“Come on Twi, you have to let me out there to fight with Dash, I want to join her in drinking Trixie’s blood!” Vinyl Scratch drooled.

“It’s talk like that which does not allow me to put you on the battlefield, Lieutenant. You have your orders.” Twilight scolded the overzealous unicorn.

Vinyl wasn’t ready to give in just yet.

“Are you serious!? We have the battle of our lives on our hands right now, a chance to finally make Trixie pay for all she’s done, and you’re going to have me on fucking babysitting duty!? This is absolute bullshit, put me out there so I can do my job, ma’am.” Vinyl made sure to put extra emphasis on that last word.

Twilight shook her head and gestured for the lieutenant to give up and leave her office.

“It’s not babysitting duty, you’re to fly the chopper and rescue any wounded soldiers that you can. Those are your orders, and I’m sticking to them. Now get out of my sight, lieutenant.” Twilight scolded yet again.

Vinyl Scratch sighed but decided it wasn’t worth her time to argue with Twilight. The general was always stern on her decisions and even a pony as stubborn and arrogant as Vinyl Scratch couldn’t sway her once she’d locked in her choice. It was clear that she learned more from Celestia than just magic. Vinyl Scratch, before completely exiting though let out an inaudible “bitch” under her breath; her way of relieving her own stress on the situation.

Twilight was playing it safe as always. She didn’t let her victories over Trixie for the past few months get to her head. They had managed to turn the tables on their foes and turn the war around in a matter of weeks. What seemed to be a lost cause has turned into a sure victory on their part. They owed it to many factors though; their reverse engineering of the enemies firearms, their powerful military leaders, and most importantly, to their determination. Even still though, Twilight couldn’t help but shake the idea that it was too easy. Trixie was arrogant, but she couldn’t have been dumb enough to back herself this far into a corner, that’s the only part that had Twilight worried.

Before she could collect her thoughts are further, she was interrupted by a familiar face. A pony that usually gave her a harder time than Vinyl Scratch, but a pony she trusted more than any other living creature in Equestria.

“Vinyl seemed extra pissy, I suppose you and her had a talk?” Rainbow Dash smirked.

Twilight laughed lightly at Dash’s joke before replying.

“Yes, well although she is a formidable soldier, I cannot ignore her mental evaluations. I don’t think being on the front line or in combat is good for her. She’s already dangerously unstable as it is, the last thing she needs is more reasons to snap.” Twilight explained.

“You mean she hasn’t already?” Dash joked again.

“That’s debatable.” Twilight played along.

“Anyways, I didn’t come here to talk about Vinyl and whatever has her pissy today.” Dash explained.

“You’re asking permission to kill Trixie yourself, right?” Twilight jumped right to the only logical conclusion.

“How’d you know?” Dash raised a brow in surprise.

“Why else would you be in my office right now? All you’ve talk about since this war began was getting her and mounting her as a trophy. I even recall you once mentioning you wanted to mount her rear end as a second trophy and let everypony take turns bucking it?” Twilight sat down at her desk lifting her glasses to her face.

Dash got a big grin across her face.

“That’s one of my personal favorites.” She commented.

“Yes, well I’m afraid the answer is no on that question though. Your orders are to lead us to victory and bring Trixie back alive if possible.” Twilight instructed.

“Come on Twilight, that’s bullshit! After all she’s done!?” Dash growled.

Twilight nonchalantly began writing letters as she listened to Dash. The sudden change from giddy to enraged didn’t seem to affect her in the slightest, she was used to Dash’s rash behavior at this point.

“Believe me, I understand that Trixie is a cold-hearted conceited bitch, but we have a little something called civility here. Everypony has the right to a trial, and judgment before the crown; if we didn’t have laws or rules we’d be no better than Trixie’s army.” Twilight preached.

“Horseshit.” Dash spit.

“It’s not ‘Horseshit’, commander, its proper civility. We cannot allow ourselves to stoop to the level of our enemies, if we allow such things to happen it’s only a matter of time before we become our enemies.” She lectured again.

“Spare me your lectures; I’ll follow your stupid orders.” Dash rolled her eyes.

“Glad we understand each other commander.” Twilight didn’t even take her eyes up from her papers.

Dash understood it was Twilight’s way of saying their conversation was over.

“So, I want all of you to understand our orders, none of us are to kill Trixie unless there is no other alternative; seems as though Twilight is pussy-hoofing around the situation.” Rainbow Dash explained to her team.

“I can understand why Twilight is being so cautious though…” A soft spoken pegasus replied to Dash.

“Although I agree partially with Twilight on the sense that we don’t want to come off as the same ruthless animals our enemies are, I think she fails to understand it from the point of view of those of us actually on the fields fighting.” Replied another of the group.

“Believe me Rarity, I know. Twilight doesn’t realize yet that while we’re stuck to rules and regulations, our enemies are allowed to do whatever they see fit to win. None-the-less she’s in charge, and we’ll have to put up with that unless Celestia says otherwise. These are our orders, and they’ll be carried out as stated. I suggest you all get ready, we’re leaving within the hour.” Dash commanded the group.

Dash’s ability to take command still caught Rarity off guard from time to time. She could be cool and collected one moment, and then turn into a drill instructor on the next.

Rarity approached Rainbow Dash cautiously as the rest of the group dispersed. Oddly she appeared more chipper than she normally did before a battle. Rarity assumed it had to do with the fact that Trixie would at least be apprehended soon.

“Rainbow Dash, may I speak with you?” Rarity spoke at a nearly silent level.

Dash turned to face her with a smile.

“What’s on your mind Rarity?” She said.

“It’s about Sweetie Belle…” Rarity lowered her head.

She knew it was always a touchy subject to bring up one’s sister around Rainbow Dash, especially knowing what happened to her sister.

“Still no sign of her; I know it’s frustrating Rarity, but I’m almost certain she’s okay, her and Scootaloo both.” Dash smiled.

Rarity sighed.

“I’m sorry Rainbow Dash…” Rarity bowed respectfully.

Dash tilted her head in confusion.

“What for? You’ve done nothing wrong.” She asked.

“Your sister died that day, right in front of you, yet you still managed to gather up my sister and her friend Scootaloo and get them to safety regardless. You saved their lives when you didn’t have to…” Rarity had a very soft tone.

Dash shook her head and placed a hoof on Rarity’s shoulder, a gesture of comfort.

“Rarity, I did what was right that day. I would have liked to save my sister, but conditions didn’t allow. I wanted to save those who were alive and had a chance of getting out. My only regret is that I went back in to save more ponies and lost sight of the two. I am almost certain though that they’re alive, and that they’re together; it sets my mind at ease, because if they’re together then I know they’ll be safe no matter what happens.” Dash comforted her.

Rarity allowed a smile to cross her face.

“Thank you Rainbow Dash. You’re a good friend.” She replied.

The air outside of Canterlot felt moist and thick as it blew roughly through the green blades of green that covered the land. That same grass was to be soaked with blood today.

Many of the Knights took an interest in the upcoming challenge between Rainbow Dash and Trixie. The two had made a wager almost a year ago now, and now one of them was to pay up in their own blood. Nopony was certain who would come out with the other’s head, but all were certain that both would not walk away from this battle.

“KNIGHTS OF CELESTIA!” A confident commander screamed to a hall full of the Knight’s finest soldiers.

The crowd cheered loud enough to call thunder from the heavens.

“As many of you know, I am Rainbow Dash.”

They let out another roar of excitement.

“I will keep this brief before turning it over to my lieutenant.” Dash commented.

The crowd grew silent at the sound of Dash’s voice.

“War is no joking matter, we’ve all seen that. Trixie is evil and ruthless, so I ask you all to think of your families while you’re out there. Don’t try and be a hero out there, less we lose more than we have to. That is all…” She spoke.

Dash gestured for Vinyl Scratch to come forth and deliver her speech. As Vinyl approached Dash began to retreat off of the balcony overhanging the hall.

“This darkness has committed crimes against ponykind. It is a menace to our way of life, and it must be punished for its actions!” She began.

The crowd roared once more. Vinyl Scratch clearly had the ability to command a crowd that could even rival Rainbow Dash’s.

“It cannot be reasoned with, there is only one thing that it understands, and that is death. Let us show it that same death then! Let us show it that it has not even begun to understand what we’re capable of! Let us destroy it and all who assist it!” She yelled.

A wildfire had sparked in the crowd below; they were screaming and yelling with delight louder than they had ever before. The room was ablaze with vigor, determination and excitement. Rainbow Dash just wanted quietly from a distance.

“This Trixie, she is a traitor to her own kind; a coward that hides behind her shield of darkness to keep us from getting to her!” Scratch continued.

The cheers had grown so loud that they filled the whole castle at this point.

“BUT NO MORE! LET US SHOW HER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BETRAY CELESTIA! LET US DRAG HER BACK BY HER HIND HOOVES!” Vinyl screamed with delight.

The crowd replied in the same manner.

“WE WILL RIP HER APART AND DRINK HER BLOOD! LONG LIVE CELESTIA!” Vinyl finally screamed.

“LONG LIVE CELESTIA!” The crowd rejoiced.

BANG!

Dash’s firearm roared as it felled another from a distance. A clean shot right through the skull; she had learned to grow fairly used to this occurrence. She had been trained to be the best shot she could be after all.

Flapping her wings furiously she brought herself closer to the ground where she would then bring her sword to contact with more of her enemies.

Around her she could see blood flying from every direction. There wasn’t a patch of dirt that wasn’t stained with blood around her. Everything would be soaked without prejudice, including her.

The screams of bullets and battle cries were all that could be heard through the air. One couldn’t even hear themselves speak with the conditions around them. It was exactly as Dash recalled every other battle she had been in up to this point: Hell.

Two heavy built stallions charged Dash from the front hoping to overpower her. Their efforts were wasted, as with great haste she impaled one in the head with her sword and with a quick jerk was able to pull it off of his shoulders with it still attached to her blade. The neck of the stallion began to spurt out red goo like a sprinkler. She then hurled the skull at the other with such great force that it broke his neck on impact.

Dash charged through the crowd with blade drawn, hacking her way through anything that would try and stop her. Her weapon was more than a match for any would-be warriors trying to block her path; it cut through them like paper.

“Trixie, I know you’re out here…” Dash thought out loud.

Dash took lift off mid stride and began scanning the ground from above for anything that even resembled Trixie. She knew that Twilight said not to kill her, but Dash was certain Twilight had no problem with her being dragged back by her jaw, and if she did Dash didn’t care.

In the far distance Dash could see blue figure in what appeared to be a cloak standing at ease a far distance from the actual fighting.

“Found you.” Dash smiled.

At that same moment Dash heard an ear shattering scream behind her. Quickly she turned to locate the familiar cry.

Rarity had been grabbed by one of the enemy pegasus and had managed to shoot her way free, but now was falling from Dash’s altitude. Without a second thought Dash abandoned her plans to pursue Trixie and bolted after Rarity.

“I’m coming Rarity!” Dash screamed.

She was getting closer, only a little bit further now. Flapping her wings as hard as she could she was trying everything she could just to get a little more speed.

A sharp pain struck her from her wing all the way down her spine. At that same moment she stopped flapping and began to fall through the sky like a comet. She had been shot in the wing.

Tumbling to the ground Dash rolled down a steep rocky slope hitting every jagged rock on the way down. She could feel each rock hit her, each like another individual bullet ripping at her skin. When she finally reached the bottom of the slope she opened an eye to see Rarity only a few feet away.

Dash forced her body to allow her to stand upright and stammer her way over to Rarity. When her eyes adjusted she examined Rarity.

Blood was gushing out of her right side like a hose. She whimpered at each spurt but did her best to hold in her cries. She had been shot.

Tearing off a piece of cloth off of her uniform Dash began to wrap the wound as best she could. She was no Fluttershy, but she knew a thing or two about covering wounds. A short double knot later the wound was covered at the very least. It would have to do until she got her to Fluttershy.

“Can you walk?” Dash asked.

“I don’t… Think so…” Rarity coughed between words.

“Then I guess I have to carry you.” Dash responded as she lifted Rarity onto her back.

“Just leave me here Dash; I’m only going to slow you down now…” Rarity requested.

Dash grunted but began making an ascent back up the hill she had fallen down to reach Rarity. Her body was weak from her own injury, and the weight from Rarity wasn’t helping; regardless she pressed onward as quickly as they could.

“Rainbow Dash, just leave me here…” Rarity insisted.

“No soldier gets left behind in the Rainbow Raiders, and that’s not about to change.” Rainbow Dash hissed at Rarity.

“Stubborn as always…” Rarity sighed.

Only a few steps up the hill Dash’s legs gave out. She and Rarity both began to fall back down the hill and roll into the nearby lake.

Dash struggled to swim to Rarity and keep them both afloat. She held on tight to the unicorn.

“Rainbow… What’s that…?” Rarity asked gesturing behind Dash.

Dash turned her head instinctively to witness a black line reaching out to the sky off in the distance. The line began to expand in width before the bottom swelled up in an orb that expelled itself outward. It was some kind of explosion.

“Shit!” Dash cursed.

“All units fall back, I repeat fall back! Retreat to the castle right this instant! Get away from that beam! This is an order!” Dash hollered into her radio.

A gust of wind snapped the grip that Rainbow Dash had around Rarity causing her to be pulled by the current. Frantically she attempted to swim to her direction but her body was still weak from being thrown around so much.

She was only moments from slipping out of consciousness when she felt a hoof grab her and pull her out of the water. Her ears could hear the sound of propellers spinning.

A moment later she realized she had been pulled into a helicopter piloted by none other than Vinyl Scratch. Turning to look for the one who grabbed her she recognized a familiar purple unicorn. Frantically she looked left and right for Rarity, only to realize she wasn’t in this helicopter.

“TURN AROUND! WE HAVE TO GET RARITY!” Dash spit out.

“Negative, we are heading away from what appears to be some kind of new weapon.” Twilight commanded.

Rainbow Dash quickly pivoted and jabbed her front hoof right into Twilight’s face. Twilight being as frail a fighter as she is fell without much effort.

“You fucking bitch! You should have saved her, not me!” She growled.

“We didn’t have time to save the both of you, it was either you or her, and you were more important than her.” Twilight justified.

“More important!? I’LL KILL YOU!” Dash picked up Twilight and held her against a wall by her throat.

“What… Good will… Killing me do…?” Twilight spoke between gasps.

“You should have saved Rarity… Not me…” Dash loosened her grip on Twilight.

“Could of and should of gets us nowhere. The fact remains that we didn’t save Rarity, we saved you.” Twilight reminded.

Dash looked up at the unicorn and noticed her face for the first time during this encounter. Her right eye was held closed tightly with blood seeping from it.

“Did I hit you in the eye…?” Dash asked nervously.

“It wasn’t you. On my way out here I was careless… I got slashed in the eye by an assassination attempt… They were counting on me to go save you. Fortunately Lieutenant Scratch was there to take care of the assailant.” Twilight explained.

“I see…” Was all Rainbow Dash could manage to get out.

It had been days since Rainbow Dash left her quarters. Ever since their return from the last battle they had she had locked herself in her quarters and refused visitors or even meals. Twilight’s concern only grew with each passing hour.

“Dash, open this door or I’m going to have it broken down.” Twilight demanded as she pounded on her door viciously.

To her surprise, Dash complied. The door creaked open only a hair, but Twilight darted inside before Dash could change her mind.

“Rainbow Dash, you can’t just stay locked up in your room all day, we need you out there.” Twilight gestured towards the door.

Dash was hardly listening to her. She sighed and poured herself a drink on the nearby table.

“They don’t need me out there anymore…” Dash sulked.

“Yes we do, you’re the fastest in Equestria, and the best commander any of us have ever seen. You’re vital to our success.” Twilight protested.

Dash scoffed at statement. Setting her drink back down on the table after a few large gulps she approached Twilight. She grabbed the blanket wrapped around her with her teeth and wrenched it off with great force, tearing it as she did so.

The first thing that Twilight noticed was the absence of a cutie mark on her flank.

“I’m not the fastest in Equestria anymore…” Dash replied solemnly.

“Rainbow Dash, your cutie mark didn’t make you who you are, you did. You just need to believe in yourself-“ Twilight was cut off.

“No, not anymore… I wasn’t fast enough to save Rarity, and for that reason… I have decided I never want to fly again…” Dash turned to reveal her other side.

Her wing, it had been hacked clean off; blood still dripped from where it once was.

“Y-you cut your wing off!?” Twilight responded.

“That’s not all. I’ll be leaving the Knights; I want nothing to do with you and your war anymore.” Dash answered.

“Dash we need you!” Twilight argued.

“Look around you Twilight. We’ve already lost…” Dash said.

I didn’t know what say. There weren’t any words that could capture how I felt about this information.

“Anyways, that’s all I know, and I only know from what Twilight has said.” Vinyl explained.

“So, that’s why Twilight and Rainbow Dash don’t get along?” I asked.

“Well, they’ve always had a heated relationship, but that’s how it came to be like it is now.” She replied.

“Thank you Vinyl Scratch… This has really opened my eyes…” I bowed.

“No need to thank me, I figured since you were Dash’s friend you deserved to know. She’s not like the rest of us in the Knights. Dash has seen more hardship than any one pony should...” Vinyl said.

“Even you?” I asked.

She chuckled.

“Well, that’s debatable.” She smirked.

I suppose that I hadn’t fully earned Vinyl’s trust yet, at least not enough to get her to show me her secrets just yet.