As Dawn Comes

by brony_sketch

Rating: teen
Tags: Octavia, Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, DJ P0N-3, Dark, Zecora, Main 6, Other
Length: 8368

Rainbow Dash meets a new pony in Ponyville, who is playing an odd new music. This Pony turns out to be a different pony entirely, and Rainbow Dash is forced on the longest journey she will ever take.

There is a new pony in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash is the first to befriend this new pony. But this pony turns out to be a completely different pony, claiming that Rainbow Dash was part of an ancient bloodline that used to rule Equestria with hate.
Don't be turned down by the first few chapters. those were first written on my phone. I got weary copying it down word for word, and there were a few mess ups that I fixed. I'm telling you though, it gets better.

Published 2013-01-14 02:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-04 05:26:35 UTC

The Music

The sun rose above the plains of Ponyville, warming up the flowers and waking the animals. Rainbow Dash stirred on her branch and threw her blanket over her to block out the sun. Suddenly she heard a deep roaring noise coming from somewhere in Ponyville. Curious, she rolled up her blanket and pillow, tucked them into a hole in her tree, and set out to search for the peculiar music. She started to trot into Ponyville trying to find the source of the increasingly loud music. rainbow dash came across the house with the music and knocked on the door. Much to her surprise a bed-ridden Octavia opened the door.
"New music style?" Asked Rainbow Dash.
Octavia rolled her eyes, "No it is my new roommate. She came in last night, from who knows where, saying that she was supposed to come and bunker at my house. I didn't want to turn the mare down, and she seemed like a nice pony. In fact, she was a nice pony, until I woke up to this... this... this ear-infesting music! I don't know what to do! I don't even know if I can take it anymore Rainbow Dash!" She talked at one-hundred miles per minute just spitting word after word.
"Can I come in?" asked Rainbow dash growing ever more curious about the new music. Octavia muttered something unintelligible and threw herself on to the couch. Rainbow Dash, Excited to meet the new pony, stepped into the house and followed the music to basement. Rainbow Dash planted her hooves on floor of the basement and looked around. The music was blaring extremely loud and there where lights flying across the walls and the ceiling. there where also lasers in in the middle dancing with the beat of the peculiar music.
"Hey there!" called a mysterious pony standing at a table sized speaker. "Come to join me in enjoying this awesome Pony step!?"
"Wait? What is this Music!?" Asked Rainbow Dash. She had to yell because she could barely hear herself.
The other pony looked almost shocked or hurt, "It seems that ponies her at Ponyville just don't respect the beautiful flowing beat of Pony step..."
"Pony step?" Rainbow Dash was confused. She had never heard of Ponystep before.
"Well... you know... Wub Wub?" The pony looked as if she had said something intelligent.
Rainbow Dash, starting to question the ponies sanity, looked at her with a confused look, "Wub.... Wub?"
The other pony jumped over to Rainbow dash and said, "Just sit back and listen to the beautiful river like flow of Ponystep. It is soothing! Nah? It's like my drug. You know? I need the bass or I might just go crazy." The pony sat down in a speaker chair and gestured to another one right next to her, "C'mon, sit down. Enjoy some bass for a while. It won't... 'bite'."
Rainbow Dash sat down and listened to the Pony step. She loved everything about it. The drop. The bass. The chords. It was all amazing.
"Oh I almost forgot," exclaimed the new pony, "My name is Vinyl."
Vinyl... an interesting name. "Mines Rainbow Dash! Nice to meet you! I have a feeling that we are going to be best of friends!"

Rarity

"Rarity...Rarity...RARITY!! OPEN THE DOOR!!" screeched Fluttershy with growing irritation. She had lost it.
"Nopony is here!!" Called Rarity.
Rainbow Dash walked over to the window and peered through. Rarity was sitting in her bathroom quickly applying Mascara and make-up. "Hey Rarity I see you right there."
Rarity closed the bathroom door, "What? No! This is a recorded message Rarity is currently out doing... stuff... come back later if want to talk."
Rainbow Dash grew impatient. She walked up to the door with confidence and gave it a kick. The door flew open with a whistle. "Ok Rarity. We know you are in there! Come out right now."
Rarity locked the bathroom door. "No! I am not presentable enough."
Rainbow Dash tried turning the knob. It didn't budge. "Ok then we will just be going." she turned to Fluttershy and gave her a wink. The two ponies walked out of the shop closing the door behind them. They flew around the shop to the kitchen window. They opened the window and entered the shop. They started to slowly creep up the stairs. When they got to the top they caught Rarity exiting the bathroom.
"AAAHH!" screamed Rarity, "I thought you two had left!"
"Nope still here." said Fluttershy, "We were just wondering if you wanted to come to Pinkie's party tomorrow night."
Rarity looked left, then right, then left again, "Umm.. I can't I have to... umm..." She ran over and grabbed Opal. The cat gave out a squeal of agony. "I have to take care of Opal, the poor girl is sick to death!" she gave a fake smile and began to lead Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy out of the house.
Fluttershy turned around quickly, "Your cat isn't sick!"
"What makes you think that?" she gave Opal a squeeze. The cat cried in agony again. "Look at her the poor girl is just crying over how sick she feels." Rarity gave another unconvincing smile.
Fluttershy looked at Rarity. "Seriously? Rarity do you even know me? I can tell the difference between a sick cat, and a cat in pain. What is the real reason you don't want to come?"
"Ok... fine... it is just so... uncouth."
Rainbow Dash stepped into the conversation. "Rarity! Uncouth! Rarity! I have grown sick of that disastrous word!" Rainbow Dash trotted up to Rarity with rage, "Just come to the party!"
"...........NO..." Rarity started to run away. Fluttershy grabbed the 'assets' and chased after Rarity. When she rounded the corner she dodged a plate flying at her face and caught up to Rarity. She grabbed Rarity with the scarf and forced the boots on Rarity's hooves. Fluttershy then pulled out the mirror and gave Rarity 'the stare'.
Rarity looked in the mirror and flipped her mane. "Ooh I rather quite like this style! Could I keep it? Please Fluttershy?"
"Of course Rarity. But only if you promise to come to Pinkie's party."
Rarity looked at the clothes and bit her lip. "Ok fine. I will come to the party."
"That is good." Said Fluttershy. She smiled at Rarity and gave her the tofu and chopsticks along with a pat on the head. "good day Rarity." said Fluttershy as she trotted back from the encounter. She winked at Rainbow Dash and left the shop.

End of the day

Rainbow Dash looked at the clock inside Rarity's shop and realized that it was getting late. She ran out of the shop and flew to her tree. She took her blanket and pillow out of the hole in her tree. She unpacked the her stuff and nestled onto the branch. She looked up at the night sky and thought about her day. She thought about the music, the new pony, Octavia's reaction to the music, and about how it almost took over her. The night increased as the sun began to set. The shadows left the trees to sleep alone. Then Luna raised the moon, but there were no stars tonight. Everypony in Ponyville were going into there houses to let the moon watch over Equestria alone. The night began to fill up with mingling shadows again. Rainbow Dash smiled and began to ponder over the music again. What was it called? The music, The beautiful flow of beats. Why could she not remember the name. She racked her brain for a while. Then it came to her. Oh, it was called Ponystep. The name of the music was Ponystep. Rainbow Dash, now satisfied , closed her eyes and tucked herself up on the branch. "Tomorrow I will go and visit that pony Vinyl again. I will ask her to show me more of this... Ponystep." She let out a behemoth snore and was out cold for the night.

Craving

Throughout the night Rainbow Dash had dreams of flying around and being awesome. She would push a black cloud around and sneak up behind ponies. She would then buck the cloud causing a lightning strike to shock the pony below. In her dreams she came behind Twilight. Caught totally unaware by the shock, Twilight squeaked and ran into her library. Rainbow Dash started to laugh. Then she woke up, hanging upside down. She had fallen of of the branch and got tangle din her blanket. She looked up and realized that her blanket had caught on the branch. She couldn't get out of the blanket in the current position she was in, so she started to swing in a desperate attempt to get free. The blanket tore and Rainbow dash fell to the ground. The impact was sudden and it knocked the wind out of her. She let out a squeak and laid there for a while. A few minutes later a voice came from behind her.
"What are you doing Rainbow Dash? You need to be clearing the sky right now!" Rainbow Dash looked up and saw Twilight walking towards her. "Today is your day to clear the sky. I suggest you get to it if you want to come to Pinkie's party tonight."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Fine Twilight I will clear the sky... See you later."
"Thank you Rainbow Dash." The purple pony flipped her hair and strutted off. Rainbow Dash spent the rest of the morning taking out the clouds one by one. She took her time, and thought more about the Ponystep. When she finished clearing the sky it was about noontime. With a strikingly strong curiosity she ran off to Ponyville in search of Vinyl. She wanted to hear more of the music. She was "craving" more of the music.
When she got to Octavia's house she knocked on the door. Nothing happened. She knocked again, louder this time. Still nothing. "Octavia? Vinyl? Anypony there?" Rainbow Dash heard a deep groaning noise come from inside.
"Go away..."
"What?" Rainbow Dash signified for the pony to speak up. She heard another groan, but this one was more ferocious.
"UGHHH! OK! I'm coming." There was some illegible muttering and a couple of grunts, mixed with hooves stamping on the floor. The stamping stopped when a disgruntled Octavia opened the door. Her mane was frizzled and messy. She sure could have used a bath too. Before Rainbow Dash could say anything Octavia's words kicked in."I haven't been able to sleep since that satanic pony came here. I can't stand that terrible music! She even cleans the dishes with wubs!" she shivered violently, "I have almost none left! And even worse this morning I wanted to listen to the music. I wanted to succumb to it. Rainbow Dash I think I am going crazy!"
Rainbow Dash didn't want to tell Octavia that she too was feeling the need to listen to the music. "Is Vinyl here?"
"No Vinyl has gone off to her new job, picking apples for Applejack. She seemed really dissapointed with the job. Something about not being allowed to listen to music while she worked," Octavia waved her hoof dismissing the subject, "If you are looking her you could probably find her at Applejack's orchard, slacking off, or disobeying rules, or both."
Rainbow Dash thanked Octavia for the Information and took to the sky, heading in the direction of the apple orchard.
Rainbow Dash hovered over the orchard and found Applejack bucking trees. Rainbow Dash swooped down to talk with her. "Hey Applejack. I am looking for Vinyl. I heard she worked for you?"
Applejack turned around and stared deeply into Rainbow Dash's eyes. "That pony has been nothing but trouble since she started working here. She showed up late today, took a break, and then got caught disobeying my orders, by listening to music instead of working. This was before she even started working at all! I have half the mind to fire her."
"Do you know where she is? I would like to talk with her."
Applejack pointed her hoof in the direction of the east orchard, "she is probably over there, somewhere."
Rainbow Dash thanked Applejack and flew to the east orchard. She found Vinyl sitting in a tree with her headphones on. "Hey there Vinyl!" The pony didn't acknowledge her. Rainbow Dash came up behind her and poked her shoulder. Vinyl jumped up three feet over the tree then landing back on the branch, snapping it in half. The pony tumbled down from the tree and landing roughly on the ground.
"Don't sneak up on me like that! Oh boy! That was quite a scare!" Her face was bunched up and blotted red from embarrassment. "You need something Rainbow Dash?"
"Well... I just wanted to talk, you know."
Vinyl got up and began to kick at a tree. "We can talk, but I have to buck these trees while we do. I have to make bits someway, and I don't want to get fired."
Rainbow Dash looked at Vinyl. "Well if you want to finish you job quicker we could just talk later at Pinkie's party!"
Vinyl stopped bucking the tree and looked up at Rainbow Dash, "Who is Pinkie?"
"I am surprised you haven't met her yet she is usually pretty good at sniffing out the new ponies in Ponyville."
Vinyl's face lit up with surprise, "Do you mean that Pink pony? With the crazy hair? She wouldn't leave me alone. She came up to me singing some song then told me to smile. I was just trying to get to Applejack's orchard on time. She was staring into my soul. It scared me half to death!"
Rainbow dash started laughing, "So I guess you have already met Pinkie. She has her ways of making friends, but it doesn't always work for everypony."
Vinyl nodded, "Well I really got to get back to bucking these trees. I don't want to get fired on my first day."
"Ok! But Vinyl? Are you going to come to Pinkie's party?"
Vinyl waved her hoof, "Sure! you just have to come help me find the party. I have no Idea where she lives."
Rainbow Dash nodded with excitement and flew off. She will finally get to know Vinyl better. Now all she had to do was wait until later that day.

The Basslars

The unzipping noise... was coming from behind her. The noise, the squeal, of the zipper sent a shiver down Rainbow Dash's spine.

"Well, Dashie. It seems that you have a made a mistake." This voice was not of Vinyl's. This voice was harsher. This voice was almost terrifying.

"What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash began to turn around. Her heart stopped with fear as she noticed that the world around was frozen. Pinkie, Applejack,Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy, were all stopped in mid-breath.

"Oh Rainbow Dash. I knew you were too foolish to notice the signs, the conditions." Vinyl looked up, her eyes glowing a deep blood red. "I knew you would ignore the craving, the lust for the music. I knew you would think nothing of the power it held over you, the way it made you forget, made you... lose control." Vinyl pulled a large metal machine out of the bag.

"Vinyl? What are you doing?" Rainbow Dash was shocked by the sudden change in the pony. Vinyl's mane was now black, and her whole body was shimmering with a black cloud as dark as night.

"Haha. Well first of all I came to Ponyville in search the elements of harmony. I did not know which ponies in Ponyville had the power, but I get a tingling feeling when they come near me. Now that tingling feeling is more than that. I feel pain like my body is being stabbed repeatedly. I know... I have found them. Pinkie... the element of luaghter."

Rainbow Dash looked at Pinkie. The pink pony's eyes were turning the same color as Vinyl's, and she also was covered by an ominous, shimmering, black cloud.

"What are you doing Vinyl? Stop it!" Rainbow Dash was started to tear up.

Vinyl ignored her. "Applejack...the element of honesty. Rarity... the element of generosity. Fluttershy... the element of kindness. And ahhh... Twilight... the element of magic."

Rainbow Dash looked in terror as her friends were covered by a black shadow. "Vinyl. Why are you doing this?"

"...I will tell you but first..." She walked past Rainbow Dash with the large machine on her back. Vinyl looked at the floor for a few seconds then smashed the machine into the floor, creating a gaping hole three feet wide. She pressed a button on the machine, now lodged in the floor, and the world slowly began to move at a normal pace.

"Rainbow Dash, it is hard to tell you this but I am a Basslar."

Rainbow Dash looked around. Her friends were gone. "What have you done with my friends?!"

"For now, they are out of the picture. You should listen to me, for what I am about to say next will change your life." Vinyl's face erupted with a ghoulish grin. "Basslars, millions of years ago, were the royal bloodline of Equestria. We ruled it, slaved it, and demolished it. We would use an ancient magic called Pony step, which I have already introduced you to. The reason we used this dark magic that we created was because it allowed us to control anypony who heard the music. The upside was that anypony with the Basslar bloodline was immune to this music. Nopony could stop us. Except there was one pony in our bloodline who rebelled against our ways. In fact she wasn't a pony at all. She was a zebra. This zebra left the kingdom in search of a way to save the Ponies of Equestria. We did not try to stop her, but we were blind to her true power. She found a seed, one that could rebuild an empire. She planted that seed, and when she did, our kingdom, our power was destroyed."

"What does that have to do with me? Why are you telling me this?"

"DO NOT INTERRUPT ME! That day, two Basslars escaped alive, a mare, and a colt. These two Basslars had fillies. These ponies eventually had children, completely unaware that they were passing down the ancient bloodline of the Basslars. I have found out who I am. Now sister, my kin, I believe it is your turn."

Rainbow Dash looked in surprise, "I am part of the Basslars? That can't be..."

Vinyl, who looked like she was going insane stared down at Rainbow Dash, "Oh but it is! You are immune to the music, otherwise you would have ended up like your friends."

"No! I won't accept it. I refuse to be a Basslar. I am not part of an evil bloodline."

"But you are Rainbow Dash... Join me. Together, we can rule Equestria the way that it should be."

Rainbow Dash grew with rage, "I will not take part in your schemes! I will stop you!"

"Oh that just won't do... Well, I can't let you run freely and be a thorn in my side. Too bad. You would have been a great queen." Vinyl clapped her hooves together and two black ponies, with red eyes, walked out of the shadows, and headed towards Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash, quick to respond, flew straight up through the ceiling. She then flew away as fast as she could. Down below her she saw all of the residents of Ponyville walking aimlessly with dark red eyes. "No... No... No... This can't be happening." She flew faster, harder. She flew for minutes, for hours. Then she was in a forest, tumbling through branches and brambles. Her wing caught on branch, and she was jerked back, smashing her head against a tree. She fell, there was blood, and then it was black.

Author's Note

I had been waiting since I started my fan fiction to put this part in. I am really excited and I have big plans for this story. Thank you for the likes on this story. I appreciate the support.
Let your epicosity blossom.
-brony_sketch

Where am I?

Rainbow Dash awoke, feeling queasy. She wasn't in the forest anymore. She let out a huge sigh of relief.

"It was all just a dream... I must have fallen asleep at Pinkie's party. I bet I'm in her bed right now as she sleeps on the floor. She is so nice." Rainbow Dash looked over the side of the bed. Nothing. The room was dark, and she could not see very far in the darkness. Rainbow Dash waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Nopony was there. "Hello?" Rainbow Dash called out, "anypony there?"

There was no response. There was loud clanging noise coming from a another room, then there was an explosion, and a bright flash of light.

Rainbow Dash tried to get out of the bead, causing her to get lightheaded and fall back. "What is wrong? Why am I in pain?" She put her hoof to her head and felt a bandage, covered in dried blood. "Was, what happened, real?" Rainbow Dash was now full of fear. "I need to get away from here now. This could be the place that Vinyl sent her friends. She could be in great danger. She tried getting up again, this time successfully. She felt the floor under her hooves. It was cold and hard, like a... tree. A tree? She was in a tree? Rainbow Dash, wondering where she was, staggered to the door where the light came from.

"Caw Caw CAW."

Rainbow Dash jumped, scared half to death. There was crow, a live one, right next her.

"Hello there Rainbow Dash. How has the flying been?" The crow cocked its head curiously.

"Oh god now I am seeing things." Rainbow Dash couldn't believe that she was this crazy. Talking to a crow, that is low.

"Rainbow Dash, I am real, don't be doubting me. I know you very well. I have been watching you for many years."

"What do you mean by years?" Rainbow Dash asked.

The crow cocked his head. "Long enough to know every single one of your secrets, embarrassments, fears, pet peeves, stories, loves, and friends. You could, actually, consider me as your second personality."

"So you have been... Spying on me?" Rainbow Dash was unhappy to hear that this crow knew everything about her.

"I wouldn't say spying. Think of it more as supervising you." The crow smiled. Well if the crow could smile, then that would have been the point where he smiled.

"Stalker? That makes much more sense." Rainbow Dash frowned, "But why have you brought me here?"

The crow laughed ferociously, "Oh no, have you seen how small I am? I would never consider dragging YOU anywhere. Just think of the pain it would cause me. I'd surely bust a wing, and maybe a leg."

"Oh well aren't you a funny crow..." Rainbow Dash felt a very insignificant hate towards the crow, "In that case, who brought me here?"

"Oh well that will be the boss." The crow cocked his head towards the door, "she is right through there.

"She?" Rainbow Dash felt a great deal of fear. Her heart started thumping faster. "As in Vinyl?"

The crow laughed, "No way that my boss is that pony... Who is Vinyl?"

Reassured, Rainbow Dash trotted to the door.

"Wait for me. I will come with you." The crow flew on to Rainbow Dash's back, and perched there.

Rainbow opened the door and looked through. Much to her surprise, a cloaked zebra stood next to a large glowing pot.

"Hello Rainbow Dash, I see you have awoken." Said the zebra in the middle of the room.

"Why does everypony know my name?" Said Rainbow Dash, almost annoyed.

"That is no thanks to Nathaniel, whom I see you have already met. Actually, I have known you for a very long time now." The cloaked zebra gestured towards the crow on Rainbow Dash's back, "I hope he has treated you well, otherwise..." She cut off before finishing her sentence.

The crow jumped off of Rainbow Dash's back, "Oh please, Zecora don't... I have been good to her, I promise.

"Ok if you say so." Zecora winked at Rainbow Dash, and mouthed, "Gets him all the time."

"So who are you? Zecora? Where am I? And, Why am I here?" Asked Rainbow Dash. She looked around and saw ancient artifacts hanging on the wall. She was indeed inside a tree, her kind of place.

"Rainbow Dash, I am pleased to welcome you to my humble home. I am Zecora the zebra, the savior of the ponies a millennium ago."

Rainbow Dash Stared in shock. "You were the savior of the ponies? I pictured differently... And what do you mean you have known me for a long time?"

Zecora smiled, "Too bad you don't remember me. I have visited you many times before. It just was starting to get dangerous, so I sent Nathaniel out to watch you instead. Rainbow Dash you really should go get more rest, but first. Welcome to your lost bloodline... Welcome... to the Basslars."

Reality is a lie

"I'm not a Basslar!" Rainbow Dash's eyes flashed with rage. "I am not part of your kind!"

"My kind? Do you think I enjoy knowing that my family enslaved the ponies, and slaughtered millions?" Zecora snapped back. "I know you are a Basslar, and so does Vinyl! There is no denying it."

Rainbow Dash pouted and walked to the corner of the room. It was only yesterday that she was living a normal life, living in sanity, but now, she felt confused. There was nothing to it. She was just downright confused, lost in a world that had her stuck in chains, where there is no escape. Rainbow Dash had never felt this pain before. Everything had just hit her like an oncoming train. She had lost her friends, she had lost her life, but worst of all, she had lost her mind. "I..I..I.. There is. I can't. I am not."

"Rainbow Dash you can't fight it, you need to except it." Zecora seemed concerned.

"Stop this." Rainbow Dash grew with anger.

Nathaniel shook his little bird head and said, "uh oh I'm getting out of here." He flew outside and perched on a tree.

"Rainbow Dash! Calm down! You are too strong for this kind of stress!" Zecora stepped back a bit.

Rainbow Dash didn't realize it, but her mane was glowing bright green. "I... Will... Not.."

"Rainbow Dash! Cut it out! Now is not the time for a power surge!"

"What are you talking about?! I am not a Basslar! I don't even know what a power surge is!" Rainbow Dash started to laugh demonically. It felt good to let out her anger, to let out all of the kept in emotions. "I will tolerate this no longer! This isn't real, you aren't real! None of this is real! I will be free of this nightmare!"

Zecora ran to a corner of the room and grabbed an amulet. "Rainbow Dash! This is real! You need to put this on now! Quick! Before you have a power surge and tell Vinyl right where you are!"

"This is not real! You are a lie! My life is a whole LIE!" She flew at Zecora, green waves flowing around the room.

Zecora flashed bright pink and counter-acted the green waves. "Rainbow Dash! Now you have truly made me mad! Come at me!"

Rainbow Dash was about to smash into Zecora, "I WILL KILL YOU EVIL DEMON!" Then the room was overrun by pink. Rainbow Dash sat in the middle of a wasteland. She looked up into the eyes of a large, electric-like, pink face. Rainbow Dash became scared. "What? What is happening where am I?"

"Rainbow Dash, let go of the fear, let go of the pain, let go of the hate. Take a deep breath, and calm down." The words from the enchanted face echoed around Rainbow Dash.

"I... I..." She put her head between her legs and began to cry. She cried for her friends, for her pain, and for the damage that had happened to her soul.

A gentle hand patted her on the head, "Good job Rainbow Dash. Remember it is always okay to cry. Now put this on so another power surge doesn't happen. You should go get more rest. I will wake you when it is time to go."

Rainbow Dash wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry Zecora. I don't know what came over me." Rainbow Dash looked up into Zecora's eyes. They stared back, with no emotion.

"Rainbow Dash put this amulet on. It will hold back the power surges, and keep Vinyl from finding your whereabouts." Zecora put the necklace around Rainbow Dash's neck. "Never take it off, unless you really must."

Rainbow Dash nodded her head, "I understand. Thank you Zecora." Rainbow Dash, now feeling much better with the situation she was in, headed back to the bed she awoke in earlier.

Nathaniel flew back into the room, "That was quite a show, you have a great deal of power. But you really need to control that stuff. You almost burnt my feathers off. If it weren't for Zecora's counter move this whole pace would be burnt to the ground."

"Shut up Nathaniel I'm tired." Rainbow Dash got in bed and rested her head against the pillow. She pulled the blankets up to her neck and closed her eyes. Expecting everything to be alright, she soundly fell asleep.

"Nathaniel come here." Called Zecora.

Nathaniel flew over. "Rainbow Dash will have to be leaving soon, and I need you to go with her. Here." She handed him little orb. "Use this to find the 'others'."

"Zecora?" said Nathaniel.

"Yes?"

"Promise me, that you will be okay."

Zecora walked over and began to pack food and items into a small satchel. She picked up a sword in its sheath, and added it to the supplies in the bag. "Nathaniel, I can't promise anything, but Rainbow Dash's survival." She handed Nathaniel the bag and stepped outside of the house, waiting, for the worst to come.

When It begins

'Life is an existence of non-existences. The world watches from a distance as the ponies exist the lie. Taken up by darkness, the souls of many exceed their well-being, causing them to go crazy. They then set out on a journey, muttering to themselves, "this world is of the mind... this world is of the mind." Other ponies exclude these demens (a name given to them from observers, meaning crazy in latin) from their existence. When the demens do not find an existence they grow further into the darkness they feel. An inescapable, slow, and inevitable death.'

Rainbow Dash woke to Zecora yelling, "Rainbow dash you must be going now!" There was an explosion and burst of light coming from outside. Zecora handed Rainbow Dash a bag and kicked her out of the bed. Another explosion, louder and closer this time. "Go NOW!".

Confused, Rainbow Dash ran out of the door. She ran until she could no longer. Panting hard she looked behind her to the explosions far back at the tree. They were almost beautiful in their own colorful way, even if they decimated everything they touched.

"Why did you stop? We must go!" Nathaniel called to her. Rainbow sat still watching the blasts of color and sound.

"What is happening Nathaniel? I am living a normal life, then the next day I am running from an unstoppable force. Are those explosions from... that Basslar Vinyl?"

Nathaniel flew down and rested on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "Rainbow... I am afraid to tell you that Zecora... is going to die. She can't hold off Vinyl forever. And it is best you run while you still can." He started to tug on her mane a bit.

Rainbow Dash trotted slowly after him still watching the blasts at the tree. "But why would Zecora sacrifice herself for me? Isn't she more powerful than me? I barely even understand what I am yet."

Nathaniel looked at Rainbow Dash. "Zecora last night told me that she believed you are the one who can save us all from Vinyl's reign."

"But how can I do that?"

"Well that is for you to find out Dashie."

The explosions from behind stopped. All was quiet. In the distance there was yell, and then a laugh. Rainbow Dash shivered and started off at a sprint. Tears flowing down her eyes, now was not the time for deaths.

After running a while Rainbow Dash found a small cave and slid in. She decided to look through the bag that Zecora... Zecora the realization that she was really dead caused Rainbow Dash to tear up... "no... you must stay strong Rainbow." She looked through the bag pulling out a green gem necklace, some food supplies, a small blade, and a note. A note. Rainbow Dash opened it up and began to read.

Rainbow Dash, this letter is being written by the humble Zecora. By the time you read this I will already be dead, I knew it was inevitable I just hope you are safe and that Nathaniel is with you. I am going to state some simple instructions to what you must do. First you need to go and find other Basslar descendants to help you create a resistance. You can probably find them in shadowed cities around Equestria. It is crucial that you find them before Vinyl does. Otherwise they will be killed like easy prey. The medallion you are wearing, you should keep that on. The purpose of that medallion is to smother your Basslar powers, making it so you can't be detected by Vinyl. It is also crucial that you wear that at all times no matter the circumstance. There are more in the bag for your friends.I think that is about it.
P.S. Watch out for the Demens, those ponies can be... a nuisance.

Rainbow Dash put on the necklace and it glowed slightly. There was a thumping noise outside. Rainbow looked and saw Vinyl standing in the trees like a distant slenderpony. Her heart began to race. "Please necklace work."

"No!... I lost her scent... I can't feel her anymore. No. She probably has the medallion. I am too late." Vinyl raged and started to charge past where Rainbow Dash was hiding.

"Phwew.." Rainbow Dash let out a sigh. Realizing that she was holding her breath she began to breathe regularly. "So I am supposed to find more Basslars?" She asked Nathaniel.

Nathaniel looked at the letter, "It seems like it. I don't know so much about that. But we definitely want to watch out for Demens. They can be a problem."

"Ok... we can set out later. It is probably best that we hang here for awhile.Vinyl might try backtracking a bit." Rainbow Dash curled up further into the cave and returned the small blade and food rations to the bag after taking a chunk of bread. She laid there eating the bread and tried to process everything that was going on. So she was supposed to find more Basslars to help her, before Vinyl killed them. That is kind of a dilemma... considering Vinyl's power. And she had to watch out for a whole new enemy. Demens... what could they be? Rainbow Dash stored away her thoughts and closed her eyes drifting into a deep sleep.

'Rainbow Dash, the told hero of many stories, soon you will have conquest. Soon you will be passed down for centuries in stories told by young and by old. All you have to do now is shape your destiny right. Take the right paths. Do not turn down the dark paths, even if they are tempting and easier take. You must resist the urge to lose control. You must keep your sanity and press on. Goodnight Rainbow Dash... Sleep well, because what comes next will take a lot of energy.' - Zecora stepped back from where she watched Rainbow Dash and Nathaniel sleep. She looked at her transparent hoof, knowing that Rainbow Dash couldn't here her. Let alone see her if she tried to help. Zecora sat by Rainbow Dash, 'everything will be alright Dashie, everything will be alright.'

Author's Note

Sorry I haven't updated the story in a while. But here is another chapter. I hope you enjoy, and as always like it up and follow.

Demens

Rainbow Dash awoke slowly to a warm sun beam shining through the small hole to her cave. She rolled over and stretched out her legs and wings.

"Morning Nathaniel," she yawned, "Nathaniel?" He wasn't there. Where could he be? She poked her head outside of the cave and looked around. She covered her eyes from the bright light. "Nathaniel?" No response. She squirmed out of the cave and walked down the rough stone path to the woods. The woods were dark and seemed to go on forever. There were crows cawing in the trees, but none of them were Nathaniel. A little seed of fear began to plant in her chest when she noticed multiple yellow eyes following her every move.

"CAW" Rainbow Dash jumped when a giant bird swooped in front of her and picked up a small animal. The bird took the animal to its nest where it was killed almost instantly.

"I hope I don't end up like that... It would be a terrible death..." Rainbow Dash continued her search for Nathaniel, progressing deeper into the woods. Minutes passed, then an hour, then two. Still no sign of Nathaniel anywhere. "Nathaniel where are-"

"HEHEHEHE" She was cut off by a deep rumbling giggle coming from behind her. Rainbow Dash stood frozen in place.

"Oh... Aren't you cute..." a voice came. It was charming-like, but it sent a deep chill down her back. "I see you... A little speck on this earth... your death won't amount to much... right? HEHE... hehe..."

Rainbow Dash started to turn around to look at the creature. Her heart was thumping at a thousand miles per hour.

"Don't look at me!" The creature screeched, "If you look at me I will have to kill you even slower..."

Rainbow Dash refrained from looking. She was too scared to move anymore. This creature wanted her death, and she very well might have it if she couldn't run. Rainbow Dash tried running, but her legs didn't work. She wished she had never left the cave. She wished she just stayed back and waited for Nathaniel to return.

"You are too cute when you are sacred...hehe...I can hear your heart going... Th-thump... Th-thump... you are easy prey for me..."

Rainbow Dash heard the creature advancing. She then felt the hot breath of the creature and a rusty knife was placed firm against her neck. She felt a small pinch from the knife put up to her throat. Rainbow Dash choked on tears, she wasn't ready to die, not now. She was supposed to save Equestria.

"I could slice you down right now... But what would be the fun of that?... I would much rather watch you die slowly... one drop of blood to the next... then after you are dead I shall bathe in your blood... it will be easy... like squashing a fly... just another useless life...gone."

"Please. Don't," Rainbow Dash begged. She felt the hot blood running down her chest from the rusty knife pressing into her skin.

"Dashie... you must die... I.. am... sorry," The creature began to dig the knife into Rainbow Dash's neck, "This is my duty, this is... my destiny."

Rainbow Dash quickly jumped back, wincing from the pain. She turned around and got a good glimpse of the creature.

"PINKIE!?" although it wasn't like pinkie it was... darker... crazier... deadlier... She stood in shadow her eyes filled white with no pupils.

"I have come to kill you Rainbow Dash... Make it easier and accept death...don't worry... I will make as painful as possible" She lunged at Rainbow Dash swinging the knife madly.

Rainbow Dash tried desperately to dodge the swinging blade, "Pinkie I thought we were friends? Why would you hurt me?"

Pinkie stopped swinging the blade, "Dashie," She said deeply, "My name isn't Pinkie... My name is Dolores, and I am the element of sorrow! Giggle at the ghosties now Dashie, because I am coming for you!" She lunged again at Rainbow Dash, this time landing a strike on her left thigh.

"Ouch!..." Rainbow Dash fell over. The blade had cut deep enough for her to see bone. She tensed up as blood flowed down her leg turning it crimson red. She couldn't move her leg, it felt heavy.

"Oh Dashie... you were always so stubborn... you should have ran when you could... but that is too late... now... I get the pleasure of watching you slowly die..." Dolores walked up to the blood puddle and began to smear her hoof around in it. "funny thing isn't it?... The way we ponies are so vulnerable... that just a petty knife could destroy us..."

Dashie averted her eyes from the creature, "no... I am not vulnerable... I am strong... I... am... strong..." She looked straight at the creature and gave her a hard stare. "I will live, and when I can walk again... I will... kill you..."

"Oh no... I'm scared... the powerful Dashie is going to kill me. Well think again, who is facing the point of a knife?" she held the knife up to Rainbow Dash's neck. "I could kill you right now... I just don't want to spoil the fun" She dipped her hoof in the blood and smeared hearts on Rainbow Dash's pelt. "You are very pretty by the way... It may just be a shame to have you die... because your beauty is strong."

"Then why kill me? I can make you as beautiful as me... I can try." Rainbow Dash began to drag herself away.

The creature grabbed her sliced leg and pulled her back, "There is no escaping Dolores," She raised the knife and stabbed it deep into Rainbow Dash's throat.

Rainbow Dash felt the pain... then all around her the world began to turn to shreds, the creature turned to sand and blew away along with the trees and grass, then there was nothingness...

Rainbow Dash awoke suddenly, "NO!"

"Oh dammit Dashie, you scared me half to death. Are you ok?"

Rainbow Dash felt her neck, her thigh, no cuts. It was a nightmare. All a nightmare...

"What happened?" asked Nathaniel.

Rainbow Dash explained her dream.

"Oh I see what you saw in your dream was a Demen. Except that one used to be Pinkie... It is possible that the real thing is close if she was able to enter your dreams. You should just feel lucky that didn't happen to you in real life." Nathaniel explained what a Demen was to Rainbow Dash.

"Oh... So you are saying that that thing in my dreams is real and may be looking for me right now?" Rainbow Dash grew worried and began to pack her bag, ready to leave the cave. "We best be going then."

"Rainbow Dash... next time, in case it is real... do not travel alone. I am supposed to protect you from these kind of things."

They left the cave and headed out, making their way to the first nearby town.

The Encounter

Vinyl sat up quickly. It had been a couple of hours since they started listening to the music. "NO! I almost forgot!"
"Forgot what?" Asked Rainbow Dash lazily as she lifted her head. She had been laying in that position for hours and had not moved an inch.
"I have an interview for my job! In like." She looked at her watch. "Ten minutes! I got to go! Now! Bye!" She turned off the music, sloppily threw on a tie, and stumbled up the stairs without a moment to spare.
When Rainbow Dash emerged from the basement she found Octavia still lying on the couch and moaning. "Oh thank you lord. Thank you lord, the evil music has stopped. Those dreaded mechanical noises where haunting me. So cold."
Ignoring the distraught pony Rainbow Dash said, "Yeah Octavia that music is 20% cooler than anything I've ever heard." She trotted out the door and ran straight into Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie watch where you are going."
"Maybe YOU need to watch where YOU are going." said Pinkie, pointing her hoof at Rainbow Dash.
"Ok fine." Rainbow Dash said smugly.
Pinkie suddenly burst into tears, "Dashie I have been looking for you all morning! We were supposed to hang out today at the beach and go swimming! Remember? But I was there waiting for you, but you didn't come. I was all like 'oh Dashie is always fashionably late. She will be here soon.' So i waited, and waited, and waited, but you never came. so I decided to look for you! And her I am now. Why didn't you come? I thought we were friends..." Pinkie made a sad face and started to dig at the ground with her hoof.
"Of course we are friends Pinkie! I just got a little hung up, you know."
Pinkie started at Rainbow Dash for a while, as if she was trying to stare into her soul. eventually she said, "Okie dokie lokie. But since you couldn't come to the beach. How about I throw Party?!? Could you go tell Fluttershy and rarity? I will go tell Applejack and Twilight! It will be tomorrow. OOOOo I am so excited. See you there. Yippee!" She ran off before Rainbow Dash could even respond.
Rainbow Dash couldn't even remember ever setting up plans with Pinkie. The music must have really had a hook on her. Slightly confused, Rainbow Dash made her way to Fluttershy's cottage.

Fluttershy

"Rainbow Dash. Please do be careful. Angel is sleeping and I need you to be quiet."
Rainbow Dash, who just knocked on the door with a great force, sat down and apologized. "Sorry again... Pinkie Pie wanted me to deliver a message to you."
"Oh really? Is it about Gummy? Does he have that horrible skin rash again? If so, I should head over right now... um, if that is ok with you of course... I don't want to just take off and leave you here all alone, you could come with me."
"No Fluttershy it isn't about Gummy, it is an invite to Pinkie's party tomorrow. She was wondering if you would like to come."
"Ooo a party that is much better than Gummy and a skin rash, much better." the pony gave a week smile and said. "Sure. I would love to come. Pinkie's parties are always the best."
Rainbow Dash nodded and said, "Ok that is awesome! Will you come help me with Rarity though? She is sometimes hard to convince." Said Rainbow Dash sadly.
Fluttershy nodded and trotted into her house to grab a few things. Well. More than a few things. She grabbed a large sack. In it she put boots, a scarf, tofu, chopsticks, and a mirror.
"What the buck Fluttershy? Do you really need all of that stuff?" Asked Rainbow Dash gawking at the load.
"If you want to convince Rarity we are going to need a few assets. If that is alright with you of course." Fluttershy backed away slightly and let out a little whimper.
Not wanting to seem rude Rainbow Dash said, "Fluttershy if you think we will need them then we probably will need them. after all the more 'assets', the better, right?
Fluttershy smiled and the two ponies set out to Rarity's shop. At a very slow pace. A little too slow for Rainbow Dash.

Vinyl

Rainbow Dash tried multiple different things to make the day go by faster and to pass time. She did wing push-ups, branch sit-ups, wing pull-ups, drawing in the dirt, drawing on paper, flying as fast as she could, and eating. After all of that a total of 42 minutes had passed. "Ugh the minutes pass like they are hours. Whenever will it be time to go to Pinkie's party?" She rolled over, then again. She was bored half out of her mind and couldn't think of anything to do. She felt the grass beneath her. The grass was soft. Really soft. It had a kind of pleasing feeling to it. She lowered her head to the ground and fell asleep. She woke up suddenly. It was dark. "NO! Pinkie's party!" She quickly jumped up and flew at top speed to Octavia's house. When she got there she knocked on the door repeatedly. "Vinyl I am here! Are you ready?"
The door Opened and Vinyl stepped out. "Hey there! I am ready." She had a large pack on her back.
Rainbow Dash looked at the pack curiously, "What is that?"
"You will see when we get to the party!" She smiled with excitement. And a gleam in her eye.
Rainbow Dash smiled back and said, "We should be heading off now."
They walked for a while, talking about Ponyville, and the whereabouts of everything within it. They came up to Pinkie's house and let themselves in. there was some music and voices coming from upstairs. They went up and found Twilight and Rarity conversing about small things and Ideas. Applejack and Fluttershy were dancing over next to the music player. Rainbow Dash walked to the middle of the room, "Hi everypony sorry that I'm late."
Pinkie waved to Rainbow Dash and hopped over, " Hey there! It is alright Dashie. Fashionably late as always! Oh I see you brought the new pony!"
Rainbow Dash was about to respond, but she was interrupted by a loud unzipping noise coming from behind her.