Dead-Pony Rising

by Dunsparce

Rating: mature
Tags: Adventure, Crossover, Dark, Sad
Length: 5132

Zombies. Wat.

In the small town of Trottingville, odd activity has been taking place. Princess Celestia sent her younger sister, Luna, over to investigate. After no word, the Princess starts to become worried, and sends all of the Mane six… except Rainbow Dash, who was on a vacation to Manehatten. After no word from the Mane six or Luna, she turns to the last hero, and the most reliable one, Rainbow Dash to go investigate. Just what is going on in Trottingville? Rainbow takes nothing but a camera to photograph it all. When it all sinks in what everything means, she is paired up with Lyra, a member of the group "The Resistance" that is doing nothing but trying to survive from the evil that has taken place. At first, they are just partners, but as their friendship relationship grows, so does the problem. No time is to be wasted. It's time to survive, fall in love, and have the adventure of a lifetime.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-23 19:02:35 UTC

Shot Down into Undead Territory

Rainbow Dash was looking at the map the Princess had given her while flying across the desert.

“Hmm... according to the map, Trottingville should be riiiight... here!” She said as she looked up. About a couple hundred yards away stood a very empty feeling town. There were specks of ponies to be seen, yet the town felt lifeless. One building stood out among the rest. It was tall, wide, and out of place. Above it were the words “Trottingville Mall”.

“That's one out of place mall. It seems so... dead... here.”

As Rainbow made her way into the town, it felt more and more quiet and dead, however ponies were up and about, but even they looked dead. Rainbow noticed one stallion on the top of a pole and other ponies below trying to reach him. Rainbow twitched.

“Celestia was right, there is something... off... about this place.” She muttered as she rubbed her chin. She looked to her left. “Especially that mall...”

Ponies were pouring into the mall, in a kind of wobbly, dead manor. She grabbed her camera and took a picture of the horde of ponies. Then, something clicked in her mind. She blinked and looked left and right. Rainbow lifted her eyebrow and scratched her head.

“Hey... why aren't any pegasi using their wings? I see them down there...”

She then again glanced over to the mall. It was the peak of her interest. Windows were cracked or broken, ponies swarmed the place, and it seemed to be the hotspot for whatever was going on.

“What the hell is going--”

She was interrupted as a window of the mall shattered and a pony flew out the window, missing half of it's head. It made a bloody splash as it hit the ground, and the broken glass impaled it.

“AH! W... what the shit!? Nobody ran to that pony's rescue! What's going on!?” Rainbow gasped as her heart pounded. She stayed stationary in the air, frozen with fear. She managed to grab the camera and zoomed in for the shot. She took a shot, but soon after she noticed that the body was still moving.

“YIIIIEEE! How.... is that.... pony... ALIVE!?” She shivered as she smacked herself. “No. I gotta remain focused. I need to get in that mall.” She looked up at the roof, and as she squinted, she saw the outline of a figure on the roof. She quickly took the camera and zoomed in and did but a quick snap.

She looked down at the camera and froze. That outline of a pony was holding a gun. Rainbow's heart stopped. She shook her head and started to back away. She blinked and hit herself upside the head.

“No, no, NO! I gotta be brave. For the Princess!” She flew straight toward the pony outline. She could barely see anything. An explosive sound pierced her ears, and not too soon after a “pew” sound went by her right ear. The figure had fired at her. Another explosion sound went off, but this time, searing pain went straight to her wing and Rainbow started to spiral out of control. She couldn't see anything until she was ten feet in front of a wall on the roof of the mall. She squinted her face and slammed into the wall, knocking off a brick. Pain like this had never even crossed her mind before.

Rainbow stumbled as she got up and looked around, but no pony was around. Her attention went to her wing, which was bleeding harshly and it hurt to move it. Rainbow kept it wrapped up, trying to avoid the searing pain that it had in it. She had been shot down, and now she was stranded in this weird mall.

As she limped around, she managed to find a door on the side of one of the small walls. Opening it, she shook as if she were in an earthquake. It was kind of dark as she looked inside. She couldn't see down the stairs too well, and the only light there was to it was the light of the beating sun shining down the passage. She gulped as she took two steps in. There were only stairs leading down to the lower floors. As she was fully out of range of the door, it was slammed shut by something on the outside.

Rainbow panicked and ran back to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked.

“HEY! WHAT THE FUCK GIVES!? LEMME OUT!” She screamed as she banged on the door. She kicked it in frustration and crossed her arms and leaned against the door, only to see she was surrounded by complete darkness. She tried to let her eyes adjust to the darkness for a minute. She could at least see white below her for the steps and feel the rail.

She very slowly edged down the stairs, never had she been so nervous in her life. She constantly felt around her and looked for anything. Every turn of the flight of stairs seemed like she was descending into hell. Until one flight of stairs, where at the bottom, light immersed from a door. She gasped out of joy and dashed for the door. She rushed it open, and the light revealed some hope! It was a pretty new-fashioned, decorated shopping mall. Ponies were everywhere, but rather slow and lifeless. They also all looked very greenish.

Rainbow sighed out of relief and walked out of the door and closed it. There was a pony sitting on the bench that Rainbow spotted. She didn't want to disturb the walking, busy ponies, whatever they were doing. Rainbow casually walked up and poked the mare.

“Hey do you know what's going on around here?” Rainbow asked. The mare didn't respond. Rainbow poked her again. Her head bobbed as if she was sleeping.

“Uhhh... hello? Miss? You there?” Rainbow continued to poke her until she got frustrated and shoved her.

“HEY!” Rainbow said as the mare fell to the bench. Rainbow's eyes shrank as she saw that the mare's face had been completely obliterated. There was blood all over the front of her body, with her face paralyzed with deathly fear. Rainbow quickly took a picture of the mare, as much as it felt wrong.

She quickly turned around to run but bumped into another pony and fell down.

“Oh excuse me, I--”

The pony got up, blood covering it's wrinkled body and blank eyes. The beast roared in Rainbow's face, making her scream. The pony put his hooves out and started to head toward Rainbow. She closed her eyes in fear. Another explosion of a gunshot was heard as blood spilled all over Rainbow. She nearly threw up at the sight. The pony in front of her fell forward, no head attached. Rainbow looked up to see a green colored unicorn with a green and white mane. She was holding a rather big gun.

“Rainbow Dash. It's a wonder seeing you here. You oughta be more careful, girl!” The green unicorn said as she cocked the gun.

“Who are... wait, LYRA!? What are you doing here!?” Rainbow said as she gasped.

Lyra shook her head. “I'll tell ya, but this isn't the place to talk. We need to head back to the base, pronto! Get up and follow me.” Lyra said as she came over. She helped Rainbow up and smiled to assure her she was safe... well, safer at least. Lyra put the gun on her back and started to walk toward a small, open hallway.

“So, Lyra. EXACTLY WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!?” Rainbow screamed.

Lyra put her hoof to Rainbow's mouth with a “shh”. “Weeeeell... Zombies. That's what.”

Rainbow started to twitch. “Z... zombies? Are you shittin' me?”

Lyra sighed. “Wish I was. I mean, it's unlucky for me. Supernatural creatures are what I take interest in. I wish for humans, and what do I get? Zombies. Freaking. Zombies.”

“This is unreal! Celestia will be unnerved to hell if she hears there's been a freaking zombie outbreak! I'm suppose to photograph it all, too!” Rainbow complained.

“So that's why you're here? That's why she sent your budds here too, just no camera. Haven't heard from any of them since they got here.” Lyra said.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Wonderful. Hey, big question. Who shot my damn wing? I wanna shove a chicken down their throat. A chicken with a LOT of salt on it.”

Lyra shrugged negatively. “I don't know. Shot commander Luna down, too. All the pegasi, actually. After commander couldn't give word, Celestia sent the Wonderbolts here. They were all shot down. Found only two of 'em. After still no word, she sent the special forces team, my group, through a helicopter and now we can't get out.”

Rainbow blinked twice. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up. Commander Luna? You're in special forces? WONDERBOLTS ARE HERE!?”

“Yeah, I can't really say I'm a special forces... but in the case of this zombie apocalypse outbreak, I can let it slide. As for Luna, she's the commander of our base. She leads the Zombie Resistance. She makes the rules for us and gives us the missions that we can handle. For the Wonderbolts? Yeah. Two of 'em are in The Resistance. Care to join up with us?” Lyra asked. There was no “no” to this.

Rainbow sighed. “Do I have a choice? I'll go with ya, Lyree.” Rainbow teased.

Lyra smirked. “Okey dokey, Wainbow.”

Their walking came to a halt as the came up on a ventilation shaft. Lyra opened the hatch.

“Well, here ya go. This is the only safe way to get to our base. Any other way, and zombies will come in and infect the survivors.” Lyra nodded toward the hole. “Well, let's go. Follow me and shut the door behind ya.” Lyra ordered as she climbed into the shaft, making soft booming sound affects.

Rainbow Dash hung her head and closed her eyes for a moment. She shook her head as a tear drop ran down her cheek. Why is this happening? She thought. I'll never get out of here... alive anyway.

She looked back up and scuffled into the ventilation shaft. She shut the opening behind her and locked it. It was time for Rainbow Dash's epic zombie adventure to begin. Daring Do would totally take this adventure.

Partnering Up for the Cause

“...Here we are!” Lyra said as she squeezed through an opening in the ventilation shaft. Rainbow wasn't too far behind. When Lyra got out she looked up to see who was staring at her and froze up in attention stance and saluted. “Commander! Survivor found!” She said.

The blue, sparkly alicorn raised her eyebrows as she heard a grunt come from the shaft behind Lyra. Rainbow Dash fell out of the shaft embarrassingly in front of the royal alicorn. Rainbow Dash looked up to see her princess in something like a climbing suit. Rainbow struggled a little, but got up and bowed before her princess.

“Princess Luna!” Rainbow said as she bowed.

“Rainbow Dash, I'm glad to see you're okay after that shoot down. So many pegasi are getting shot down out there. You put yourself in our sticky stituation. Are you willing to help us and yourself out here?” Luna asked.

“Of course, Princess.” Rainbow responded.

“Then I'm no longer your princess. I am your commander...” Luna flinched when she saw how damaged Rainbow's wing was. She grabbed some wrapping bandage from the corner of the room. “Hold still.” She said. She wrapped her wing in the bandage. “You're not goin' anywhere with that wing. Lyra!”

Lyra saluted her once again. “Yes, commander?” she shouted.

“... Rainbow shall stay with you. She's your problem... you found her after all. Take her in as your partner.” Luna ordered.

Lyra nodded. “Yes, ma'am!” She tuned to Rainbow with a blank face. “If you would, Rainbow, follow me to my... rather our... room now.”

Before they could head out the door, Luna stopped them for one final announcement. “Oh, one more thing, Rainbow. You're first mission won't be too long from now. Lyra here is a part of the rescue operation. You two are in charge of rescuing survivors, and I'm counting on you.”

They both saluted as the walked out the door. “Yes, commander!”

Closing the door, Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. “Whew. That was really unexpected.” she said to Lyra, who had a distressed face. “Uhh... Lyree, what's wrong? You look angry...”

“Really, it's nothing too bad, it's just that our room has... one bed... and it'll be kinda awkward.”

Rainbow blushed. “Umm... that's alright. I don't mind. I mean it's better than nothing in a zombie apocalypse.”

Lyra gave her a weird look. “Well... alright. If it doesn't bother you. Here's our room.”

As she opened the door, Rainbow couldn't imagine a worse home. The bed looked hard, the covers were light, the walls were rusty orange. Rainbow sighed.

“Hey, it's better than nothing.” She told her.

“I guess...”

As soon as they were ready to get comfortable, a siren went off and startled them. Lyra looked up, but Rainbow squeaked and hugged Lyra. Lyra raised her eyebrow.

“Heheh... sorry...” Rainbow blushed.

“No time for apologies, a survivor was caught on camera! Come on!”

She dragged Rainbow out of the room and to the control room She slammed open the door, and Luna was looking at the cameras.

“So... where we going this time, commander?” Lyra asked. The sparkly alicorn turned to them with a serious face.

“There's been a catch of two near one of the bathrooms on the first floor of the nearest casino. However, take a look.”

They both leaned into the camera, where there was a struggle between two mares. It was two mares that they both knew very well.

“Hey, that's Bon-Bon!” Lyra shouted.

“And that's Fluttershy!” Rainbow added. “... but why is she beating Bon-Bon up? That's not like her... something's up.”

“And we're gonna find out what! C'mon Rainbow! Let's see what that athletic side of yours looks like!” Lyra said as she ran to a closet and opened it. A dozen and a half types of knives and weapons were in it. “Catch!” She yelled as she tossed Rainbow a large knife. She juggled it for a second, but Rainbow caught it. “Be back, commander! We won't let you down!”

Lyra and Rainbow ran to the ventilation shaft and disappeared into it. Luna huffed and slowly blinked. “Don't screw this all up, you two. It could mean your lives.”

_______________________________________________________________________

They exploded out of the ventilation shaft, running as fast as they could to the restroom. Rainbow Dash didn't necessarily know exactly where to go, so she just followed her new partner. They plowed through hordes of zombies, well Lyra did. Rainbow was still quite scared of even getting near them yet, while Lyra was bucking their heads off.

Lyra's running came to a grinding halt, and Rainbow slammed right into her flank, not watching herself.

“'Ey, Rainbow! Watch it! The last thing I need is a sore ass.” Lyra told her.

“Sorry, didn't watch where I was going.” Rainbow said, rubbing her head.

Rainbow looked up to see an ominous bathroom. Blood trailed into the bathroom, as did broken glass. It was extremely unnerving for Rainbow.

“Anyways, Fluttershy and Bonnie are in this bathroom. Are you ready to face the worst outcome you can think of? I sure hope you are.”

“Umm... Y... Yeah.” Rainbow shook, her knife unstable in her hooves.

“Then let's go.” Lyra said as she slowly stormed in.

Psycho-Shy

The bathroom had a very unsure feel to it as they walked in. They heard muttering and shuffling in the bathroom, as well as crying.

Lyra signaled for Rainbow to get closer. Rainbow remained at her distance.

“Rainbow, come on!” Lyra whispered impatiently.

“I don't have a good feeling about this.” Rainbow whispered back as she very slowly started to scoot over to Lyra.

Lyra shrugged in anger. “News flash! I don't either! Are you just gonna let Fluttershy in there?” Lyra said as she stomped.

“... No.” Rainbow said. “I'm ready!” Rainbow ran in the bathroom and saw Fluttershy muttering. Blood covered her whole body.

“... It's so simple... I see it now... soon, we'll all be a part of the change...” The mare muttered to herself in the corner.

Lyra came in behind Rainbow, who proceeded to walk over to the troubled mare. “Yo... Flutts... you... uhh... ok?”

Fluttershy quickly turned around, her face was covered in red and tears. “R... Rainbow... Dash. Wooooow... you actually made it...”

Rainbow backed up as Fluttershy scooted the glass and limped toward her. “Ummm... yeeeah... I made it... heh... are... are you feeling okay?”

“I'm... peeeerfeeect... Rainbow... the resistance... first, I didn't understand what she was doing...” Fluttershy said.

“Wait, what? What was who doing?” Rainbow asked, still backing up. Fluttershy completely dodged the question.

“First, it was... it was so horrible! The zombies... that... that we've been trying to save... killing ponies... EATING... ponies!” Fluttershy was crying harshly.

“Umm... Lyra... what should we do?” Rainbow whispered to her left.

“Get your weapon ready. It's all I can say.”

Rainbow shook her head. “Fluttershy! The zombies you are trying to... save? How were you trying to do that?” Again, Fluttershy dodged the question.

“But, then! I saw how brilliant the plan was once I figured it out! It's so nice, Rainbow! It's beautiful!” Fluttershy said as she put her bloody hooves on Rainbow.

“...Please... help me...” a tied up Bon-Bon said from a corner.

“FLUTTERSHY! Listen to me! What's the plan you're talking about!?”

Fluttershy cracked her neck when she turned her head left out of confusion. “You don't know...? B-- but... you're a part of her plan! You're supposed to know about it!”

“I don't know anything! Who's “she”?” Rainbow said as she pushed off Fluttershy.  She completely ignored the question once more.

“Whether or not you know of the plan, you're a part of it. I've conceded to the plan, too. I'm a soldier... for the cause, Rainbow...” She said as she backed up. She opened a bathroom stall and a zombie looked up and started to walk out of it, toward Bon-Bon. Bon-Bon shrieked loudly as she started to cry for mercy. Rainbow ran and pushed the monster back into the stall and closed the door.

“Fluttershy! This is not the way to help ANYPONY!” Rainbow yelled to her face. Fluttershy twitched twice and backed up, making the glass pieces clang against each other.

“Oh, I see! You're losing the courage to finish the plan for success!” Fluttershy's face had never seemed any meaner... or bloodshot... or bloodthirsty.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “What!? No! I am simply trying to convince you in a different way!” Fluttershy didn't hear her.

“Well! I have the guts...” Fluttershy looked down and grabbed a piece of broken, bloody glass. “... And... and I'm taking this ALL the way! AHAHAhahaha!”

Lyra shook her head. “Rainbow, there's nothing we can do for her! Insanity has completely consumed her!”

Rainbow had tears running down her cheek. “No... w... why me...”

“I'm sorry, Rainbow. We have to do what needs to be done.” Lyra put a hoof on her shoulder as she grabbed out her knife. “I'm sorry, Fluttershy.”

“You will be!” Fluttershy said as she leaped for Lyra and Rainbow with the piece of glass with a yell. The two mares jumped out of the way and Fluttershy missed. Lyra took a lunge at her and hit her leg. It was now gushing red.

“Agh! You are all wrong! The plan is the way to go! I have the bravery to carry it out! Why can't you see my deed!?” Fluttershy yelled with another leap, but this time, when Lyra moved, Fluttershy leaped into one of the stalls with an maniacal laugh.

“Stupid mare! You've sealed your--” Lyra stopped as she opened the stall to see nothing in it. She closed the door and backed up against the wall. Rainbow dash did the same, just on the other side.

“Fluttershy... we don't want to hurt you, if you would just calm down!” Rainbow yelled as she carefully walked in front of the stalls.

Fluttershy came out of the top of one of the stalls, trying to stab Rainbow from above, but Rainbow quickly dodged out of the way. When Fluttershy missed, Rainbow came up with her knife and slashed her face with sadness and despair. The streaming red came out of her cheek. Fluttershy's eyes almost seemed red as she angrily glared Rainbow down with her red stained face and mane.

Unnoticed, Lyra came up behind Fluttershy as she was staring down Rainbow and bucked her hard in the back across the room next to Bon-Bon, who shrieked once.

Fluttershy looked up with shrunken eyes as she saw she was cornered. She started to weep.

“I... I don't understand! W-Why don't you want them all to be saved!?” She said, shaking.

Rainbow held her knife up to her. “Fluttershy. Settle down. There's no need for this. You and I both know deep down this isn't the solution, whatever you are trying to do.”

Fluttershy twitched and made an angry face. “IT IS RIGHT! Your blind eyes just don't see it! I'll make you feel it!”

She uppercut Rainbow's arm, knocking the knife out of her hoof. She then proceeded to spin kick her into Lyra. She picked up her glass shard and started to limp, noticing her leg was injured and she was unable to run anymore. She started to limp away in fear.

“N... No! Get away from me! Let me do what I need to!” Fluttershy was stumbling into the walls, and crashed into a stall.

Lyra flinched. “Fluttershy, no! There's a--”

A shriek of pain and terror came from the stall. Fluttershy was thrown out of the stall. She was bleeding from her head. Groans and moans were coming from the stall. Rainbow's mouth hung open in disbelief. Fluttershy had been bitten by the putrid creature.

Fluttershy looked at her hoof as she saw the blood dripping from her forehead.

“No...” she muttered. She held the glass up to her neck.

Rainbow struggled to get up as she called Fluttershy's name.

“Fluttershy! NO! WAIT!”

Slice. A squishy sound came from Fluttershy as her hoof moved over to the other side of her head. Red squirted from her neck. She fell to the ground. Rainbow stopped in her tracks as tears ran from her eyes almost instantly. She started to whimper and fell to the ground, mouth hanging open. Lyra closed her eyes and sighed as she slowly walked over to untie the rope that held Bon-Bon together.

Once she was untied, Bon-Bon hugged Lyra, crying. “I... I don't know what went wrong with her! She just...”

“I know.” Lyra said depressingly. “Rainbow... I'm sorry for your friend. I really am. She just couldn't handle what was going on around her and reacted the only way she knew how.”

Rainbow remained silent. She breathed heavily. She started to breathe faster and faster.

“Rainbow? Are you there?” Lyra looked to her side. The zombie was slowly limping out of the bathroom stall. “Hey, Rainbow, look out. To your left.” Lyra reminded Rainbow. Rainbow started shaking. All of a sudden, Rainbow let out a ear-piercing scream. She grabbed her knife.

“Stupid bastard! Fucking piece of SHIT! DIE!” She latched onto the zombie and started mercilessly slashing and stabbing at it's skull. Red spilled everywhere and Rainbow kept slashing until the head fell off. “AND STAY DEAD!” She shouted. She went over and punched a stall as hard as she could. One of the stall's supporters broke with a load bang. Rainbow shook her head as she breathed heavily.

“... Feel any better? I know that's a no, but I'm worried.” Lyra asked as she let go of Bon-Bon. She slowly trotted over to Rainbow.

“... At least... at least you care. How? How did this outbreak of these useless shit-heads begin?” Rainbow demanded as she violently turned her head toward Lyra.

“That's what I'm trying to figure out. It's time you know. I'm actually a special agent for Equestria's government. I'm here for investigation, saving the survivors is how I'm getting my info.” Lyra reached into her saddlebag she took with her and showed Rainbow her badge.

“So THAT'S where you've been all these times? I always wondered where you went.” Bon-Bon said behind her.

“Yes. I haven't gotten far though. I only know the source is within this mall.”

“My question is why hasn't the Princess done anything about this herself?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, she's caught up in debt, and she has to pay it off. The government hasn't let her go, so she was forced to send her sister.”

I'm sure if the government knew there was a zombie outbreak, they would let her take action.” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.

“But they don't. We can't communicate with them either. The mail-mare came to deliver a message, but we never got it. She was shot down like you were.”

“Damn... well, can we get back to base? This bathroom is uncomfortable.” Rainbow said as she edged away from her friend's lifeless dead body.

“Yes, let's. C'mon Bon-Bon. We need to get you out of here too. You're injured, and we need to fix you up.”

_______________________________________________________________________

“You had to WHAT!?” Luna shouted in terror as she heard the news.

Lyra nodded. “A survivor had gone psychopathic. She was hopeless. Said survivor was Fluttershy, commander. I apologize that we were unable to save her.”

Luna sighed. “Well, zombie outbreaks can bring out the madness in ponies with weak willpower. She spoke of anything important?”

“Yes... well, sort of, commander. She spoke of a plan for zombie saving, and a “she” commanding it. We are still unsure of who “she” is though.”

“I see. Rainbow Dash, I pity your loss. I don't want to rush you, but we have no choice. A survivor was spotted by the cameras running through the halls. She stopped by the sports store. On further inspection, she appears to be our lost mail-mare. Though her identity is unknown because the cap she wore guarded her face. However, she seemed to have a similar mane cut as you, Rainbow. Pegasus, light mane color.”

Rainbow nodded and sighed. “I... I'll take it on. I will be on my way shortly.”

Luna squinted. “You? Just you? What of you, Miss Heartstrings?”

Lyra shook her head. “Sorry, commander. I must tend to a wounded survivor. She's an old friend of mine.”

Luna closed her eyes and thought for a moment. “Hmmm... if you insist. Rainbow, are you sure you can handle this alone? The mare... she didn't look too... stable. Lyra! Tend to your friend.” Luna ordered.

“Yes, commander!” Lyra saluted and trotted out the door.

Rainbow opened her mouth, but closed it again.

“Do not be afraid to speak up, Rainbow. We are all in this together, for the good of us. What is your question?” Luna looked down at her.

“If you don't mind... how is your sister in debt? You know how I know about this.”

“Not a bad question, Rainbow. After 1000 years of imprisonment on the moon, I need money. Bad. Sharing half and half with my sister has caused us both to go in debt. She is working on it, while I'm here to help the resistance.” Luna explained.

Rainbow halfway squinted. “... Well, okay. I'll be off, then.” Rainbow turned to walk out the door.

“Good luck on your mission, Rainbow Dash.” Luna said as she smiled.

“...Thanks...” Rainbow said as she closed the door and dashed to the ventilation shaft.

“... Don't get too involved with that, Dash. It may be the end of you.” Luna muttered to herself.

Prologue: An Urgent Mission

Princess Celestia paced back and forth, sweating, muttering to herself. What was going on? This wasn't right. They should all be back by now, or should have at least sent her a message. As the door slammed open, the Princess flinched and looked up to see Rainbow Dash zooming in and stopping right in front of her. The rainbow colored mare saluted the Princess at an attention stance. It looked like she was confronting a war general.

“You called for a hero, princess?” Rainbow Dash said with a reference wink.

“Good one, Rainbow Dash. Please listen--”

“Where's everypony else?” Rainbow interrupted, looking around the empty throne room.

“That's precisely why you are here, Rainbow. Let me explain. There has been odd activity sightings in a town not too far off by the name of Trottingville. I had sent Luna and her guards over there to cover-- I mean to secure the area. I have not received word from her, so, while you were on your vacation, I sent your five friends. There has been no word from them either. I can't even communicate with Luna via my magic. I'm starting to run out of options. I need the strongest, bravest pony to go find what's going on in that area.”

Rainbow gave a determined smile. “Well, it's a damn good thing I got back here on time, eh? Just let me handle it, Princess.” Rainbow said as she bowed.

“Now hold on, Rainbow. I want to know everything that goes on there. Take this with you, you'll need it. Take a picture of everything that may be important, I don't care what it is.” Princess Celestia said as she handed Rainbow a photography camera.

“...Everything?” Rainbow asked. “Even dead stuff?”

Celestia flinched for a moment, but shook her head. “Yes, Rainbow, even dead stuff. Be careful, Rainbow Dash, who knows what might await you there. Let's hope those unnatural disappearances don't happen to you, too.”

“You can count on me, Princess Celestia! I'll find Luna, AND all of my friends! I won't let you down! I AM the element of loyalty after all.” Rainbow said, putting a hoof over her chest.

“I'm glad I can rely on you. Trottingville is just north of Apploosa, about two miles, can you remember that? It's critical.”

Rainbow made a “duh” face at the Princess. “Pshh... that is NO problem for me! I'll fulfill your mission! I'm Rainbow Dash of course! Let's rock!” She cheered as she lifted out the window and flew out. About fifteen seconds later, she came back in and asked. “How many miles north of Apploosa again?”

The Princess face-hooved and laughed. “Let... Let me just write it down for you, Rainbow.”