one small discrepancy.

“Ah wonder where Rainbow’s at? Ah haven’t seen her all day.” Applejack said to herself. She had to do something to entertain herself while she did most of her jobs alone, and having small conversations to no one in particular did just that. It wasn’t exactly talking to herself, more like an active imagination.

Rainbow usually visited the farm once or twice a day. It wasn’t like her to not come, or at least not without letting Applejack know before hand. Looking up at the sun, she figured it was around two in the afternoon and that she should be done with her chores by around 5. Even though she loved doing her job, she also loved to spend time with her friends and sometimes she finds herself rushing to do so.

Applejack loved Rainbow Dash’s visits. They broke up the monotony of the day. Dash would hover on a cloud and they would talk for an hour or so. It was something to look forward to when she woke up. Sure she got visits from the others every now and then, but it was never just to talk. There was always favors to be asked or adventures to go on.

Applejack sighed inwardly and bucked the tree behind her, dropping the red fruit into the baskets besides it. What she didn’t expect was the purple unicorn that dropped right on top of her, leaving her on her back.

“What in tarnation ar-”

“No time to explain, I need your help.” With a flash, they disappeared.

o.0.o

Rainbow Dash was beaten up and scratched. Small twigs were sticking out of her mane and tail, which were in complete disarray. Her wing’s feathers were anything but groomed and some were sticking out crooked. Breathing heavily, she got up on her hooves to look at the pony across from her.
“I WON!” Dash shouted, letting her dirty wings straighten with her body. The earth pony across from her was equally scratched and messy.
“No...Ah won!” Applejack corrected her, narrowing her eyes.

“I won!” Rainbow narrowed her eyes to mirror Applejack.

“You tied!”

“Tied?!” Both of them gasped, looking up at the little green dragon in the hot air balloon. “For first?” Applejack asked hopefully .

“For last.” The pink earth pony exclaimed with a smile on her muzzle.

“Last?”

“Then who won?”

As if on cue, Twilight came out of the crowd that was now surrounding the couple, a medal flush with her chest and a forty two on her flank. Taking a pose, she looked smugly at the two.

“You?” Both of them gaped at the bookworm, who then explained how she only got 5th place and even though she was slow, she saved enough energy to outrun most of the ponies in front of her.

“I can’t believe it, Twilight...beat us!” Rainbow Dash said in shock, eyes wide looking at her friend.

“Well with all your horsing around, it was quite easy.” Twilight pointed out. There was a small pause where no pony spoke, but it wasn’t long enough to be considered awkward. It was Applejack that broke the silence.

“You're right, Twilight. Our behavior was just terrible.” Applejack drawing circles in the ground with her hoof in silent shame.

“We weren’t very good sports.”

“Sounds to me that an important lesson was learned.” From past the group of ponies around them, the princess towered over them. Shock set in for the surrounding ponies at the impromptu visit from their goddess and ruler. Celestia walked with her head high, looking over her subjects. With all the formalities and surprise dealt with, Celestia and her student talked about friendship and what the group has learned that day. Celestia took a look and Applejack and Rainbow Dash with a small smile.

“Now, unfortunately, because the two of you were busy tricking each other instead of shaking down leaves, many of the lovely trees of Equestria are still covered.”

“Why, Princess, I bet we can knock those leaves down for you lickety-split. Whaddya say, friend? Wanna go for another run?” Applejack nudged Dash with her shoulder.

“I’d love to stretch my legs.” Rainbow smiled back, bending her leg and flapping her wings before taking off in a rainbow blur. Applejack reared up and shot off the line to gallop after her friend. They ran side by side through the forest, bringing their heads together with open smiles adorning their faces and leaves falling from the trees they left behind.

o.0.o

The sun was low in the sky, creating a beautiful, orange glow that reflected off the apples adorning the trees around them. Rainbow Dash loved it. The apples reminded her of a certain pony.

Sweet Apple Acres stretched across rolling hills as far as the eye could see. Some hills could give a view of the whole orchard and even the top of the town hall in the distance. Applejack was leaning against one of the farms first trees. It was an old macintosh tree that stood upon the highest hill the orchard had to offer. The view was magnificent, from there she could see almost all of Ponyville glow from the setting sun. Despite the beauty, that wasn't what was on her mind. The only thing she cared about was the Pegasus whose head laid on her lap.

The two have always been close to each other, but love has overtook them these past few weeks. There were no awkward moments between them through their realization. Both of them kind of expected it in a way. Neither have said anything for the better part of the hour, letting the warmth of the other’s body to speak for itself. Dash let the soft breathing of Applejack to lift and lower her head as she rested it on her lover’s stomach.

It was Rainbow who finally broke the silence between them.

“I’m sorry for being a jerk today.”

“Hush now, I was just as bad.” Applejack said sincerely, petting Dash’s mane.

“No,” whispering sternly, “I was also the first to cheat in the race. So let me be sorry”

“Rainbow, ah don’t care about any of that. It was a silly competition. Just leave it at that." She brought Rainbow closer to her in an affectionate way to keep her quiet. It didn't work.

"It’s not alright though Applejack. You're my friend and I don't want to do anything to lose you. I don't know what I would do if that happened." The last sentence almost bringing tears to her eyes.

"You will never lose me Rainbow, and I will never lose you. Ah promise." She brought her marefriend closer to her body, nuzzling her to make a silent promise. She would move the world for her.

o.0.o

Applejack found herself trying to get up after a sudden burst of magic sent her head reeling and body falling to the floor.

“Now what makes you think you can just take me away like that Twi?” Applejack groaned, rubbing her head to try and soothe her new headache.

“Y-you need to help me, it-it’s Rainbow. She’s---there’s something wrong with her.”

The urgency and pain in her voice made her turn to around instantly at hearing the word ‘Rainbow’. Seeing the sight before her, all other thoughts left her mind in an instant, leaving her to take in what she saw.

Rainbow Dash was still in a tight ball on top of a pile of hay, but her shaking has gotten worse in the second Twilight left to get Applejack. It was violent enough to almost be called a seizure as her body convulsed. Ever convulsion cause Rainbow Dash to grunt in pain. Tears were rolling down her face and into the bales of hay.

“What’s happening Twilight?!” Applejack panicked, running to her friend and holding her tight. The mare in her arms was kicking her hard, but she just held tighter, trying to make her stop.

“Make her stop,” tears flowed down her cheeks, “Rainbow, please...stop.”

“I’m going to go get more help. Stay with her, I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Twilight teleported away and left the couple behind.

Applejack didn't even noticed she left, she didn’t even know she said something. All her senses were focused on the mare shaking in her grasp. Wrapping her arms around Dash’s neck, she tried her best to embrace her in a hug, despite the shaking and muttering.

“We’re gonna get you better Rainbow,” Applejack could only choke out her words, “Ahm going to do my best, Ah promised I would never lose you.”

She started to rock her friend, who was still violently shaking, like a mother trying to get her foal to sleep. Tears still rolling down her face she put her head against Dash’s face.

“Ah promised.”