"I can't believe it..."
Walking into the frame, was an older Rainbow Dash. She came to her spot in the clouds above the city of Cloudsdale. It was a quiet and serene scene, with nopony else there to interrupt her thoughts... about what would happen today across Equestria. This was the day all Equestria magic would be sealed away to stop Opaline Arcana from taking over the world.
"There has to be another way..." Dash whispered, sitting on the edge of the cloud and setting down her saddleback. She fixed her black jacket as fall was getting colder as the seasons changed, before taking off her goggles, setting them to the side. "...Twi, why are you taking the easy way out?"
Dash closed her eyes as she could hear Twilight's voice...
"I'm not taking the easy way out! You have all seen how powerful Opaline Arcana is! Her arcane flames can melt stone in seconds and her spells are almost unblockable, not to mention that she's an Alicorn! She easily took out..." Dash could hear the struggle of her former friend to finish that sentence before she continued, "She took out all of our friends, creatures we saw as family, leaving us with no choice."
"No! Leaving YOU no choice! You're not making this decision for all of Equestria!"
"We can't defeat her, Rainbow! We tried hard to take her down, but she was too strong! All of us... are either ...gone, injured, or in hiding. We lost..."
"We didn't lose if we had more ideas! Come on, Twilight! This isn't like you! You are an egghead! Think of some ex-machina or something to defeat her, not give up on everything you and we have worked for."
"We aren't giving up on it... We're saving the future, Rainbow. We're not losing it... We're letting it rest until then."
"What do you mean by 'we', Twilight? What about everyone who isn't part of this plan?"
"..."
"Twilight." Dash could see in her mind how Twilight was staying silent. "TWI!" Still, nothing, making her upset as she remembered soaring to her, forcing her to look at her. "ANSWER ME! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EXCLUDE EVERYONE WHO ISN'T PART OF YOUR PLAN?! WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR MAGIC! THEY SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW! A RIGHT TO-"
"You don't understand, Dash." Twilight interrupted, turning away. "You just don't understand. I can't do this right now... Not while Opaline Arcana is out there and hurting others. I'm sorry..."
"Don't do this."
"Rainbow... This is for the best. If you can't understand that, then maybe... I don't want you around when this happens."
"T-Twilight..."
"Please stop making this so hard. I'm only doing the right-"
Dash snapped as she heard that. "YOU AREN'T! YOU ARE BEING SO SELFISH, TWILIGHT! YOU'RE JUST MAKING THINGS WORSE!"
"I'm trying to make things better. You need to-"
"BETTER FOR YOU! YOU ARE TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FACE HER! YOU ARE SCARED OF HER AFTER WHAT HAPPENED!"
She could remember how Twilight was looking down at her, sadness in her eyes. "What she did to-"
"SHUT UP!"
Dash couldn't remember how Twilight looked as she faced away from her, being so done with her and her stubbornness. She only remembered her last words to Twilight before flying off from the castle.
"We're not friends anymore, Twi-PRINCESS! I don't need a friend who's gonna give up on everything they fought for! You're dead to me!"
Dash slowly opened her eyes and looked out to the beautiful view of Cloudsdale, knowing she was alone up here as everyone in the city was moved to the surface and they would all lose their magic to walk on clouds. She sighed as she sat there, thinking what she was going to say as she took out a small recording crystal...
The sun was going to set soon. Dash was still sitting there, thinking in her thoughts. She finally found what she wanted to say. She held the small crystal up and set it behind her, floating there.
"I'm ready. Ready to tell the next generation what I want them to know."
She activated it, making it glow showing it was now recording. She raised her hoof, and opened her mouth... but no words came out. She tried again, but nothing.
"Horse apples!"
She turned off the crystal. She was trying to regather her thoughts and started recording again.
"I don't know why I'm doing this. This is silly." she made an awkward smile, but that smile was forced. "It's just..."
Dash stepped aside a bit, showing the clouds and the city below her.
"This place..." She then showed her Wonderbolt logo on her right side, smiling with sadness. "The Wonderbolts..." she looked over the area again, looking away from the crystal. "This was my whole life for years." She sighed with regret. "These days I spend more time at Sweet Apple Acres than here."
Dash lowered her head, to remember spending her time with AJ, who was showing signs of bad arthritis and needed help.
"But this still hurts. Twilight is..." She faced the crystal but looking away, she couldn't bear to look to the future generations, knowing they were going to judge her, and others for not stopping Twilight. "Twilight is sealing all the magic today. Which means I'm gonna..." She paused there. Her eyes shut hard as she moved her wings. She didn't want to say it. "I'm gonna lose my flight and..."
Dash felt like breaking down and sobbing. She was going to lose it all. All of it was to her best friend in all of Equestria, and she felt so betrayed. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She didn't want the ones listening in to her, crying like a baby.
'Come on, Rainbow. They might show this to schools or something. Pony up!'
She started to speak again, but the pain in her voice was still there. "I don't know how I can live with that."
The sun went under the clouds in the background, making the blue sky into a fading reddish orange. The pegasus pony looked over to see the beautiful sight, knowing this was going to be the last time she could see it... see the wonderful blue skies like this... being up here...
Dash tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't no longer. She broke down and looked at the sky, seeing how the clouds were getting more black because of the lack of the sun's rays.
"It's not just magic for me. It's freedom. It's who I am!" Her tone of voice was sad and desperate. "It's my home here in Cloudsdale. It's MY life as a Wonderbolt. What does it mean to be a Pegasus if your wings don't work!?"
She took a second to recover. Soon she looked down at Cloudsdale, seeing the floating city of clouds hovering there.
"We don't know what will happen to Cloudsdale when the magic goes away, but I do know..." finally, Dash showed hope on her face. She was smiling with it. "That someday the magic will be back. So I'm recording this message for the next Pegasi who can..." She opened her wings, letting the wind blow through them. "Can fly! The next Pegasi who find this city." She closed her wings after doing a flap with them. "This museum."
Dash said touching the crystal and pausing the recording. She needed some time before finishing the message. The pain and sadness were getting to her... but maybe she needed that in what she was going to say.
She reached out and pressed the crystal, unpausing it. For the first time, she was looking at the crystal... with the most sad and hopeless look on her face.
"It's your turn now. Bring back the Wonderbolts. You don't have to call them that, but what we..." Her expression showed so much pain. "DID was important. The world needs us." She raised her arms up a bit, letting her hooves gesture around her. "Whoever you are, it's your turn to be..." She tried to smile and be hopeful... but she couldn't...
"Awesome..."
It was nighttime now. Dash was holding the recording crystal in her hooves. She was just sitting there, not wanting to upload this to the New Cloudsdale city's museum that was being made far from here. She wanted to keep it and just hold it, feeling safe with her past. She had a tear or two fall from her cheek.
'Maybe I should delete it. The youngsters will never find this anyway. They will be able to fly. I'm sure they will. This is silly.'
She was about to drop the crystal over the edge of the clouds... until she heard a loud noise. She turned to where Canterlot was. She could see it... the spell that was going to seal everything. She held the crystal and knew she wasn't going to make it to New Cloudsdale in time... maybe if she was in her prime still, but she wasn't.
"Oh no."
Dash quickly looked down, seeing the floating city. She could spot the Wonderbolt's museum. She remembered how she was asked to record some stuff for it, like talking about Pegasi magic and other boring things about it, but also the awesome stuff on Wonderbolts... and herself of course. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered, even though her smile was still forced and sad.
"Will they even find this place? There is no way they are going to have any idea of what this city was."
She thought back on what she just said.
"Was... Yeah."
She opened her wings and flew down there. She needed to upload this to the magical database. She eyed the spell that was gathering above Canterlot, seeing it forming into a magical ball... then it happened. Colorful northern lights filled the sky over Canterlot. It looked so beautiful... until it started to spread far from Canterlot, seeing billions of lights appearing from the earth below and spreading towards the sky.
"Oh no!"
Dash needed to hurry. If the magic that allows recording crystal to be uploaded is drained of its magic, she won't ever be able to upload her message for future generations. She dived faster and landed in front of the Wonderbolt's museum. Luckily, the front door was unlocked.
"Hello? Anypony here?"
It was quiet. Dash looked around and saw how empty it was. Good, she didn't need to waste time in saving somepony before the sealing spell reached here. She darted to the nearest control panel and that was the Hall of Airships. She opened the metal cover and placed the crystal inside. She pressed the play button and backed away as the magical hologram screen lit up.
She smiled, hoping the spell didn't reach the city before she finished.
"I don't know why I'm doing this. This is silly."
Dash watched as her message was fully downloaded to the database. The download bar was at 99%.
'Come on... Hurry!'
A colorful light started to shine through the building. It was the magic sealing spell, coming this way.
"Awesome, okay?"
She looked at the hologram screen and watched as it finished the download. It showed it was saved, and the system was shut down. She didn't have time to grab the crystal as she could see the wall of colorful lights was almost upon her. She had to escape, or she would be stuck in this building for the rest of her life. She zipped out of the room, trying to find a way out as the front doors were blocked by the magic lights.
"Crumb baskets!!"
She returned to flying, searching for a way out, but nothing... until she looked up and saw the glass dome in the ceiling.
"Perfect!"
Dash shot towards the roof, opening her wings wide to get some more speed. The seal was almost upon her. Dash pushed harder and harder. The lights were almost upon her, but luckily, she reached the glass dome and bashed through it, shooting upwards in the air. In slow motion, she looked back and could see the magical rainbow lights. It was truly so beautiful and awe-inspiring, but the fear in her made her go faster.
Finally, the lights hit all of Cloudsdale. Dash was now racing for her life as she needed to reach the ground before the colorful lights could take away her magic of flying. She looked back, seeing it was catching up to her like it was alive. She turned forward and focused, feeling the air against her. She was getting closer and closer, seeing the ground.
'Almost there...'
She didn't look back as she knew the magic was upon her. She looked forward, seeing the grass getting closer and closer... until her eyes widened in surprise and horror. She felt something in her body, her magical aura being pulled out from her, along with the magical aura that allowed her wings to fly.
"NOOO!"
Dash finally turned back and saw it. It was her magic being taken away from her. It almost looked like her. She reached out to it, trying to hold on to it but her hoof just passed through it, like a ghost.
"NO, NO, NO, NO!!!"
Dash started to feel her body falling. Her wings didn't work. She was too high up to survive a fall like this. The world around her was starting to fade into a peaceful state.
"So... this is how I die. Falling without my wings..."
She closed her eyes as tears fell out...
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
"AH!"
Dash screamed as she rose from a bed and a rooster hopped off of her. She was sweating as she looked around. It was morning, and she was in her room at AJ's house.
"It was a dream. Oh, Celestia, it was a dream!"
She felt so happy as she looked at her wings. She flapped them and jumped off the bed... only to fall on her face.
'What?"
She tried again... but it was the same results. She then realized it.
"...it wasn't a dream."
Dash stood up and walked out of her room. The house was empty as Applebloom stopped living here as she moved out and Big Mac living somewhere else with his family as he wanted to start his own Apple farm. AJ was living alone in the house.
She headed for the front door, knowing where AJ would be.
Out in the house's porch, was AJ in her rocking chair. Dash walked over and sat down next to her, taking her hat off, seeing AJ was looking at her, with a small smile.
"I take it you saved me?"
AJ nodded, stopping her rocking. "I was waiting for you in New Cloudsdale like you told me, but it was getting late. I started to get worried so head over to where Cloudsdale was floating, and I saw you falling." AJ tapped her back. "Caught ya in time, Dashie... but oh boy, you are one heavy mare."
Dash laughed softly and put stopped.
"...how are you feeling? You shouldn't be running or doing heavy lifting as your whole body is getting more stiff because of your bad hip and arthritis."
AJ waved her hoof... super slow. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Rainbow. I'll take care of myself."
"Promise?"
AJ rolled her eyes. "Yes. Now come on. What were you doing up there for so-"
"You know why, AJ..."
AJ started to rock again. "Right, sorry. My mind is all foggy sometimes."
Dash patted her back. "It's okay. Let's head back inside. You need to eat, so I'll start making breakfast for us."
AJ watched as Dash got up and headed for the door.
"You need to let it go, Dash."
Dash froze in place as she had her hoof on the door.
"Let what go?"
"Rainbow, please. I'm not an idiot."
"I don't-"
"What Twilight had to do. Sealing all the magic in Equestria. She was up against the wall and had to choose with little to no options left. She's not perfect, but she was doing the right thing. We both know if the situation was different, she would still have done the right thing. She's our friend."
Dash quickly looked at her, the anger on her face showing.
"WAS our friend! She took away what made everyone who they are, AJ! Even you! Your earth pony magic to make apples..." she looked out to the fields, seeing the land was now brown, and the apple trees were dying. "...gone. Your family farm is done. There is no way you can continue."
AJ smiled a bit. "I'm an old mare. My days are numbered. I have accepted it. Plus, if my magic is gone, maybe it is time to hang up my hat and enjoy the final years I have left."
Dash shook her head, crying. "Don't say that! Don't!"
AJ stood up and slowly walked over. "It's okay, Dashie. I'm ready. My farm will be the last in Ponyville, and soon others will follow suit. The town will slowly fade away into the past as everyone will start to move away from Ponyville." She reached her and wrapped her hooves around her. "And I'm ready for that. You are my family now. And I'm not going to lose you. You mean so much to me. I want you to live with me, until the day I pass."
Dash wrapped her hooves around her.
"But-"
"But nothing. Let's just go inside. I'm starving. You can cook a mean breakfast."
AJ pulled away and went inside, leaving Dash outside.
"Come on, Rainbow. Let's have a good morning together."
Dash sat down and looked up at the morning sky, seeing the sun moving for the first time without magic. "But this isn't right! Someone who was a coward, who took the easiest way out in stopping this new enemy... She took it all away, even without the consent of the public until the day she was going to do it, AJ!"
Dash turned to AJ who was standing there in the living room.
"How can you keep seeing her as a friend!? She was our best friend and took everything away, in what made everyone, including yourself and I, unique! How can you not see that!?"
AJ slightly turns to Dash, sadness on her face.
"Why do you not see it, Dash?"
Dash stood there, stunned by the question.
"What?"
AJ sighed, knowing her friend so well. She knew Dash would be the last pony to not see it.
"If I tell you, you won't believe me. I can't show you either."
Dash slowly walked over to her.
"You can show me, AJ. What is it?"
"Rainbow, you need to open your eyes and ears. You aren't thinking things through after your fight with Twilight."
AJ walked away as she was done with their conversation.
"Open my eyes? What the hay does that mean!?"
"Rainbow, it means exactly what I said."
Dash was confused by her words. She felt so... betrayed once more. She thought AJ would be on her side, and support her, but... she was wrong. She was alone... in what she believed.
'She can't be right. Twilight was a coward.'
Dash yelled and kicked the front door, making it snap off its hinges slightly. She walked out to the front yard. She wishes someone, anyone would be on her side.
"I'm right! I know I'm right. So why does nopony see it?"
She looked up at the morning sky. She looked at the sun as it suddenly was covered by dark clouds. "I wish someone would tell me what I'm missing..." She looked down, as the clouds started to twirl and form a portal.
Within the glitching and prism lights portal, someone was tossed out of it and crashed in front of Dash, blasting some dirt into the air.
"Ah!"
Dash landed on her butt, shielding herself. Soon the dirt and dust were slowly fading away, and she could see a large hole there. She stood up and saw something was crawling out. It was a unicorn... no, it was too tall to be a normal unicorn going off by its silhouette in the dust. It looked like a...
"Wait, is that an Alicorn..."
She could see two large wings spreading out and flapping away the remaining dust. Dash covered her eyes, as the dust and dirt were sent toward her making her cough. She could hear AJ coughing as well inside the house. After the little dust storm, Dash lowered her hoof and looked, seeing the Alicorn pony was looking at her, but what confused Dash wasn't why was it here, or the fact the Alicorn was a female, or the fact it looked like slime, even its flowing mane looked like ink than hair... or wearing black glasses... no, the reason Dash was confused was that it looked like...
"...Twilight?"
The black slime Alicorn smiled at Dash.
Not even ten seconds flat, Dash was suddenly tackled hug by the Alicorn. AJ took notice of the loud crashing noise behind the sofa. She looked over and saw Dash being squeezed hard by the Twilight lookalike.
"MOMMY!"
AJ blinked and figured she was going senile and looked away. Dash, however, looked so freaked out and beyond confused.
"M-mommy!?"
End of ch1
Dash was at the stove, making eggs and French toast. Her head was still spinning about the sudden appearance of a slimey-looking Twilight and her calling her mommy. She didn't hear AJ limping into the kitchen.
"Dashie, the table is set."
"Thank you, AJ. This is almost done."
Dash was lost in thought. She was trying to understand what was going on. AJ took notice of this.
"So, she called you 'mother', huh?"
"Yeah, but she's not my kid. I'm pretty sure she's not my kid going off how she looks like-"
"Twilight?" AJ finished, looking at her friend.
Dash froze for a second.
"Y-yeah. I don't understand."
AJ chuckled, taking the plates from the counter, and slowly limping to the kitchen table. "I think you better ask her."
"Oh no. No, no, no. I'm not having a conversation with somepony who looks like Twilight and calling me mom! I can't do that."
"Well, you better. She is asking questions. If it's not answered soon, you'll be dealing with a crying kid."
"How can you tell?"
"Experience."
AJ gave her a smirk, which was rare. Dash just sighed, placing the meal on the table. She held them and was gonna use her wings to fly... but she quickly remembered. "Right..." she did another sigh, but this was filled with sadness. She slowly walked over to the dining room.
'She can't be related to Twilight. There is no way. Maybe she is a descendant of the future, but how would that work? Twilight and Starlight said they destroyed the time-modded scroll. Then there's the whole part with calling me...'
She thought hard, not noticing the slime alicorn was looking at her. Soon, Dash made it and placed the meals on the table.
"Okay, let's eat."
The slime Twilight looked up at her. Her eyes filled with so much emotion that Dash was taken back a bit.
"Thank you, Mommy. I'm hungry! Didn't have time to eat after what was happening."
Dash didn't have time to react when the alicorn suddenly grabbed her and brought her closer.
"M-Mommy, I love you! You're the best mommy ever!"
Dash easily got out of the hug and landed next to AJ who was limping her way to the table holding her plate.
"Whoa, don't do that! Don't grab me! Don't do anything! Just sit there and eat your food."
The slime Alicorn looked at Dash, hurt. She knew why she was acting like this. She wanted to show her affection and love, but... she knew this was confusing for "this" Dash.
"O-okay, Mommy."
Dash groaned loudly as she sat in her chair next to AJ. "That too! Don't call me that!"
"Rainbow, stop. Can't you see she's trying her best?"
Dash looked at AJ then at the alicorn.
'She's trying her best?'
"What do you mean, AJ? What is she trying to do? It's not working!"
AJ shook her head, knowing that her friend would be the last one not to see it. She didn't blame her, and she understood.
"Dash. Look at her and I mean look at her. You're missing the point."
"Missing the point!?"
Dash looked at the slime alicorn in anger, but as soon as she did, her anger disappeared... sitting there, eating her food, was an Alicorn trying to hold in her tears like she was fighting all she had to not cry. Dash felt a sharp pain in her heart as she knew she was the reason the Alicorn was holding back her tears.
"She is trying her best, Dash."
AJ's words echo as she finally understands what she is missing.
"She..."
"Mo-I mean...D-Dash... I'm sorry," said the Alicorn, playing with her eggs. "I know this is confusing and I won't lie. I'm getting my emotions all over the place." Dash could hear the sadness in her voice. "I'm here because, well. It's going to be long tale to tell you."
AJ was slowly eating her eggs. "Don't worry, there is no rush. We're here to listen."
The slime Alicorn smiled. "Thanks, Aunty AJ!" Her slime-dripping tail wags with happiness.
AJ stopped and turned to Dash, who was looking at her too. "Aunty? Hehe, I'm an Aunty."
Dash laughed softly and nervously, knowing this was the weirdest breakfast ever. "Yeah, hehe."
She looked at the happy Alicorn.
'Maybe this is a dream. Maybe I'm dreaming. Or dying in the hole that I crash into. It's gotta be it. That's the only logical explanation for this!'
After the meal, the three were sitting outside on the porch. The slime Alicorn was trying her best to calm herself down... in the most Twilight way possible. She asked for a brown paper bag and was now breathing into it. Dash was watching her, as she was in the middle.
"So... it's time. It's a long story about how I got here, so please, stay with me until the end."
The two nodded.
"Okay, well. I'm not going far back, but I'm letting you know that..." She slowly looked at Dash, her face being so happy. "You and Mom saved me and my twin sister a long time ago with their counterparts from other universes."
Dash stopped her there. "Universe!? C-counterparts!? W-what?"
The slime Alicorn nodded, breathing out slowly and calming her nerves. "Yeah. Let me explain. The whole concept of the multiverse is real. See, your universe is just one of many, each having its version of their Equestria." She quickly went into deep detail like how Twilight did, but the fact she was explaining this while sounding like a professional made Dash stop her before she could get even more into her explanation.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. You are explaining this in the most Twilight way! What the heck!"
The Alicorn smiled, happy and a bit confused. "You know, sometimes I forget how much of a smart cookie my mom was. I'm happy she taught me her way of thinking and learning about things... I always wanted to be like her. So... huh?" she could see Dash super confused and AJ smiling.
"You heard her? If you are mom, and Twilight is as well, then-" AJ couldn't finish as Dash yelled in a panic.
"WHAT!? NO! TWILIGHT AND I!? A THING!? WHAT!? WE ARE NOT IN LOVE!!!"
When the Alicorn heard that, she smiled sadly. "I see you two aren't a thing in this universe, huh? Sorry if I made it awkward for you."
Dash didn't know what to say or how to react. She felt her face turning red.
'Why would she think that Twilight and I were a thing!? Why!?'
The alicorn took another breath and exhaled, trying to calm herself.
"Let's just skip that. Now, the multiverse has many different versions of everyone in it..." She coughs. "Hehe, as you can see..." She coughs again but covers her mouth with her wing. "Which lived out their lives in their own ways. In my universe, my mother ruled over Equestria for 417 years. Tell me, what had happened in this universe with your Twilight?"
Dash crossed her arms, angry. "She sealed away magic in Equestria. Everyone, including us, and herself, lost their unique magic powers in what made them who they were."
The alicorn was stunned.
"What!? She did that!? Why?"
The two quickly explained what was going on with Opaline Arcana and how Twilight had no choice but to seal away magic to stop her. The Alicorn placed her hoof under her chin after hearing all of it.
"I see. So in this universe, Mom wasn't a match against Opaline either, huh?"
Dash asked her a simple question. "How did your Twilight beat Opaline Arcana?"
The Alicorn looked at her with a smile.
"She didn't beat her alone, I was by her side after she saved me from being used as a..." Dash and AJ could see the trauma look on her face. "...a magical bioweapon again. Opaline used her flames to burn me and turn my slime into Black Miasma."
Dash and AJ gasped.
"I remember it. It was the worst time of my life, but luckily, my mother came for me. She was not happy to see her daughter being hurt." She closed her eyes, remembering that event in her life. "A-Anyway, we helped Opaline by talking to her after she was badly hurt after her fight with Mom." She opened her eyes and looked at the two with a smile. "She was Mom's secretary. And doing a great job. Opaline even took in a young unicorn called Mist-"
"STOP!" Dash was breathing fast and heavy. "Opaline is a good pony? Twilight's secretary?"
She didn't know what was going on, but everything was making her sick.
"Yes. Opaline is a good pony, she just needed someone to help her. To-"
"NO! I REFUSE TO HEAR ANYMORE! OPALINE ISN'T GOOD! SHE IS EVIL! TWILIGHT SEALED AWAY MAGIC TO STOP HER!"
The Alicorn could see the anger and fear on Dash's face. She knew she had to calm her down.
"Listen, maybe it can change this universe's outcome if It's not too late, but Opaline just needs someone to listen to her, to learn why she's doing this. She just wants-"
"No! Stop, please."
AJ placed her hoof on Dash, calming her down.
"You can continue."
"Thanks, Aunty AJ."
AJ chuckled at that. "I like that."
"Okay, now where was I? Oh yeah, anyway. Many years later, I was at Zephyr Heights-"
Dash butted in for a second. "Zephyr? Tsk, somepony named a city after him?" She laughed a bit, trying not to have a mental breakdown.
The Alicorn started to sweat and tap her hooves. 'I see this universe, Zephyr is still an annoying pony to Mom...maybe I shouldn't explain how the last universe had him allowing that "Dash" to stay in that city as long she never talks about the Wonderbolts' She continued. "I was at Zephyr Heights as they were holding the Summer Sun Celebration this year. Everything was going well until a weird winter storm came out of nowhere. It was unlike anything we have seen. It was so weird, as prism and glitching lights were reflected within the storm clouds. I had to protect everyone from it as it started to cause damage and flew at it, hoping to use my magic to move it but..."
AJ was rocking in her chair. "You got stuck in and here you are, right?"
The Alicorn shook her head. "No, not yet. I was teleported to a different universe like my own, but Sunny and her friends were much different. That universe's Sunny. She didn't have her cute quirk. The quirk of when she got nervous and started saying nothing but random fruits' names. It seems that Universe's Zipp seemed to be stepping in as Queen as her mother was taking a vacation with her coltfriend. When the same storm appeared in their universe."
Dash and AJ watched the Alicorn walk to the yard, looking up at the cloud-filled sky.
"It seems in that universe, was like yours in its timeline. Mom couldn't beat Opaline, so she sealed away the magic. In the distant future, Sunny returns the magic to the world. So what was causing the storm was-"
"What did you say!?"
The Alicorn turned, seeing Dash look like she had heard the best and worst news in her life.
"Did you say that magic returned in that universe!? But how far in the distant future!? What about Opaline!?"
The Alicorn walked over, standing before her.
"Yes, magic returned to the world thanks to that universe's Sunny. It only took..." She wondered if she should answer that question as she saw how hopeful Dash was. "...about 400 years." And like that, Dash's hope shattered.
"Oh..."
The Alicorn backed away and started to explain as she walked back and forth. "...and Opaline was dealt with as she was sealed away in some tree. I didn't get the full details about that, but yeah. So, the same storm appeared in that universe and sent me there. I helped them find what was causing it, as it seemed the Cloudsdale weather machine was turned on somehow, causing a powerful build of storms in the atmosphere. Zipp stopped the machine and then saved her friends who were in an airship before it could crash, but I couldn't let it crush her, so I pushed her out of the way and I remember falling through the floor and...well, here I am."
AJ raised her hat. "Huh, it was nice of you to help them."
"Well, it was my duty to protect them, Aunty. They're Sunny's friends after all, even if it's not my Sunny, I will do anything for her and her friends as a-"
She stopped as Dash walked up to her and sat down.
"Wait, you tell me that Cloudsdale's weather machine has somehow been turned on? It will create an awful powerful winter storm in the future, putting ponies and creatures in danger?" She stood, ready to take action. "We need to do something about it now!"
The Alicorn watched as Dash ran past her and jumped into the air... only to fall hard, landing on her face. She got up, confused, but then realized. "Right, no wings..."
She was getting ready to run off, but AJ stopped her.
"Wait, Dashie. What can anyone do now? There is no magic, so nopony or creature can get up there. Not even dragons as they lost their wings too."
Dash turned to them, feeling like a failure but not wanting to give up. "So what? Are we going to let a future problem happen!? No, I will go up there, turn off the machine, and save the day! You watch!"
AJ sighed, shaking her head. "And how will you get there? By jumping really hard?"
Dash froze, as she didn't think that far ahead. She sat down, feeling defeated.
"It seems the machine isn't causing the storm yet." The Alicorn said, sitting next to her. "Plus, in this universe, the weather machine won't get turned on, and the storm won't happen at all, maybe? As I said, the multiverse has different outcomes of events. For example, my twin sister, Blitz, lives in a universe where Equestria isn't a thing but is called 'Earth'. From what she told me, there are ponies, but they aren't, well, 'smart'. The main race of that universe are bipedal creatures called Humans like Twilah and Dashiell. So, don't worry too much on this Mo-"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT! YOU'RE NOT MY KID, SO STOP THAT!"
The Alicorn was stunned and hurt.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, but..." she lowered herself to Dash, who looked away. "I am your kid. I'm proof of that. My DNA has yours and mom's DNA. From my true universe, both of your DNAs were made to create a clone, my big sister, Spark. She made us feed off of her, eating her magical energies to stay alive, in doing so, we took in your DNA and Mom's as well. I might look like Twilight, and carry the best parts of her, but I also carry yours, Mommy. I never back down or abandon anyone. That's what you taught me. Loyalty."
Dash wanted to argue back, but... she didn't. Her heart was racing. She tried to deny it. Deny everything.
'This isn't real, this can't be real. This is a dream, I must be dreaming! Or I'm dying! That's it! I'm dying!'
AJ watched her friend was slowly freaking out, trying to wrap her head around it all. The Alicorn saw this, she tried to touch Dash, but her hoof was smacked away.
"Well, I'm not your Dash! I'm not! I would never love Twilight in that way! You are nothing like me, so stop calling me that and acting like my kid!"
The Alicorn held her hoof, not feeling any pain, but she could feel the hurt.
"Y-you are right, Dash. You aren't my mother... I... never mind. Sorry."
She turned away and began to walk off.
"W-wait! Where are you going?" AJ asked, calling out to her.
"For a walk. Please don't follow me. I'll be back soon."
With that, the Alicorn disappeared behind the house. Dash sat there, shaking.
"Dashie, you didn't have to do that."
"I...I...this is all a dream, right? That's it, I'm dying!"
"I can't believe you just did that, and you know it isn't a dream or whatever."
Dash turned and grabbed AJ, her face looking so scared. "It has to be! It just has to be a dream! Please, it can't be real!"
AJ couldn't push her off, so she held her. "What is wrong with you? You are acting really weird right now, and no. This is not a dream, Dash. I wish it were, but it's not. So snap out of it!"
Dash finally snapped out of it, realizing how scared she was making AJ. "Sorry...I learn-"
"That you have a kid from another universe with Twilight AND looks a lot like her. I understand, but that doesn't give you the right to treat her like that."
Dash nodded, knowing her friend was right. She looked behind the house. "I better go find her," she said.
"Yeah, you do that."
Dash took off running, hoping to find the Alicorn... only to stop to see what looked like a twister come through here in the backyard. Trees were knocked over, a small part of the house was destroyed, and the chicken coop was no more as the Alicorn was stuck in it.
"What the..."
Dash hurried over and helped Alicorn, but the slime mare wasn't happy.
"Stupid! I hate myself! Stupid!"
Dash stood there, confused. "Are you okay? What happen back here? You were only gone from our sights for like a few seconds."
The Alicorn looked at her, blushing as she fixed her glasses.
"...well, see. I have a bad case of...um... being a klutz." she smiled with worry.
"A Klutz?"
"Yeah, a klutz. My body is made of slime, so when I'm not paying attention, well...hehe, stuff like this happens. I was in deep thought, but didn't pay attention and end up here."
"Where were you going?"
The Alicorn looked to the north, where Canterlot could be seen. "To see mom, of course. It seems my magic is still drained after jumping into this universe."
Dash felt like she wanted to throw up.
"Why? It's not like she will recognize you or anything."
"You're right, and it will hurt me if I do. She will want answers. She will demand answers." The Alicorn looked at her front legs, seeing how they were covered in feathers. She started to pick them off, and once again, her tears were coming back. "But... I want to see her, badly. She isn't my Mom, but... I want her to know me. I want her to hold me again..."
Dash wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the words. The Alicorn looked at her, smiling with the tears, but those tears looked like rainbows as they dripped down her face. Dash started understanding AJ's meaning by 'she's trying her best'. She pretty much guesses that Alicorn's universe Rainbow Dash is long gone, unless she was so awesome to stay alive for that long... but Twilight...
"She's gone, isn't she?"
The Alicorn shut her eyes, not wanting to answer. But that was all Dash needed to hear. She felt a pain in her heart, not understanding why.
"How? Did the storm..."
The Alicorn shook her head. "No, she gave up her Alicorn hood. She didn't want Sunny to carry the same guilt of outliving her friends. She wanted to spare Sunny from that, so she placed her Alicorn magic into the Unity Crystals, allowing Sunny to become an Alicorn but not fully. But in doing so, she quickly aged and... and..."
Dash quickly held her, hugging her. "Hey, hey, hey, it's okay. I'm sorry. It's okay." She hated herself so much right now. This poor kid lost both her parents and from the looks of it, she lost Twilight not that long ago.
"I miss her. I miss her so much."
"I know, I know."
The Alicorn held Dash tighter. "I also miss you, Mommy." She could feel Dash tensing up. "I know you aren't her, but I miss this. I miss you hugging me, trying to tell me everything is okay in your own way from how Mom does it. The day you passed away, We couldn't be there in your final moments. That made Mom slowly go into the deep end over those 400 years." She started to shake, remembering, the chaos her Mom created to get her friends and... "To get you back. She wanted to see you and her friends again. But it didn't work. She believed Sunny's friends were you and the others. If she can't make them remember, she will make them into you and the others by changing their memories by going through the dreamscape. I was there. I was too weak to stop her and let poor Sunny take the burden of stopping her in the last few seconds." She was crying harder.
Dash knew that the Alicorn was holding her so tightly. It was hurting her, but she didn't care. This kid had been through a lot. She needed to vent all of her frustrations and sadness.
"It's okay, let it all out."
"Mom, why couldn't you just accept you had to move on? I miss you so much. I miss you so much, please... come back."
Dash could only stay there, holding her daughter from another universe. She didn't know what else to say or do, but she knew what needed to be done. She couldn't leave her be, that wasn't how she was. That wasn't how Rainbow Dash was. She would never abandon her or any pony. AJ was watching everything from the corner of the house, not saying a word.
It took a while, but the Alicorn was finally calm and collected. She backed up, wiping her eyes, but her glasses were messy.
"Sorry about that. I must look really messy, huh?"
"You do, but that's okay. Want me to help clean those for you?"
The Alicorn was hesitant, but she removed her glasses and handed them to her. Dash was surprised that the Alicorn didn't have the same eye color as Twilight's, but they were...
"Heh, saying you look like Twi the most, but you have my eyes. I like that."
The Alicorn couldn't help but blush. "Hehe, yeah. As Mom and the others once said I'm the best part of you two,"
Dash chuckled. "Heh, I bet."
She cleaned the glasses with her jacket's sleeve and blew them on.
"So, what's your name? And if you say Aurora Blast, I swear Twi, I will-"
"My name is Braver."
Dash paused for a moment and then smiled.
"That's a nice name. You must be brave and cool if you are my kid. Hah!"
Braver could only laugh a bit.
"Thanks, and yeah, I'm brave, I never back down from helping others, even if they don't want me around."
Dash stopped, remembering what happened. "Yeah, about that, um, sorry, I didn't-"
"It's fine, mo-Dash. I know."
Dash couldn't say a word, and Braver looked at her. She could tell something was bothering this universe, Rainbow Dash.
"Something happened between you and Mom, right?"
Dash looked up at her, wondering how she knew that. Braver could see the reaction and giggled.
"Well, I can tell because you have the same face as my Mommy does when she and Mom get into a fight. It's a big deal, huh?"
Dash could only sigh. "You can say that, but...it's something I don't want to talk about. It's not like talking will fix what happened between us..."
"Stop it. This isn't going to change anything if you keep acting like this."
"What?"
Dash turned to Braver, seeing her looking up to the sky.
"No matter how hard you try to hide it, how much you scream or yell, or how hard you cry that you are okay, You'll need help from others. Ask for help. Someone will listen, someone will care, and someone will always have your back. It's never easy to do, but it will help."
Dash blinked a few times, not believing what she just heard. 'This kid...'
Braver looked back at her, smiling. "You aren't alone in all this. Just ask for help, and you'll see. It may not change everything, but you'll feel better and stronger. Remember that."
Braver got her glasses by taking them out of Dash's hooves putting them on, and smiling more.... but tears started to pour out from her eyes.
"I'll make time for you! No matter what! No matter the day, month, or year! You can always count on me!" Her brave voice started to crack, her tears coming out faster. "You'll always have me in your corner, no matter what happens, because that's what good friends do..."
Dash was stunned, watching this kid break down into a sobbing mess. She could see she was trying her best, she wanted to comfort her, but...
"You told me those words when I needed them the most when you came to save me that day. I kept it close to my heart, it's why I never leave those who need help, that someone needed to be there for. To show them that they aren't alone, that there are ponies and creatures out there who care and will be in their corner. Like you said that day."
Dash watched as Braver started to stand tall, proud, and brave.
"My bravery comes from you. It's my..."
The sun's rays broke through the clouds covering them, hitting down on Braver's slime body and emitting a rainbow light.
"Loyalty."
Dash's shocked expression... slowly became a happy one.
"Yeah, you're my kid alright."
Braver's tail started to wag really hard when she heard that.
"But also Twilight's. I can't deny that, or ignore how alike you are to us..." Dash looked up to the sky, finally letting out. "Like I said before, Twilight sealed away magic, so what made us all awesome and different isn't there anymore. So, I hate her for taking the easy way out. Taking everyone's uniqueness away to beat Opaline because she's too cowardly to think of another solution." She raised her hoof and slammed it into the dirt as she started to cry. "I lost my freedom! I lost what made me, me! What made me a Pegasus! My wings are gone!"
Dash started to sob.
"My life will never be the same. I will never fly again. All because of her, and I hate her so much. So. Darn. Much."
Braver's body began to turn into a rainbow-colored slime as she walked closer to Dash and hugged her again.
"You have every right to hate her, but she did what she thought was best. Mom loves Equestria, her friends, and you. All of it, she had you all be alive than face Opaline. Opaline is a mighty flame Alicorn, I know because of what she did to me in my universe." She moved her hoof on Dash's yellow sweater, moving it a bit. "And to you." She could see a burn scar on Dash's chest. "I bet she did this to the others, right?" Dash quickly covered her scar. "Mom didn't take the easy way out, she took the fastest way to win and protect you and everyone else. Even if she was wrong, I don't think she will ever regret saving you all. Even if everyone says otherwise it means stopping Opaline from hurting the ponies she cares about the most. She will gladly take that hate and criticism. I would too if it means the safety of others."
Dash stood there, stunned by her words.
"But Mo-Dash, you are wrong about something else." she forced Dash to look up into the sky. "You might lose your wings and the means of flight, but that doesn't mean it's true."
Dash slowly looked at her, but Braver kept her looking at the blue skies.
"Even without wings, you can still fly!"
"Fly? What do you mean by that? That's impossible now, I lost the one thing that made me, me!"
"You lost your wings, which made you no longer a Pegasus. But being a Pegasus isn't just about flying or controlling the weather. It's not what defines you, the same way as an Alicorn. Your real self comes from the inside. It's something my Mom said to me when I was really young, and I'm sure your Twilight would agree." Braver joined her looking up at the sky. "Your spirit. Your will. You might have lost your ability to fly, but not your spirit." She looked at Dash and smiled. "If you have that, then you'll never truly lose the ability to fly, and no matter what, you'll always be a Pegasus. Don't you see?"
Dash suddenly remembered what AJ told her, not seeing it.
"You can still fly, but in a different way. You'll see, I'm sure. I can feel it and when you do, you'll move forward. But don't worry too much about the future. One day at a time, one step at a time. I promise things will get better."
Dash wanted to speak but was too stunned.
"I know we only just met, and I'm not your kid, but you can count on me to always be there. I'm going to prove to you, I can be just as awesome and cool as my Mother, Rainbow Dash." Braver had a happy grin on her face. "Because she won't allow this small bump in the road to stop her from being who she is. She won't let losing her ability to fly stop her! She's stronger than that! She's braver than that! And she will always fly, no matter what!"
Dash could only stare at the sky, as she could see how much Braver's words affected her.
'It's not over yet, I can still fly.'
Dash could feel her heart racing, feeling alive for the first time since losing her magic to fly.
"And she will always look cool!"
Dash and Braver looked behind them to see AJ standing there, grinning.
"I heard everything, and the kid is right, Dash. You'll get through this."
Dash was stunned by what she was hearing. "But, AJ. What if it never gets better?"
AJ smiled. "You'll get through this. Just believe in yourself. We'll help you every step of the way. You need to remember something Dash because you forgot it. Friends always have your back. That's what friendship is."
Dash couldn't say anything, as the girls gave her hope and faith.
"Yeah, that's right. That's what it is, Mommy."
Dash couldn't help but laugh a bit.
"Hey, I know you aren't my kid and all, but please, don't call me.... that?"
Dash and AJ could see Braver was slowly fading away. Braver soon took notice of it and started putting her mind to work on what was happening to her.
"I'm not fading out of existence or anything like that. I can see..." Braver smiled, as she could see Zephyr Heights below. "Looks like I'm returning home, to my universe."
Dash was shocked.
"So, this is goodbye?"
"Yeah, looks like it." Braver was happy and sad at the same time.
"Hey, I'm glad you came. This helped me."
Braver blushed a bit. "Yeah, well. I always wanted to thank you for saving me and giving me a home, friends and a family to call my own. Maybe this was some weird fate's way of doing so." She could see Dash and that universe was almost gone in her point of view, so she needed to say one last thing. "Go see her. She needs someone to be at her side as I know Mom. She's hurting herself, and you're the only pony that can reach her. Just remember what I said."
Dash smiled and nodded.
"Don't let the spark go out."
"Huh? Spark?"
Braver nodded. "The spark lives within us all. It's what makes us who we are. It's why you can't let your spirit die. It's what will keep your fire burning and allow you to fly again differently. Don't let the spark go out. My big sister always told me that, and it always helped me. So, it will help you. Goodbye, Rainbow Dash... mo-"
And with that, Braver was gone, and Dash stood there, not saying a word.
'The spark is my spirit? Yeah, that can be it. Thanks, kid. Heh, thanks, daughter. And I will never forget what you said.'
Dash looked at the sky, seeing the clouds moving around.
"The spark is my spirit..."
AJ came up beside her. "So, you finally see it, huh? it's about time, I thought I was gonna have to use a sledgehammer to make you understand it. Heh."
"Heh, sorry, AJ. I guess I was so lost in my self-loathing that I didn't realize something right in front of me."
"Yup, sure did. But it's all good, Dash. I'm here for you, and I will keep reminding you until it stays with you."
Dash smiled, knowing AJ would always be there.
"Thanks, AJ. But I think I need to see Twilight... and apologize for everything. I'm so stupid. I let my anger get the best of me, and it was wrong. She must be hating herself so much."
"Then why are you still standing here? Get going already."
Dash nodded. "Right, right. Thanks."
She was ready to go, but AJ stopped her.
"But Dash, one thing before you go."
"Huh?"
"What will you do? In telling Twi, another universe version of her had a kid with you and showed up here. Are you going to tell her what happened here?"
"I... don't know. I will cross that bridge when I get to it."
"Fair enough."
Dash nodded and then started to run off to see Twilight...
Braver was hovering there above Zephyr Heights, seeing the weird storm was gone. The night sky was clear, and everything was safe. She suddenly could hear a familiar voice calling out to her. She looked and saw Sunny and Zipp as they were flying to her. Sunny, was saying nothing but a random fruit's name in her glowing Alicorn form, even when she hugged her.
'She must have been worried sick.'
Braver giggled and hugged her back, not letting her go.
Soon, Sunny started to calm down and finally spoke normally, asking what happened.
"Yeah, what happened PB?" Zipp asked, lifting her white visor. "We saw a huge flash when you used your magic on that freaky storm, and when it died down, the storm was gone, and you were gone too."
"Well, it's kind of a long story."
Sunny was worried, but Zipp knew the look.
"No! You had some weird adventure again, didn't you? That's why it took you so long to come back! What did you do this time?"
Braver smiled nervously. "Oh, nothing much, just went into a weird storm and came out into another universe and met another universe version of you, Sunny, and the others. After saving, that Zipp, from being crushed, I ended up meeting my dead Mommy, of course, it was another universe version of her who needed help in remembering that losing something isn't what defines you, and you can always fly. You just-"
"Hold up!" Zipp was holding her hooves up. "You met another universe me, Sunny, and the rest of the gang?"
"Well, yeah. I did say-"
Zipp flew closer to Braver, blushing. "Did my other universe self have any luck with her Hitch? Because I'm having a tough time getting him to realize that I love him more than just a friend."
Braver was a bit embarrassed and nervous by this.
"Um, no, sorry about that, but we didn't have much time to talk..." She could see how sad she looked. "Well, if it counts, she was willing to get herself crushed to save him as the airship he was piloting was about to crash."
Zipp's eyes were wide open and then smiled. "Wow, another me is a lot braver than I thought. But that's pretty cool." She sighed as she lowered her visor. "Tsk, but man, I'm jealous. How come she's the only one having luck in love, and I'm not?"
Braver giggled but got more nervous. "I don't think you should be jealous of your other self when she almost died saving Hitch."
Zipp smiled and nodded. "Right, that's her life; she can do whatever she wants. Me? I have mine, and I'll figure out how to tell him I like him. Besides, I know she will have a great love story, and so will I."
With that, Zipp flew back to the city, leaving Sunny and Braver alone. Sunny wanted to ask if her teacher was okay since she said she saw her Mother, Rainbow Dash. But the only thing that came out was...
"PINEAPPLE! WATERMELONS!"
Braver looked down and petted her. She knew Sunny too well.
"I'm okay. Seeing her again finally, put some peace in my mind. So, no worries."
Sunny hugged her tight. "WELCOME BA-ORANGES! DON'T DO THAT AGAIN, TEA-APPLES!!!"
Braver giggled and nodded.
"I'll try not to do that again, but I won't make promises."
Sunny could only pout.
"I'm sorry, but I want to ensure you and others' safety from what is coming."
Sunny tipped her head. "Coming?"
Braver looked up at the night sky. She could sense something wasn't right.
'That storm... it created a tunnel to another universe, but that shouldn't be possible. Only a Prism Window can do that... unless..."
Sunny joined her looking up at the night sky... not seeing cracks forming...
...in the garden of the Canterlot castle, the night sky was out. Twilight, not tall or having a flowing mane, was sitting alone as she was looking out to the city below. She could see ponies leaving the city, while others protesting in what she had done. Her eyes were lifeless... until she heard a familiar voice, making a spark appear within them. She turned around and saw...
"Rainbow?"
