A Dog Named Storm

In the corner of a crowded, noisy room, a young Doberman pup lay curled up on a worn-out blanket, her ears laid flat against her head. She was trembling, not from the cold, but from fear and confusion. Her chocolate-brown eyes searched the room, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar sights and smells. This was not the place she remembered calling home. The floor was hard, the air was filled with the yelps and howls of other animals, the light was too bright and the smell of disinfectant constantly hung in the air.

Her name tag read 'Sunshine', but she knew that was not her name. She was Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in Equestria. But here, in this place, she couldn't even spread her wings without bumping into cold metal bars. When she had wings anyway. Words couldn’t describe how she misses feeling wings on her back. She had learned from the employees of the shelter she was a six-month-old puppy, but she knew better. She was a pegasus. Fully grown, independent, a hero of her town and the Element of Loyalty. She had a life, a home and friends and family who she loved and missed badly. She didn't belong here. Since the day she woke up in this cage she remembered everything. Or at least she thought she did. She could recall her foalhood easily enough. Her old job as weather manager and eventually into a Wonderbolt. Most of all she could remember the five greatest friends she could have ever asked for. So why couldn't she remember how she got here?

The kennel she resided in wasn't in Ponyville, she knew that much. So her friends couldn't know she was trapped and helpless in a kennel with no hope of getting back to her old life.

At first she thought it was all an elaborate prank set up by Discord or possibly Twilight with some kind of illusion spell. When the first day ended Rainbow held onto the belief she was being tricked, hallucinating or locked inside her scrambled brain while she was really in the hospital recovering from a brain injury. Then the day turned into a week and the week turned into a month. Has it been a month? She couldn't know.

Rainbow Dash's stomach rumbled, a reminder that she hadn't eaten in what felt like forever. The food they gave her was strange, like nothing she'd ever tasted. It was dry and crunchy, not at all like the fresh fruits and vegetables she was used to. She knew it was dog food but calling it that only made it harder to eat it when she felt hungry enough to eat past the taste. There was always a full bowl right in front of her which she did her best to ignore. Then there was also the constant feeling of deep depression that was helping keep her ribs visible. When they let her out to "do her business" Rainbow Dash hardly found the will to get up and leave the cage to be under the sun. It was seeing the sky that made it most painful. The one thing she could no longer have was forever out of reach and she didn't want to look at it if she could help it. All she wanted to do was stay curled up in a ball and hope to wake back to her old life.

The ponies who worked here tried to cheer her up by giving her special toys, treats and lots of praise. Nothing was going to make her stubby tail wag. If anything their attempts made her feel worse, because they were treating her like the dog she appeared to be.

She wondered if the girls were looking for her. How much time has passed since she disappeared from Ponyville? The conversations she picked up from employees and potential adopters never mentioned her real name or of any missing pony. It was like she never existed.

One day the only shimmering bit of hope was a dark shadow. The usual two ponies that cared for the animals came in that morning as usual to refill their food and water bowls. When they came to Rainbow Dash the ponies still stopped to look down at her despite having two full bowls. Rainbow paid them no mind as they spoke of her. It was just another day of depressing captivity.

"She's going to die," one of the mares spoke.

The words cut through the cacophony of the shelter like a knife. Rainbow Dash's ears perked up at the whispered conversation between the two employees. She had heard similar comments before, but this one was different. It was said with a sadness that the others lacked, a genuine concern that made her heart clench.

"No, she's just really scared," the other pony replied, her voice gentler. "Look at her eyes. They're full of life. She just needs the right home, someone who can understand her."

"Sunshine has been here for over a month now," the first mare replied. "Nobody wants a depressed dog. We tried everything we could to make her happy. I don't like it anymore than you do but I think we need to start considering..."

Her voice trailed off as the other mare's eyes grew wide. Rainbow Dash could guess what that meant. Heck, she thought, maybe that is the only way I can leave this personal nightmare.

The gentler mare looked down on Rainbow with pity. She bent down to look into the pup's eyes. "Don't worry, Sunshine. I won't let that happen," she whispered. "I'll prove to them that you’re worth something. It’s just a matter of time before someone sees that in you like I do.”

Rainbow could almost appreciate the love and care this mare was showing but she was still talking to her like a dog. Still calling her that damn name! If only she could tell her her real name she would know just how special she truly was.

The next day, the shelter door swung open with a jingle of bells, letting in a burst of cool morning air. Rainbow Dash barely lifted her head from her paws, too tired to muster much interest in the latest round of potential adopters. They would barely glance at her, see her hopeless look and move on to the next kennel. Good riddance, Rainbow would say. But then she heard it. The unmistakable rasp of a young pegasus's voice. It was faint, muffled by the chatter of the ponies around her, but it was enough to make her heart race. Was that Scootaloo?

Rainbow forced herself to stand, her legs shaking as she stepped closer to the bars. There, among the crowd, was the young, orange pegasus filly with a purple mane and a sadness in her eyes that almost matched Rainbow's own. She was a little older than Rainbow recalled her to be but it was definitely her with her Winged Shield Cutie Mark. She was standing next to a taller, older pegasus, who had to be her mom. Now, here they were, searching through the kennels for a new family member.

Scootaloo's mom spoke to the employees while Scootaloo half-heartedly looked around the kennels.

"Scoots, come look at this one," she said, pointing to a hyperactive golden retriever. Scootaloo dragged her hooves, clearly unenthused by the idea.

Rainbow felt a pang of hope. If they were here for a dog, then maybe they could take Rainbow! Then she could find a way to communicate with them and get help from Twilight!

With all the strength she could muster, Rainbow started to bark. It was an awkward, forced sound, nothing like the majestic voice she had as Rainbow Dash but she hoped it would be enough to get Scootaloo's attention. It didn't get Scootaloo's attention but the mare who was talking with her mom gave her a confused look with a touch of hope. Rainbow didn't notice this as her attention was solely focused on getting her little sister to notice her. Scoots, it's me! she screamed in her mind. Scootaloo! Get me out of here!

"Look, she's trying to talk to you," the staff mare said to Scootaloo with a smile.

Scootaloo gave Rainbow a glance and looked around at the other dogs who were mimicking her. Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at the mare. "They all are."

The staff mare chuckled. "No, really. Sunshine here's usually so sad. It's like she's lost her will to live. But today, she's barking like crazy!"

Scootaloo shrugged, still not seeing the point of looking at another sad animal. Even if it did suddenly become a barking machine. She had enough of her own sadness back in Ponyville.

"Look, I know you may not think much of her, but she's so different now that you're here," the mare insisted. "See the way she's looking at you?"

Rainbow was indeed looking at Scootaloo with every ounce of hope she had left. Scoots, it's me! Rainbow Dash! Please, you've got to help me! Her thoughts echoed in her head, even though she knew they couldn't be heard by anyone else. She watched her like a hawk as Scootaloo took a half-hearted step closer, the sadness in her eyes momentarily lifting. Rainbow barked again, willing the filly to understand she needed her.

"Why is she so skinny?" Scootaloo asked, a little sadness in her tone.

The sudden question from Scootaloo made Rainbow's tail wag, despite the sadness that weighed it down. The employees looked at her with surprise, not expecting such a reaction from the usually unresponsive pup. Rainbow recognized the worry in Scootaloo's voice, and she tried to bark back, to reassure her, but all that came out was a pitiful whine.

The staff mare leaned in closer. "Aw, she's just not been eating much. She's really shy and has had a tough time adjusting to the shelter life."

I'll eat! I'll eat! Rainbow dove at her food bowl and began scarfing down the now stale food. Happy now? I'm eating! Still chewing the kibble in her mouth she threw her head back to see if Scootaloo was watching, making bits fly out and hit her face. Oops...

The mares exchanged glances, surprised by Rainbow's sudden change in demeanor. Scootaloo looked on, feeling a tug at her heartstrings. Something was definitely off about this pup. Her mom stepped closer to Rainbow's kennel, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Looks like you've made a friend," she said to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo stepped closer, studying Rainbow with curiosity. Pondering on the decision she was about to make. Rainbow's eyes never left her sister, begging for her to understand. Please... please don't leave me here...

Finally, with a small nod, Scootaloo turned to her mom. "I guess she can come back home with us."

Rainbow couldn't believe it. Was this really happening? She felt a spark of joy that she hadn't felt in what felt like forever. It was like a warm light shone down from the heavens. She wagged her tail so hard her whole body wiggled. The employees looked shocked but delighted. They opened the cage door and let her out. Rainbow didn't bother to hide her excitement anymore. She bolted out and practically tackled Scootaloo to the floor and barked happily. This was it! This was her chance to get back home!