Red clad surprise

A gentle summer breeze blew through the town of Ponyville, kissing each and every face it brushed against while a lone cyan pegasus pony laid on a cloud, fast asleep. She had a rainbow colored mane and tail that were unkempt and messy with a symbol of a rainbow thunderbolt shooting out of a cloud on her flank. She tossed and turned in her unconscious state, images of flames and collapsing walls falling around her as a creature she couldn't recognize smiled at her. Its mouth moved as she was thrown through to a bright and beautiful throne room, as the vortex that she was thrown through looked like a portal to Tartarus.

She watched in confusion as her own hoof reached out for the creature, tears falling down her cheeks. An explosion pushed her back, while the creature was wrapped in flames. She sat up in a cold sweat while breathing heavily, the memory of the flames in her mind while she fought to catch her breath. “W-what was that…?”

“Um, hello?” A voice called from below the pegasus, gaining her attention as she turned and saw a unicorn mare with a lavender coat and a dark indigo mane and tail that had a bright pink stripe with a symbol of a six pointed star surrounded by four smaller stars on her flank.

“Yeah?” The cyan pony asked.

“Are you Rainbow Dash?” The mare asked as a small purple lizard thing with a lime green underbelly and ear fins and emerald green head spikes and eyes sat on her back.

“The one and only!” The pegasus said with a smile, putting a hoof to her chest.

“The same Rainbow Dash that is supposed to be clearing the sky?” The mare asked, looking around at all the clouds in the sky.

Rainbow Dash waved it off, turning her back to the unicorn mare and laying down again. “Oh please, that's nothing. I can clear the sky in ten seconds flat.”

The unicorn frowned and let out a small huff. “This job is for the princess you know.”

“I know.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin, turning her head a little to glance at the mare. “But I'm saving my energy to practice joining the Wonderbolts.”

“The wonderbolts? As in the best flyers in Equestria Wonderbolts?” The unicorn mare asked, looking away and starting to smirk.

“That's them! They're the fastest ponies in Equestria! And I'll join them one day!” Rainbow said with a grin as she turned and looked at the mare.

“They would never let in a pegasus that can't even keep the skies clear for a day.” The unicorn mare said, still smirking while looking away from Rainbow.

“Hey! I already said I could clear the sky in ten seconds flat!” Rainbow yelled, flying into Twilight's face.

“Prove it.” she said, smirking in Rainbow’s face.

Rainbow Dash glared at the mare before flying off at top speed, causing the mare's mane to become a twisted and tangled mess from the sudden rush of winds. Rainbow Dash flew all over the sky and either destroyed or blew away each cloud in exactly ten seconds, leaving the mare and lizard stunned and awed. “Ha! See!”

“Wow.” The little lizard said. “Good thinking Twilight.”

The mare, Twilight, looked around and smirked to herself. “Good work Miss Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash flew back over before she started to laugh at the sigh of Twilight’s mane. “Pfft… your mane…”

Twilight frowned a bit, trying to look up at her head in an attempt to see her hair. “My mane?”

The little lizard looked at her mane as well before he started laughing along with Rainbow. Who was now on the ground as she began to slam her hoof on the ground while small tears formed in her eyes from laughing, while speaking between fits of laughter “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!”

The lizard began to laugh harder alongside Rainbow Dash. “Your mane is all curly!”

Twilight frowned a bit as she looked in a small puddle on the ground, one that had been left behind from a small rainstorm the night before. “Oh…”

“M-maybe I can- ah!” Rainbow Dash started to say before grabbing her head in pain as images once again flash in her eyes.

This went on for a few moments before it stopped, leaving her on the ground as her head throbbed with pain, dulling out her other senses. “-right?” she faintly heard someone ask as the pain began to lessen a little.

Rainbow Dash slowly looked up at Twilight. “Huh?”

Twilight, this time much more clearer now, asked with a small worried frown on her face, “I said, are you alright?”

Rainbow Dash groaned a little as she slowly nodded. “Y-yeah. Sorry. I've been having some weird dreams lately.” she said as she got up.

“Oh.” Twilight said as she lifted her leg nervously. “Well…I still have a list to finish…”

The little lizard frowned a bit at Twilight before looking at Rainbow. “Are you ok to be by yourself?”

She just grins at him and nods. “Y-yeah. I'll be fine but thanks for worrying little dude.”

“Well…good job again on the sky.” Twilight said before she trotted off.

“Good luck!” Rainbow Dash called out while waving goodbye. She then frowns and rubs her head. “What was that…?” She mumbled as she closed her eyes trying to remember the vision.

“Skittles…” A soft muffled voice said in Rainbow’s ear.

Rainbow looked around and frowned. “Why…does that sound familiar?”

“Thanks for everything.” The voice said softly, as Rainbow's eyes filled with tears as the memories of her dreams filled her eyes.

“W-what's going on…” Rainbow mumbled a bit, grabbing her head.

“I can't go.” The voice said as Rainbow muttered to herself.

“But you'll die…”

“I can't abandon my family.” The voice said, as the images of the portal to what appeared to be Tartarus appeared in Rainbow's mind again. She suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs, startling everyone around her as she passed out onto the ground a single thought entering her mind as she began to pass out.

“Who… are you…?” She muttered to herself before passing out. Rainbow's eyes fluttered open slowly, while having to shield herself from the fluorescent lights. A soft beeping sound caught her attention from her right, as she glanced over to see a heart monitor. “W-where am I…?”

“The hospital.” A gentle voice said, getting Rainbow to look to her left. Her eyes widened slowly as the mare from before, Twilight, was standing there with Rainbow's parents and a tall white mare who had a horn and wings. “Hello Miss dash.”

“P-princess Celestia!?” Rainbow asked in surprise, starting to sit up.

“Honey, you need your rest.” Rainbow's father, Bow hoof said with a gentle smile. His dark blue coat covered by a green shirt while his rainbow mane was messy and unkept.

“Dad?” She looked around confused. “What happened?”

“You passed out after screaming, and getting the attention of most of Ponyville.” Celestia said, coming over to her.

“I…did?” She asked as she rubbed her head.

The ponies in the room looked at each other before Rainbow's mom, Windy whistles trotted over. Her coat was a Cyan blue like Rainbow's, but she had an Orange mane with a yellow shirt. The mare hugged her daughter and nuzzled her cheek with a gentle frown. “Oh my poor baby, do you remember anything?”

“Just…these weird flashes and then…pain.” Rainbow said while still rubbing her head.

“Flashes?” Celestia asked with a gentle frown, one shred by her parents while Twilight tilted her head in confusion.

“I thought you said it was a dream.” She said, looking confused.

“I…don’t know what they were.” Rainbow said with a frown. “There was…something, a burning building and some kind of portal.”

Celestia, Bow, and Windy looked at each other with frowns, before Windy looked at her daughter and smiled at her again. “I'm sure it's nothing, try to get some rest ok dear?”

“But what about the summer sun celebration?” Rainbow asked as she tried to sit up again.

Bow frowned slightly, before smiling again. “Alright, but we're going to stay with you until we're sure you're ok.”

Rainbow groaned a bit as a blush started to form. “Alright, but tone down the praising ok?”

Bow and Windy smile as they both nuzzle her. “Honey, you're not feeling well. We won't overdo anything.”

“You always say that.” She grumbled a bit.

The two glanced at each other again before Celestia, Bow, and Windy started walking to the door. “Just rest for now ok? We need to speak with the princess.”

“Twilight, please stay here.” Celestia said with a gentle smile.

“Y-yes princess.” Twilight said and after the three ponies left the room Twilight rushed over to the window to watch the sun setting.

“What's with you?” Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I…” Twilight started before she sighed. “Something bad is gonna happen tonight and nopony believes me.”

“Something bad?” Rainbow asked with a small frown.

“Yes…Nightmare Moon.” Twilight looked back out the window. “On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.” She looked back at Rainbow worried. “That is tonight.”

Rainbow arched an eyebrow. “The bedtime story? That's real?”

“Yes!” Twilight cried and rubbed her face. “But even Princess Celestia didn’t believe me.”

Rainbow hummed a bit as she looked outside. “Remind me about the bedtime story again?”

Twilight sighed before she started telling Rainbow everything. “Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both...sun and moon ...and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.”

“The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.” Twilight finished telling Rainbow everything she had read,so far.

Rainbow tapped her chin. “I remember something about a shapeshifter helping her or something.”

“I think there was a mention of that too.” Twilight said before sighing.

Rainbow crossed her hooves. “Well… what exactly can you do if no one believes you?”

Twilight looked out the window again. “I am going to the library to study, find out everything I can about Nightmare Moon, her shapeshifter, and the elements of harmony.”

“Ok, good luck egghead.” Rainbow said with a sigh.

Twilight’s ears fold back. “I’m not an egghead.”

“Hey there's nothing wrong with it.” Rainbow said with a smile.

Twilight sighed a bit. “Thankfully I finished my list so I just need to get to the library.”

“You may want to be careful, there's a pink earth pony named pinkie pie. She really likes throwing parties for new ponies in town.” Rainbow said with a grin.

“A pink earth pony? I think I saw her…she gasped and ran away from me.” Twilight said with a frown.

“Yeah… expect a party.” Rainbow said with a small chuckle. “She's really nice but can be a bit much.”

Twilight frowned and huffed. “I don’t have time for a party.”

Rainbow chuckled a bit again, before holding her head as more visions flashed in her head. Flashes of a table decorated in clothes with balloons tied to it, and a banner hanging up with writing on it she couldn't understand as she saw the same figure from her previous visions smiling at her.

“-nurse!” Rainbow came back as Twilight was yelling.

“My head…” Rainbow said, rubbing her head again as a nurse rushed in with Rainbow's family and the princess.

“What happened?” They all asked at once.

“I don’t know, she just started convulsing and holding her head.” Twilight said before she frowned and started to pace. “I wonder if…Princess, could Rainbow be a seer? I know it is extremely rare in other types of ponies but it's not unheard of.”

Celestia tapped her chin. “You think she may be seeing the future?”

“I have read that seers get headaches sometimes.” Twilight said before shrugging. “It is probably not the case but it is a possibility.”

Celestia hummed a bit but shook her head a little. “I do not believe she is a seer.”

Twilight sighed as she looked at Rainbow sadly. “Sorry I couldn’t help.” She then looked back at Celestia. “May I go now?”

Celestia nodded a little with a gentle smile. “Yes, enjoy yourself tonight Twilight.”

Rainbow sighed a bit but smiled a little at Twilight. “Thanks for trying by the way.”

Twilight nodded before trotting away. “Now where did Barb go?” She muttered.

Celestia looked at Rainbow with a gentle sad smile. “Rest well tonight alright? I pray for your recovery…”

“Aww, but I wanted to party.” Rainbow said with a frown.

Celestia giggled a little. “Of course you can, just be careful.”

“Sweet, Pinkie always brings the second best cider around.” Rainbow said as she got out of bed before sheepishly asking. “Would you like to join us?”

“Skittles…” A voice said again, as Celestia tapped her chin in thought.

Rainbow looked around confused. “Skittles?” The three older ponies looked confused while Rainbow tapped her chin. “Why does that sound so familiar…”

“I would actually love to join in your festivities.” Celestia said suddenly with a smile.

Rainbow looked at her and smiled. “I am sure Pinkie will-” A pink mare popped out of Celestia’s flowing mane and gave her a party invitation before disappearing back into her mane. “Do that.”

Celestia checked her mane before blinking in confusion. “That… how… ok.”

“That was Pinkie, best not to think about it.” Rainbow said with a nervous chuckle.

Celestia nodded a little. “I-i see, shall we get going?”

“Yes, we should, your majesty.” Bow Hoof said with a smile.

Bow and Windy both wrapped wings around their daughter, smiling softly at her. “Are you sure you'll be ok honey?” Windy asked her daughter softly.

“Yes I am fine, jaunt some weird…dream, flash, things.” Rainbow said as they started to walk.

She nodded softly while stealing a glance at the princess and her husband, who each had frowns on their faces. “If you say so honey.”

Rainbow looked ahead as she smiled. “I can’t wait for the party.”

Windy smiled a little. “Then let's get going, where is it?”

“Probably wherever Twilight is living.” Rainbow said with a chuckle. “Pinkie always throws parties for new ponies that come to town.”

“Well I am afraid she doesn’t live in town, but she is staying at the library.” Celestia said with a small smile.

“Oh. Then it'll probably be-” Rainbow said, stumbling a little as her eyes widened, more images flashing in her eyes. “There…”

“Rainbow?” Her mother said, gently shaking Rainbow.

Rainbow's eyes remained wide open, muttering to herself. “What are you?”

Celestia frowned as she lowered her horn down to Rainbow's forehead to cast a spell. Her horn glowed its golden hue as tears filled Rainbow's eyes, while she continued to mumble to herself. “Please… you'll die…”

“She is remembering…” Bow Hoof said softly.

“Yes… she is.” Celestia said with a small frown, tapping her chin. “That could only mean one thing… the boy she befriended is close by…”

“But…how is that possible?” Rainbow’s mother asked, shocked.

Celestia’s brow furrowed a little as she glanced up at the aligning stars. “I… do not know, for now we need to make sure Rainbow… does not remember. She believed he perished, so who knows what she'd do realizing he's alive.”

Rainbow blinked slowly. “D…Di…”

Rainbow's parents looked at each other before nuzzling their daughter. “Can you reapply the spell?”

“It'll only be temporary.” Celestia said with a furrowed brow.

“Please.” Rainbow’s mother begged. “I don’t want my baby girl hurting.”

Celestia sighed softly as she looked away a little. “Very well… but I have a bad feeling.” She said, putting her horn into Rainbow's forehead as she erased the memories.

Rainbow’s eyes closed and she stood still for a moment before she opened them. “Uh…what was I saying?”

“You were going to take us to the library for that party.” Bow hoof said with a smile.

“Oh…right.” Rainbow said before shaking her head and led the way.

“Are you sure you'll be ok?” Windy asked with a frown.

“Yeah, I will be fine, mom.” Rainbow said with a sigh.

Windy nodded a little as she looked down. “If you say so honey…”

The group headed for the library and Rainbow grinned when she saw the party was already started.
“Hi dashy!” A pink pony said bouncing over.

“Hey Pinkie, how is the party going?” Rainbow asked with a smile.

“It's going great!” Pinkie said with a smile, before frowning a little. “But are you ok? I heard what happened earlier.”

Rainbow sighed and frowned. “I am fine, mind if I have some cider?”

“Oki doki loki!” Pinkie said with a smile, pulling a bottle of cider out of her mane.

“Thanks.” Rainbow took the bottle. “How is the guest of honor?”

“She's right over here!” Pinkie smiled, bouncing over to a concessions table.

Rainbow smiled and flapped her wings to fly over to Twilight. “Hey, glad to see you are relaxing a bit.”

Twilight sighed a bit as she poured some liquid into a cup of punch. “Maybe, but I wanted to read…”

“I get that but you can at least eat something and talk a bit before you start reading.” Rainbow said, but then she noticed Twilight making a face after she drank from her own cup.

Twilight screamed as flames came out of her mouth, before she rushed away. “Wow, and I thought only I could breathe flames.” The little lizard from before said.

Celestia sighed and shook her head with a small smile. “Oh Twilight.” She looked down and lifted the bottle Twilight poured into her cup and turned the bottle to see the label had a large flame on it. “Hot sauce.”

Pinkie giggled a little. “That's silly, hot sauce shouldn't be drank!” She took the bottle from Celestia”s magic without breaking the magic bubble and poured some onto a cupcake and placed the bottle back. “It's for eating.” She then tossed the cupcake into her mouth.

“Hot sauce on a cupcake?” An orange earth pony mare asked, raised an eyebrow.

“What? It’s good.” Pinkie said with a big smile and Celestia giggled before she picked up a cupcake in her magic.

“I too like spicy food.” Celestia said before adding the hot sauce to her cupcake.

The ponies chuckled a bit, as Rainbow looked out the window, her mind flashing images again of the same creature from before. She rubbed her head and frowned before taking a sip of the cider.

“You alright Rainbow?” The orange mare asked.

“Yeah…” Rainbow said with a frown. “I just…I don’t know how to describe it.”

Celestia, Bow, and Windy glanced at each other while the orange mare tilted her head. “Does it have somethin ta do with what ah heard happened earlier?”

Rainbow frowned as she looked down into her cider. “Yeah…I have been seeing things…I don't know if they are dreams, memories, or something else…I just know it hurts when they flash in my mind.”

The ponies close by looked at each other before looking at Rainbow again. “H-how badly does it hurt…?” A yellow Pegasus with a pink mane asked.

Rainbow looked and smiled. “Hey Fluttershy…it feels like the worst headache but only for a few seconds at a time.”

“Are ya sure yer ok Sugarcube?” The orange mare asked with a frown, tipping her Stetson hat up a little.

“I said I am fine, Applejack…please let’s just enjoy the party.” Rainbow said with annoyance.

“Darling we're just worried about you.” A white unicorn mare with a purple mane said, frowning a little.

“I know Rarity, but I don’t want to worry about it right now…” Rainbow said with a frown.

“Okay Dashy!” Pinkie said with a wide smile.

“You have good friends honey.” Bow hoof said with a smile.

“Yeah. I know I do.” Rainbow said with a small smile.

The mares smiled a little as Celestia looked out the window to the clear night sky, as a row of stars and planets aligned with the moon. ‘I hope my plan works…’ She thought to herself before Pinkie offered her a slice of cake.

Celestia smiled softly as Spike, the little lizard, walked up the stairs. “That Twilight, I do hope the dear will be alright.” Rarity said with a small frown.

“She does need friends.” Celestia said with a sigh.

Rainbow smiled a little as the stars fully aligned, a flash of red lighting up the area as flashes appeared in Rainbow's eyes again. “Gah!”

“Rainbow!” Bow Hoof shouted and caught her.

“What's happening!?” Fluttershy asked in fear, the red flash fading while Rainbow kept holding her head.

Celestia looked around. “You need to-” She was then forcefully teleported away.

“Celestia!?” Twilight yelled from the top of the stairs, her eyes widened in fear.

“What…what happened to her?” Fluttershy asked as she shook in fear.

“Ah don't know, we gotta find her!” Applejack said with a frown as Rainbow tried to stand up.

“I-ill search from… the… air…” She said, still holding her head with one hoof.

“Rainbow wait, maybe you should rest!” Her mother said with a worried frown.

Rainbow shook her head with a frown. “N-no, the princess could be in danger!”

“Right now I only care about your safety!” Her mother said as she hugged Rainbow.

Rainbow groaned a bit with an embarrassed blush. “Mom, the princess needs help. I can rest after!”

“But honey…” She stated before Rainbow forced her way out the front door.

“I'm not going to sit on my flank while the princess needs help!” Rainbow shouted through the door, freezing in place as her friends followed her through the door. A tall figure stood in their way that was nearly as tall as Celestia, with a red coat on and black pants as its silvery white hair gleamed in the moonlight.

Rainbow’s eyes widened as she stared at the being then she yelled in pain as more flashes turned into memories.

“Rainbow!” The four mares yelled, while Twilight stared at the creature.

“Who are you!?” She yelled, as the creature simply blinked at her.

“D-dill..” Rainbow groaned more, before screaming louder.

The creature's head turned slightly to the direction of Rainbow Dash, giving Twilight a good look at its eyes. They were completely red and unmoving aside from the whites of its eyes, a single line of light going from the top to the bottom of them.

“Whatever it is, it is under a spell!” Twilight said before using her magic to put up a dome around her and the other ponies.

“A spell?” The others asked together as the creature lifting it's arm to reveal a red watch-like device on its appendage.

“For the queen… for the night eternal!” The creature said as a hologram appeared covering its face in a red light.

Chapter end.