Nearly a week had passed since what was now being called Trixie's folly. Canterlot was ablaze with celebration. The city had not stopped roaring for days. Every night, Vinyl took me out drinking, and Twilight praised me for bringing Dash back to them. She then would ramble about how I have a bright future with the military.

There was still fighting left to do, but Trixie's fall was a powerful victory, and ended over seven years of doubt in the military. Every single pony in Canterlot now realized the kind of power that their military held.

And of course at the center of it was Rainbow Dash, the mare who made miracles happen. Hell they must had had twenty toasts to her a night.

However after almost a week of not seeing my friend, I knew that I had to pursue her. That was why I traveled out to Ponyville on foot. I disabled my communication system so that none would follow me. No doubt Dash still preferred to be left alone.

With a little combat experience and training under my belt, I actually found the walk to Ponyville quite easy. None stood in my way.

When I arrived at the library, I noticed it was quite empty. Still signs of being inhabited existed there, so I knew she wouldn't be too far.

After a moment I thought of one other place she'd be. With that, I hastily made my way to the other side of the ruins of the town.

Ponyville was abandoned as ever, and now it didn't even have Pinkamena, just an old Rainbow Dash who lingered to hang onto memories. It was the loneliest place I had seen in Equestria.

Coming to the remains of an old cloud house that now rested on the ground, I saw a familiar prism mare standing in what I assumed what was the remnants of the garden on the ground. There in front of her was an old headstone. I didn't even need to ask whom it belonged to.

Dash didn't even turn to see me. "You shouldn't have come here."

I stepped forward and stood next to her at the mourning site. "I had to see you again... You never came back."

She turned to look away from me. "I didn't want to come back. I wanted you to stay in Canterlot and leave me be. I said I was done with this war, and I meant it."

I approached and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Can I not change your mind? Equestria needs you..."

She brushed my hoof off and took a step away. "Nopony needs me anymore."

"That's not true! Why are you acting like this?" I was starting to get annoyed by her attitude.

"Just go back to Canterlot... Never come back here. I don't need you here anymore. I delivered my part of the bargain; I got you into the knights, Now you have to leave me alone..." She started hobbling away.

I took notice of the limp in her step. "What's wrong?"

She tried to fake that she wasn't in pain. "N-nothing... I'm fine... Go back to Canterlot..."

Her hooves gave out, and brought her side down into the dirt at that exact moment. I rushed over to her aid quicker than she could ask for my help. "What's wrong with you?" I rose my brow.

The mare sighed and rested her head in my hold. She allowed her muscles to relax as I cradled her. "Flare... Get this cloak off of me, please?" Her voice had grown soft, and it was less commanding than I was used to. Nonetheless I obeyed and slid the hoof off of her head and disrobed her. This was the first time I had actually seen her exposed body.

When I examined her however I took note of the black spots going down her spine. I recognized them right away. "B-but... This is..."

"The plague... Yeah..." She nodded confirming my worry.

"How long have you had this?" I rose my brow.

She groaned in pain as she tried to move. "Since before we met... Over 6 years now..."

I blinked as I leaned in to hear her better. "That's not possible..."

In pain, she moved as I lifted her off the ground and let her rest on my back, trying to carry her back to the library. "Heh... Tell that to Fluttershy. She marked me off for dead six years ago... I'm too stubborn to die, I think..."

I threw my military jacket over her as I walked. "Try not to speak..." I instructed.

Instead of fighting, she nodded and allowed her muscles to relax while she dangled off my side. I walked a bit faster than I normally would so I could get her to her bed as quickly as I could. I didn't want to run though, so I didn't risk dropping her.

We made it back to the library hastily. Getting inside, I quickly set her down on the bed where I crawled in next to her and sat down, letting her rest her head on my hoof. I grabbed the comforter and wrapped it around the both of us.

Dash just smiled as she watched me. "Nopony has ever taken care of me before..." She admitted.

"You need to get better quickly... Maybe we should call Fluttershy down here..." I pointed out.

She shook her head. "No... My body has finally reached its limits... It can't take anymore... Trixie won in the end..."

"That's why you left the military six years ago?" I questioned.

She nodded and coughed. A small amount of blood came up with her cough. I wiped her mouth.

"I figured if they never saw me die, they would think I was still alive and they'd continue to fight with the same determination... If they witnessed 'The Miracle' die, they would be discouraged... They needed a symbol, I became the scapegoat for that..." She explained.

"You're a real hero, Dash..." I pet her cheek.

Her hoof landed atop of my own as she locked eyes with me. "I'm no hero... Just a mare trying to atone for her mistakes. You're the real hero."

I laughed at the prospect before changing the subject. "Why didn't you tell me...?"

She kept her magenta eyes on me. "How could I?"

"What do you mean?" I gave a confused expression.

She coughed again before answering. "You came all the way from SkyVale... You believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. You said I was your hero. I had a lot of heroes... They all let me down..." Her face became serious. "You tell me how I was supposed to tell you that you came all this way for nothing. You tell me how I was supposed to crush your spirits?"

I nodded in understanding. It did make sense, however I felt guilty for making her feel obligated to push herself.

Her hoof rose and landed on my cheek. "Even after all that has happened... I wouldn't change it for the world. I got to meet you, and it has made the last few months of my life the best I've had in a long time. I had forgotten what it meant to be alive... You helped me remember..." Tears started rolling down her face as she spoke. "You've saved my life in a way you never would have imagined... You're my hero, Flare."

I allowed her hoof to stroke my cheek as she spoke. I said nothing, unsure of how to answer.

"I am glad I met you... You remind me of somepony I once loved..." She smiled.

I placed my hoof on top of hers. "Get some rest."

She nodded and snuggled up in the blanket. "I... I don't want to have anymore nightmares..." She admitted.

I pulled her closer. "I'm right here for you."

She smiled and nodded again as she buried her head into my chest.

"Thank you..." She muttered.

"I'll take care of you for the rest of your time... I promise I won't leave your side until the very end..." I stroked her mane as I promised.

Her smile remained as she nodded lightly. "Thank you... Flare..." Her voice was weak.

"Now get some rest, I'll get you some medicine here tomorrow." I pet her cheek as I spoke.

Her eyes closed as she breathed lightly. I leaned back against the wall with her in my lap. Allowing my eyes to close, I too fell into a pleasant slumber.

When I came back to the waking world, I right away realized plenty of time had passed. I must have slept for a full eight hours, as I actually felt well rested. Probably the most peaceful rest I had gotten since I came to the ruins of Equestria.

Noticing the sleeping rainbow maned pony in front of me, I shook her lightly. "Rainbow..." I smiled as I tried to get her stirring.

I pushed on her a little harder. "Rainbow...?"

No response.

"Rainbow, its time to wake up," I tapped her face a bit.

Still nothing.

"Oh sweet Luna..." I instantly fell into disbelief. "Rainbow, wake up!"

It was useless, she just laid there lifeless.

"Rainbow Dash! Wake up!" I shook her a bit more violently.

She disobeyed.

"Come on! On your hooves soldier! That's an order!" I screamed, hoping that the encouragement she was used to in the military might have some effect. Obviously, I was wrong.

"No..." I quivered as I stared at her face. "No... You can't die..."

Or maybe she can.

"Please wake up, Rainbow... Please..."

I pulled her body close to mine and held her tightly in an embrace. There frozen on her face, a smile. It was the last expression she had made.

Placing the shovel I was using in the dirt, I erected a simple wooden marker. It wasn't much, but it was all I had to work with at the time. No name, no date of birth, just a message was etched into it. A message from me to her about this gift of a grave marker.

To a hero.

I sat down and examined the blade I had removed from her on my left hoof. I had never attended a funeral before, so I had no idea what the customs were.

Finally I spoke. "I have decided to go back to Canterlot... I want to try and end this war like you wanted... I want to make the world you wanted a reality. I know there will be more fighting, but once that is done... We can build a world without fighting."

I looked to her grave with a sigh. "There were so many things I never got to say.. So much I wanted to know, so much I wanted to share with you... You are my hero, Rainbow... and you still are..." I found myself sniffling. "You taught me the meaning of sacrifice... I only wished I had known so I could have made more of our time together..."

Tears began to run down my face. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried. "I love you, Rainbow Dash. You're family to me."

"You didn't die in vain... Everypony in Canterlot is now talking about you... Rainbow Dash the Great. Guess they have a habit of giving you nicknames." I sniffled as I wiped my nose.

A voice from behind me interrupted my mourning. "Death often leaves one with many unfinished tasks, doesn't it?"

I pivoted around to see a strange light brown pony with long jet black mane. On on side of his mane he had a thin braid that hung down and was longer than the rest of his hair. His mane was long and straight, with a silky texture to it. He had a very majestic look about him.

The stallion's eyes shined in the low light. Their sky blue color really came out in this darkness outside. I couldn't recall what real light looked like anymore though.

On his neck a strange necklace adorned with at least a dozen old keys. I even noticed a set of earrings that had small keys upon them as well. His cutie mark, of course was a key.

I drew my sword. "Who are you?"

He ignored my blade. I took notice of the fact that he had no weapon at all, nor a bag to carrying any.

"You should make haste back to Canterlot. Deliver her blade, for its power may be enough..." He glanced at the Rainbow Edge on my other hoof.

"I... I can't get it to work for me... The blade won't even respond to my U.M.S.A." I admitted.

He nodded. "This is to be expected. That is no ordinary sword. It has not allowed you to use it."

I blinked. "What...? The sword doesn't want me to use it...?"

The stallion nodded a second time. "Rainbow Edge has a connection with the stream of existence. It chooses its master."

He began to trot away slowly before I stopped him. "Wait!"

He paused for a moment.

"You said the blade's power may be enough... Enough for what?" I tilted my head confused.

Turning his head, he nearly whispered. "To save our kind..."

With that he made his exit. I had many more questions, but I knew that they would remain unanswered.

The trek back to Canterlot was quiet and lonely. I was expecting to make this quest with a familiar prism mare at my side. I wanted to tell her that she had a home with me, and that this place was nowhere to waste away in. She deserved better than this.

I couldn't help but feel rotten that I was forced to bury her out in this hell. I wanted to take her back to Canterlot to get the funeral that a hero deserves, but I knew that she would have wanted her death to remain between her, me and Twilight. I had no choice but to tell Twilight what had become of "The Miracle", for she would need Dash's sword if she hoped to end the war. If what that stranger said was true, then her blade may be more powerful than we had anticipated.

I must have been at least an hour's walk from Canterlot when I ran into a familiar pony. Standing at the tallest rock nearby, a cloaked young mare with a bandana over her muzzle jumped down and lowered her bandana and removed her hood.

I got a better look at her face this time. Magenta eyes, and a shining silver coat. A mane as black as midnight. The same mare who had stolen the element of kindness from us back in Cloudsdale.

My blade was at the ready. She wasn't about to take me without a fight. "Back again, I see?" I grinned.

The mare glanced at the blade on my left hoof. "That's an interesting blade you have..." She stood on her back hooves and drew her twin swords. "I wonder how easy it'll be to take it from you..."

I growled as I took a battle stance. "You'll have to kill me to get this sword!"

She smiled and flicked her mane out of her vision. "You've come to the right place."

Quickly she bolted forward. I was able to block a few attacks, but it was clear she fought with extreme experience. Her blows were powerful and tactful. Her speed unmatched. I could hardly see her move.

The battle was short as I felt a blade pierce my chest. Gasping, I looked down at my attacker. She moved within the blink of an eye, too fast for me to stop.

"In death you hold nothing..." She began a strange chant as she twisted her sword in my chest. I groaned in pain as a response. I had never felt anything quite so painful; my whole body had gone cold and numb. I could feel my innards screaming in agony.

"Death is your salvation..." She continued.

I coughed slightly, and watched blood drip from my lips. Words could not escape.

"May you go in peace..." With those words she pushed me off of her blade. I fell to the ground hacking as I gripped the puncture trying to keep as much blood in as I could.

"The void holds nothing worse for you." She finished as she leaned down and began to unfasten the Rainbow Edge from my hoof. I struggled and tried to jerk it away from her.

It was pointless to resist though, she merely punched me in the face and continued to steal it. Once she had it, she grinned as she placed it on her belt attached to her cloak.

"Farewell, Flare of SkyVale. The void awaits you, friend." She smiled as she patted my cheek.

Standing up, she darted off with the blade.

The pain was tremendous. Through it though, I reached my blood covered hoof up to my U.M.S.A. just able to hit the distress signal mechanism. A small light began to blink as I rested my head in the dirt.

"There... Come and find me... Twilight..." I smiled as I clenched my chest.

At that moment though I saw something. It looked like... Rainbow Dash... In the distance, but a young and healthy Dash. She was racing to my direction.

I could feel my body become more able. I pulled myself up and extended my hooves to grab her in an embrace. When we made contact, I twirled her around and squeezed her. She looked up to my eyes and smiled warmly.

Her beauty was not touched by death. Her eyes still shined with the sparkle I would see in her when she was actually happy; during those moments where hell decided to throw her a bone.

I never wanted to wake up.

It was the most blissful dream I had ever had, it seemed so real. I could almost feel it happening. It carried on as I closed my eyes to rest.

Author's Notes:

Yup, Dash is dead. Sorry, but it was a long time coming, and I'm sure some of you predicted this from the get-go.