Weather Pony Dashby rainbowbot3000ChaptersNew MagicWhy Is It Raining?The First StagesEvil Rainbows And Little PrincessesStage Five Is NearingThe Strong And The WeakThe Last Stage...Of Rainbow's LifeBeep. Beep. Beep.The Rise Of Nightmare MoonNew Magic"Is she going to be okay?" Scootaloo asked. "Just wait downstairs with Spike." Twilight looked over to the orange filly who was leaving the room. "So is she?" Applejack questioned. "Yes." They both looked at Rainbow Dash. She was laying in Twilight's bed. Numerous bruises and cuts across her body, maybe even a few feathers came out. Twilight was able to monitor Rainbow to if she was okay. She was okay, but she was slightly colder than usual. "TWILIGHT! RARITY, PINKIE AND FLUTTERSHY ARE HERE!" Spike yelled from downstairs. The sound of hooves rushing upstairs filled the silent library. "Oh my goodness! Is she okay?" Rarity said. Earlier, Twilight sent three notes to the others. And a letter to Princess Celestia. "She fine." "What happened to Dashie?" Pinkie's bubbly pink mane started to fall straight. "Nightmare Moon happened." "What?!" "It's true." "But ho-" "TWILIGHT! CELESTIA IS HERE!" Spike yelled again. Gentle hoof steps were heard. But more were heard as well. The Princess of the Night came too. "Twilight Sparkle. Is it true?" Celestia trotted up to Twilight. "Unfortunately yes. I just hope we got to Rainbow in time." "What do you mean?" Luna tilted her head. "Me and Applejack were in the library, when Rainbow's element shot out sparks. Then it turned grey." The two princesses gasped. "But she isn't dead." "No. But something is wrong with her." Luna walked over to Rainbow. Her horn lit up and surrounded the young pegasus. "I-I... What?!" "Sister, what is it?" "She has got a new type of magic." "How is this possible? She not a unicorn." Rarity stated. "Nightmare Moon magic must have leaked into Rainbow." "Umm, Princess Luna? If Nightmare Moon is back, how come you're still here?" Fluttershy whispered. "I was possessed by that evil spirit. A cover story was made to protect Equestria. Celestia tried to get rid of the spirit but was unable to. So as a last resort, she placed me one the moon. Hoping that the spirit would weaken, and it did. Once the elements were found I was finally free!" Luna grinned making look slightly crazy. "But we must be careful." Celestia added as she looked at her sister. A thousand years on the moon must have been taking its toll on the moon Princess. "Why?" "Element magic and the spirit's magic do not match. It could create chaos in Rainbow." Just then, Rainbow groaned. "Urg. Where am I?" She rubbed head. "Rainbow!" The girls went over and hugged Rainbow Dash. She smiled. And the the sun brightened. Then it went cold and windy. "Are the girls okay? Are they hurt?" "Yes Rainbow. They're fine." The wind stopped and it began to heat up again. "Hmmm. Girls may I have a word." Celestia walked out of the room. "Without you Rainbow." The others left and noted that the sky dullened a bit. "Crusaders!" Luna said. "Today, I want you to be on cheering up duty!" "Who are we cheering up?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Who da ya think?" Applejack replied. "OMIGOSH! RAINBOW DASH IS OKAY!" An orange blur zoomed upstairs along with two other fillies. The sky turned to it's normal, bright state. "Celestia, what's wrong?" Twilight looked at her mentor. "Well, from the proof we've heard from the fillies and you, we believe that Nightmare Moon's magic and Rainbow's element magic have created a super magic." Celestia looked at the girls. "She has now the ability to change the weather with her emotions." Luna added. "Woah! So Dashie is a super mare! AWESOME! I'll get a party ready!" Pinkie was about to shoot out before a midnight blue glow held. "Pinkie, we cannot tell anypony about Nightmare Moon! Everypony will believe it's me." Luna's face saddened. Ponies still believe Luna is evil and many still think she should no longer be Princess. "Don't worry sister. Also if Rainbow knew it could effect her completely. Maybe even destroying her. I want you to keep her emotions at bay." Celestia left along with Luna. "Twilight, it may be an idea to erase the fillies mind." Luna left. "Can you do that?" Rarity asked. "Yes." "So when-" "In a moment. But first let's see if Rainbow is okay." The opened the door to see, Rainbow playing around with the Crusaders. Sweetie Belle was pretending to be princess stuck on a mountain (or a bed), Applebloom was an evil witch and Scootaloo was the rescuer. She was riding on Rainbow's back, who was hovering on the air. "Yal are under ma power, Princess Sweetie!" Applebloom cackled wearing Twilight's old Nightmare Night wizard hat. "Help! Help!" Sweetie had a blanket around her waist. "Don't worry Princess! I will save you on my trusty rainbow dragon." Scootaloo waved a quill as if it was sword. "Roar!" Rainbow said. "Oh no! It's the chicken!" Applebloom ran onto the floor. "Applebloom!" Scootaloo jumped off Rainbow. "Don't call me chicken!" Rainbow landed and saw the others. "Seems like you're having fun!" Rarity giggled. "Also it seems like Rainbow likes playing baby games!" Applejack laughed. Rainbow growled. The skies grew dark with thick, black clouds. Wild wind blew. Lightning cracked. Rainbow stopped staring daggers and looked outside. "Great! I bet Derpy has been let loose with the cloud delivery. I'll go clean it up." She flew out the window. "Applejack! Remember what the Princesses said." Applejack smiled sheepishly. Twilight walked to the fillies. "Girls. What happened today was something you shouldn't have seen. So I'm erasing your memory." "What?!" "But Twilight. We had fun with Rainbow Dash! I don't want to forget that." Scootaloo pleaded. Twilight looked into the fillies eyes. "Okay. But to make sure won't tell anypony, I'll put a secret locker spell on you." A pink glow surrounded the fillies. "Done!" "We have to see if it works. Sweetie Belle, what did Rarity do last week?" Applejack asked. Rarity blushed. "I can't tell you." "Err, thank you Sweetie. Now off you Crusaders go. To do crusading." Rarity ushered. Once they had gone, she stared at Applejack. She smiled. "Nice try, Applesnack!" And she left. Why Is It Raining?It was bright, vibrant and a sunny day. But that was until it grew windy, dark and stormy. Great big clouds block out Celestia's sun light. It also began to hail. A white unicorn ran out of her boutique, along with a yellow pegasus and a pink earth pony, and ran together to the tree library. "TWILIGHT!" Rarity yelled as her mane whipped around. "Does anypony know where Rainbow Dash is?" Twilight asked as she and Spike ran around stopping the paper flying around. Then it stopped hailing. The wind cleared and the clouds lightened. But it started to rain. "I think she's at Sweet Apple Acres. She went to help Applejack." Spike replied. "Spike. Stay here. We've got to-" "Yeah yeah! I know! I'll see you later, Twilight!" "Pathetic! How can ya be loyalty? Ya can't even help out! Ya just sleep and boast! Ya will never git inta tha Wonderbolts!" Applejack scoffed. But this wasn't Applejack. Her eyes were icey blue instead of green. The tip of her tail was dark blue. It was Nightmare Moon. Rainbow Dash didn't know this. She was too upset that one of her best friends were calling her pathetic. Twilight and the others ran up to the barn to see Rainbow and Applejack. "What is wrong with you AJ?" Rainbow yelled. "RAINBOW! IT'S NOT AJ!" Twilight shouted. A blue blast knocked all the ponies onto the ground. Rainbow rubbed her head. "Huh?! Nightmare Moon! What have you done with AJ?" "The element of honesty is playing hide and seek. You will find her at Ponyville's highest peek. Muhahahaha!" She disappeared. Rainbow ran over to the girls. The wind blew hard. "Girls! Are you okay?" "We're fine. But where's Applejack?" "The element of honesty is playing hide and seek. You will find her at Ponyville's highest peak." "What?!" The others said in sync. "Thats what Nightmare Moon said." All of them looked at the mountain near by. Then looked at Rainbow. "Rainbow! Go and see if she's up there!" "I'm on it!" She saluted and zoomed off. Rainbow reached the top of the mountain. The last time she was here, she kicked a dragon on the nose. As she landed, she saw a brown hat. Slightly tatty muddy, but she knew who it belonged to. "AJ! APPLEJACK!" "rainbow." A faint whisper called. "APPLEJACK! WHERE ARE YOU?" "rainbow. Ah am over here." Rainbow scanned the area. She saw blood. A hard wind started to blow. Then she saw Applejack. She was laying on her stomach. Her was hair messy and had dried blood in it. Her left fore-leg was injured pretty bad, as it was bleeding. "Applejack! Are you okay?" "Ah am fine." She tried to get up but hissed in pain. "No you are not. Here, try and climb up onto my back." Once Applejack was on Rainbow's back, the pegasus opened her wings. She was about to take off until she heard an evil giggle. "She won't make it in time. Not even the fastest pony can get to the hospital in time, before she dies. Hehehe!" Nightmare giggled. "Yes she will!" Thunder and lightning sliced through the sky. "She's a stubborn, but strong mare!" Applejack smiled weakly. Rainbow zoomed off. At Ponyville hospital, Nurse Redheart was clearing up the rooms. Dr. Kindheart was reading the paper at the front desk. They were the only ponies there. It was a Sunday after all. It was very quiet in the building. That was until, a blue pegasus burst through the doors. "SOMEPONY HELP!" The two doctors ran up. Redheart grabbed a bed while Kindheart helped Rainbow lower Applejack down. "Rainbow Dash. Go and get Dr. Whooves." Kindheart demanded. A rainbow streak flew out. "Is she okay?" Fluttershy asked. "We're not certain. She has lost alot of blood. But she's in a stable condition." Five mares and three fillies sat in the waiting room. Outside, it was raining hard. Rainbow stared out the window muttering. "It wasn't supposed to rain." Were one of the comments the others heard. Next to her was Applejack's hat. Applebloom sobbed quietly, while Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle comforted her. The rest of the girls had blank faces. They heard the hospital doors open. "Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! We weren't excepting a vist today!" Nurse Redheart said surprised. "We are here to see Applejack." "Sorry your Highnesses. But, she's still being cared for right now. But you can wait with them." She pointed to the girls. Celestia and Luna walked towards them. "Thank you, nurse." Twilight looked up. "Celestia! Luna!" She ran over to them and hugged them. Luna smiled, but noticed Rainbow looking at them. She then returned to looking out the window. "We heard of Applejack's kidnapping. We came as fast as we could." Dr. Whooves entered. "How is she?" Rarity asked. "Not very good. She has lost alot of blood. She is also in shock." "Will she get better?" Pinkie whispered. "We are unsure." At that pointed, Rainbow started to bang her head against the window. "Why? Why? Why?" Her wings fluttered and the rain fell harder. "Rainbow, please calm down. It wasn't your fault." "Of course its my fault! I knew it was Nightmare Moon! But no! I just yelled!" Lightning cracked and thunder boomed. Winds blew at hurricane force. "Calm down." The others urged. "She was right. I am pathetic." "You're not pathetic." Scootaloo said. "Yes I am. I couldn't protect my parents, my sister and not even my friends." Ice began to form outside. Celestia leant over to Twilight. "We need to calm her down. She could create a hurricane." "Shall I put a sleeping spell on her?" Rainbow stopped muttering. Clouds cleared, the wind and rain stopped, but the sky wasn't bright. Rainbow's eyes flashed blue. The tips of her wings and hooves turned black. Celestia and Luna's opened wide. Luna's horn glowed. Rainbow fell to the floor. "RAINBOW!" "Don't worry. She's under a sleeping spell." Celestia hushed. "She's on the first stages." Luna whispered. The First Stages"First stages of what?" "When I was possessed by the spirit, there were stages until I became fully possessed." Luna looked down. "And they are?" "Colour changes. And feeling either guilty or jealous." Luna added. "Rainbow is feeling guilty and her eyes, coat and feathers are turning black." Celestia said. "So she will become," *gulp*, "Nightmare Moon." Twilight shuddered at the thought. "Hopefully not. But depends how much power and magic she's got. So far not much. She's very weak, but at this rate, she will become more like her." Celestia lifted up Rainbow and layed her on the chair. "Grey Quick." Pinkie said. "What?!" "Well, when Luna became evil she was called Nightmare Moon, instead of Luna Eclipse. So instead of Rainbow Dash, Grey Quick." "Pinkie. She is not going to be evil. She's too loyal." Celestia hushed. As Celestia spoke, a limping Applejack entered. "Hi everypony!" She smiled weakly. "Applejack!" Everypony went to hug her. "But we thought-" "Ahh. Ah just hurt a bit. Ya know broken bones, cuts and bruises." "We were so worried!" "Ah know." She looked around. She saw Rainbow. "Is Rainbow okay?" "Umm. AJ. She's kind of turning evil." "What?!" "She is turning into another version of Nightmare Moon. The only way to slower the progress is to keep her calm. Twilight, if you see any other signs, knock her out. Even if she is flying. We can't take any risks. Knowing Nightmare Moon, she create Rainbow into her slave." "But Princess. What if-" "Twilight, I trust you. All of you." Celestia smiled. "However, from Luna's experience, I found some very important information." "What?" "If good, happiness and love is reflected upon the magic, that will over power the evil, dark magic." Luna walked over. "But if darkness, dismay and hatred, it could be used to destroy Equestria. And the Element of Loyalty will be no more." The others gasped. "Rainbow? Rainbow!" "Huh?" "Rainbow, are you hurt?" Fluttershy helped her friend up. "What happened?" "You had a panic attack, so I put a sleep spell on you." Rainbow looked around. Instead of being in the hospital, she was in the tree library. Surrounded by her friends. "Some sleep spell! All I could see was a dark landscape." Twilight shot up. "Say again!" "Everything was dark. And everypony I trusted and cared for left me. My family yelled at me saying I wasn't good enough for them, and telling me I should just die. Then I ..." The dark clouds formed. But instead of storms, it was just light rain "Dashie? Please tell us!" "I-I-I" Rainbow looked over to Fluttershy. "Oh my goodness, Rainbow!" Fluttershy said, wide eyed. "Only this time, you weren't there to stop me. I'm so glad it was a dream. I would never leave you guys." She smiled. The clouds disappeared. Rainbow's eyes opened. "Omigosh! Is AJ still okay?" A gale force wind blew. "Ah am fine, sugarcube." Applejack patted Rainbow's back. The winds stopped and the air heated up again. "Umm. Girls." "Yes?" "Does anyone know about the crazy weather?" The others stared at each other. "Umm, Derpy...Errr...." "Derpy?! Again?! You can trust her with a bag of letters but not a weather factory! Urg!" Rainbow faced hoof. "I'll see you later girls! Glad you're okay AJ!" She walked out the door. "Twi!" "I'm looking! I'm looking! This book Celestia wrote for me, names the different signs." "Well?!" Twilight scanned the book. "She's on stage two. Dark dreams of evil, hatred and death." "What's the next stage?" Rarity peered over the book. "Stage three is... black outs." "Right, ah have an idea!" "What is it AJ?" "We cannot spy on Rainbow all day every day. But ah know three fillies who can." "Ya want us ta do what?" Asked a very confused Applebloom. "YES! YES! YES! WE WILL! WE WILL!" Scootaloo jumped around. "But why?" Sweetie Belle looked over to the five mares in front of her. "We need help to make sure Rainbow stays calm. And so she doesn't go into another stage." Rarity replied. "Anndd, you might get your cutiemarks in spying!" Twilight added. The three fillies looked at each other. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS SPIES! YAY!" "The idea of being a spy, is to be secretive! So don't let Rainbow know what you are doing." "Yes! Come on girls! Let's get some spy outfits ready!" Scootaloo jumped onto her scooter. "Wait! Wha about spyin when she's at home?" Applebloom questioned. "I will do it! I'll get Pinkie's flying thing! I am a pegasus, so I can stand on clouds." The excitement was too much for Scootaloo. "Fine! But ya owe me Applejack!" "Since when? Ya still owe me for usin ma bed as a go kart last week!" Applejack humphed. "He...um, yeah. Okay. See ya later!" Applebloom and Sweetie Belle climbed into the trailer. Evil Rainbows And Little Princesses"Scootaloo! What is she doing now?" Sweetie Belle yelled. "Shhh!" "Sorry." Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stood under Rainbow's cloud house, while Scootaloo peered through a window. "She's in the bathroom! Wait...no....she's coming in her bedroom!" Rainbow walked into her room. A towel around her waist. Her hair and wings dripping. It was obvious that she had a bath. She took the towel off and placed it in a basket. Then she vigorously shook her head. She was just about to feed Tank, when she fell to the ground unconscious. "Eep!" Scootaloo squealed. "What? Scootaloo?" "She's um... Get Twilight!" Scootaloo looked back to see a blue glow around Rainbow...and around her own hooves. "Quickly!" "So, how do think the girls are doing?" Twilight trotted in, hovering a tray of hot drinks. "Pretty well. Ah see no houses on fire or Ursa Minors running around!" Applejack giggled. "Well I-" BANG! BANG! BANG! Twilight dropped the tray, spilling the drinks on the floor. The doors flew open, revealing two frantic fillies. They didn't need to explain anything as Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity shot out. Applejack and Pinkie stayed to look after Applebloom and Sweetie. The house was easy to spot, as it glowed brilliant blue. "SCOOTALOO!" "Twilight! Help! I'm stuck!" Twilight tried to use her magic, but got blasted back. "Twilight!" Rarity rushed over. Fluttershy stared at the house. She flew up to Scootaloo. By now, she would of flown off in fright. But knowing a filly and her closet friend were in trouble, she risked it. "Oh, Fluttershy! My dearest friend!" An eerie voice called out. "R-R-Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo stammered. A pegasus mare approached from the darkness. It was Rainbow Dash. Her usually cyan coat, was now midnight blue. Her wings and hooves faded to a sky blue. Her rainbow hair now resembled Nightmare Moon's except, it wasn't flowing. Her eyes were pure evil. Turquoise blue with a thin pupil. Like a cat's. And she had fangs. Another sign of evil. "Rainbow, please. You can fight this?" Fluttershy pleaded. "Rainbow?! Give me a break! That pathetic mare! Can't even fly straight!" Evil Rainbow walked closer. Twilight looked up, along with Rarity. The house stopped glowing but there was still a light source. Suddenly, Fluttershy fell to the ground. Holding on to Scootaloo. "Fluttershy!" Rainbow landed beside them. Twilight couldn't believe it. Stage four already. Outbursts of evil magic. "Rainbow Dash?" Rarity called. "Not anymore!" Her eyes shimmered. "Call me Midnight Dash! Oooo! This is going to be fun! Playing with my friends!" Dash walked closer. "THOU SHALT STOP, IN THE NAME OF EQUESTRIA!" Luna swooped down. She was followed by Celestia. "Princess?" Twilight looked confused. "A young dragon and fillies, may have sent us a letter." Celestia winked. "Ha! What can you do?" Dash scoffed. "Reach for Rainbow." Celestia said calmly. "Really?" The princesses horns glowed. "Oh no you don't!" A blue mist surrounded the princesses. "LUNA! CELESTIA!" Twilight yelled. The mist cleared, revealing two average mares. One was a white unicorn, with cream pink hair. The other was a dark blue pegasus with light blue hair. "Hahaha! Not so powerful now, are you?" "How dare you?" Luna squeaked. "How dare I? Oh Princess Luna, or shall I just say Luna." Dash broke off into evil laughter. "Stealing my moment, are we?" Nightmare Moon trotted towards Dash. "I say well done! You've done better than I thought! But now it's time to sleep!" She tapped Rainbow. She slumped to the floor. "What do you want with her?" Celestia yelled. "I want somepony you trust...to destroy Equestria! Muhahahaha!" In a crack of lightning, she was gone. "Celestia! Luna!" "We are fine." Celestia looked over to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow had now returned to her normal colours. She steadily raised her head. But before she could spoke, she coughed blood. Her nose bled heavily. "What's happening to her? Why is she bleeding?" Fluttershy rushed over to her friend. "The outburst must of been too much." Luna said. Still getting used to the fact that she no longer has a horn. And has a slightly higher voice. "Ahhhh! It hurts!" Rainbow spluttered. The taste of blood filled her mouth. "Shhhh." Celestia beckoned Twilight over. "Now that I am no longer an alicorn, I will need help with this spell." "Yes?" A glow of yellow and pink covered Rainbow Dash. Twilight could see that Rainbow was falling to sleep, but something was wrong. "Celestia? What did we do?" "I'm sorry. But we had to put her in a permanent sleep. She won't be waking up unless a strong magic is used." "But-but-" "I can only perform this once until me and Luna are alicorns again. Until then, she will sleep." Stage Five Is Nearing"Yah what?!" Applejack exclaimed as she watched the little princesses walk into the library. "We had to. She was out of control. Nightmare Moon is now too powerful." Celestia said as she sat next to her student. "Can't we use the magic of the elements against her." Twilight asked. "Not with Rainbow Dash like this. She may be the Element of loyalty, but the dark magic has overpowered her." Luna replied. "Poor Rainbow." Fluttershy whispered. "Indeed. But if I remember correctely, there should be something to weaken Nightmare Moon's power over her." Twilight's ears perked up. "What?! What is it?" "We dont truly remember but some books in the Canterlot Archives should tell us." Celestia rubbed her chin. "Come on!" Pinkie bounced up from her seat. "wait!" Luna called. "What?" "With me and Luna as unicorn and pegasus, "Luna fluttered her wings as Celestia spoke,"No pony will recognise us." "How is that a problem?" Rarity asked. "Think about. Two average mares claiming to be the rulers. Not exactly a great idea." Luna huffed. "But you are the rulers. You've got the cutiemarks, the voi-okay maybe not." Twilight sniggered as Luna gave a stern look. "I cannot believe Tia's voice sounds the same, but I sound like Rarity's sister!" "What's wrong with my sister?!" Rarity demanded. "Nothing. Her voice of fits her because she is a filly. What am I, about over a thousand years old!" "Alright! Calm down. Twilight, you and the others can access the archives. I and Luna will keep an eye on Rainbow." Celestia looked at her student, at now an eye level rather than looking down on her. The others nodded and ran out. Celestia sat next to her frustrated sister. "I hope they'll find the book. Nightmare Moon must be destroyed." "They will, little sister. Have faith in them. Not only for us, not only for Equestria, but Rainbow Dash too." They both looked over a pink bubble. In the bubble was a unconscious pegasus. Twilight put up the bubble to slowen the dark magic. However, stage five was nearing. "The process of physical appearance changing." Luna's head drooped. "Don't worry Luna. She will be fine soon. This process will be slower than yours as you were already an alicorn." "But Tia! Stage five! Stage one was yesterday! Mine took two weeks, not two days!" "Keep calm. Twilight and the others will find that book." The two transformed princesses looked over at Rainbow. Her wings slowly fading black. Her hair, midnight blue. Her cutiemark...was no longer a cloud with a tri-coloured lightning bolt. But a white lightning bolt with chains across it. "I pray on the glimmering sun and the marvelous moon, that they will find it soon. Otherwise, Equestria will no longer be the land of love, peace and harmony." "But a land of fear, plague and death. Something that should never happen." Celestia's horn glimmered and so did the bubble. "Nightmare Moon's magic is too quick and powerful for Rainbow. I can feel her body weakening." "Sister, can you see loyalty inside of her still?" Celestia closed her eyes. She could hear whispers. "My friends need me. I need to help them. They're my family, the one I never had. I must help them. I don't care if I die, as long as they are all safe. Nightmare Moon will not hurt them. I must help them. I must. I must." "Well?!" "Yes. I'm surprised as well." "Why? What's wrong Tia?" "Not what's wrong, but what's right." "Huh?!" "Rainbow's element magic is starting to fight back." "But?" "But, it's not strong enough yet." "How can it-" "Shh. Luna, it may not be strong now but soon. Loyalty is the strongest." "I thought magic was the strongest element." "Second really. It overpowers the other elements. However, I have a feeling this pegasus may carry all the elements." "What in Equestria do you mean Celestia?!" "I mean that, she carries loyalty, kindness, generosity, laughter, honesty." "And magic?" "She holds the magic of friendship in her heart." The Strong And The Weak"This one?" "Nope." "This one, dear?" "No." "Ooo! What about this one?" "No Pinkie. That's a flip up book for foals." "Twi, we're never gonna find tha darn book!" Applejack huffed. The others slouched. Around them were piles and piles of books. "Umm, I think I found it." Fluttershy whispered. "We have to find the book!" Twilight yelled, ignoring Fluttershy. "Twilight." "Awww. I don't want Dashie to be evil." Pinkie cried. "Girls. I found the book." "Now don't worry dear." Rarity hovered over a small hoofkerchief. "Girls, look I-" "What if we never find it? And Dashie will be evil! She will help that big meanie an-" "GIRLS!!" Everypony's head whirled round at Fluttershy. "Oops. I'm sorry. It's just that...I think I found it." Twilight zoomed over. "What?! Really! Why didn't tell us before?" "Well, I tried." "Tha doesn't matter now! Open tha book Twi!" Applejack demanded. The book glowed pink as the pages flicked open. "Hmmm." "What is it Twi?" "These pages...are empty." The girls came round to look at the book. Twilight was right. It was empty. "WHAT?! This can't be!" Luna exclaimed. "It's true. Right there. In front of you." Twilight passed the book to Celestia. "Now there is no hope." "Don't worry Luna. Everything will be okay." Celestia soothed. Luna opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes were fixed on something. The others looked as well. The Elements of Harmony book. As before, red sparks flew out of it. Twilight hovered the book over. "Twilight!" They all looked around the room. "Twilight!" "Who is it? Where are you?" Twilight called. "Over here egghead!" "Rainbow Dash?" "That's impossible! She is right there. Unconscious." Rarity said. "No. Over here." Everypony looked at the element book again. "Rainbow?" "Girls! I've got something important to tell you!" "She's communicating through her element." Luna gazed at the necklace. "Is that possible?" "Yes. If the magic of the element is strong enough." Celestia replied. "Please do go on Rainbow." "Nightmare Moon. She's got Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo!" "What?!" "She's at a clearing in the Everfree forest." "How do know this?" "I can hear them. Now go! Go!" They all instantly ran outside with the Elements of Harmony book. But suddenly stopped. Instead of bright cheery skies, it was deep black. Thick smoke came from various houses. Ponies screaming and running around. "Oh no!" "Let us go!" "Yeah! Let us go yah dumb meanie!" Nightmare Moon stood there laughing. "You three are soooo cute when you're scared." "When Rainbow Dash hears about this she'll..." Scootaloo started. "She'll what?" "Umm." "She probably bash yah ta tha ground!" Applebloom said as she squirmed around. "You really believe that? Hahahahaha!" "Yes we do!" Somepony shouted. "Huh?!" Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Luna and Celestia emerged from the trees. "Enjoying your...transformation, princesses?" "Now don't you bloody dare!" Luna zoomed straight at Nightmare. "What are you going to do about it? You're powerless!" Nightmare said. Then three cages emerged from the smoke. And instantly, locked up the crusaders, Luna and Celestia. "Celestia! Luna!" "Sweetie Belle!" "Applebloom!" "Scootaloo!" Nightmare laughed. "What did you do?" "Getting ready for the evening entertainment." Nightmare Moon's horn glowed. The path leading to the clearing glowed brilliant blue. "Oh, Midnight Dash! It's time to play!" She called. The sound of hooves could be heard, as well as evil laughing. "Really Mistress? I thought it would be a bit longer." The transformed Rainbow Dash appeared. "But-but she was on a sleeping spell!" Twilight stuttered. "Yes. Only a powerful magic could awaken her." Nightmare giggled. "Oh no Dashie!" Pinkie wailed. "Who? I'm no longer that stupid mare, Rainbow Dash." "Yah are! Yah jast being hypnotized!" Applejack yelled. "Oh look who's talking back, Mistress! Now, what should her punishment be?" Dash looked over to Nightmare. "Hmmm. Oooo, I know the perfect one. Creeping Darkness." She replied. Dash nodded and turned to Applejack. She closed her eyes. Chains of thick black smoke wrapped around Applejack. "Moon light, dark night. Nightmares cruel, black whirlpool. Time to cry, time to die!" Dash opened her eyes. Applejack started shaking. She shut her eyes, and started moaning in pain. "Applejack!" Applebloom screamed. "Applejack! Stop! Stop it, Rainbow! Yah her friend! Please stop it Rainbow!" She started to cry. A pink glow covered the chains. They disappeared. Applejack slumped to the floor. Fluttershy and Pinkie rushed over to her. "Huh?!" The pink glow surrounded Dash. "Rainbow! You can fight this!" Twilight called. Dash just hissed. "Please Rainbow. You're a strong mare. You would never give up a fight. A fight for your friends." "Stupid Twilight! Why should I listen to you?" "Because, I know that there is still my friend in there. That friend is Rainbow Miriam Dashery." At the second Twilight said that name, Dash's eyes flashed. Twilight noted this. "Come on Rainbow." Rainbow's eyes returned to their rosey hue state. "NO!" Nightmare Moon yelled. A cage popped out and surrounded the five mares. "You pathetic mare! You will not give into this!" Nightmare's horn glowed. Then Rainbow started groaning. "Now you will listen to me! You will not, I repeat, you will not give in." "I-I-I-urg." Rainbow hissed in pain. Her nose began bleeding as well. "You will hurt even more." Rainbow fell to the ground. "Rainbow!" "Dashie!" "Rainbow! Yah can fight this! Please, for us." Applejack called out. "I must-I must fight...ahh." She tried getting up. "Hmmm. Won't stay down? What about this?" Rainbow started to yell out in pain. However, her hair and coat began to change back. "Still hurts, doesn't it? The injury your uncle gave you. The very same uncle who killed your sister. The very same uncle who kept you for himself. Kept you for a, how do you say it, dirty need." The pegasus cried. Nightmare's glow around Rainbow disappeared. Now, Rainbow was back to normal. But her wing and nose still bled. The dark alicorn walked towards Rainbow, and whispered to Rainbow. "This uncle." Rainbow stood up. And looked behind her. There, stood in front of her, was her uncle. A white pegasus stallion with red and yellow hair. His cutiemark was a police badge. "Oh Celestia! Please! Don't hurt me!" Rainbow fluttered back. He smiled. "Rainbow, long time no see. How about a little get together?" "Nononono! Please! Not again!" "Oh what's wrong Rainbow Dash? I thought you weren't scared of anything!" Nightmare sneered. Rainbow began to breath heavily. "I am! I am! Just please make him go away!" She pleaded. "Hmm. Should you go away Solo?" "Yes! Make him go! I don't want him to hurt me again!" Rainbow tried flying upwards. But couldn't. She winced in pain as she moved her injured wing. "Why should I? I, Nightmare Moon, is torturing the strongest element of harmony! Hahaha!" "But, I thought magic is the strongest!" Twilight called out from inside the cage. "Oh of course not! Magic is the leading element. Loyalty is the strongest. If loyalty cracks, so do the other elements." Nightmare's horn glowed again. "Oh look. Loyalty already is broken. Aren't you, you pathetic mare?" Rainbow looked at the evil grin of her uncle, but then looked at the concerned looks of her friends. "No." "Of course you are! The years of pain you had to live with. The pain of death. Guilt. And just plain pain." "So what?! What hurts me, makes me stronger!" "Is that so?" Some smoke cleared revealing a white pegasus mare with red, orange and yellow hair. A musk blue pegasus stallion with green, blue and purple hair. "Mother? Farther?" "Don't you dare call us your parents! Not after what you've done!" The mother yelled. "I-I-but-." "Shut it! You deserve to be in bloody pain! You should be killed!" The farther shouted. "Please, farther, let me explain." Rainbow sobbed. "No! You are no daughter of mine! The only daughter I have is Daydream. But you! You let her die!" "I didn't! I swear! I didn't hurt her. I tried to protect her!" "I don't understand why you didn't just jump when you did." Rainbow drooped her wings and head. "I did." "Ha! The worthless thing did! So ya did jump! Taking the easy way out!" Twilight and the others started at Rainbow. "Please stop." Rainbow whispered. "If you did commit suicide, why are you still here?" They all gasped (except for the fillies as they didn't understand) as that one single word was mentioned. Suicide. "Because, I wouldn't be the element of loyalty." Rainbow snapped. Nightmare Moon sat up. "I wouldn't be loyal if I deserted everything. My dreams. My hopes. My friends. My real family. Now you might be making me cry and feel worthless, but I am not the type of mare that would spend their whole life crying. I live everyday by risks, by thrills. I live everyday with my friends. And I defiantly, don't give up without a fight." The figures of Rainbow's parents disappeared, and so did her uncle. "Strong words, however, you're not exactly getting stronger." Nightmare was right. Rainbow was feeling weak. Blood still dripped from her nose and wing. She was getting weaker. Celestia noticed this as well. She sensed that Rainbow wasn't just weak. Oh no, she could sense something far more than that. Nightmare Moon's horn glowed and so did Rainbow. "Hahaha!" The world around Rainbow began to spin and turn. Applejack turned away, to look at the Elements of Harmony book. A loud pop came from the book. Rainbow lay on the ground. Luna stared closely at her. Rainbow's coat was getting paler. "Celestia! Rainbow, she-she..." "She's dying!" Nightmare said. The Last Stage...Of Rainbow's Life"No! I won't believe it! Rainbow is not going to die!" Scootaloo pouted. But no matter how hard she denied, she knew that Nightmare was right. Rainbow slowly got up. "Don't-don't worry, Sc-Scoots. I ain't going anyw-w-where." "Such confidence, for such a feeble pony." Nightmare sneered. "Hey, you-you are t-t-talking the fastest flier in-in Equestria." Rainbow replied. "Not for long you're not." Nightmare grinned. "Shut up! Shut up!" Scootaloo screamed. Everypony looked over at the cage that contained the Crusaders. Scootaloo was in the middle, with her head in her hooves. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom attempted calm her down, but with no success. "Rainbow! You're not going to die! You're not! You can't! Please." Rainbow tried to fly over but winced at her injured wing. Instead, she trotted over. "Scoots, it's ok-k-kay. I'm fine." "Nightmare! Are you doing this to her?" Applejack demanded. "Maybe." Her horn glowed. Rainbow closed her eyes. "Aaahh." She hissed between her teeth. Scootaloo frantically looked at Rainbow, then at everypony else. "I think it's nearly time for a rainbow to fade." The alicorn sneered. The skies began to darken. Clouds filled them. Lightning cracked and thunder boomed. "Huh? This isn't my work." Nightmare Moon stared at the clouds. "It's Rainbow's." Luna stated. "That's impossible. She's a pegasus. She can't control this amount of power." "Actually, she can." Twilight said. "Thousands and thousands of years ago, pegasi held a deep magic. Called Feather Soul. All ponies with this magic can also understand and speak fluently, Old Equestrian. This magic was highly dangerous if put in the wrong hooves. After awhile, the magic began to wear out. Until it completely disappeared. I researched Rainbow's family, and found that she is the last pegasus to have Feather Soul magic. That and some of your magic leaked inside causing a mixture of magic. And what really does amaze me is th-" "Alright, eggh-h-head. I know I am the last the last Feather Soul. And that I speak Old Equestrian." "Is that so? High-en crish an." Nightmare declared. "Velo tas tah yo shallow." Rainbow replied. "Hmm, good. Good." Nightmare clapped. "Err Twi, wha did they say?" Applejack asked. "Umm, I don't know. It's an extinct language. So I could never study it." "Hey! Dashie! What did you and Nightmare Meanie say?" Pinkie yelled. "I'm a really the element of loyalty?" "And, what did you say?" "If I'm loyal enough t-t-to use my own life to spare Equestria." "Nooo! Rainbow don't!" Fluttershy yelled. "Dashie! I don't want you to go." "Hmmm, you surely would be missed." Nightmare said. Rainbow looked over at her friends. Pinkie and Fluttershy were crying their eyes out. Applejack covered her face with her hat, quietly sobbing. Rarity held back the tears as well as Twilight. Then she looked at Scootaloo. Her wings drooped and she held her head in her hooves. "Maybe we might come to agreement." Nightmare whispered to Rainbow. "You name it." "I know you are pretty good when it comes to handling a sword. So, my greatest fighter verses you." A ball of smoke appeared. "I guess you're familiar..." The smoke cleared. "...with this." Rainbow stared wide eyed at the object, as it began to rain. A glimmering silver katana samurai sword with rosey hue gems on the handle hovered in front of her. Engraved on the blade, a name...RAINBOW MIRAIM DASH. Everypony gazed at the sword. Celestia stood up, "Nightmare! Let me out!" "Why should I?" "I must speak to her." Nightmare Moon hesitated, but opened the door to Celestia's cage. The altered sun goddess trotted up to the injured pegasus mare, being closely watched by everypony. "Are you sure you can do this?" "I-I-I...don't know." "Rainbow, be strong. I know you are weak, very weak, but you can do this." Celestia assured. "I don't understand." "What is it, Miraim?" "I-wait, what? What did call me?" Thunder cracked and lightning boomed. "Miraim. Wasn't it your nickname?" Celestia looked surprised. "No. Well, kinda. Yes. But only one pony called me Miriam." The noise came to a stand-still. The land was silent. Well, except for the screaming of ponies in Ponyville. "What's the hold up?" Nightmare demanded. "Pardon?" "I said, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP, YOU STUPID PATHETIC MARE?!" Nightmare yelled at Celestia. As great as Celestia is, she was scared. Not only for everypony else and Equestria, but for herself as well. Nightmare Moon had transformed her, well actually Rainbow Dash did, and now, she was an average unicorn mare. A weak average unicorn mare. Celestia backed away as soon as Nightmare yelled. Luna rattled her cage. "Listen you! You maybe the only alicorn around, and you've turned me and my sister into normal mares, but we can still defeat you!" Luna shouted. Nightmare got up and walked towards Luna. "You can still defeat me? Says the the princess who couldn't get rid of me. You were an alicorn with the magic to raise the moon, yet, you couldn't get rid of me." A golden magic slapped Nightmare across the face. Luna smirked and Celestia laughed. Nightmare growled. She opened the night princess's cage. A musk blue glow formed around Luna's throat. Luna began to cough and gasp for air. "LUNA!" Tia yelled. "Nightmare let her go!" The blow glow got tighter around Luna's throat. "P...lease...sto...p." She croaked. "Nightmare! Stop. Please." Celestia began crying. "What's the matter, Celestia?" Nightmare taunted. "Let her go. please. Don't let her die. I don't want to lose her again." Twilight watched as her mentor cried. The one who was always there for her. Who was always strong. But was now, breaking down. Into tears. "Please Nightmare." "How about I do this then, Tia?" Nightmare hovered a small knife over. "NO! Please Nightmare! Have mercy!" Just as Nightmare was about plunge the knife into Luna's stomach when, a katana samurai sword blocked the knife from hurting the choking pegasus. "Put. the. knife. down." Rainbow demanded. She hated to hold the sword again, but she had to. She had to stop Nightmare Moon. Nightmare laughed. "You may be first class in swordspony-ship, but that doesn't mean you can tell me want to do." "Yeah, but it does mean I can do this." Rainbow bucked Nightmare, which sent her back a couple of metres onto the ground. Knocking her unconcious. The blue glow disappeared and Luna collapsed to the floor of her cage. "Luna!" Celestia ran towards her younger sister. She sat down and and hugged Luna. "Oh Luna. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Luna weakly hugged back. "I love you Luna. Please don't leave me. I'll be here for you. I promise to protect you." She turned to Rainbow. "Thank you. Thank you so much Rainbow Dash." Rainbow smiled gently. "I couldn't protect my own sister, but that doesn't mean I can't protect others." She trotted over to the cage that held her friends. She used her sword to fiddle with the lock. As it unlocked she walked over to the Crusaders. As that lock broke, an orange blur bombarded her. "Rainbow Dash! I'm so happy that you're okay!" "Hehe. I told you squirt, I ain't going nowhere." Pinkie dove in and joined the hug. "Dashie!" "No! It cannot happen!" Croaked Nightmare as she got up. "What?" Rainbow stood up. "You are supposed to be broken. Smashed like a mirror. Yet you are able to stay strong." Nightmare sat up, her eyes shooting darts at everypony. "Yes. I am broken inside. Everyday I live is just another day of pain. But, what covers that pain, and fixes what is broken, are the ones I care for." Rainbow walked closer to Nightmare. "I made a promise somepony. A promise to protect them. From everything. I broke that promise. Thank Celestia it wasn't a Pinkie promise." The sky began to darken with storm clouds. She glanced at Pinkie. "But, the promise was to protect everypony I care for." Lightning burst and filled the darkeness with light. Now Rainbow was face to face with Nightmare. "Well, that promise ends now." Nightmare used her magic to bring the knife towards her. "Because you end now as well." Before anypony could react, Nightmare plunged the knife into Rainbow's chest. She collapsed to the floor. However what confused everypony was that Rainbow began to laugh. "How can you be laughing?! I've just ended your life!" "Yes, well, I've just ended you and your future." "What?!" Nightmare Moon scanned her body as her hooves began to disappear. In Rainbow's hoof was cresent shaped crystal. Luna looked towards Nightmare's necklace. Where there used to be a cresent moon, was now just a hole. "No! No! I transformed The Sisters! And plagued The Element of Loyalty!" The girls ran over to Rainbow as Nightmare began to fade. Celestia and Luna began to glow, and grow. "I can't go! My reign of darkness must be finished." In a blast of light, all clouds were gone and so was Nightmare. Luna and Celestia stared at each as they were now returned to their alicorn selves. But it wasn't all happiness. In the middle of the clearing, huddled around each other. Crying. But not tears of joy. In the centre was Rainbow Dash. Blood gushed out of her chest, and her eyelids were slowly drooping. "Dashie..." Pinkie's hair fell flat. "H-How did you know?" Twilight mumbled. "I had her magic, her thoughts merged with mine." "Rainbow Dash...please don't leave me." Scootaloo cried. "I won't Scootaloo." Rainbow smiled before her eyes closed. Beep. Beep. Beep.Beep. Beep. Beep. "... How...doctor?" Beep. Beep. Beep. "...okay...not brilliant...loss...blood." Beep. Beep. Beep. "Please Dashie...wake...up.." "Girls...look..." "Is...true?" Rainbow slowly began to open her eyes as she woke from the noise. But everything was all blurry. She began to get up, but was immediately halted to searing pain throughout her body. "Ahh.." "Easy girl. Ya ave taken alot of damage." An orange mare helped to ease her down. Her sight got clearer. "A-A-Applejack." She croaked. "Ah'm ere, sugarcube." Pinkie moved closer to Rainbow. And instantly hugged her. She began to cry. "Don't w-w-w-worry Pinkie P-P-Pie. I s-s-aid earlier that I ain't going nowhere." "We almost lost you. I nearly lost my best friend. A sister." Rainbow weakly smiled. "You know me. I would never leave you hanging." Pinkie wiped her tears and her hair bounced back. "One question." "Yes." "How long have I been here?" "About a week." "A week?!" "Rainbow you nearly died. If I we didn't get you here sooner enough you would be in casket." Rainbow sheepishly smiled. But her smiled faded as reality hit her. "What about Scoots?" "She thinks that you're not going to survive. She's been crying non-stop stop. Miss Cheerilee told me that she cries half way through lesson." Rainbow sat up. "Ahh." Pinkie began to panic. "Calm down Pinkster. Just a little pain." It had now been two weeks since Nightmare Moon's attack. And no news about Rainbow had been heard. Nopony-except the rest of the Mane Six- know of Rainbow's condition. All they know is that she is the savior. She is the one who stopped Nightmare Moon. "Okay colts and fillies! Lunchtime!" As soon as Miss Cheerilee spoke, all the ponies ran out of the room. Scootaloo sat on the grass, staring at the sky. She was waiting for a rainbow streak to zoom by. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle have countlessly attempted to cheer their friend up. In the end, they just sat and watched. Scootaloo bowed her head and cried to herself. The sound of hoof-steps approached her. "Go away! I don't want to talk to anypony!" "Not even me?" Scootaloo turned around to see Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo just stared until she darted up and hugged Rainbow. "Rainbow! I thought you dead!" She sobbed. "Why would you think that?" "Nopony knew anything. I couldn't see you." The young filly stepped back to look at her idol. Her wings were still bandaged. Her left fore-leg had a metal shoe and strap, and was also bandaged up. "I said earlier, that I would never leave you. And I never will." "Oh my gosh! Rainbow Dash!" "Hey RD!" "She's actually alive." Rainbow carefully trotted through the Town Square, remembering that her left fore-leg was still broken, along with her left wing. A neutral cream mare with grey hair walked up to her. "Rainbow Dash. The whole of Ponyville are so glad that you are okay." "Is that because they want me to be weather manager again instead of a certain grey mare." Rainbow chuckled. "Rainbow, this is important. Come with me." Mayor Mare lead her up to the Tree Library. As soon as she had opened the door, a shower of streamers and confetti fell down. "What is this?" Rainbow asked as she walked inside. "Rainbow Miriam Dashery." A stern yet gentle voice called. Two alicorns emerged from the crowd of ponies. Rainbow bowed. "There is no need for that. In fact, we she be the ones bowing." Luna stated. "Rainbow Dash, because of your bravery and loyalty, Equestria is safe once more. Not only were you able to resist Nightmare's magic but you risked your own life to save those you love." Rainbow glanced at the five mares and three fillies behind the Princesses. "And because of this, we, Princess Celestia Solar and Princess Luna Eclipse, award you with the the golden celestial cross.." Celestia hovered over a small red box with a lightning bolt on it, over to Rainbow. "You may have not been able to save your parents and sister, but you saved millions of ponies across Equestria and you saved your family." Luna said. The girls walked over to Rainbow. "Family?" "Family!" They all came closer for a group hug. "Family." Rainbow whispered. The Rise Of Nightmare Moon"Are you sure we should go in there again? Remember the incident with the cockatrice." Sweetie Belle said as she and the rest of the Crusaders entered the Everfree Forest. "Yal are just being Scootaloo now, Sweetie Belle." Answered Applebloom. "What is that supposed to mean?" Scootaloo demanded. "That yal are a chicken!" "Don't start that again!" Scootaloo was about to hit Applebloom before a blood curdling scream broke their their attention. "Sweetie Belle! What is it?" The frantic fillys pegasus asked but got no response. They were deep inside the deep, dark forest. With only Celestia's sun as light, it wasn't much help. As the thick branches block it. But a blue glow surrounded a tree. "Wha is tha?" Applebloom walked closer. Suddenly, the glow grew. But not only in size, but in shape. More and more it grew into a pony shape. No wait. An alicorn. The alicorn turned black and its hair like Princess Luna's. Midnight blue. Only bigger. Soon, the three fillies realised what it was and screamed. Nightmare Moon. Passing by was Rainbow Dash. She was doing cloud duty. She was just about to pick a cloud to nap on, but was stopped as she heard somepony scream. Or some filly. Rainbow turned around to see an ominous, blue glow. Exactly the same one she saw when she and her friends defeated Nightmare Moon. "Can it be?" "How-how is this...possible?" Sweetie asked. A rainbow streak zoomed down and landed in front of the scared fillies. "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo squealed. "What in a Equestria are you doing here?! We defeated you! Turned Luna good again!" Rainbow yelled. "I will answer your question, Rainbow Dash." Nightmare Moon said. "I am a spirit that seeks bad feelings, and feeds on it. I saw that the Princess of the Night was full of sadness and jealously. I took the opportunity. I used her and turned her into a masterpiece of evil. But Princess Celestia used the Elements of Harmony. Banished to the moon. But it was good. More and more and MORE, grew Luna's jealously. When we returned, after a thousand years, I could destroy Equestria. But I sensed the Elements. Then you lot came. When you used the Elements, I escaped. Yes I was weak, but I fed on the evilness in this forest. And now I have regained strength, I can crush Equestria and Celestia!" She broke into evil laughter. "Not on my watch!" Rainbow flared her wings. Her eyes went sky blue and her coat grew pale. "My word! A pegasus that has the same magic as unicorn to change herself! Interesting!" Nightmare cackled. She fired towards the fillies. They screamed. But stopped, when a flying stone flew in front of the beam. The stone burst into dust. Nightmare stared at Rainbow Dash. Who's coat had returned but eyes stayed blue. "Hmmm. I don't like it when somepony interupts my plans." A blue whirlwind surrounded Rainbow. She tried to fly away, but the pull was too strong. Meanwhile in the Ponyville Library. "So Twi. Could ya help me with tha cider tasting. Rarity prefers red wine, Rainbow gets easily drunk, Fluttershy won't drink it and Pinkie Pie.... well, ah think tha barn door can finish tha rest of tha sentence." Applejack smiled awkwardly as she remembered, don't get Pinkie drunk! "Why can't you do it? Or Big Mac?" Twilight asked. "Well, we need somepony else. We need the cider to taste good for other ponies, not us." "Okay, but I-" Fizzes and sparks flew from the book case. Twilight levitated a book down. It was the book that held the Elements of Harmony hidden. When she opened it, red sparks filled the room. Applejack and Twilight stared at the Elements. The others are fine, but Rainbow's necklace looked ready to explode. Suddenly, the sparks stopped. Rainbow's necklace turned grey. "What?!" "What's happening Twi?" Twilight grabbed a book and scanned the pages. The book was hoof written by Celestia, as she knew more of the Elements. She read aloud. "When an Element turns grey, it means that the bearer of that element is either dead or dying." "RAINBOW! She can't die!" Applejack yelled. "I'll find her! I've got a tracking spell!" Twilight's horn glowed. "She's in the Everfree Forest!" "Let her go, you big, dumb meanie!" Sweetie yelled. The glow around Rainbow weakened. She fell to the floor. "Ha! What point is a the element of loyalty? Is she really loyal? Has anypony been loyal to her?" Scoffed Nightmare. "Urg. Of course. I'm loyal to everypony." Rainbow croaked as she got up. "What about your sister? You weren't loyal to her, were you?" Rainbow's eyes opened wide (and were now to their original colour). Her eyes began to water. "What about your mother? And farther? You weren't loyal to them. Were you?" Rainbow was at breaking point. Tears drenched her cheeks. It was too awful. To remember the night her family died. Just then it started to rain. Pretty hard too. A beam of purple hit Nightmare. "Argh! Twilight Sparkle?!" "Get away you!" She shot out more beams. Nightmare Moon turned into a blue mist and disappeared. "Omigosh! Girls! Are ya okay?" Applejack ran up to the fillies. Who were now soaking wet. "Ah don't remember rain in tha forecast." "There wasn't." Rainbow replied. "Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?" Twilight was worried. Really worried. "Ummm... I think- I think..." Her eyes flashed blue and she fell to the ground, unconscious. "RAINBOW!" The fillies squealed. "Ohhh! Please don't be dead!" Twilight pleaded. The rain stopped and the clouds cleared. Everything was still. "What do we do, Twi?" Applejack looked at the laying pegasus. She was still breathing but was barely noticeable. "Twilight! Is Rainbow going to die?" Scootaloo's wings drooped. Twilight looked at Scootaloo. She could sense her heart breaking. Scootaloo didn't want her idol to die. No one wanted Rainbow to die. "No. She's strong. Rainbow won't die! I'll teleport back to library!" A burst of purple light surrounded them. And they were gone in a blink of a eye.
New Magic"Is she going to be okay?" Scootaloo asked. "Just wait downstairs with Spike." Twilight looked over to the orange filly who was leaving the room. "So is she?" Applejack questioned. "Yes." They both looked at Rainbow Dash. She was laying in Twilight's bed. Numerous bruises and cuts across her body, maybe even a few feathers came out. Twilight was able to monitor Rainbow to if she was okay. She was okay, but she was slightly colder than usual. "TWILIGHT! RARITY, PINKIE AND FLUTTERSHY ARE HERE!" Spike yelled from downstairs. The sound of hooves rushing upstairs filled the silent library. "Oh my goodness! Is she okay?" Rarity said. Earlier, Twilight sent three notes to the others. And a letter to Princess Celestia. "She fine." "What happened to Dashie?" Pinkie's bubbly pink mane started to fall straight. "Nightmare Moon happened." "What?!" "It's true." "But ho-" "TWILIGHT! CELESTIA IS HERE!" Spike yelled again. Gentle hoof steps were heard. But more were heard as well. The Princess of the Night came too. "Twilight Sparkle. Is it true?" Celestia trotted up to Twilight. "Unfortunately yes. I just hope we got to Rainbow in time." "What do you mean?" Luna tilted her head. "Me and Applejack were in the library, when Rainbow's element shot out sparks. Then it turned grey." The two princesses gasped. "But she isn't dead." "No. But something is wrong with her." Luna walked over to Rainbow. Her horn lit up and surrounded the young pegasus. "I-I... What?!" "Sister, what is it?" "She has got a new type of magic." "How is this possible? She not a unicorn." Rarity stated. "Nightmare Moon magic must have leaked into Rainbow." "Umm, Princess Luna? If Nightmare Moon is back, how come you're still here?" Fluttershy whispered. "I was possessed by that evil spirit. A cover story was made to protect Equestria. Celestia tried to get rid of the spirit but was unable to. So as a last resort, she placed me one the moon. Hoping that the spirit would weaken, and it did. Once the elements were found I was finally free!" Luna grinned making look slightly crazy. "But we must be careful." Celestia added as she looked at her sister. A thousand years on the moon must have been taking its toll on the moon Princess. "Why?" "Element magic and the spirit's magic do not match. It could create chaos in Rainbow." Just then, Rainbow groaned. "Urg. Where am I?" She rubbed head. "Rainbow!" The girls went over and hugged Rainbow Dash. She smiled. And the the sun brightened. Then it went cold and windy. "Are the girls okay? Are they hurt?" "Yes Rainbow. They're fine." The wind stopped and it began to heat up again. "Hmmm. Girls may I have a word." Celestia walked out of the room. "Without you Rainbow." The others left and noted that the sky dullened a bit. "Crusaders!" Luna said. "Today, I want you to be on cheering up duty!" "Who are we cheering up?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Who da ya think?" Applejack replied. "OMIGOSH! RAINBOW DASH IS OKAY!" An orange blur zoomed upstairs along with two other fillies. The sky turned to it's normal, bright state. "Celestia, what's wrong?" Twilight looked at her mentor. "Well, from the proof we've heard from the fillies and you, we believe that Nightmare Moon's magic and Rainbow's element magic have created a super magic." Celestia looked at the girls. "She has now the ability to change the weather with her emotions." Luna added. "Woah! So Dashie is a super mare! AWESOME! I'll get a party ready!" Pinkie was about to shoot out before a midnight blue glow held. "Pinkie, we cannot tell anypony about Nightmare Moon! Everypony will believe it's me." Luna's face saddened. Ponies still believe Luna is evil and many still think she should no longer be Princess. "Don't worry sister. Also if Rainbow knew it could effect her completely. Maybe even destroying her. I want you to keep her emotions at bay." Celestia left along with Luna. "Twilight, it may be an idea to erase the fillies mind." Luna left. "Can you do that?" Rarity asked. "Yes." "So when-" "In a moment. But first let's see if Rainbow is okay." The opened the door to see, Rainbow playing around with the Crusaders. Sweetie Belle was pretending to be princess stuck on a mountain (or a bed), Applebloom was an evil witch and Scootaloo was the rescuer. She was riding on Rainbow's back, who was hovering on the air. "Yal are under ma power, Princess Sweetie!" Applebloom cackled wearing Twilight's old Nightmare Night wizard hat. "Help! Help!" Sweetie had a blanket around her waist. "Don't worry Princess! I will save you on my trusty rainbow dragon." Scootaloo waved a quill as if it was sword. "Roar!" Rainbow said. "Oh no! It's the chicken!" Applebloom ran onto the floor. "Applebloom!" Scootaloo jumped off Rainbow. "Don't call me chicken!" Rainbow landed and saw the others. "Seems like you're having fun!" Rarity giggled. "Also it seems like Rainbow likes playing baby games!" Applejack laughed. Rainbow growled. The skies grew dark with thick, black clouds. Wild wind blew. Lightning cracked. Rainbow stopped staring daggers and looked outside. "Great! I bet Derpy has been let loose with the cloud delivery. I'll go clean it up." She flew out the window. "Applejack! Remember what the Princesses said." Applejack smiled sheepishly. Twilight walked to the fillies. "Girls. What happened today was something you shouldn't have seen. So I'm erasing your memory." "What?!" "But Twilight. We had fun with Rainbow Dash! I don't want to forget that." Scootaloo pleaded. Twilight looked into the fillies eyes. "Okay. But to make sure won't tell anypony, I'll put a secret locker spell on you." A pink glow surrounded the fillies. "Done!" "We have to see if it works. Sweetie Belle, what did Rarity do last week?" Applejack asked. Rarity blushed. "I can't tell you." "Err, thank you Sweetie. Now off you Crusaders go. To do crusading." Rarity ushered. Once they had gone, she stared at Applejack. She smiled. "Nice try, Applesnack!" And she left.
Why Is It Raining?It was bright, vibrant and a sunny day. But that was until it grew windy, dark and stormy. Great big clouds block out Celestia's sun light. It also began to hail. A white unicorn ran out of her boutique, along with a yellow pegasus and a pink earth pony, and ran together to the tree library. "TWILIGHT!" Rarity yelled as her mane whipped around. "Does anypony know where Rainbow Dash is?" Twilight asked as she and Spike ran around stopping the paper flying around. Then it stopped hailing. The wind cleared and the clouds lightened. But it started to rain. "I think she's at Sweet Apple Acres. She went to help Applejack." Spike replied. "Spike. Stay here. We've got to-" "Yeah yeah! I know! I'll see you later, Twilight!" "Pathetic! How can ya be loyalty? Ya can't even help out! Ya just sleep and boast! Ya will never git inta tha Wonderbolts!" Applejack scoffed. But this wasn't Applejack. Her eyes were icey blue instead of green. The tip of her tail was dark blue. It was Nightmare Moon. Rainbow Dash didn't know this. She was too upset that one of her best friends were calling her pathetic. Twilight and the others ran up to the barn to see Rainbow and Applejack. "What is wrong with you AJ?" Rainbow yelled. "RAINBOW! IT'S NOT AJ!" Twilight shouted. A blue blast knocked all the ponies onto the ground. Rainbow rubbed her head. "Huh?! Nightmare Moon! What have you done with AJ?" "The element of honesty is playing hide and seek. You will find her at Ponyville's highest peek. Muhahahaha!" She disappeared. Rainbow ran over to the girls. The wind blew hard. "Girls! Are you okay?" "We're fine. But where's Applejack?" "The element of honesty is playing hide and seek. You will find her at Ponyville's highest peak." "What?!" The others said in sync. "Thats what Nightmare Moon said." All of them looked at the mountain near by. Then looked at Rainbow. "Rainbow! Go and see if she's up there!" "I'm on it!" She saluted and zoomed off. Rainbow reached the top of the mountain. The last time she was here, she kicked a dragon on the nose. As she landed, she saw a brown hat. Slightly tatty muddy, but she knew who it belonged to. "AJ! APPLEJACK!" "rainbow." A faint whisper called. "APPLEJACK! WHERE ARE YOU?" "rainbow. Ah am over here." Rainbow scanned the area. She saw blood. A hard wind started to blow. Then she saw Applejack. She was laying on her stomach. Her was hair messy and had dried blood in it. Her left fore-leg was injured pretty bad, as it was bleeding. "Applejack! Are you okay?" "Ah am fine." She tried to get up but hissed in pain. "No you are not. Here, try and climb up onto my back." Once Applejack was on Rainbow's back, the pegasus opened her wings. She was about to take off until she heard an evil giggle. "She won't make it in time. Not even the fastest pony can get to the hospital in time, before she dies. Hehehe!" Nightmare giggled. "Yes she will!" Thunder and lightning sliced through the sky. "She's a stubborn, but strong mare!" Applejack smiled weakly. Rainbow zoomed off. At Ponyville hospital, Nurse Redheart was clearing up the rooms. Dr. Kindheart was reading the paper at the front desk. They were the only ponies there. It was a Sunday after all. It was very quiet in the building. That was until, a blue pegasus burst through the doors. "SOMEPONY HELP!" The two doctors ran up. Redheart grabbed a bed while Kindheart helped Rainbow lower Applejack down. "Rainbow Dash. Go and get Dr. Whooves." Kindheart demanded. A rainbow streak flew out. "Is she okay?" Fluttershy asked. "We're not certain. She has lost alot of blood. But she's in a stable condition." Five mares and three fillies sat in the waiting room. Outside, it was raining hard. Rainbow stared out the window muttering. "It wasn't supposed to rain." Were one of the comments the others heard. Next to her was Applejack's hat. Applebloom sobbed quietly, while Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle comforted her. The rest of the girls had blank faces. They heard the hospital doors open. "Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! We weren't excepting a vist today!" Nurse Redheart said surprised. "We are here to see Applejack." "Sorry your Highnesses. But, she's still being cared for right now. But you can wait with them." She pointed to the girls. Celestia and Luna walked towards them. "Thank you, nurse." Twilight looked up. "Celestia! Luna!" She ran over to them and hugged them. Luna smiled, but noticed Rainbow looking at them. She then returned to looking out the window. "We heard of Applejack's kidnapping. We came as fast as we could." Dr. Whooves entered. "How is she?" Rarity asked. "Not very good. She has lost alot of blood. She is also in shock." "Will she get better?" Pinkie whispered. "We are unsure." At that pointed, Rainbow started to bang her head against the window. "Why? Why? Why?" Her wings fluttered and the rain fell harder. "Rainbow, please calm down. It wasn't your fault." "Of course its my fault! I knew it was Nightmare Moon! But no! I just yelled!" Lightning cracked and thunder boomed. Winds blew at hurricane force. "Calm down." The others urged. "She was right. I am pathetic." "You're not pathetic." Scootaloo said. "Yes I am. I couldn't protect my parents, my sister and not even my friends." Ice began to form outside. Celestia leant over to Twilight. "We need to calm her down. She could create a hurricane." "Shall I put a sleeping spell on her?" Rainbow stopped muttering. Clouds cleared, the wind and rain stopped, but the sky wasn't bright. Rainbow's eyes flashed blue. The tips of her wings and hooves turned black. Celestia and Luna's opened wide. Luna's horn glowed. Rainbow fell to the floor. "RAINBOW!" "Don't worry. She's under a sleeping spell." Celestia hushed. "She's on the first stages." Luna whispered.
The First Stages"First stages of what?" "When I was possessed by the spirit, there were stages until I became fully possessed." Luna looked down. "And they are?" "Colour changes. And feeling either guilty or jealous." Luna added. "Rainbow is feeling guilty and her eyes, coat and feathers are turning black." Celestia said. "So she will become," *gulp*, "Nightmare Moon." Twilight shuddered at the thought. "Hopefully not. But depends how much power and magic she's got. So far not much. She's very weak, but at this rate, she will become more like her." Celestia lifted up Rainbow and layed her on the chair. "Grey Quick." Pinkie said. "What?!" "Well, when Luna became evil she was called Nightmare Moon, instead of Luna Eclipse. So instead of Rainbow Dash, Grey Quick." "Pinkie. She is not going to be evil. She's too loyal." Celestia hushed. As Celestia spoke, a limping Applejack entered. "Hi everypony!" She smiled weakly. "Applejack!" Everypony went to hug her. "But we thought-" "Ahh. Ah just hurt a bit. Ya know broken bones, cuts and bruises." "We were so worried!" "Ah know." She looked around. She saw Rainbow. "Is Rainbow okay?" "Umm. AJ. She's kind of turning evil." "What?!" "She is turning into another version of Nightmare Moon. The only way to slower the progress is to keep her calm. Twilight, if you see any other signs, knock her out. Even if she is flying. We can't take any risks. Knowing Nightmare Moon, she create Rainbow into her slave." "But Princess. What if-" "Twilight, I trust you. All of you." Celestia smiled. "However, from Luna's experience, I found some very important information." "What?" "If good, happiness and love is reflected upon the magic, that will over power the evil, dark magic." Luna walked over. "But if darkness, dismay and hatred, it could be used to destroy Equestria. And the Element of Loyalty will be no more." The others gasped. "Rainbow? Rainbow!" "Huh?" "Rainbow, are you hurt?" Fluttershy helped her friend up. "What happened?" "You had a panic attack, so I put a sleep spell on you." Rainbow looked around. Instead of being in the hospital, she was in the tree library. Surrounded by her friends. "Some sleep spell! All I could see was a dark landscape." Twilight shot up. "Say again!" "Everything was dark. And everypony I trusted and cared for left me. My family yelled at me saying I wasn't good enough for them, and telling me I should just die. Then I ..." The dark clouds formed. But instead of storms, it was just light rain "Dashie? Please tell us!" "I-I-I" Rainbow looked over to Fluttershy. "Oh my goodness, Rainbow!" Fluttershy said, wide eyed. "Only this time, you weren't there to stop me. I'm so glad it was a dream. I would never leave you guys." She smiled. The clouds disappeared. Rainbow's eyes opened. "Omigosh! Is AJ still okay?" A gale force wind blew. "Ah am fine, sugarcube." Applejack patted Rainbow's back. The winds stopped and the air heated up again. "Umm. Girls." "Yes?" "Does anyone know about the crazy weather?" The others stared at each other. "Umm, Derpy...Errr...." "Derpy?! Again?! You can trust her with a bag of letters but not a weather factory! Urg!" Rainbow faced hoof. "I'll see you later girls! Glad you're okay AJ!" She walked out the door. "Twi!" "I'm looking! I'm looking! This book Celestia wrote for me, names the different signs." "Well?!" Twilight scanned the book. "She's on stage two. Dark dreams of evil, hatred and death." "What's the next stage?" Rarity peered over the book. "Stage three is... black outs." "Right, ah have an idea!" "What is it AJ?" "We cannot spy on Rainbow all day every day. But ah know three fillies who can." "Ya want us ta do what?" Asked a very confused Applebloom. "YES! YES! YES! WE WILL! WE WILL!" Scootaloo jumped around. "But why?" Sweetie Belle looked over to the five mares in front of her. "We need help to make sure Rainbow stays calm. And so she doesn't go into another stage." Rarity replied. "Anndd, you might get your cutiemarks in spying!" Twilight added. The three fillies looked at each other. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS SPIES! YAY!" "The idea of being a spy, is to be secretive! So don't let Rainbow know what you are doing." "Yes! Come on girls! Let's get some spy outfits ready!" Scootaloo jumped onto her scooter. "Wait! Wha about spyin when she's at home?" Applebloom questioned. "I will do it! I'll get Pinkie's flying thing! I am a pegasus, so I can stand on clouds." The excitement was too much for Scootaloo. "Fine! But ya owe me Applejack!" "Since when? Ya still owe me for usin ma bed as a go kart last week!" Applejack humphed. "He...um, yeah. Okay. See ya later!" Applebloom and Sweetie Belle climbed into the trailer.
Evil Rainbows And Little Princesses"Scootaloo! What is she doing now?" Sweetie Belle yelled. "Shhh!" "Sorry." Sweetie Belle and Applebloom stood under Rainbow's cloud house, while Scootaloo peered through a window. "She's in the bathroom! Wait...no....she's coming in her bedroom!" Rainbow walked into her room. A towel around her waist. Her hair and wings dripping. It was obvious that she had a bath. She took the towel off and placed it in a basket. Then she vigorously shook her head. She was just about to feed Tank, when she fell to the ground unconscious. "Eep!" Scootaloo squealed. "What? Scootaloo?" "She's um... Get Twilight!" Scootaloo looked back to see a blue glow around Rainbow...and around her own hooves. "Quickly!" "So, how do think the girls are doing?" Twilight trotted in, hovering a tray of hot drinks. "Pretty well. Ah see no houses on fire or Ursa Minors running around!" Applejack giggled. "Well I-" BANG! BANG! BANG! Twilight dropped the tray, spilling the drinks on the floor. The doors flew open, revealing two frantic fillies. They didn't need to explain anything as Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity shot out. Applejack and Pinkie stayed to look after Applebloom and Sweetie. The house was easy to spot, as it glowed brilliant blue. "SCOOTALOO!" "Twilight! Help! I'm stuck!" Twilight tried to use her magic, but got blasted back. "Twilight!" Rarity rushed over. Fluttershy stared at the house. She flew up to Scootaloo. By now, she would of flown off in fright. But knowing a filly and her closet friend were in trouble, she risked it. "Oh, Fluttershy! My dearest friend!" An eerie voice called out. "R-R-Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo stammered. A pegasus mare approached from the darkness. It was Rainbow Dash. Her usually cyan coat, was now midnight blue. Her wings and hooves faded to a sky blue. Her rainbow hair now resembled Nightmare Moon's except, it wasn't flowing. Her eyes were pure evil. Turquoise blue with a thin pupil. Like a cat's. And she had fangs. Another sign of evil. "Rainbow, please. You can fight this?" Fluttershy pleaded. "Rainbow?! Give me a break! That pathetic mare! Can't even fly straight!" Evil Rainbow walked closer. Twilight looked up, along with Rarity. The house stopped glowing but there was still a light source. Suddenly, Fluttershy fell to the ground. Holding on to Scootaloo. "Fluttershy!" Rainbow landed beside them. Twilight couldn't believe it. Stage four already. Outbursts of evil magic. "Rainbow Dash?" Rarity called. "Not anymore!" Her eyes shimmered. "Call me Midnight Dash! Oooo! This is going to be fun! Playing with my friends!" Dash walked closer. "THOU SHALT STOP, IN THE NAME OF EQUESTRIA!" Luna swooped down. She was followed by Celestia. "Princess?" Twilight looked confused. "A young dragon and fillies, may have sent us a letter." Celestia winked. "Ha! What can you do?" Dash scoffed. "Reach for Rainbow." Celestia said calmly. "Really?" The princesses horns glowed. "Oh no you don't!" A blue mist surrounded the princesses. "LUNA! CELESTIA!" Twilight yelled. The mist cleared, revealing two average mares. One was a white unicorn, with cream pink hair. The other was a dark blue pegasus with light blue hair. "Hahaha! Not so powerful now, are you?" "How dare you?" Luna squeaked. "How dare I? Oh Princess Luna, or shall I just say Luna." Dash broke off into evil laughter. "Stealing my moment, are we?" Nightmare Moon trotted towards Dash. "I say well done! You've done better than I thought! But now it's time to sleep!" She tapped Rainbow. She slumped to the floor. "What do you want with her?" Celestia yelled. "I want somepony you trust...to destroy Equestria! Muhahahaha!" In a crack of lightning, she was gone. "Celestia! Luna!" "We are fine." Celestia looked over to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow had now returned to her normal colours. She steadily raised her head. But before she could spoke, she coughed blood. Her nose bled heavily. "What's happening to her? Why is she bleeding?" Fluttershy rushed over to her friend. "The outburst must of been too much." Luna said. Still getting used to the fact that she no longer has a horn. And has a slightly higher voice. "Ahhhh! It hurts!" Rainbow spluttered. The taste of blood filled her mouth. "Shhhh." Celestia beckoned Twilight over. "Now that I am no longer an alicorn, I will need help with this spell." "Yes?" A glow of yellow and pink covered Rainbow Dash. Twilight could see that Rainbow was falling to sleep, but something was wrong. "Celestia? What did we do?" "I'm sorry. But we had to put her in a permanent sleep. She won't be waking up unless a strong magic is used." "But-but-" "I can only perform this once until me and Luna are alicorns again. Until then, she will sleep."
Stage Five Is Nearing"Yah what?!" Applejack exclaimed as she watched the little princesses walk into the library. "We had to. She was out of control. Nightmare Moon is now too powerful." Celestia said as she sat next to her student. "Can't we use the magic of the elements against her." Twilight asked. "Not with Rainbow Dash like this. She may be the Element of loyalty, but the dark magic has overpowered her." Luna replied. "Poor Rainbow." Fluttershy whispered. "Indeed. But if I remember correctely, there should be something to weaken Nightmare Moon's power over her." Twilight's ears perked up. "What?! What is it?" "We dont truly remember but some books in the Canterlot Archives should tell us." Celestia rubbed her chin. "Come on!" Pinkie bounced up from her seat. "wait!" Luna called. "What?" "With me and Luna as unicorn and pegasus, "Luna fluttered her wings as Celestia spoke,"No pony will recognise us." "How is that a problem?" Rarity asked. "Think about. Two average mares claiming to be the rulers. Not exactly a great idea." Luna huffed. "But you are the rulers. You've got the cutiemarks, the voi-okay maybe not." Twilight sniggered as Luna gave a stern look. "I cannot believe Tia's voice sounds the same, but I sound like Rarity's sister!" "What's wrong with my sister?!" Rarity demanded. "Nothing. Her voice of fits her because she is a filly. What am I, about over a thousand years old!" "Alright! Calm down. Twilight, you and the others can access the archives. I and Luna will keep an eye on Rainbow." Celestia looked at her student, at now an eye level rather than looking down on her. The others nodded and ran out. Celestia sat next to her frustrated sister. "I hope they'll find the book. Nightmare Moon must be destroyed." "They will, little sister. Have faith in them. Not only for us, not only for Equestria, but Rainbow Dash too." They both looked over a pink bubble. In the bubble was a unconscious pegasus. Twilight put up the bubble to slowen the dark magic. However, stage five was nearing. "The process of physical appearance changing." Luna's head drooped. "Don't worry Luna. She will be fine soon. This process will be slower than yours as you were already an alicorn." "But Tia! Stage five! Stage one was yesterday! Mine took two weeks, not two days!" "Keep calm. Twilight and the others will find that book." The two transformed princesses looked over at Rainbow. Her wings slowly fading black. Her hair, midnight blue. Her cutiemark...was no longer a cloud with a tri-coloured lightning bolt. But a white lightning bolt with chains across it. "I pray on the glimmering sun and the marvelous moon, that they will find it soon. Otherwise, Equestria will no longer be the land of love, peace and harmony." "But a land of fear, plague and death. Something that should never happen." Celestia's horn glimmered and so did the bubble. "Nightmare Moon's magic is too quick and powerful for Rainbow. I can feel her body weakening." "Sister, can you see loyalty inside of her still?" Celestia closed her eyes. She could hear whispers. "My friends need me. I need to help them. They're my family, the one I never had. I must help them. I don't care if I die, as long as they are all safe. Nightmare Moon will not hurt them. I must help them. I must. I must." "Well?!" "Yes. I'm surprised as well." "Why? What's wrong Tia?" "Not what's wrong, but what's right." "Huh?!" "Rainbow's element magic is starting to fight back." "But?" "But, it's not strong enough yet." "How can it-" "Shh. Luna, it may not be strong now but soon. Loyalty is the strongest." "I thought magic was the strongest element." "Second really. It overpowers the other elements. However, I have a feeling this pegasus may carry all the elements." "What in Equestria do you mean Celestia?!" "I mean that, she carries loyalty, kindness, generosity, laughter, honesty." "And magic?" "She holds the magic of friendship in her heart."
The Strong And The Weak"This one?" "Nope." "This one, dear?" "No." "Ooo! What about this one?" "No Pinkie. That's a flip up book for foals." "Twi, we're never gonna find tha darn book!" Applejack huffed. The others slouched. Around them were piles and piles of books. "Umm, I think I found it." Fluttershy whispered. "We have to find the book!" Twilight yelled, ignoring Fluttershy. "Twilight." "Awww. I don't want Dashie to be evil." Pinkie cried. "Girls. I found the book." "Now don't worry dear." Rarity hovered over a small hoofkerchief. "Girls, look I-" "What if we never find it? And Dashie will be evil! She will help that big meanie an-" "GIRLS!!" Everypony's head whirled round at Fluttershy. "Oops. I'm sorry. It's just that...I think I found it." Twilight zoomed over. "What?! Really! Why didn't tell us before?" "Well, I tried." "Tha doesn't matter now! Open tha book Twi!" Applejack demanded. The book glowed pink as the pages flicked open. "Hmmm." "What is it Twi?" "These pages...are empty." The girls came round to look at the book. Twilight was right. It was empty. "WHAT?! This can't be!" Luna exclaimed. "It's true. Right there. In front of you." Twilight passed the book to Celestia. "Now there is no hope." "Don't worry Luna. Everything will be okay." Celestia soothed. Luna opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her eyes were fixed on something. The others looked as well. The Elements of Harmony book. As before, red sparks flew out of it. Twilight hovered the book over. "Twilight!" They all looked around the room. "Twilight!" "Who is it? Where are you?" Twilight called. "Over here egghead!" "Rainbow Dash?" "That's impossible! She is right there. Unconscious." Rarity said. "No. Over here." Everypony looked at the element book again. "Rainbow?" "Girls! I've got something important to tell you!" "She's communicating through her element." Luna gazed at the necklace. "Is that possible?" "Yes. If the magic of the element is strong enough." Celestia replied. "Please do go on Rainbow." "Nightmare Moon. She's got Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo!" "What?!" "She's at a clearing in the Everfree forest." "How do know this?" "I can hear them. Now go! Go!" They all instantly ran outside with the Elements of Harmony book. But suddenly stopped. Instead of bright cheery skies, it was deep black. Thick smoke came from various houses. Ponies screaming and running around. "Oh no!" "Let us go!" "Yeah! Let us go yah dumb meanie!" Nightmare Moon stood there laughing. "You three are soooo cute when you're scared." "When Rainbow Dash hears about this she'll..." Scootaloo started. "She'll what?" "Umm." "She probably bash yah ta tha ground!" Applebloom said as she squirmed around. "You really believe that? Hahahahaha!" "Yes we do!" Somepony shouted. "Huh?!" Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Luna and Celestia emerged from the trees. "Enjoying your...transformation, princesses?" "Now don't you bloody dare!" Luna zoomed straight at Nightmare. "What are you going to do about it? You're powerless!" Nightmare said. Then three cages emerged from the smoke. And instantly, locked up the crusaders, Luna and Celestia. "Celestia! Luna!" "Sweetie Belle!" "Applebloom!" "Scootaloo!" Nightmare laughed. "What did you do?" "Getting ready for the evening entertainment." Nightmare Moon's horn glowed. The path leading to the clearing glowed brilliant blue. "Oh, Midnight Dash! It's time to play!" She called. The sound of hooves could be heard, as well as evil laughing. "Really Mistress? I thought it would be a bit longer." The transformed Rainbow Dash appeared. "But-but she was on a sleeping spell!" Twilight stuttered. "Yes. Only a powerful magic could awaken her." Nightmare giggled. "Oh no Dashie!" Pinkie wailed. "Who? I'm no longer that stupid mare, Rainbow Dash." "Yah are! Yah jast being hypnotized!" Applejack yelled. "Oh look who's talking back, Mistress! Now, what should her punishment be?" Dash looked over to Nightmare. "Hmmm. Oooo, I know the perfect one. Creeping Darkness." She replied. Dash nodded and turned to Applejack. She closed her eyes. Chains of thick black smoke wrapped around Applejack. "Moon light, dark night. Nightmares cruel, black whirlpool. Time to cry, time to die!" Dash opened her eyes. Applejack started shaking. She shut her eyes, and started moaning in pain. "Applejack!" Applebloom screamed. "Applejack! Stop! Stop it, Rainbow! Yah her friend! Please stop it Rainbow!" She started to cry. A pink glow covered the chains. They disappeared. Applejack slumped to the floor. Fluttershy and Pinkie rushed over to her. "Huh?!" The pink glow surrounded Dash. "Rainbow! You can fight this!" Twilight called. Dash just hissed. "Please Rainbow. You're a strong mare. You would never give up a fight. A fight for your friends." "Stupid Twilight! Why should I listen to you?" "Because, I know that there is still my friend in there. That friend is Rainbow Miriam Dashery." At the second Twilight said that name, Dash's eyes flashed. Twilight noted this. "Come on Rainbow." Rainbow's eyes returned to their rosey hue state. "NO!" Nightmare Moon yelled. A cage popped out and surrounded the five mares. "You pathetic mare! You will not give into this!" Nightmare's horn glowed. Then Rainbow started groaning. "Now you will listen to me! You will not, I repeat, you will not give in." "I-I-I-urg." Rainbow hissed in pain. Her nose began bleeding as well. "You will hurt even more." Rainbow fell to the ground. "Rainbow!" "Dashie!" "Rainbow! Yah can fight this! Please, for us." Applejack called out. "I must-I must fight...ahh." She tried getting up. "Hmmm. Won't stay down? What about this?" Rainbow started to yell out in pain. However, her hair and coat began to change back. "Still hurts, doesn't it? The injury your uncle gave you. The very same uncle who killed your sister. The very same uncle who kept you for himself. Kept you for a, how do you say it, dirty need." The pegasus cried. Nightmare's glow around Rainbow disappeared. Now, Rainbow was back to normal. But her wing and nose still bled. The dark alicorn walked towards Rainbow, and whispered to Rainbow. "This uncle." Rainbow stood up. And looked behind her. There, stood in front of her, was her uncle. A white pegasus stallion with red and yellow hair. His cutiemark was a police badge. "Oh Celestia! Please! Don't hurt me!" Rainbow fluttered back. He smiled. "Rainbow, long time no see. How about a little get together?" "Nononono! Please! Not again!" "Oh what's wrong Rainbow Dash? I thought you weren't scared of anything!" Nightmare sneered. Rainbow began to breath heavily. "I am! I am! Just please make him go away!" She pleaded. "Hmm. Should you go away Solo?" "Yes! Make him go! I don't want him to hurt me again!" Rainbow tried flying upwards. But couldn't. She winced in pain as she moved her injured wing. "Why should I? I, Nightmare Moon, is torturing the strongest element of harmony! Hahaha!" "But, I thought magic is the strongest!" Twilight called out from inside the cage. "Oh of course not! Magic is the leading element. Loyalty is the strongest. If loyalty cracks, so do the other elements." Nightmare's horn glowed again. "Oh look. Loyalty already is broken. Aren't you, you pathetic mare?" Rainbow looked at the evil grin of her uncle, but then looked at the concerned looks of her friends. "No." "Of course you are! The years of pain you had to live with. The pain of death. Guilt. And just plain pain." "So what?! What hurts me, makes me stronger!" "Is that so?" Some smoke cleared revealing a white pegasus mare with red, orange and yellow hair. A musk blue pegasus stallion with green, blue and purple hair. "Mother? Farther?" "Don't you dare call us your parents! Not after what you've done!" The mother yelled. "I-I-but-." "Shut it! You deserve to be in bloody pain! You should be killed!" The farther shouted. "Please, farther, let me explain." Rainbow sobbed. "No! You are no daughter of mine! The only daughter I have is Daydream. But you! You let her die!" "I didn't! I swear! I didn't hurt her. I tried to protect her!" "I don't understand why you didn't just jump when you did." Rainbow drooped her wings and head. "I did." "Ha! The worthless thing did! So ya did jump! Taking the easy way out!" Twilight and the others started at Rainbow. "Please stop." Rainbow whispered. "If you did commit suicide, why are you still here?" They all gasped (except for the fillies as they didn't understand) as that one single word was mentioned. Suicide. "Because, I wouldn't be the element of loyalty." Rainbow snapped. Nightmare Moon sat up. "I wouldn't be loyal if I deserted everything. My dreams. My hopes. My friends. My real family. Now you might be making me cry and feel worthless, but I am not the type of mare that would spend their whole life crying. I live everyday by risks, by thrills. I live everyday with my friends. And I defiantly, don't give up without a fight." The figures of Rainbow's parents disappeared, and so did her uncle. "Strong words, however, you're not exactly getting stronger." Nightmare was right. Rainbow was feeling weak. Blood still dripped from her nose and wing. She was getting weaker. Celestia noticed this as well. She sensed that Rainbow wasn't just weak. Oh no, she could sense something far more than that. Nightmare Moon's horn glowed and so did Rainbow. "Hahaha!" The world around Rainbow began to spin and turn. Applejack turned away, to look at the Elements of Harmony book. A loud pop came from the book. Rainbow lay on the ground. Luna stared closely at her. Rainbow's coat was getting paler. "Celestia! Rainbow, she-she..." "She's dying!" Nightmare said.
The Last Stage...Of Rainbow's Life"No! I won't believe it! Rainbow is not going to die!" Scootaloo pouted. But no matter how hard she denied, she knew that Nightmare was right. Rainbow slowly got up. "Don't-don't worry, Sc-Scoots. I ain't going anyw-w-where." "Such confidence, for such a feeble pony." Nightmare sneered. "Hey, you-you are t-t-talking the fastest flier in-in Equestria." Rainbow replied. "Not for long you're not." Nightmare grinned. "Shut up! Shut up!" Scootaloo screamed. Everypony looked over at the cage that contained the Crusaders. Scootaloo was in the middle, with her head in her hooves. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom attempted calm her down, but with no success. "Rainbow! You're not going to die! You're not! You can't! Please." Rainbow tried to fly over but winced at her injured wing. Instead, she trotted over. "Scoots, it's ok-k-kay. I'm fine." "Nightmare! Are you doing this to her?" Applejack demanded. "Maybe." Her horn glowed. Rainbow closed her eyes. "Aaahh." She hissed between her teeth. Scootaloo frantically looked at Rainbow, then at everypony else. "I think it's nearly time for a rainbow to fade." The alicorn sneered. The skies began to darken. Clouds filled them. Lightning cracked and thunder boomed. "Huh? This isn't my work." Nightmare Moon stared at the clouds. "It's Rainbow's." Luna stated. "That's impossible. She's a pegasus. She can't control this amount of power." "Actually, she can." Twilight said. "Thousands and thousands of years ago, pegasi held a deep magic. Called Feather Soul. All ponies with this magic can also understand and speak fluently, Old Equestrian. This magic was highly dangerous if put in the wrong hooves. After awhile, the magic began to wear out. Until it completely disappeared. I researched Rainbow's family, and found that she is the last pegasus to have Feather Soul magic. That and some of your magic leaked inside causing a mixture of magic. And what really does amaze me is th-" "Alright, eggh-h-head. I know I am the last the last Feather Soul. And that I speak Old Equestrian." "Is that so? High-en crish an." Nightmare declared. "Velo tas tah yo shallow." Rainbow replied. "Hmm, good. Good." Nightmare clapped. "Err Twi, wha did they say?" Applejack asked. "Umm, I don't know. It's an extinct language. So I could never study it." "Hey! Dashie! What did you and Nightmare Meanie say?" Pinkie yelled. "I'm a really the element of loyalty?" "And, what did you say?" "If I'm loyal enough t-t-to use my own life to spare Equestria." "Nooo! Rainbow don't!" Fluttershy yelled. "Dashie! I don't want you to go." "Hmmm, you surely would be missed." Nightmare said. Rainbow looked over at her friends. Pinkie and Fluttershy were crying their eyes out. Applejack covered her face with her hat, quietly sobbing. Rarity held back the tears as well as Twilight. Then she looked at Scootaloo. Her wings drooped and she held her head in her hooves. "Maybe we might come to agreement." Nightmare whispered to Rainbow. "You name it." "I know you are pretty good when it comes to handling a sword. So, my greatest fighter verses you." A ball of smoke appeared. "I guess you're familiar..." The smoke cleared. "...with this." Rainbow stared wide eyed at the object, as it began to rain. A glimmering silver katana samurai sword with rosey hue gems on the handle hovered in front of her. Engraved on the blade, a name...RAINBOW MIRAIM DASH. Everypony gazed at the sword. Celestia stood up, "Nightmare! Let me out!" "Why should I?" "I must speak to her." Nightmare Moon hesitated, but opened the door to Celestia's cage. The altered sun goddess trotted up to the injured pegasus mare, being closely watched by everypony. "Are you sure you can do this?" "I-I-I...don't know." "Rainbow, be strong. I know you are weak, very weak, but you can do this." Celestia assured. "I don't understand." "What is it, Miraim?" "I-wait, what? What did call me?" Thunder cracked and lightning boomed. "Miraim. Wasn't it your nickname?" Celestia looked surprised. "No. Well, kinda. Yes. But only one pony called me Miriam." The noise came to a stand-still. The land was silent. Well, except for the screaming of ponies in Ponyville. "What's the hold up?" Nightmare demanded. "Pardon?" "I said, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP, YOU STUPID PATHETIC MARE?!" Nightmare yelled at Celestia. As great as Celestia is, she was scared. Not only for everypony else and Equestria, but for herself as well. Nightmare Moon had transformed her, well actually Rainbow Dash did, and now, she was an average unicorn mare. A weak average unicorn mare. Celestia backed away as soon as Nightmare yelled. Luna rattled her cage. "Listen you! You maybe the only alicorn around, and you've turned me and my sister into normal mares, but we can still defeat you!" Luna shouted. Nightmare got up and walked towards Luna. "You can still defeat me? Says the the princess who couldn't get rid of me. You were an alicorn with the magic to raise the moon, yet, you couldn't get rid of me." A golden magic slapped Nightmare across the face. Luna smirked and Celestia laughed. Nightmare growled. She opened the night princess's cage. A musk blue glow formed around Luna's throat. Luna began to cough and gasp for air. "LUNA!" Tia yelled. "Nightmare let her go!" The blow glow got tighter around Luna's throat. "P...lease...sto...p." She croaked. "Nightmare! Stop. Please." Celestia began crying. "What's the matter, Celestia?" Nightmare taunted. "Let her go. please. Don't let her die. I don't want to lose her again." Twilight watched as her mentor cried. The one who was always there for her. Who was always strong. But was now, breaking down. Into tears. "Please Nightmare." "How about I do this then, Tia?" Nightmare hovered a small knife over. "NO! Please Nightmare! Have mercy!" Just as Nightmare was about plunge the knife into Luna's stomach when, a katana samurai sword blocked the knife from hurting the choking pegasus. "Put. the. knife. down." Rainbow demanded. She hated to hold the sword again, but she had to. She had to stop Nightmare Moon. Nightmare laughed. "You may be first class in swordspony-ship, but that doesn't mean you can tell me want to do." "Yeah, but it does mean I can do this." Rainbow bucked Nightmare, which sent her back a couple of metres onto the ground. Knocking her unconcious. The blue glow disappeared and Luna collapsed to the floor of her cage. "Luna!" Celestia ran towards her younger sister. She sat down and and hugged Luna. "Oh Luna. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Luna weakly hugged back. "I love you Luna. Please don't leave me. I'll be here for you. I promise to protect you." She turned to Rainbow. "Thank you. Thank you so much Rainbow Dash." Rainbow smiled gently. "I couldn't protect my own sister, but that doesn't mean I can't protect others." She trotted over to the cage that held her friends. She used her sword to fiddle with the lock. As it unlocked she walked over to the Crusaders. As that lock broke, an orange blur bombarded her. "Rainbow Dash! I'm so happy that you're okay!" "Hehe. I told you squirt, I ain't going nowhere." Pinkie dove in and joined the hug. "Dashie!" "No! It cannot happen!" Croaked Nightmare as she got up. "What?" Rainbow stood up. "You are supposed to be broken. Smashed like a mirror. Yet you are able to stay strong." Nightmare sat up, her eyes shooting darts at everypony. "Yes. I am broken inside. Everyday I live is just another day of pain. But, what covers that pain, and fixes what is broken, are the ones I care for." Rainbow walked closer to Nightmare. "I made a promise somepony. A promise to protect them. From everything. I broke that promise. Thank Celestia it wasn't a Pinkie promise." The sky began to darken with storm clouds. She glanced at Pinkie. "But, the promise was to protect everypony I care for." Lightning burst and filled the darkeness with light. Now Rainbow was face to face with Nightmare. "Well, that promise ends now." Nightmare used her magic to bring the knife towards her. "Because you end now as well." Before anypony could react, Nightmare plunged the knife into Rainbow's chest. She collapsed to the floor. However what confused everypony was that Rainbow began to laugh. "How can you be laughing?! I've just ended your life!" "Yes, well, I've just ended you and your future." "What?!" Nightmare Moon scanned her body as her hooves began to disappear. In Rainbow's hoof was cresent shaped crystal. Luna looked towards Nightmare's necklace. Where there used to be a cresent moon, was now just a hole. "No! No! I transformed The Sisters! And plagued The Element of Loyalty!" The girls ran over to Rainbow as Nightmare began to fade. Celestia and Luna began to glow, and grow. "I can't go! My reign of darkness must be finished." In a blast of light, all clouds were gone and so was Nightmare. Luna and Celestia stared at each as they were now returned to their alicorn selves. But it wasn't all happiness. In the middle of the clearing, huddled around each other. Crying. But not tears of joy. In the centre was Rainbow Dash. Blood gushed out of her chest, and her eyelids were slowly drooping. "Dashie..." Pinkie's hair fell flat. "H-How did you know?" Twilight mumbled. "I had her magic, her thoughts merged with mine." "Rainbow Dash...please don't leave me." Scootaloo cried. "I won't Scootaloo." Rainbow smiled before her eyes closed.
Beep. Beep. Beep.Beep. Beep. Beep. "... How...doctor?" Beep. Beep. Beep. "...okay...not brilliant...loss...blood." Beep. Beep. Beep. "Please Dashie...wake...up.." "Girls...look..." "Is...true?" Rainbow slowly began to open her eyes as she woke from the noise. But everything was all blurry. She began to get up, but was immediately halted to searing pain throughout her body. "Ahh.." "Easy girl. Ya ave taken alot of damage." An orange mare helped to ease her down. Her sight got clearer. "A-A-Applejack." She croaked. "Ah'm ere, sugarcube." Pinkie moved closer to Rainbow. And instantly hugged her. She began to cry. "Don't w-w-w-worry Pinkie P-P-Pie. I s-s-aid earlier that I ain't going nowhere." "We almost lost you. I nearly lost my best friend. A sister." Rainbow weakly smiled. "You know me. I would never leave you hanging." Pinkie wiped her tears and her hair bounced back. "One question." "Yes." "How long have I been here?" "About a week." "A week?!" "Rainbow you nearly died. If I we didn't get you here sooner enough you would be in casket." Rainbow sheepishly smiled. But her smiled faded as reality hit her. "What about Scoots?" "She thinks that you're not going to survive. She's been crying non-stop stop. Miss Cheerilee told me that she cries half way through lesson." Rainbow sat up. "Ahh." Pinkie began to panic. "Calm down Pinkster. Just a little pain." It had now been two weeks since Nightmare Moon's attack. And no news about Rainbow had been heard. Nopony-except the rest of the Mane Six- know of Rainbow's condition. All they know is that she is the savior. She is the one who stopped Nightmare Moon. "Okay colts and fillies! Lunchtime!" As soon as Miss Cheerilee spoke, all the ponies ran out of the room. Scootaloo sat on the grass, staring at the sky. She was waiting for a rainbow streak to zoom by. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle have countlessly attempted to cheer their friend up. In the end, they just sat and watched. Scootaloo bowed her head and cried to herself. The sound of hoof-steps approached her. "Go away! I don't want to talk to anypony!" "Not even me?" Scootaloo turned around to see Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo just stared until she darted up and hugged Rainbow. "Rainbow! I thought you dead!" She sobbed. "Why would you think that?" "Nopony knew anything. I couldn't see you." The young filly stepped back to look at her idol. Her wings were still bandaged. Her left fore-leg had a metal shoe and strap, and was also bandaged up. "I said earlier, that I would never leave you. And I never will." "Oh my gosh! Rainbow Dash!" "Hey RD!" "She's actually alive." Rainbow carefully trotted through the Town Square, remembering that her left fore-leg was still broken, along with her left wing. A neutral cream mare with grey hair walked up to her. "Rainbow Dash. The whole of Ponyville are so glad that you are okay." "Is that because they want me to be weather manager again instead of a certain grey mare." Rainbow chuckled. "Rainbow, this is important. Come with me." Mayor Mare lead her up to the Tree Library. As soon as she had opened the door, a shower of streamers and confetti fell down. "What is this?" Rainbow asked as she walked inside. "Rainbow Miriam Dashery." A stern yet gentle voice called. Two alicorns emerged from the crowd of ponies. Rainbow bowed. "There is no need for that. In fact, we she be the ones bowing." Luna stated. "Rainbow Dash, because of your bravery and loyalty, Equestria is safe once more. Not only were you able to resist Nightmare's magic but you risked your own life to save those you love." Rainbow glanced at the five mares and three fillies behind the Princesses. "And because of this, we, Princess Celestia Solar and Princess Luna Eclipse, award you with the the golden celestial cross.." Celestia hovered over a small red box with a lightning bolt on it, over to Rainbow. "You may have not been able to save your parents and sister, but you saved millions of ponies across Equestria and you saved your family." Luna said. The girls walked over to Rainbow. "Family?" "Family!" They all came closer for a group hug. "Family." Rainbow whispered.
The Rise Of Nightmare Moon"Are you sure we should go in there again? Remember the incident with the cockatrice." Sweetie Belle said as she and the rest of the Crusaders entered the Everfree Forest. "Yal are just being Scootaloo now, Sweetie Belle." Answered Applebloom. "What is that supposed to mean?" Scootaloo demanded. "That yal are a chicken!" "Don't start that again!" Scootaloo was about to hit Applebloom before a blood curdling scream broke their their attention. "Sweetie Belle! What is it?" The frantic fillys pegasus asked but got no response. They were deep inside the deep, dark forest. With only Celestia's sun as light, it wasn't much help. As the thick branches block it. But a blue glow surrounded a tree. "Wha is tha?" Applebloom walked closer. Suddenly, the glow grew. But not only in size, but in shape. More and more it grew into a pony shape. No wait. An alicorn. The alicorn turned black and its hair like Princess Luna's. Midnight blue. Only bigger. Soon, the three fillies realised what it was and screamed. Nightmare Moon. Passing by was Rainbow Dash. She was doing cloud duty. She was just about to pick a cloud to nap on, but was stopped as she heard somepony scream. Or some filly. Rainbow turned around to see an ominous, blue glow. Exactly the same one she saw when she and her friends defeated Nightmare Moon. "Can it be?" "How-how is this...possible?" Sweetie asked. A rainbow streak zoomed down and landed in front of the scared fillies. "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo squealed. "What in a Equestria are you doing here?! We defeated you! Turned Luna good again!" Rainbow yelled. "I will answer your question, Rainbow Dash." Nightmare Moon said. "I am a spirit that seeks bad feelings, and feeds on it. I saw that the Princess of the Night was full of sadness and jealously. I took the opportunity. I used her and turned her into a masterpiece of evil. But Princess Celestia used the Elements of Harmony. Banished to the moon. But it was good. More and more and MORE, grew Luna's jealously. When we returned, after a thousand years, I could destroy Equestria. But I sensed the Elements. Then you lot came. When you used the Elements, I escaped. Yes I was weak, but I fed on the evilness in this forest. And now I have regained strength, I can crush Equestria and Celestia!" She broke into evil laughter. "Not on my watch!" Rainbow flared her wings. Her eyes went sky blue and her coat grew pale. "My word! A pegasus that has the same magic as unicorn to change herself! Interesting!" Nightmare cackled. She fired towards the fillies. They screamed. But stopped, when a flying stone flew in front of the beam. The stone burst into dust. Nightmare stared at Rainbow Dash. Who's coat had returned but eyes stayed blue. "Hmmm. I don't like it when somepony interupts my plans." A blue whirlwind surrounded Rainbow. She tried to fly away, but the pull was too strong. Meanwhile in the Ponyville Library. "So Twi. Could ya help me with tha cider tasting. Rarity prefers red wine, Rainbow gets easily drunk, Fluttershy won't drink it and Pinkie Pie.... well, ah think tha barn door can finish tha rest of tha sentence." Applejack smiled awkwardly as she remembered, don't get Pinkie drunk! "Why can't you do it? Or Big Mac?" Twilight asked. "Well, we need somepony else. We need the cider to taste good for other ponies, not us." "Okay, but I-" Fizzes and sparks flew from the book case. Twilight levitated a book down. It was the book that held the Elements of Harmony hidden. When she opened it, red sparks filled the room. Applejack and Twilight stared at the Elements. The others are fine, but Rainbow's necklace looked ready to explode. Suddenly, the sparks stopped. Rainbow's necklace turned grey. "What?!" "What's happening Twi?" Twilight grabbed a book and scanned the pages. The book was hoof written by Celestia, as she knew more of the Elements. She read aloud. "When an Element turns grey, it means that the bearer of that element is either dead or dying." "RAINBOW! She can't die!" Applejack yelled. "I'll find her! I've got a tracking spell!" Twilight's horn glowed. "She's in the Everfree Forest!" "Let her go, you big, dumb meanie!" Sweetie yelled. The glow around Rainbow weakened. She fell to the floor. "Ha! What point is a the element of loyalty? Is she really loyal? Has anypony been loyal to her?" Scoffed Nightmare. "Urg. Of course. I'm loyal to everypony." Rainbow croaked as she got up. "What about your sister? You weren't loyal to her, were you?" Rainbow's eyes opened wide (and were now to their original colour). Her eyes began to water. "What about your mother? And farther? You weren't loyal to them. Were you?" Rainbow was at breaking point. Tears drenched her cheeks. It was too awful. To remember the night her family died. Just then it started to rain. Pretty hard too. A beam of purple hit Nightmare. "Argh! Twilight Sparkle?!" "Get away you!" She shot out more beams. Nightmare Moon turned into a blue mist and disappeared. "Omigosh! Girls! Are ya okay?" Applejack ran up to the fillies. Who were now soaking wet. "Ah don't remember rain in tha forecast." "There wasn't." Rainbow replied. "Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?" Twilight was worried. Really worried. "Ummm... I think- I think..." Her eyes flashed blue and she fell to the ground, unconscious. "RAINBOW!" The fillies squealed. "Ohhh! Please don't be dead!" Twilight pleaded. The rain stopped and the clouds cleared. Everything was still. "What do we do, Twi?" Applejack looked at the laying pegasus. She was still breathing but was barely noticeable. "Twilight! Is Rainbow going to die?" Scootaloo's wings drooped. Twilight looked at Scootaloo. She could sense her heart breaking. Scootaloo didn't want her idol to die. No one wanted Rainbow to die. "No. She's strong. Rainbow won't die! I'll teleport back to library!" A burst of purple light surrounded them. And they were gone in a blink of a eye.
