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On My Wings

by Lord Benjamin Moorington

Chapters

Prologue

Rainbow Dash allowed her body a moment of rest as she landed at the doorstep of the public library.  Even though her flight had halted, and she stood before the door, her body refused to stand still.  The entirety of her wings fidgeted as if the temperature was below freezing, even though it was spring.  Her legs shook and wobbled, giving her a state of unbalance and making it hard for her to stand.  Her breaths were sharp and short; tears pooling in her tired eyes.

She stared at the oak door before her.  From then on, she had two choices: Satiate the pain, or trouble her friends with the heavy burden.  She couldn't do that to her friends.  Her personal issues are for her and her alone.  She can't drag her friends down with her for an age-old problem that resurfaced now.  They don't have anything to do with it, they shouldn't be bothered.

However, the more she represses the issue, the more strength the guilt relieves.  If she went on anymore blocking off her problems and trying to forget about them, they will only get worse and worse later on in life.  She has to deal with them now, or risk hurting others more so later.

It was at the fifth attempt when she finally made a sound whilst knocking on the oak door.  At that point, there was no turning back anymore.  She had decided that her secrets needed to be expelled somehow to somepony.  Constant pressure from repressed memories and assaulting guilt finally brought her to her knees.  It was so simple really, to just have a quiet talk with Twilight.  To just give in and open up to her like a book.  

If the mood wasn't so dark, Dash reckoned she would have laughed at that joke.  Open up like a book.  Twilight.

A minute passed by unnoticed, and Dash decided Twilight was asleep.  Of course, it was the middle of the night.  The only thing that brought her here was the agonizing pain of guilt eating her alive and causing lack of sleep.  There was no way Twilight was up at this time.  And if she was, she probably wouldn't be too happy to have been woken up by Dash.  

She'll have to endure the pain and talk to her in the morning.

Dash turned around due to a metallic clicking noise from behind.  The doorknob ever so slightly jingled and jangled until it twisted and allowed the large door to open, revealing a Twilight that was not so disheveled looking as Dash presumed.  There were no indications of her having just been awoken.  Her mane was relatively normal: straight and even.  Her eyes were not groggy or sleep ridden.  The only feature that was clear on her was the disgruntled glare she was radiating to Dash.

"Oh, hello Rainbow Dash.  Have you come to apologize for Friday's 'event'?"  She asked in a sharp, inquisitive tone.

Dash said nothing.  She knew it was a bad time to come to Twilight.  Not only was it the middle of the night, but it seemed that she was still upset over the other days mishap.

Twilight raised a brow.  "The silent treatment eh?  Well if you didn't come to apologize, then would you care to explain why you are at my door at midnight?!  Is this another prank?"

Maybe I should just leave. Dash thought.  No...I need to talk to somepony about this now. Dash fondled with the words in her throat before she vocalized them.  "I can't sleep."  She muttered.

It was then when Twilight finally noticed something was off about her friend.  Dash kept her head down, eye contact was non-existent, her tone sounded low and sorrowful and her entire body shook.  She reminded Twilight of a lost foal.  A small wave of guilt washed over her.  A friend of hers was vulnerable and in need of help, and she was giving her the cold shoulder.  Some friend she was.

Sighing and dropping her penetrating glare, Twilight stepped to the side.  "Come in, Dash."  Dash took a tentative step forward, almost as if the floor would crumble if she wasn't careful.  Twilight strode ahead of her, heading toward the kitchen.  When she passed her chromatic friend, she noticed many of her feathers were mangled or torn.  Twilight had to stifle a gasp.  Rainbow Dash was known to chew on her wings when she gets extremely stressed.  Whatever Dash is here for, it had to be serious.  "Would you like some tea?"  She asked, thinking of a quick way to relax her friend.  "I was in the middle of making some before you came."

Dash was never a tea pony.  She always saw it as a lame, prancy drink.  Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy, though, seem to be addicted to it.  They always claim it helps to 'soothe the mind and soul' as Rarity would put it.  In the state Dash was in at the time, she could use anything to calm herself down.  So she nodded to Twilight and curled up on a nearby couch.

She cast her gaze down the isle of books at Twilight's disposal.  The various colors of the different spines swirled together through the tear-filled vision Dash had.  She wiped her eyes clean only to have them be refilled a second later.  There was no use in trying to hide her sorrow.  It was clearly evident by her entire body language, and she was sure Twilight caught on as soon as she stepped inside.

The unicorn returned a short while later with a tea kettle and two cups and plates floating beside her.  She placed them on the small table in front of the couch.  With a gaze that never left Dash, Twilight poured two cups of tea and floated one to her shivering companion.  

Dash slowly took the cup from her magical grasp as if it was a phenomenon she had never witnessed.  Clattering from the cup and the small plate underneath rattled the silent library under Dash's shaking hoof.  She brought the cup to her lips and took a careful sip, scorching her tongue in the process.  Dash didn't care, though.  The physical pain from the slight burn was nothing to the pain she felt from within.

Twilight had been patiently waiting for a word from Dash as she finished sipping her tea.  A short silenced passed after she put the cup down, and Twilight opted for the first word.  She was about to speak before Dash beat her to it.

"I'm sorry."  She whispered.  Dash hoped that she was quiet enough so Twilight couldn't hear her, but the dead silence in the library made it easy to hear an ant crawling in the next room.

Twilight smiled and hugged her friend.  "It's no big deal, Dash.  It was only a little prank, right?  No harm done."  Dash remained stone still and quiet.  Twilight pulled back and lifted Dash's head up to make eye contact.  Scarlet lines scattered across her magenta eyes like webbing.  "Come on, Dash, talk to me.  What's wrong?"

Dash kept eye contact for a few seconds, then pulled away and glanced back to the floor.  Words in her mind scrambled to organize themselves to be transformed into speech.  Where should she begin?  There was so much to tell, so much pain and longing.  Her gaze fell upon the teacup again, and she took another sip.  Do we have all night? Dash mused.

"It's a long story.  It'll take a while."  Dash weakly admitted.

"No problem, Dash."  Twilight said.  "Though, I think we might need something stronger than tea to keep us awake."  She risked a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood.  

A phantom of a smile crossed Dash's features, though unnoticed by her friend.  "Ok."  She simply stated.  Where should I begin?, she thought.  I'll start with Friday, when it first started.  

With a final sip of tea, Dash began her tale.  "On Friday, I was flying outside of Ponyville."








Chapter: 1

Two wings, strong and agile, zipped across the clear blue sky at a breakneck speed.  Wind flew through Rainbow Dash's flamboyant mane and tail, leaving her trademark rainbow trail behind.  Onlookers watched in amusement as Ponyville's best flier performed her usual routines for the purpose of either showing off her stunts, practicing, or just for fun.  Although, some may argue her motive were all three at once.

Used to the feeling of being watched and adorned, Dash smiled to herself and inclined her body for a dive.  She shot down at almost a ninety degree angle, gathering tremendous velocity with each second.  The ground approached her, quickly and dangerously.  Green rolling planes that one would deem peaceful and serene now threatened Dash's very life.  However, the ground proved to be no challenge.  It can only watch, and mock from below as Dash defies its wishes of coming in contact.  

With a brilliant, gleaming rainbow trail following behind the pegasus, who's name is so aptly named after her aforementioned streak of diffracted light, Dash shifted her wing joints.  Through the use of basic aerodynamics, her direction and g-force changed in a split second.  Going from a vertical dive to a horizontal drift, but not without leaving her signature move in her wake.  

A tremendous roar, followed by a halo of multicolored light waves erupted and expanded in an enormous diameter.  Spectators cheered at almost the same volume as the roar from the sonic rainboom.  Vibrant colors arced in all directions, radiating the small town with a glorious, beautiful light show that no firework display can even come close to matching.

Since the point of which Dash succeed in breaking the sound barrier was so close to the ground, the nearby onlookers seemed to be almost basked in the array of lights.  However, Dash was not reckless.  She knew what the dangers of doing a sonic rainboom close to the city were, and knew to perform one outside of city limits, and above a certain altitude, which only was about three inches from the minimum.  

The mayor may complain, but hey, who can blame Rainbow Dash for being awesome?  Who can blame her for wanting to give her revered fans a grand show, like she does almost everyday, but spice it up a little this time?  Mayor Mare may disprove of the brash pegasus's actions, but if there was no property damage, or formal civil complaints, than what can she do other than shake her head and sigh?

So the village was basked in light.  So close was the blast point that it was almost able to be physically touched by a pony standing on the roof of a building.  Though light cannot be physically touched in a sense, it still amazes the onlookers how the halo retains an almost incorporeal appearance as they wonder if they can physically touch it, and what it would feel like.

With a single fell swoop, Dash hovered in front of her audience, soaking in the cheers and whistles like an over-sized egotistical sponge.  This was what Dash lived for.  The crowed, the adornment, the adrenaline, and most importantly, the pride.  The combined power of the roaring fans, the excitement from performing, and the rush of adrenaline in her veins drained their entities into the cyan pegasus herself.  It was like a drug.  The feeling of swelling pride being bulked up in her system, to be all released within herself at once felt...exhilarating.

Even with all her self-doubts and worry cast aside to be replaced by her pride, Dash still has her one aspect that can never be replaced, abused, corrupted, or thrown awry.  It was the very concept that grips all ponies to a root, to show them who they are and who they belong to.  To some it was a burden.  It holds them down like a weighted chain, and the key being those above them who they are aligned to.  To others, it was a gift.  To fight and protect those you love, those you care for, those that mean something to you.  It was the very element Dash was embodied with.  One of six that form a bond of perfect union and harmony: Loyalty.

There were those who Rainbow Dash was loyal to, and those who she was blindly loyal to.  Those who she would never forsake, even in the most dire of situations.  The other ponies who make up the sacred Elements of Harmony, as well as a one particular other.

A purple spec weaved through the crowd.  Dash followed the spec with sharp eyes as it made its way from the back to the front line.  Once the purple patch of fur reached the front row of the envious crowd, only then was it revealed to be Scootaloo.  As the orange pegasus filly gazed at Dash with envy shining in her eyes, the cyan mare couldn't help but allow herself to be swelled with more pride then before.  She knew very well that Scootaloo had been her 'number one fan' for quite some time now, but it wasn't until a fortnight ago when everything changed between the two.

Scootaloo had been wanting to spend more and more time with her idol.  She envisioned herself as being sort of like a little sister to the rainbow maned mare.  Her dreams of learning under Dash's wing and becoming her 'little' sister had been brought to life at their camping trip with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and their respective older sisters.  Their bond had grown tremendously.  Within just two weeks Scootaloo had learned so much about basic flight and aerodynamics from Dash.  Maybe, just maybe, within a few more months Scootaloo can start to fly on her own.

Dash zipped over from her hovering position to land graciously in front of Scootaloo.  The smaller pegasus smiled widely with glee.  "What's up, squirt?"  Dash asked.

As soon as Scootaloo replied, a sharp pang rattled through Dash.  Her eyes widened in surprise as the world around her faded into gray.  The cheering fans halted their jeering as not a single sound resonated through the world.  It was as if time had stopped, as if Dash had fallen into a void.  

Pain.  Unimaginable pain pierced Dash's soul.  It did not cause her to scream in agony, nor even flinch from it.  It was more so a phantom pain, as if only her mind and soul could feel it, but not her senses.  Lighting flashed in her head, shocking her subconscious and resurfacing old, forgotten memories.

"Why, Rainbow Dash?"

The voice sounded almost ghostly.  Like as if a banshee was whaling in her ear.  Memories, lost and desired to be forgotten, once again resurfaced.  Cold, harsh, unforgiving memories that no sane pony should ever have to relieve.  Dash could only watch in horror as these memories forced their way back into her mind from the darkest corners of her subconscious.  

Then she looked to Scootaloo.  The sight was unlike anything Dash had seen before.  The once orange coated, innocent, fun-loving filly she had known, the pony that now stood before her was like a nightmare incarnate.  Scootaloo's coat had become corporeal, but the scars and bruises on her transparent skin still could be shown clear as day.  Her mane looked like it was mist itself, streaming up like a gust of wind blew from below.  Then her eyes, those peaceful, magenta eyes she always used to have now gave the look of sorrow in its most purest form.  Dash tried with all her might to avert her gaze, but her head did not move.  No tears ran down Scootaloo's cheeks, but in her eyes an unseen flood arose.

They reminded Dash of a lost foal, abandoned and neglected, only wanting a single arm to embrace her to mend her aching heart.  

"Why, Rainbow Dash!?"

The entire state of unrest lasted for only a second as the world returned to normal.  The fading world around her became vibrant and full of life again.  Ponies resumed their cheering and whistling and congratulation.  Sound rang once again in her eardrums.  Scootaloo's nightmarish appearance no longer existed, but instead the normal, sweet, brash filly that she'd come to know.

Dash shook her head.  None of that was real, it was only her mind playing tricks on her.  Probably something she ate last night.  As quickly as the look of fear crossed her features it disappeared, allowing a hearty smile to take it's place. "What was that, Scoots?"  Dash asked.

Scootaloo jumped and fluttered her wings in excitement.  "I said 'hi, Rainbow Dash'!  Ohmygosh!  That sonic rainboom was so awesome!  It was so close I could almost touch it!"  Scootaloo stopped in her tracks as her mental processes clicked.  "Can you even touch a sonic rainboom?  Well, I remember taking the color from a rainbow once, maybe it's the same?"

Dash chuckled heartily and ruffled up Scootaloo's mane.  Her hooves did not stop there, but instead followed up by lifting Scootaloo into the air and onto her back.  Quick as a whip, Dash zipped off once again with Scootaloo clutching Dash's neck as if her life depended on it.  In that case, however, it did.

That kind of fiasco as of late happens quite often.  As a filly who cannot fly just yet, Scootaloo deeply enjoys riding on Dash's back as the cyan mare flies at breakneck speeds while performing various stunts.  The young pegasus gasped as the wind whipped through her mane and adrenaline coursed through her.  A broad smiled crept to her features as the fragile bubble holding in her excitement and joy threatened to burst.

Scootaloo's grip tightened as Dash jerked upward and into a tight loop.  A corkscrew followed the loop as well as a nose dive, then a sharp ascendance.  The orange pegasus's mind rattled and her eyes rolled in their sockets in a comical way as the dizziness from the sudden movements caught up with her.  

Dash's wild ride ended suddenly she swiftly, but gently, landed on a cloud, carefully dropping off her companion.  After a few attempts at standing upright, at which most of them were complete failures, Scootaloo's brain finally settled itself and decided to focus on what was in front of her.  

The first thing that materialized was a cloud.  The soft texture of the cloud cradled her hooves gently on its surface.  To any non-pegasus pony, it would be impossible to stand on a cloud, for it is only water vapor and you will slip right through.  Pegasi have a special connection with the elements.  They can use their magic to control the weather, with the help of factories, unfortunately.  Legends tell of in the old days, pegasi had the power to manipulate the forces of nature to their whim.  They say that a pegasus Shaman can duel a unicorn Archmage, and the battle will be glorious.

The second thing Scootaloo noticed was a small pool of liquefied rainbow.  The weather factories in Cloudsdale have multitudes of these pools to mix the composed color and manufacture it into a solid rainbow to shine over Equestria.  The mixture of magic and chemicals in the rainbow pool was not toxic, but to consume it would not give pleasant results.

Scootaloo followed the rainbow pool until it connected to a waterfall.  For a millisecond she assumed Rainbow Dash brought her up to Cloudsdale.  However, the lack of citizens and the size of the cloud they were standing on proved that they were not at Cloudsdale, or the weather factor, but of the only other cloud structure floating over Ponyville that has a rainbow waterfall: Rainbow Dash's home.

Scootaloo's already present smile grew wider.  In addition to watching Dash perform death defying stunts, she gets to spend time with her in her home?  Scootaloo has only been on a cloud a few times in her life.  Once was when she was on a school field trip to Cloudsdale a few years back, and the other was during another attempted Crusade to earn her cutie mark.  She had momentarily forgotten that only pegasi can stand on clouds, thus it didn't end well for Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.  Luckily the cloud was over a lake, and the other two Crusaders suffered no bodily harm.  Scootaloo rushed to the front door after a high pitched squee; a chuckling Rainbow Dash following shortly behind.

From the second Scootaloo's hoof contacted the door, it happened again.  In an instant, the world turned back to grey.  The vibrant rainbow pool nestled to the side of Rainbow Dash's house became a single shade of grey, void of life and happiness.  The aura of despair lingered, causing everything around her to become a shadow of its former self.

Time seamed to have stopped once again.  Not a single sound resonated through the world.  Not a single life form appeared to exist.  The world continued to fade away into grey around Dash as even she herself lost her vibrant colors.  The agonizing pain pierced her soul once again.  She pleaded for it to all end, but nothing was there to listen.

Rainbow Dash risked a glance at Scootaloo, and sure enough her appearance altered once again.  Her coat was ruffled up and torn in some places, her mane was frizzy and torn as well.  When her head slowly and dreadfully turned to face Rainbow Dash, her eyes burned with agony and bloodlust.  

"You are so cruel."

And just like before, it all vanished.  For the second time that the world faded away, it came back just as quickly as it started.  Less than a second of time passed during the whole event.  Dash's anxiety had dispersed, and she allowed her self a second or two to catch her breath before speaking.  "Whatdya say Scoots?"

The filly was marveling at the sight of Dash's cloud home when she answered.  "I said 'you're so cool!'  I mean, look at this place!  It's so big!  You can probably do stunts in here!"  She gasped and rushed over to the living room, where a poster of the esteemed Wonderbolts was hanging in.  "So awesome!"  The poster showed off the entire Wonderbolts team flying in a V formation with an explosion in the background.  Spitfire was smiling at the camera and winking, while Soarin was elbowing Fleetfoot, making the white pegasus gasp in surprise and loose a bit of balance.  The other members were professional looking.

Dash sighed with relief, then trotted over to Scootaloo's position.  From there, the younger pegasus gaped at the poster.  "You know."  Rainbow Dash started.  "I've had that poster since I was a kid."

"Really?"  Scootaloo asked without taking her eyes off of it.

"Yep.  It was the day of their Anniversary.  Every year the entire team puts on a show in Canterlot, and the year I was there was the 50th.  Spitfire and Soarin were autographing posters before and after their performance.  I happened to catch em right before they started, and got both of their signatures.  The rest were after the show."  A smile crept to Dash's features.  "Hey, maybe if you ask your folks, I can take you to this years show!"

Scootaloo's head zipped around, revealing her bowling ball sized eyes.  No words were able to be enunciated, the only action Scootaloo was able to do was point a shaky hoof between herself and Rainbow Dash.

"That's right!"  Dash said excitingly.  "Just you and me at the Wonderbolts Anniversary Show.  Hey, maybe we can do some tricks to show em how awesome we are while we're--."

Rainbow Dash was cut off by an orange pony like object impacting her side and gripping on tightly.  The cyan pegasus was able to fend off the attack and keep her balance as Scootaloo buried her muzzle into Dash's chest.  "Thank you thank you thank you!  Ohmygoshthisisgoingtobesoawesomeican'twait!"  Another high pitched squee was soon followed.

"Alright alright!"  Dash said as she removed the clinging orange blob, "I know I'm awesome, no need to thank me...but I do enjoy your applauds."

Scootaloo detached herself and looked up to Dash with wide eyes.  "So how's the show like?"  She asked.

"Well awesome, obviously."  What more was there to say?  It's kind of self explanatory.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes.  "Duh, I meant what do they do at the Anniversary that's different from their other shows?"

"The difference is that they don't do shows with all of their members at once.  At the Anniversary, every active member of the Wonderbolts performs at once.  Older members who are retired and can't do the stunts anymore start the show off by flying in a V formation and dropping fireworks and carrying the Wonderbolts banner while the national anthem is sung.

"Then, when the show is over, the Wonderbolts stick around for a bit to sign autographs and do a little thing where they talk to the foals about their tricks.  Hey, maybe you're still young enough to pass off...what're you like, nine?"

"Ten."  Scootaloo stated proudly.

Dash shrugged.  "Eh, maybe.  Anyway, since the show is performed at the Canterlot Coliseum, the Royal Museum of Equestrian History is right next to it.  On that day, it's free admission, and they give you a T-shirt with an old Wonderbolts badge or patch on it."

Scootaloo faked a vomit.  "Bleh, history?  Sounds boooooring."

Dash scoffed.  "Well sure, if it's about politics and stuff, but this is the Wonderbolts we're talking about!  Did you know that they used to be a special forces branch of the Royal Air Force that did like, undercover spy stuff and sabotage?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, like, right after Luna's banishment they were super cool assassins n' stuff."

"Huh."  Scootaloo put a hoof to her chin.  "I guess that's kind of cool."

"You bet it is.  History may not be my favorite subject, but Wonderbolts history sure is."

Scootaloo groaned.  "I hate history.  All Ms. Cheerilee teaches is like...boring politics and stuff.  I mean, can't she teach something interesting?"

"Oh lighten up!"  Rainbow Dash said as she playfully slugged Scootaloo's shoulder.  Another moment when Scootaloo masked her pain in the defense of her ego.  "Enough about school and stuff, see if you can get your folks to let me take ya."

Scootaloo started for the front door.  "Ok!  I'll go tell them right now!"  She stopped short as she noticed something.  Turning back to Rainbow Dash and blushing from embarrassment, she asked, "Can I um...get a ride down?  Hehe..."

A quick updraft and Dash was hovering in the air.  She scooped up Scootaloo onto her back and hovered over the edge of her cloud yard.  "Sure thing, on one condition.  When you're there, ask your parents if you can spend the night."

If the built up excitement from Scootaloo hasn't been let out that whole time, it has then.  "Spend the night?!  Like a sleepover?!"

Dash nodded.  "Totally!  It'll be so awesome!  We can pull pranks on ponies, do some flying tricks...tell some scary stories."  The last sentence was said with an ominous tone and a smirk, to which Scootaloo gulped at.  "Don't worry, I'll go easy this time...but not too easy."

Scootaloo chuckled nervously.  "Oh don't worry about me, I can take it!"  She struck a triumphant pose with her eyes closed and nose in the air.  Not wanting to waste a moment like this, Dash jerked her body, startling her passenger and nearly knocking her off while simultaneously saying 'boo!'.  The outcome was a hysterical Dash, and an agitated and fidgeting Scootaloo.

"Gotchya."  Dash said.

"Well uh...obviously I would be scared!  I'm on your back and here you are trying to shake me off and fall to my death!"  Scootaloo feigned a hurt expression and looked away.

"Whatever you say, squirt."  Dash smiled and rolled her eyes.




Chapter: 2

A soft breeze whistled in the wind and through a prismatic mane.  Rainbow Dash sighed in content as she laid on her back on the field below her cloud home, patiently waiting for Scootaloo to return from her house.  A smile arose as she thought about the orange filly.  Just last week was when she saved Scootaloo from falling off a waterfall during their camping trip in the middle of the night.  Moments after that event, Scootaloo confessed how she had always wanted Dash to take her under her wing and teach her everything she knows.  

In the past, Dash never payed much attention to Scootaloo, nor the other fillies.  She didn't dislike them, or purposely try to avoid them, it's just that she never really found a reason, nor any time, to actually talk to them and get to know them.  She would, at times, intervene on their little 'Rainbow Dash Fanclub' from time to time and have a laugh out of it.  Sometimes she might even show her stunts off to the fillies to just make their day a little better.

Dash never knew that Scootaloo would be this interesting though.  She had observed her from afar on her scooter, and, to her surprise, she was quite skilled in it.  Dash found it amusing to watch as the young pegasus showed off her moves to Ponyville almost daily, just like the cyan pegasus herself.  Having Scootaloo around more often brought joy to Dash.  Scootaloo is cool filly, and all in all, Dash does not regret becoming Scootaloo's 'big sister'.

Another thought came to mind.  Scootaloo had said that she wanted to learn under Dash's wing; to be an apprentice.  Dash smiled at that idea.  An heir to her name, so to say.  One who can be just as awesome as herself and carry on her legacy.  Once, of course, Scootaloo's wings grow out a little more to the point where she can sustain herself in flight.

It was when the sound of buzzing assaulted her eardrums did Dash open her eyes.  From her point of view, the sky was down, and the grass was up.  From above, a silhouette closed in on her location.  The closer it came, the louder the buzzing grew.  It was moments when Dash realized that it was the orange filly herself riding on her scooter at a high speed.

Scootaloo did not slow down as she approached Dash.  As the buzzing of miniature wings propelling a scooter grew louder and faster, so did Dash's curiosity.  Once Scootaloo was only a few yards away, she gripped the handlebars and shifted her weight skywards, propelling herself in the air as well as her scooter.  

Once airborne, Scootaloo kicker her back legs upward while still gripping the handlebars.  What proceeded next stunned Dash from the sheer amount of awesomeness.  The airborne orange filly spun herself and her scooter three hundred and sixty degrees three times and front flipping twice before she landed graciously on the soft grass back on her scooter.  Using the last bit of momentum she had, Scootaloo swerved left to drift her scooter along the grass, turning her back towards Dash and streaking the dirt with the scooter's wheels.

Dash blinked, both from surprise and amazement.  She sat upright on the grass, taking note of the cocky grin Scootaloo held as she took off her helmet.  Dash stood up on all fours and trotted to Scootaloo's position, making sure to ruffle up her mane as she complimented her.  "Nice moves out there.  You had me worried for a second."

For a third time today, the darkness consumed her.  All around Dash was nothing but gray.  Creeping, eerie shadows encircled the two pegasi, severing them from the rest of the world.  As the darkness rose from nothing, appearing in the blink of an eye to unleash its wrath upon those who are deserving, or those it wishes to corrupt, nothing but dread befell upon Dash.

This darkness was different.  There was usually a soul-shattering pain that laced her body, but this time there was none.  It was only Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, floating in an endless void of gray.  The darkness seeped through the air, as if it was some sort of liquid dripping through a thin wall.  The tendrils of shadow lashed out violently, leaving a trail of darkness behind.  

Paranoia, fear, and hatred.  These were the the emotions that coaxed the void like a heavy fog.  Dash could feel her fear manifest into an orb of pure darkness.  The orb trembled slightly, and on its surface images depicting horrors beyond imagination were shown.  Dash wanted to look away, but her eyes were locked on the apparitions.  Once the orb was finished torturing Dash, it floating towards Scootaloo, where it dissipated behind the filly.

"Did you see them, Dash?"

With all the inner willpower she had, Dash was able to respond.  "W-what's going on?  W-where are w-w-we?  W-why is this h-happening to me?"  The fear laced in her voice made her sound like a she was on death row, hanging by the gallows, awaiting Scootaloo to pull the lever.

"Oh?  You mean you don't know?"  Scootaloo responded without turning around.  "I'm honestly not surprised, you do tend to run away from your problems and forget about them entirely."

Dash's heart rate increased, her hooves trembled, her throat turned dry as she whispered her next words.  "W-what do you mean?"

Scootaloo did turn around this time.  Her eyes will filled with a mixture of burning rage and sorrow in their purest form.  Her voice strained as she yelled, the darkness around her emanating through her body.  "Do you really take me for a naive fool!  You know exactly what I'm talking about.  You know what you've done in the past.  You're despicable, you know that?  Nothing but a worthless, hollow, merciless pony.  How do you live with yourself?  How do you sleep at night?  Don't your past sins come back to haunt you?  You call yourself loyal.  Hell, you're the representation of loyalty itself!  Yet you've abandoned your biggest responsibility in your life.

"How could you?"

Dash was speechless.  Her heart and soul were pierced by Scootaloo's words.  She felt pain, unimaginable mental pain.  The dark sphere that portrayed the horrors from the deepest corners of Tartarus returned, forcing Dash to absorb every last image.  She wanted to scream, to yell in agony, to beg for the pain to stop, but there was no one to listen.

"Do you see it now, Dash?  The horrors that your mistakes have made!  Wake up and smell the coffee, Dash!  It's right there in front of you!  Wake up and realize what you've done!  Wake up!"

"Wake up!"

"Wake up!"

Dash yelped and jerked upright.  She frantically looked around, her paranoia gripping her like the previous darkness.  The field she was previously in that surrounded her in darkness and despair returned to its lush and vibrant scene.  The birds chirped and the sun shined, spreading its gracious warmth and purity over the land.  Dash lifted a hoof to her heart, trying to calm her wheezing.  After a few seconds she collected herself and stood upright.

"Dash are you ok?"  A voice said from behind.

A rainbow mane whipped around; a small orange pegasus coming into her line of sight.  I fell asleep?  It was all a dream? Dash thought, Those other...visions...were they all dreams too?  Dash shook her head, it's not important.  Just forget all about it.  Dash turned to address Scootaloo with a smile on her face.  "Yeah, just a bit of a weird dream is all."

"What was it about?  You looked all scared, and you were shaking."

Dash searched her mind for an excuse.  She noticed that Scootaloo had her scooter with her, and thought back to her dream when she did that trick over her.  "Oh just uh, I dreamed that you...hit me with your scooter and broke my wing, hehe."

Scootaloo scoffed and waved her hoof; she bought it.  "Please, I've never crashed into another pony before...Except that one time with Apple Bloom when we did 'Cutie Mark Crusaders Scooter Derbiest.'"  She unconsciously rubbed her shoulder.

Rainbow shuddered.  That day would scar her forever.  "So whatdya folks say?"  She asked.

"I can stay the night!"  Scootaloo replied enthusiastically.

"Awesome."  Dash then proceeded to look left and right, as if making sure there was no one else around.  "You got the stuff?"  She asked in a whisper.

Scootaloo grinned and shook the saddlebag on her back.  "Oh I got the stuff."

Dash peeked inside the bag.  She did another double take of the perimeter, and once she knew they were in the clear, she took the plastic bag out and held it to the light.  There, white rocks varying in size and shape glittered in the sunlight.  Rainbow Dash chuckled sinisterly as ideas flooded her mind.  "How'dya get em?"  She asked.

Scootaloo smirked.  "Oh I know a mare who knows a mare, y'know."

"Oh I know."  Dash then put the plastic bag of sugary rock candies bag in Scootaloo's saddlebags.  "Tell Bon Bon I said 'thanks'."

"So what are you gonna do with them?"  Scootaloo asked.

Dash snickered menacingly.  "Oh I got plans.  Ones that involves strings, some glue, precision, a trampoline, and one Pinkimus Dianamus Pieacus."  Dash rubbed her hooves together in a typical scheming manner.

"What about the others?"  Scootaloo asked.

Dash shrugged.  "I'll think of something.  I've got a plan for Applejack and Rarity, but I bet something will come to me when I get to Twilight."

"And Fluttershy?"

Dash shook her head.  "We've all mutually agreed that Fluttershy is off-limits for pranking.  Even something small like a hoof buzzer will hurt her."

Scootaloo lowered her head.  "Sorry."

"Eh, don't worry about it.  Alright, let's get going."  Dash began to walk towards Ponyville with Scootaloo closely in tow.  




Chapter: 3

Two heads popped from behind a tree.  Once sky blue, the other orange.  One with a pair of binoculars, and both with camouflage helmets made from stray tree branches and leaves.  From the point of view of the pegasus with binoculars, between the trunks of numerous trees and the empty baskets next to the trunks, another orange pony like object came into her field of vision.  

Rainbow Dash smiled to herself.  Applejack is always the most fun to prank, next to Rarity.  Those two overreact the most out of the other five.  Applejack's short tempered personality makes for a good laugh when she gets worked up to the point where she can buck a tree clean in two over the simplest of pranks, and Rarity is just...well Rarity.  Put an extra stitch on one of her dresses, or even put a single wrinkle on one of them and she acts like it's the end of the world.

Applejack smiled to herself and stretched her legs, preparing for the next round of tree bucking.  Every day, Applejack wakes up two hours before sunrise, eats breakfast, tends to her farm animals, walks Apple Bloom to school (on weekdays), then begins to map out the section of the farm she will be harvesting with Big Mac that day.  At about noon, she hauls a good portion of the harvested apples onto a cart and takes position at her stand in Market Row.  At the end of her shift, she tags off with her brother and goes back to the farm to either buck some more, or do other odds and ends chores.  

Dash and Scootaloo caught Applejack right at the end of her shift at Market Row.  Once she had taken care of something inside the farmhouse, she emerged happy and ready to finish her daily harvest.  The first tree came into view.  Applejack approached it and made sure a basket was ready to catch the fallen apples.  She reared her back lags and balanced on her front legs, and with a powerful force from years of applebucking, she extended her legs.

And nothing happened.

Applejack blinked.  She observed the baskets that were sprawled at the base of the trunk.  Not a single red delicious was contained.  Now, according the basic laws of gravity, once the apples were dislodged from their stems, they should have fallen.  Could it be possible that it was one of those times where gravity just decided to be a misfit and screw around?  Possible.  Gravity won't fare well though when the Makers have his head on a silver platter for breaking their rules.  Science, who needs it?

Leaving the bipolar gravity behind, Applejack decided that these apples had a tougher stem.  So she kicked again, and the same outcome happened.  "What in tarnation?"  She exclaimed.  Another kick; same outcome.  "What kind of Celestia forsaken tomfoolery is goin' on in here?"  

Beside her, a tree giggled.

An orange ear perked up at the sound, and Applejack rounded on it.  She stared down the tree, just daring it to laugh at her again.  Insolent fool, how dare that tree mock her ability to buck?  She'll show it, she'll show all the trees who dare defy her.  With a gruff and another exert of twin legged force, a shockwave was sent through the trunk of the defiant tree.  A few bangs and thrashes later, and two non-apple like objects fell from it; one cyan, and one orange.  It seemed ol' Iron Bark wasn't making fun of her.  Applejack will have to apologize to the tree later.

Now you see, when a pony is about to die and their body is laying limp on the ground, wounded, sick in bed, or hanging by the gallows, they are allowed a last rite.  They can have the choice of having a priest come to them and read off their last rites shortly before their demise.  However, in this case there is no priest.  Basically saying: Dash and Scootaloo are screwed.

The older of the two pegasi nervously laughed and avoided eye contact.  "Heyyyy Applejack.  How's the, uh, harvesting goin'?"

Applejack smiled, a sinister smile that caused Dash to visibly flinch.  "Oh you know, all fine and dandy.  'Cept for the fact that somepony done rigged mah trees!"

Being the earth pony that she was, and being the pegasus that she was, Applejack was naturally slower than Dash when it came to reactions.  Right before a foreleg impacted her chest, the blue coated mare swiftly dodged the attack and jumped onto her hooves.  "Listen AJ, we can talk this out.  I mean c'mon, it was just a harmless prank!"

"Prank?!"  Applejack yelled, furious.  "Dash you do realize ah gotta have these here apples harvested by a certain time?!  I can't have ya messin' around when ah'm workin'!  Whatdya even do to 'em anyway?"

"Duct tape."  Dash replied.

Applejack vented out another enraged huff.

Dash raised her hooves defensively.  "Alright alright!  Everything's gonna be ok.  Just calm-"

A small breeze quickly passed through Dash's mane, as well as a thumping sound.  She looked up, taking note of the multicolored strands of hair gently floating to the ground, as well as the menacing sickle impaled right above her mane into the trunk of the tree. "-down."

A quick glance to Scootaloo was all she needed to confirm their next plan of action: run and scream like little fillies.

(\/);,;(\/)

Running from a scythe-wielding-madmare with the intent to kick the snot out of a certain rainbow hued character was usually not easy, unless one had wings.  However, a small, terrified passenger was on board, slowing her down by a tad, which in that case made a huge difference.

Once the epic chase was over with, which ended in Applejack coming to the grand realization that chasing Dash was a complete waste of time.  So she opted for a verbal threat, and retreated back to the farm.  

As soon as they knew they were in the clear, Dash and Scootaloo fell over backwards, rolling on the grass, and spilling their guts.  Their balling lasted for several minutes before it died out and the two pegasi laid in the grass in quiet serenity as they caught their breaths.

Scootaloo was the first to break the silence.  "That was so awesome!"

"Did you see the look on her face?"

"Yeah!  She was so mad!"

"And the frikin sickle!"

"Jeez it was so close!"

"I thought she was gonna kill me!"

"And the way she chased us!  She looked like Snowflake!"

"Yeah, except for, ya know, she was mad at us, not hungry and wanting to eat us!"

A series of laughter erupted.

"Seriously, what is up with that guy?"  Scootaloo asked.  

Dash shrugged; still giggling.  "It's Snowflake, we don't question these things.  I mean, I don't want to wake up one day in his stomach!"

"Question Snowflake; he sits on you, then eats you.  It's logic."  Scootaloo said.

"Logic?"  Dash questioned.  "More like 'Natural Order'!"

Another round of laughter.  "Where did all these jokes come from?"  Scootaloo asked.

"Jokes?"  Dash questioned again.  "These aren't jokes, Scoots.  This is Snowflake.  Remember the Hearthswarming tale?  The reason why everyone was starving?  Yeah it was Snowflake, not Windigos."

"Oh oh!  SHHH, here he comes!"  Scootaloo exclaimed, ducking behind her companion.

Oddly enough, the muscular white pegasus was walking down the streets of Ponyville, heading towards their location.  Sweet Celestia, he probably heard them!  He's gonna sit on them, then eat them!  Curses, they shouldn't have spoken of Snowflake out loud in public where he could hear them from miles away.  You see, Snowflake has this thing where whenever someone is talking about him, he knows.  Because it's Snowflake.

The over zealously buff pegasus approached the duo, who were currently straining to keep their giggles under check.  "Heya Snowflake!"  Dash greeted.  "What's up?"

Snowflake just eyed her suspiciously.  "Nutin much'."

"Awesome.  See ya at work tomorrow big guy!"

Snowflake nodded and continued his trek.  

A few tense seconds passed before the two pegasi broke into uncontrollable laughter.  They had underestimated Snowflake distance (although it wouldn't matter how far he got, he knows all) for he had heard their laughing and rolled his eyes.  Of course he knew about the 'jokes' that ponies told constantly about him, but hell, that's the reputation he made, and he kind of liked it.  No one really fears him, but they have a good laugh about it, and respect him all the same.  

Rainbow Dash got back to her hooves and dusted herself off.  "Snowflake has allowed us to live another day, we should be forever grateful for that."

"We are not worthy!"  Scootaloo added.

"Quick, let's get out of here before he changes his mind!"

With that, the two zipped off on hoof.

(\/);,;(\/)

In the Library, Twilight Sparkle sat on her desk reading a book and taking notes.  Her quill was constantly in her magical grasp and being levitated from an ink vial and her parchment.  To what exactly she was writing down and for what reason, Scootaloo and Dash didn't have a clue.  Possibly some notes about the latest report she was assigned to write for the princess.

From the window, Scootaloo and Dash stood and observed the librarian carefully.  "What're we gonna do to her?"  Scootaloo asked.  "Oh I know!  Replace her ink vial with disappearing ink!"

Dash shook her head.  "Did that already; too unoriginal."

"Umm, how about...Re-writing her monthly schedule!"

Once again, Dash shook her head.  "If I know Twilight, screwing with her schedule is worse than giving Pinkie Pie crack.  It's not worth the laugh."

"Awww...Umm, can we do something to, like, mess with her magic or something?"

"Hmmm..."  Dash ventured on the thought.  Magic is a huge part of who Twilight was.  Not a day goes by where she doesn't use enough collective magic to levitate the entire village.  For Celestia's sake it's her god darn Element!  Her special talent is magic, her life is magic!  Twilight probably doesn't even know how to do anything without magic.  She would have to go through the pain of doing things the earth pony style.  It was devious, maniacal, cruel...and perfect.

Dash smiled.  "Scoots.  I need you to go in the library, and ask Twilight for a book on unicorn anatomy."

Scootaloo stared at Dash, confused.  "What for?"

"You just gave me an idea for a prank."  She answered.

Scootaloo swelled with pride.  She just helped Rainbow Dash think of a prank!  "Ok!"  Scootaloo fluttered her wings in excitement and made way for the front door.  Once inside, the bell at the top of the door rang, announcing her presence.  Twilight's ears perked at the sound and turned around.  She smiled as she noticed Scootaloo at the door.

"Hello Scootaloo, " she said.  "How are you?"

Scootaloo smiled back and nervously fidgeted her wings.  "Hi Twilight, I'm doing good.  Say uh, you wouldn't happen to have a book on, uh, unicorn anano...ananably?"

"Unicorn anatomy?  Of course, one sec!"  Twilight turned to another room.  "Spike!"

In an instant, the small dragon jogged to Twilight's location and stopped in front of her desk at the position of attention.  "Yes, Twilight?"

"Do we still have that copy of Unicorns: Mind over Magic?"

"Uhh."  Spike searched his mind, remembering where it had been placed.  "I think that one is up in your room.  You were referencing it a week ago when Princess Celestia sent you that excerpt on the, uh, connection between corruption and dark magic."

"Ahhh, ok.  Would you mind getting it for me?  Scootaloo wanted to check it out for, uh..."  She turned to the filly.  "What did you need it for again?"

Scootaloo gulped.  She didn't take into account that Twilight might ask her why she wanted a book on unicorn anatomy.  Thinking of the quickest, most generic response available, Scootaloo blurted out, "School project?" in an uncertain tone.

A blink or two later, and Twilight bought it.  "Hmm, interesting.  Well if you ever need any help, my doors are open."

Spike returned from upstairs with the beefy tome in both claws.  He handed it to Scootaloo, who took it in her mouth and balanced it on her back.  

"There's no school project."  Spike said quietly without preamble.

Scootaloo peered behind him to make sure Twilight hadn't overheard.  Luckily, the lavender mare was busy burying her muzzle in the book she was reading prior to her arrival.  "Nope."  Scootaloo replied with a devious smile.

"Prank?"

"Yep."

Spike peered at the window.  "Rainbow Dash?"

"Yep."

Spike held out his fist.  "Nice."

Scootaloo bumped her hoof to his fist, and she left without another word.

Outside, Dash was quietly awaiting for her partner in crime's return.  When the bell above the door rang, Dash turned to see her mission had been a success.  Scootaloo had a large textbook nestled on her back with a sinister smile plastered on her lips.  Dash picked up the tome and began cycling through it.

"Let's see...basic horn structure, no.  Early life magical impulses, no.  Tending to a fractured horn, no.  The effects of se--uh...huh..."  Dash stopped reading aloud and quietly mumbled to herself as her eyes scanned the lines.

"What?"  Scootaloo asked.  "What's it say?"

Dash ignored her companion and continued to read.  "Wow, really?  That's interesting."  A small blush shone on her cheeks.  "Anyway...Aha!  Here it is: Arcane Block.  'Arcane Block is a symptom in unicorns that either slows or completely stops the flow of arcane energies within the horn.  There are a variety of ways for a unicorn to have Arcane Block.  The most common include: disrupting the flow of arcane energies abruptly by inflicting physical damage to the horn, i.e. punching the horn.'  Well that one is out of the question.  We can't just barge in there and punch Twilight.  Next.  'Falling ill, for the stress of attempted channeling may cause migraines or even brain damage.'  Huh...ok... Can't really do that one either.  'A spell from another unicorn may cause Arcane Block.'  I doubt we know another unicorn that can do that.  'The final cause of Arcane Block can be inflicted by a potion or elixir.  A simple mixture of Lion's Blood, a flower found in tropical or moist climates, Dust of Fey, a common reagent, a few drops of hydra tears, (good luck getting those), and one Emerald Leaf.'  Did you get all that?"

Scootaloo blinked.  "Uh...we're gonna punch her in the horn?"

"No, but let's just say we're gonna give Twilight a...drink.  Hehe."

"Where are we even going to get this stuff?"

"I've got ponies in high places, kid.  Or should I say: 'Zebras in high places.'

Chapter: 4

Even though Zecora lived relatively close to the edge of the Everfree Forest, the trek there was still dangerous to venture into alone.  Many horrifying beast reside in the forest, though most tend to be nocturnal.  Luckily for Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, it was a little past noon; most of the more considerable creatures are hidden deeper in the forest, sleeping and awaiting the night.  However, the thick canopy of the forest created a sort of roof over on the tree tops, causing little light to penetrate it.  To one who did not know what the time was, they would assume it to be twilight.

Although Scootaloo has ventured into the forest before, it still, though she will never admit it, scared her.  Whilst spending the night with her fellow Crusaders at Fluttershy's cottage, one of the chickens  wandered off into the forest.  Seeing it as their responsibility, and possible scheme for attempted cutie mark acquisition, the trio of destructive adorableness entered the forest and hunted down the lost chicken.  On their journey, they encountered a horror that will not leave a sane pony unscathed.  Twilight Sparkle was lying limp on her side, petrified, by a creature known as a Cockatrice.

Ever since then, Scootaloo held her fear for the magical forest and its inhabitants.  As the orange filly trotted as close as possible to Dash without making her feel uncomfortable, she felt her fear diminish.  She remembered that night at camp when Dash admitted she, too, was once scared of the very stories she told to Applejack, Rarity, and their sisters.  'I learned pretty quick that if there was such thing as a headless horse, I can totally take it on.'

Even with the minimal distance between the two, Scootaloo stilled shook and her wings still fluttered spasmodically.  Her eyes wandered in every direction, scoping out the area and making sure nothing dangerous pops out of nowhere and scares the fur off her skin.  Instinctively, considering the thought made Scootaloo shudder, the filly shuffled even closer to Dash, now almost underneath the mare.  

Dash inwardly chuckled.  For some reason, Dash found it adorable how Scootaloo clung to her for protection.  It gave her a sense of guardianship, as if it was her duty to protect Scootaloo through the forest.  Dash always had the sense of being the 'protector' no matter what position she was in.  She would always, no matter what, throw herself in harms way if it means the safety of her friends, or family.  

"H-hey Dash?"  Scootaloo said with a shaky voice.  

Dash stifled a giggle.  "Yeah Scoots?"

"Why couldn't we just f-fly to Zecora's?"

Dash looked up, not able to see the sky over the forest canopy.  "Because it's easier to find Zecora's hut on hoof.  If we flew, it would be almost impossible to find it."  Dash smiled.  "Why?  Scared of a little walk in the woods?"

Scootaloo instantly disengaged herself from Dash's side.  "Nope!  Not at all!  Nothing scary about the Everfree Forest...hehe...Nothing...at...at all.  Just a bunch of...plants and twigs and bugs, right?"  An audible gulp soon followed.

"Right!  Except for, of course, manticores."

Scootaloo froze solid.  "M-m-m-manticores?"

"Yeah, and rocs, chimeras, hydras, wyverns, oh and dragons too."

It took all of the willpower known to ponykind for Scootaloo to not zip off back to town screaming her head off.  As an alternative, she whimpered, returned to her position underneath Dash, and curled her tail around her body in both an adorable and adorable way to make her feel safer.  

Dash chuckled and ruffled her companions mane.  Her chest swelled with pride as she held Scootaloo close while they walked through the forest.  Dash had a sense of guardianship wash over her during the most of the trip.  She felt as if it was her duty to protect Scootaloo, just as she would her other friends.  Dash always liked being the role of the 'defender' between her friends.  No matter what scenario they find themselves in, Dash will always throw her own life on the lines if it means saving the life of her friend or family.  

Ten minutes of content silence passed.  With every passing second, Scootaloo felt more and more at ease, lowering her tail from her body, but keeping close to Dash.  Zecora's hut finally came into view, just beyond a few bushes and a small hill.  Scootaloo vented a loud sigh of relief and rushed to the door.  She lifted her hoof to give the door a soft rapping, and seconds later, the Zebra came out.

"Hello there, dear Scootaloo.  Is there anything that I can do for you?"

"Hi, Zecora!  Me and Dash were just coming down here to get some stuff for a cool potion!"

Zecora raised a brow as the rainbow pegasus came into view.  "A potion eh?  Is it for a noteworthy cause?  Or do I suspect foul play?"  She asked, smirking at Scootaloo.  She knew well enough about the pranks Rainbow Dash plays on her unsuspecting friends, as well as the mischief* Scootaloo and her Crusaders do from time to time.

Dash revealed the tome on unicorn anatomy and scanned the pages, finding the recipe for the brew they needed.  "You wouldn't happen to have any...Lion's Blood, Dust of Fey, Hydra Tears, or Emerald Leafs laying around wouldya?"

Zecora scanned her mind, recognizing the reagents and categorizing their uses for various mixtures.  "You want a brew to cause Arcane Block, I suspect?  A simple mixture, and for a certain lavender unicorn, correct?"

"Oooooooh yeahhhhh."   Dash replied.

Zecora beckoned them inside.  Scootaloo instantly rushed between her legs, relieved that she was out of the forest.  Once inside, Zecora began rummaging through various herbs, vials, reagents and the like on her shelves to look for the specific ones.  "I have all the ingredients that you require.  However, getting them all easily would make me a liar.  These reagents are expensive and rare, so for exchange of these goods, a bit of your bits you must share."

Dash sighed.  "Fine I'll pay.  How much?"

Zecora began mixing the reagents into a large pot.  "Twenty bits should cover the fee.  Enough for me to travel to distant lands and gather some more, you see.  Besides, I need to go back to my homeland soon, for I have not seen my family in many a moon."  With a quiet incantation, the witch doctor waved her hoof over the pot.  It then began to bubble and shake, and in an instant, a cloud of smoke erupted from the pot.  The smoke encircled the room, causing the two pegasi to cough.  Another flick of her hoof, and Zecora dispersed the smoke almost as quickly as it came.  Only a clear, reddish liquid was left in the pot.

Zecora reached for a nearby vial, cautiously filling it with the liquid.  "It is done."  She stated before giving the vial to Dash.  "Have fun."  She smiled.

Dash dropped a small bag of bits on a table and grabbed the vial.  "Thanks Zecora!  Ohohoho Twilight's gonna be in for a big surprise!"

Scootaloo, who this whole time has been pacing around the hut nervously, piped up at Dash's words.  "Well what're we waiting for then?  Let's go!"  She stood at the door, hopping from one hoof to the other like a dog waiting to go outside.

"Not just yet Scoots.  I, uh, wanted to talk to Zecora alone for a sec."

Scootaloo's eyes widened.  If Dash wanted to talk to Zecora alone, that meant that she had to go outside...in the forest...alone.

Dash quickly caught the signs.  A soft wing soon found itself around Scootaloo, embracing her tightly.  "Don't worry about it, Scootaloo.  It'll only be for a few seconds.  If you see anything come your way, just yell and I'll beat the crap out of it."

Scootaloo nodded and gulped.  She didn't want to leave the comfort of Dash's wing anytime soon, but the longer she stayed, the longer they were in the forest in general.  The filly simply gulped, opened the door, and lay on her belly with her tail wrapped around her like a blanket.  Between her tail and mane, her eyes popped out to observe the surroundings.  To any distant creature, she looked like a purple fuzzball with eyes.

Dash turned to Zecora.  "Alright.  I just wanted to ask if you had any, uh, potions or something for uh, help with sleeping and stuff."

Zecora raised a brow.  "You're going to have to be more specific than that.  I have many brews that could put your mind at bat."

Dash sighed.  "Ok look, I've been having some weird dreams and I just want them to stop.  Have anything to do that?"

A smile appeared on the zebra.  "Ahh yes, I have just what you need, but it is nay from a potion, brew, herb, or even a seed.  It is something my people use when they have restless nights.  It keeps them from waking up with a fright.  Here, take this and you will see.  The Dream Catcher will let your mind be at free."  Zecora held a small item before Dash.  It was a circle woven out of straw with a decorative spiral pattern inside it.  Feathers and beads hung from the circle from leather straps.

"Place it by your bed tonight."  Zecora continued.  "And you won't have a single fright."

"Sweet Celestia, thanks Zecora!"  With that, she was out the door.  Scootaloo bolted upright at the sound of the door opening and clung to Dash's back.  With a weak chuckle, she got off of her and kept a close proximity until they were clear of the forest.

(\/);,;(\/)

"Alright, here we go." Rainbow Dash said as she placed the glass of 'juice' on the kitchen counter in Twilight's home.  Dash and Scootaloo had spoken with Spike, explaining the prank to him and striking a deal.  When Twilight ask him for a drink, he grabbed the glass and passed it as 'grapefruit juice' to the unsuspecting unicorn.  In a manner of minutes after consuming the brew, Twilight's magic would be blocked.  

The two watched as Twilight's quill scribbled on a parchment.  They locked their eyes on the purple glow, waiting for it to abruptly go out.  Seconds went by, and the aura stayed.  It should only be another minutes or so before...bingo.  The aura faded and the quill fell flat on the desk.  

Twilight turned to the quill, raising a brow.  She charged her horn to pick it up, but nothing happened.  She tried harder, forcing the magic into her horn.  Still, nothing.  She planted her front hooves firmly on the desk and aimed her horn towards the quill, trying with all her might.  Not a single arcane fragment came.

Twilight started to sweat.  What was going on?  Why can't she use magic?  How did it happen?  All of a sudden her magic just stopped!  It was working fine a minute ago!  Twilight shook her head.  There was a report she was previously working on laying on her desk.  This report was top priority; she can figure out why her horn is not working later.

Twilight glared at the quill.  It has been a long time since she used her mouth to write.  With a frown and a sigh, she gripped the quill in her teeth and slowly continued her report.  The quill felt foreign in her mouth.  Her strokes were uneven and wavering.  Every word looked like a four year old's writing.

When she was finished with one sentence, she viewed her work.  Twilight's ears flattened against her head.  This was terrible!  She can barely read it herself!  Twilight groaned.  She can't turn this in to Princess Celestia!  It's a train wreck!  She'll probably think Twilight can't write without magic, and reprimand her for not adapting to those kinds of scenarios!  Twilight panicked.  What if this happens again?  What if she needs to do something important for the princess and can't use magic?

Outside, Dash and Scootaloo were hysterically laughing.  They watched Twilight attempt to do average every day stuff without the aid of magic.  She would stumble over trying to pick up books with her teeth, and fail at trying to re-shelve books that require the ladder to use.  

"S-Scoots!"  Dash choked out while laughing.  "T-this is, hahaha, too much!  Oh wait!"  An idea formulated.  "Oh this is gonna be good!"  She then revealed herself from her hiding position and entered the library.  Right as the door chime rang, Twilight yelped from surprise and fell off the ladder she was on, resulting in Dash trying as hard as she could to not fall on the floor laughing, and a very agitated and blushing Twilight.

"Can I help you Rainbow Dash?"  Twilight said, oozing sarcasm.

Dash held a hoof to her mouth, trying to calm her snickering.  "Y-yeah."  She cleared her throat.  "I need the next Daring Do book.  Couldya get it for me?"

Twilight's eyes went wide.  

"Oh uh..."  She started.  "You see, I'm a little busy right now.  I mean, this is a public library!  You can go ahead and help yourself."  She smiled a bit too widely.

"But,"  Dash started, feigning ignorance.  "I don't know where it is."

Twilight sighed.  "Dash, these books are assorted in alphabetical order in accordance to the Dewy Decimal system.  It's not that hard to find."

"The Dew-what?"

"Dash...Alphabetical order  It's not hard, really."

Dash shrugged.  "Ok."  She then walked to a shelf with all the fictional books.  "Daring Do...d,d,d,d..."

Twilight's head swiveled around.  "No, Dash.  Alphabetical order from the last name of the author."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Who wrote it again?"

"...George Hoofcas..."

"Right...how do you spell that?"

Twilight lost it.  "Alright fine!  I'll get it!"  She marched over to the fictional section and glared at the offending book.  It was just out of her reach.  Curses, she would need the ladder again.  Sighing she rolled the ladder in to position and paused to catch a breath.  

The trek up the ladder could be described as hiking up Mt. Canter.  It was a dangerous, death defying journey to the fifth shelf.  No sane Twilight Sparkle has ever done such a feet without the aid of magic.  It has been rumored that Spike has achieved trekking up the ladder numerous times without injury, but Twilight found that very hard to believe.  

"C'mon Twi!"  Dash said, agitated.  "What's taking so long?  Just magic it down or somtin!"  

Twilight gave her a glare.  One that said 'shut your mouth before I throw you into a volcano.'  Taking another glance back at the ladder, she readied herself, and lifted a rear leg.  Her hoof contacted the first step on the ladder.  Success!  Now only a few more to go.  Her other leg lifted off the ground, contacting the second step.  Excellent, she's making progress!  

Step after step, hoof after hoof.  Withing seconds, the journey was halfway through.  The book came into view.  Just sitting there, mocking Twilight's inability to levitate it down.  Twilight would have none of it, she snatched the spine in her teeth and proceeded to move downward.

"Heya Twilight, watchya doing?"

The lavender librarian yelped in shock.  Arms flailing in the air as she tried to regain her balance on the ladder.  The book helplessly fell to the floor, as well as a couple others.  Seeing as it was either fall to the cold floor or jump and land on the top of the shelf for safety, Twilight chose the latter.  With a leap of faith, she landed on the top, with the ladder falling limp on the floor.

Below her, Dash was barely surviving from a gruesome laughter attack.

"Oh ha ha very funny!"  Twilight said.  She crossed her hooves and rested her head on them, clearly annoyed.

"It totally is, hahahaha!  I mean look at you, hahaha, all, haha, on the shelf!"

"Dash, I don't have time for this!  Could you please put the ladder back up so I can get down?"

"What ever happened to your fancy teleporting!"

Twilight blushed.  "Just pick up the ladder!"

"I don't know Twi, you look pretty comfy up there."

"DASH!"

The pegasus put her hooves up.  "Alright alright!"  She then picked up the ladder and leaned it against the shelf.  "There, happy?"

"Very."  Twilight smiled smugly, making sure to take extra precaution when stepping back on the ladder.  However, when Twilight took her first step on the ladder, Dash 'accidentaly' bumped into it and rattled it.  Twilight screamed and fell over, landing in Dash's outstretched arms.  

"C'mon Twi, where's that good ol' teleport?"  

If Twilight's magic was working, the world would be consumed in flames.  Since it is not working, she settled for a simple pimp slap in the back of Dash's head.  

"Ow...that hurt.  Not physically, but emotionally.  I don't think I can go on anymore, Twi.  One of my best friends abused me.  I'm probably going to be scarred for life now.  I might end up being a social recluse, reminiscing on the past when my friends all used to be there for me.  I'll probably go insane, and turn into a murderer, and you'll probably be the first on my killing spree."

Twilight's brow formed a thin line.  "Yeah ok."

Dash smiled.  "Well I'll just go ahead and get out of your mane."  She turned to leave, but before stepping out of the door, she glanced at Twilight with a smug grin.  "Oh and by the way, that 'juice' you drank was actually a potion that gave you Arcane Block."  Before Twilight could even register what Dash said, she zipped out the door at the speed of sound, making sure to grab Scootaloo before the library exploded.

(\/);,,;(\/)

Near the end of this part in the story, Dash started tearing up again.  Her words broke apart, and she soon lost control.  A river flowed out of her eyes and down her cheeks, pooling on her lap.  Twilight was immediately at her side again, holding her friend closely like a mother would do to her foal.  Dash did not hesitate to bury her muzzle into Twilight's fur, seeking protection from the pain.

That whole time, Twilight was silent.  She knew Dash was suffering, and every time the loose dam holding back her tears would shatter, Twilight was there to patch it back up.  She would wait for her soothing displays of affection to calm down the troubled pegasus before getting a response.  

Minutes of muffled sobbing soon ceased.  Dash removed herself from Twilight's embrace.  A second more of silence ensued as Dash collected her thoughts before uttering in a faint whisper, "I'm sorry."

The phrase felt foreign on her tongue.  Dash usually never apologizes for a prank.  She sees them as mere jokes that never really mean any harm.  So why should she apologize?  But this time was different.  Not only is Dash an emotional wreck, Twilight was also mad at her because of the prank.  Even though Twilight said once already that it was no big deal, Dash can still feel it in her.

Twilight re-engaged a hug, holding much tighter than before.  "It's alright, Dash.  I told you I'm not mad anymore.  I was just agitated because that prank put me a little bit behind schedule, and I haven't had any sleep for almost 22 hours now.  But that doesn't matter anymore, we have a more important issue to deal with right now, and I, as a good friend, will help you get though it every step of the way."

For the first time that night, Dash actually smiled.  The fear of burdening her friends with an age old issue no longer haunted her.  She knew then that no matter how small or large a problem is, her friends would never abandon her, nor will she.  With a steady breath, she continued her story.






Chapter: 5

The window proved to be an adequate observatory for agents double o Dash and Scootaloo.  The architects settled it at just the right angle to create a viewing platform to see within the confides of the Carousel Boutique from their perfectly settled perch, which was the inside of a bush.  There, the two pegasi observed the next target on their pranking spree.  As a folder fell open on the dirt, the two cunning ponies briefed their unsuspecting target.

Pony: Rarity, the Element of Generosity

Sex: Female

Race: Unicorn

Colors: White coat, indigo mane, azure eyes

Cutie Mark: Three diamonds

Occupation: Tailor / fashion designer

Notes: Overzealous about her dresses, fashion, appearance, and anything to do with Canterlot or the Royal Family.  Tends to overreact over the smallest things.  Not keen on getting dirty.  Will at times use deception and sex appeal to get what she wants.

"Hold on what?"  Scootaloo asked, clearly confused.  "What does that mean?"

Dash snorted.  "Basically she's a MIL--"  She cut herself off as she took note of who her partner was; more specifically her age.  "MIL...mill!  She's a mill!"

Scootaloo's head tilted.  "Mill?  Huh?"

Dash tapped her hooves together, scrambling her mind to come up with a viable excuse.  "Mill, as in...her dresses!  She makes so many dresses a day that she's like a mill...of dress making!  Yeah see look!"  Dash pointed to the window to cause a distraction, hoping that her obvious anxiety would go unnoticed by the little one.  Fortunetly it worked, and an orange head swiveled around until her eyes met the plane of glass.  From there, she noticed the azure aura cradling a multitude of fabrics, needles, threads, measuring devices, and feather.  

"Oh yeah."  Scootaloo said, oblivious to Dash's over-exaggerated sigh of relief.  "I guess that makes sense."  She paused.  "But what does that have to do with se-"

"Illumarenati."  Dash replied, expertly cutting her off before any more was said.  "As you can see, Rarity has already made six dresses.  Six times two, two every ten minutes, twelve.  Sixty seconds in a minute, sixty times ten minutes, six-hundred.  Twelve times three, three pairs of dresses in ten minutes, thirty-six.  Thirty-six plus six-hundred, six-hundred and thirty-six.  Twenty-one, Rarity's age, plus nine, Sweetie Belle's age, thirty.  Thirty plus six-hundred thirty-six, six, six, six, Hades, Illumarenati."

Scootaloo gasped.  "New world order!"  She shouted.  "The revolution is upon us!  Rarity will become the Tyrant Queen of Equestria and rename it Rarestria, and we'll all be forced to mine diamonds for her while wearing fabulous dresses, and if we get dirt on them it's off with our manes!"

Dash clapped both her hooves to Scootaloo's cheek.  "Get a hold of yourself!"  She shook her companion vigorously, "I'll make sure that doesn't happen!  All we need to do is prank Rarity, and the balance of the universe will be preserved, and still under the dominance of our lord and savior Snowflake."

"Praise be."  Scootaloo recited, then turned back to the window to continue their reconnaissance.

Using Scootaloo's innocence, combined with their over-zealous imagination, to recollect herself, Rainbow Dash scooped up the file and disposed of it expertly.  Once the inquisitive eyes of the filly returned to her, Dash offered a shrug and opted to continue on with the operation unhindered.  From their position, Rarity was observed with expert prowess while she stitched, sewed, whined, or brainstormed.  

Scootaloo stared mindlessly through the window, trying to come up with a plan of her own to impress her idol.  She thought of trivial things, like invisible ink on fabric, but none seemed to catch her attention.  "So what's the plan?"  Scootaloo asked.  

Dash did not answer immediately.  While true her primary focus is to prank Rarity, and usually when Dash sets her mind on something she goes into a tunnel vision and pays no heed to the world around her, but a spark of attention was bitten off and left to the filly before her.  She didn't exactly pay attention to what her companion said, but she knew something was uttered.  After a moment of silence, she asked, "Huh?  What was that?"

Scootaloo blinked.  "I said 'what's the plan?'"  Ever inquisitive as she was, the orange filly could not resist to satiate her curiosity.  "Is there something wrong, Dash?  You've been in and out all day."

Dash mentally sighed.  She knew Scootaloo would eventually catch on, but it never occurred to her how quick.  She was a smart filly, smarter than many give her credit for.  She just needs to unlock that potential; mainly in literature.  Both her parents and Cheerilee can see in her writing assignments that there is a spark of imagination there, but it seems as if she represses it.  Though Her vocabulary, try as she may to understand bigger words for her age, could use some improving, she is still, in more ways than one, an intelligent filly.

Dash looked back to Scootaloo.  She didn't want to say anything about the 'visions', as she called them, in fear of worrying the child over her mental state.  State of mind may be an issue, but there is still one excuse that still has a dominance over the brain's health, but in a more blunt way.  "Yeah I know I've been out of it a lil bit.  It's what happens when I do to many sonic rainbooms at once. The pressure is too much on my head and makes me woozy."  It wasn't a complete lie, air resistance at that velocity to an unprepared pegasus will cause light headed-ness, it's just that Dash is more hardened and could sustain a bit more G-force than other pegasi, excluding the Wonderbolts and the military...and Snowflake.

Scootaloo looked up into the eyes of her honorary big sister.  Her peircing gaze softened and her ears flattened.  "Will you be ok?"  She asked.

With a wave of her hoof and an utter of a 'pssh', Dash said.  "I'll be fine.  It's not like it's the first time it's happened."  Yet another half lie, but it will have to suit for a viable excuse.  Luckily Scootaloo believed it.  "Anyway, the plan!  What we're gonna do is...something that I will soon think of!"

Scootaloo's smile wavered.  "You didn't have a plan beforehoof?"

Dash smiled proudly as if she had just been given a reward.  "Nope!  All my best ideas are usually made up on the spot."  Her hooves clapped together.  "Now...let's see here."  Her gaze shifted to the window again, observing the white unicorn in her natural habitat.  She racked her mind, brainstorming cleaver and devious plans to either humiliate, or backtrack her friend on her daily work.  Breaking line of sight with Rarity, she turned to Scootaloo.  "C'mon now laddy, I need ya best ideas.  Chop chop!"

"Uhhh..."  She looked to the window.  "Maybe we could..."  The filly began to mumble aloud as she thought.  "Invisible ink?  No...too cliche...same with a fake mouse...something to do with...no maybe...no..."  She turned to Dash, eyes glued to the floor.  "I got nothing."

"Drat!"  Dash exclaimed.  There have been many times where the speedster pegasus would be completely stuck on trying to form a decent prank.  It's like writers block to her.  It came in and blocked off her thinking processes like a wall.  She rubbed her temples in attempt to come up with something.  "Uhhg...where's Sweetie Belle?"  She asked.  "I might have an idea...maybe."

Scootaloo tilted her head towards the window.  "In there."

"Could you get her?"

"Whatcha need, Rainbow Dash?!"

The pegasus yelped and nearly tumbled out of the bush she was hiding in with her companion.  Swiveling her head around to sniff out the culprit of the surprise attack, she only found the smaller of the two white unicorns staring at her excitingly.  Brushing herself off, Dash stood back up, and attempted to retain what dignity she had left.  "I uh...there was a spider on my hoof."  Success!  No matter how much bravado one can have stockpiled, the ol' spider-on-the-hoof always wins them over.  Let's face it, everyone hates spiders...except for Snowflake.  "Anyway."  Dash continued.  "Where did you come from?"  

Sweetie Belle smiled knowingly.  "Cutie Mark Crusaders always know when they're needed!"

"You got that right!"  Scootaloo added, bumping hooves with her friend.

The migraine can wait.  Dash thought.  Attempting to figure out the logic behind anything in this Faust-forsaken town is near impossible.  During the Era of Discord, question him, and you get turned into a potted plant.  During the Era of the Pink One, question her, and you end up with a migraine that's only curable by immediate ritualistic brain surgery.

Dash shook off her lingering thoughts to focus on the task at hoof.  "Alright Sweetie Belle.  Scoots and I here are pranking your sister.  Now, you wouldn't happen to know when Rarity's next shipment of supplies for the Boutique is?"

Sweetie Belle bobbed her head up and down.  "Yeah...uh, tomorrow."

"When?"

"Sometime around 10am."

Dash smiled.  "Bene."  She replied, then turned to face her back to the two fillies.

"Oooohhh."  Scootaloo gaped.  "Whatcha got planned, Dash?  Are we gonna switch out the boxes so she gets something really weird instead of what she was expecting?"

Dash half turned her head to reply.  "Possibly."

"Oooh!  Oooh!  We could put snakes or something gross that Rarity really hates to freak her out!"  Sweetie Belle suggested.

From behind her, the two fillies could hear Dash mumbling to herself.  The plan seemed solid enough, but it lacked the finesse that all of Dash's pranks had.  Sure she could put harmless snakes in the shipment to give Rarity a good scare, but there needs to be more than just a scare.  There needs to be some subtle meaning to it.  She needed more details on the shipment.

Turning back to face them, Dash asked to Sweetie Belle, "Do you know what's in the package?"

Sweetie Belle stopped for a second to recall what Rarity ordered.  "Uhh...I think it's...silk?  Maybe?  Yeah I think it's silk."

The peices then started floating together.  "Silk."  Dash repeated.  "Silk...yes, this will work nicely."  There was the connection that needed to be made to complete the prank.  Oh it was genius, subtle, and totally worth the laugh.  There was only one problem though, and that thought made Dash deflate a little.  "Where in Equestria am I going to get silkworms before tomorrow?"  She mumbled to herself.  Silkworms were not easy to come by.  Even though they are a domesticated creature, and can be raised under certain conditions almost anywhere, Dash couldn't think of anyplace near Ponyville that raises and produces silkworms.  There was, however, one option available.  It's a long shot, but it's the only shot she has.

"Sweetie Belle."  Dash said, turning to the filly.  "Do you know where the package is coming from?"

"Rarity gets all her supplies from Canterlot."  She replied.

And the plan was set in motion.  Dash smiled, it was going to work.  She'll make sure that it does work.  "Alright I got a plan."  At the mention of that phrase, the fillies huddled together close to listen.  "We'll have to wake up early tomorrow morning to execute it alright Scoots?"  The filly in question groaned, but nodded.  "I'm going to fly to Canterlot and pick up some silkworms from a silk farm, then intercept the package during its travel to Ponyville, sabotage it with replacing the silk cloth with the silk worms, disguise myself as a mailpony, arrive to Rarity's door and deliver the package, ???, profit!  Capisce?"

Both fillies exchanged confused glances.  While it is true that Rainbow Dash is awesome, and the fastest flier in Equestria, and the only pony that can perform a sonic rainboom on command, Scootaloo nor Sweetie Belle never thought that the prismatic pegasus would go through such lengths for a simple prank.  By train, Canterlot was an overnight travel.  By air, nearly a full day.  Take note that that statistic applies to normal pegasi.  By Dash's standards at her self proclaimed 'normal' flight speed, it would probably be a five to six hour flight.

Still, it was an extreme just to have a laugh and an irritated Rarity.

Fortunetly for the fillies, they didn't need to present the facts to Dash.  The realization dawned on her all by itself.  "Oh who am I kidding?"  Dash exhaled in defeat.  "I'm too lazy.  I don't want to fly all the way to Canterlot, pick up some stupid worms, then fly all the way back in under a day!"  She snorted.  "Screw it.  I'mma just put food coloring in her shampoo again."

(\/);,,;(\/)

Violet light surrounded a kettle as hot tea poured into a small, decorative cup.  How many has this been?  Fourth?  Fifth cup?  Dash had lost count.  She hadn't noticed when her nervous fidgeting finally stop.  For it had been a little over an hour since she arrived at Twilight's abode.  Probably when she finished the first cup of tea, she figured.  Tea seemed to always have that effect on ponies.  

A phantom of a smile crossed Dash's lips.  It was the second time she almost smiled since yesterday, and the first that her magical friend detected tonight.  Hopefully there will be more, and not just phantoms of smiles, but genuine smiles.  The story had not gotten far, but Twilight could tell the roots of her sorrow run deeper than she can imagine.  She had been racked with a combination of guilt and depression for long enough.  It was time that changed.

"Then what happened?"  Twilight asked.

As always, Dash took a second to calm her nerves before answering.  After a sip of tea, she said softly, "Rarity got pissed the next morning."

Twilight risked a chuckle.  "No I mean, your day with Scootaloo."

Dash stared into the half empty tea cup.  The liquid rippled as a fresh tear fell into it.  "Well...we went to prank Pinkie after that."  




















Chapter: 6

History is written by the winners. It is an inevitable, unchangeable law. Those who live to tell the tale will always tell it in their own words, and those who listen may never know what actually happened. As times goes by, facts will fade until all that remains are half truths.

Simply put: lies.

These lies are the foundations of history. The future may be paved in mystery, but the past is paved with just as much unknown. The truth is only what you can see without eyes, feel with your senses, and experience for yourselves. The past is untrustworthy, the present malleable and the future unforeseen.

However, at this particular moment, this sliver that is our history, the foundation for the future of all pranking will forever be set in stone. None will ever be able to deny what happened here, as no half-truth or even lie could compete with the fact. Decades from now, the tale of how Rainbow Dash, along with her faithful companion Scootaloo, will be taught and learned in schools for hundreds of yearning students. They will glimpse at greatness, and forever try to reach it themselves. For, on this day, the greatest, most ingenious prank–

“Hasn’t this been done before?”

Rainbow Dash jumped, startled by the interruption to her internal monologue. She turned to her partner-in-pranking.  “W-what?!”

Scootaloo regarded the various schematics and blueprints littered on the table. “I swear I’ve seen this before in a cartoon...”

“A cartoon?!” Dash scoffed, offended that her work could be mistaken for that of a children's show. “C’mon, Scoots, have some faith in me! My pranks are all original, well thought out, intricate–”

“You put food coloring in shampoo…” Scootaloo deadpanned.

“My point exactly: it was genius,” Dash said with an agreement nod, then loudly cleared her throat. “Anyway, let’s go over the totally original plan one more time.” She pointed to one of the many papers. “First, we’re gonna lure out the Pink One with a trail of candy leading over to this nearby ravine, which has a huge pile of candy on the other side. Then, Pinkie’s gonna wanna get that candy. So, she’s gonna run over to it, not noticing there’s a cliff, fall down onto the trampoline and fly over to this giant bubble wand, get coated in glue, then fall into a pile of feathers. It’s foolproof!”

Scootaloo’s gaze swapped from the papers to Dash. “Yeah I’ve definitely seen this before.” She shrugged. “Oh, well, a prank’s a prank. So, when do we start?!” She exclaimed, practically bouncing from excitement.

Dash rolled up the papers and put them on a nearby shelf. “Patience, my young apprentice. You are not ready to take on a task such as this.”

Scootaloo’s expression fell. “W-what? B-but…”

Dash patted her on the head. “You need more practice before we can prank her. And to do that, do you know what we need to do?”

Scootaloo tilted her head. “Prank… somepony else?”

“Close.” Dash then pulled out a radio, placing it in front of Scootaloo. “We need… a montage!” Rainbow turned on the radio, and a song started to play.

“X gon’ give it to ya–”

Rainbow turned it off. “Okay, not that one…” Though it would work, it’s just that that particular song wasn’t something a ten year old filly should listen to. “Okay, nevermind… let's just skip the montage and go right to the pranking.”

Scootaloo’s ears fell flat against her head. “Awww… but I like montages.” She then turned the radio back on, switching the stations until she found something she liked. “Oooh! I like this one!”

“Until the break of dawn. Live life, cannot go by the letter–”

Rainbow blinked. “You listen to the Offspring?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Uh huh.”

Rainbow sighed, turned off the radio, and headed for the door. “C’mon, I’ll silently judge you on the way.”

“Heyyyy! What’s wrong with ‘em?”

“Still judging you~!” Rainbow sang out as she threw her small companion on her back, then took to the sky.

(\/);,,;(\/)

Rainbow hugged her hind-hooves closer to her chest. She slowly rocked back and forth, her story momentarily paused as tried to collect herself. Twilight sat directly next to her distraught friend and whispered soft coo’s of support into the pegasus’s ear while she ran a single hoof through her prismarine hair. The two sat in the middle of the silent library, their position the same as when Rainbow had first arrived.

Twilight looked down and regarded her friend in her hooves. Though Rainbow had stopped crying, the unicorn mare could still see the ghostly trails that trailed down her muzzle, while the rest of her face still shown with sadness. Sadness from what, exactly, the Unicorn was yet to know, but it had to be something severe to put the normally brash and bold pegasus into such a state.

Oh, Rainbow… What happened to you? Twilight thought as her hoof continued to caress her friend’s mane. Though her heart said differently, Twilight’s mind told her to try and get her friend to just say it; to point out the issue that plagued her directly. If she did, then Twilight could address it and work towards a fix, rather than wait and listen. It was the logical thing to do, but emotions were never completely logical.

Neither were ponies.

With a soft sigh, the unicorn mare shook her head. “Rainbow… I don’t mean to push, but… what’s really bothering you? What you’ve told me so far just details a fun day with Scootaloo. Am I missing something? What’s got you so worked up?” Twilight asked in a soft, non-threatening tone. She didn’t want to push her too hard, but like her brain said: she needed to get to the core of the issue.

Rainbow let out a soft sniff, then rose to a seated position, and finally, wipe her nose with the back of her hoof. “Sorry, Twi… I guess I am rambling on,” the pegasus confessed. “But, you need to know the whole thing to understand it properly, y’know?”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right... Sorry,” the unicorn admitted. “I don’t want to push you. I just…”

“Want to know what the heck is going on?” Rainbow finished for Twilight, who nodded. “Yeah, I know the feeling,” she chuckled. “Don’t worry, Twi. It’s almost over, I promise.”

(\/);,,;(\/)

She was almost there.

“Ooh! A piece of candy!”

Just a few more feet.

“Ooh! A piece of candy!”

Just past the bushes.

“Ooh! A piece of—” Pinkie Pie lept into the air and gasped as if she had surfaced from being underwater for an extended period of time. The pink mare’s eyes went wider than what physically should be possible at the sight in front of her. Just a few precious yards away laid a gold mine of delicious, mouth watering, sugary sweets, completely unattended.

And it was all hers!

Rainbow Dash and her tiny accomplice lay in wait just out of sight. They giggled with anticipation; their bodies almost vibrating as they waited for the final part of the plan to work.

The pink mare wasted no time and bounced over to the pile of valuable loot. She continued forwards, completely ignorant the small ravine that says between her and her candy prey. Tunnel vision had sat in; nothing could break her focus! It was this fact that the two super-pranksters had hoped for, and waited for the pink one’s lack of attention to her surroundings cause her to fall straight into their trap.

Pinkie Pie took one last bounce at the edge of the small fissure, her landing point void of a tangible ground. Rainbow and Scoots shook as they waited for their friend to fall.

She didn’t.

The sound of two jaws thumping against the dirt resonated for miles. The source of said jaws belonged to two dumbfounded pranksters as they witnessed their pink friend continue to bounce, uninterrupted, despite the lack of ground!

“La lala lala~!” Pinkie sang as she approached the cache of candy, only to make it halfway before being stopped by something blue and pony shaped. She skidded to a halt and smiled. “Heya, Dashie!”

Rainbow stared at her with slightly-above-moderate-agitation. “Pinkie! What are you doing?!”

“Oh... me?” Pinkie asked as she tilted her head slightly. “Well, I was just going to get that pile of candy, but now I’m talking to you!”

Rainbow’s eye twitched as she hovered in place. “Do you realize where you’re standing?”

“Uhh… yeah… in front of you?”

Rainbow facehoofed. “Look down!”

The pink mare looked with her friend inquisitively, then shrugged and did as asked. “Oh wowie! Now that’s a long fall!”

“Yeah… it is…” Rainbow deadpanned.

“Mmhmmm!”

Silence.

“So, uh…” Rainbow began, slightly embarrassed. “Ya’ gonna fall, or what?”

Pinkie gasped. “Oh, Dashie! You want me to fall down this ravine? How could you ever wish such a thing to your best friend?!”

Rainbow growled. “Pinkie, no—uhg! There’s a trampoline!”

“A trampoline?”

“Yes, a trampoline! Right there! Right at the bottom!”

“OoooOOoooOOoOOOOohhh! I see it now!” Her cheerful expression soon turned inquisitive. “Wait, why is there a trampoline at the bottom of a ravine?”

“Because I put it there!”

“OoooOOOOooOOoohhh! Why’d you put a trampoline at the bottom of a ravine?”

Sky blue feathers ruffled as Rainbow shook with annoyance. “Ugh! Because you were supposed to fall down there, distracted. Then you would bounce on the trampoline, fly through a pit of glue, then land in a pile of feathers! It’s a prank, Pinkie!”

Pinkie rolled her eyes, then booped the practically steaming pegasus on the nose. “Silly Dashie! You’re not supposed to tell the person you’re pranking about the prank! It ruins the effect, y’know?” The pink mare shrugged. “Besides, I’ve seen that one before in a cartoon. Anyways, I’m gonna go and snack on that delectable pile over there. See you later, Dashie!” she finished, then bounced the remainder of the gap, and into the awaiting pile of sweet loot.

Rainbow, on the other hoof, could only continue to hover in place, contemplating what had gone wrong. Had she missed something? Had Pinkie known about it and placed a clear walkway over the drop? Yes, that had to be it!

Rainbow shook her head and smiled. “Good one, Pinkie,” she muttered to herself as she retracted her wings and fell towards her friends counter-pranking platform.

Well, she thought she did.

There was no platform, nor was there anything at all. And, to make matters worth, the mare didn’t register this fact until she made contact with the trampoline.

“Pinkieeeeeeee!”

The pink mare and the tiny pegasus watched from above at the backfire of the century.

Pinkie shrugged as she munched on her hall. “Huh… didn’t know Dashie wanted to prank herself…”

(\/);,,;(\/)

“Rainbow?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But!”

“I don’t want to talk about it…”

“Okay… well, did you remember the solvent?”

Opal eyes went wide as the Rainbow remembered that, as a second half of the prank, she had left the solvent to remove the glue back in the center of town. Rainbow looked down at her abnormally feathered body, then let out a sigh of resignation.

“How did Pinkie do that?”

“I don’t know, Scoots… I don’t know.”

“Should we… should we try again?”

“No, Scoots. Never again.”

“But!”

“Never. Again.”

“Oh… okay. Well, uh… we should probably go and get the solvent. I’d get it myself, but… I don’t think I can reach it at the top of Ponyville fountain.”

“It’s okay, Scoots. We can go together.”

“Do you… do you want me to get a bag?”

“Yes, please.”

(\/);,,;(\/)

After the bag-wearing chicken-pony and her sidekick retrieved the solvent, both ponies headed back to Rainbow’s house to removed the failed remnants of their attempt to prank the best.

After another several hours of scrubbing, plucking and screaming, the back-to-cyan pegasus sat on her cloud couch. Her hooves were crossed, and her face was filled with anger at her humiliation.

“You have to admit: it was funny!”

“...”

“I mean, if it wasn’t you, it would have been perfect!”

“...”

“Never talk about it again?”

“Yes, please.”

Scootaloo’s ears fell flat against her head. “Fine,” she muttered, then stretched her forelegs and yawned. “Pranking sure is hard work, ain’t it?”

Rainbow floated towards the kitchen. “I can agree to that.” She briefly scanned over her cabinets and fridge. “Hey, so I’m like too tired to make something. Wanna order a pizza?”

Scootaloo’s ears perked right back up. “Totally! With extra jalapenos!”

“Heeeeelll yeah!” Rainbow said, giving her honorary little sister a hoof bump.

(\/);,,;(\/)

Thirty minutes (and many slices of pizza) later, the duo find themselves getting ready for bed. Rainbow had prepared the guest bed some time before, so all she had to do was tuck Scootaloo in for the night.

“Need an extra blanket or pillow or somtin’?” the older of the two pegasi asked.

Scootaloo wiggled around under the blanket, then let out a sigh of peace as she sank into the mattress. “Nah, I’m good.”

Rainbow nodded. “Aight, then. I’m right next door if you need me, and the bathroom is right down the hall to your left,” she said with a smile, then turned to head out of the guest room. “Sleep tight, Scoots. See ya tomorrow.”

“Hey, Dash?” Scootaloo asked just as Rainbow was about to close the door behind her.

The older pegasus popped her head back into the room. “Yeah?”

Scoots shuffled awkwardly in her bed. “Thanks for spending the day with me, Rainbow. It really means a lot.”

Rainbow smirked. “Anytime, kiddo! You ain’t to bad yourself, kid—not many ponies can keep up with me!”

Scootaloo nodded, mumbling as she snuggled into her blankets.  “I wish I had a mom like you,”

The door stopped just short of closing for the second time. “Huh?” Rainbow asked, poking her head back inside.

Scootaloo shook her head.  “Nothin’, I just… I wish I had a mom like you.” She looked down at the blanket. “I mean, Blossom is nice, but… she’s not a mom.”

“What do you… mean.” Rainbow asked.  That name, Blossom, sounded familiar to her.  She knew of two Blossoms that lived in Ponyville.  One, Blossomforth, worked with her on the weather team.  The other, however…

Rainbow’s eyes went wide, then she slammed them shut. “Oh… uh… yeah. I gotta… uh… Night, Scoots!” Rainbow said quickly, before she closed the door as fast as she could without slamming it.

(\/);,,;(\/)

“A-and that was the moment when everything made sense,” Rainbow said as she sniffed again, then wiped her nose. “The visions, t-the odd feelings... everything.”

Twilight took a moment to contemplate her friends’ words. “So… you came here after that?” she asked, then added, “Did you leave Scootaloo alone?”

Rainbow sniffed again, but composed herself. “No, of course not,” she began. “I freaked out for a little bit... then decided to take a quick flight to calm myself down. I-I ended up flying around for a good half an hour, then... somehow ended up at Fluttershy’s…”

(\/);,,;(\/)

“Fluttershy…” Rainbow muttered as she gently knocked on the door of her yellow friends cottage. She didn't want to bother her meek friend with her problems, nor did she even know what she’d say. Part of her wished her friend wouldn't hear her, but another desperately needed somepony to be there for her right now.

Rainbow halted her knocks as the door suddenly creaked open, a tired looking yellow head with a frazzled pink mane poking out soon after.

“Rainbow? Why… What are you doing here so late?” the shy Pegasus mumbled, her voice soft and nurturing, almost motherly.

The sky blue Pegasus opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. This cycle continued as the Pegasus was at a loss for words, and it was Fluttershy who eventually broke the silence.

“Oh, my! Have you been… have you been crying?” Fluttershy asked, now noticing the sadness and confusion in her friend's expression. “Oh, dear, please come in!”

Rainbow didn't get a chance to say anything as she was instantly pulled inside by her normally shy friend. She was lead over to a couch that sat in the middle of the cottage’s main room, located just next to a small kitchen. The room itself was filled with bird cages, and other animal habitats, all currently occupied by sleeping tenants of the respective animal. The yellow mare motioned for her friend to sit down, to which Rainbow complied.

“Thanks…” the blue pegasus muttered, now unable to meet her friends gaze.

Fluttershy gave a meek smile but didn't respond. Instead, she trotted over to the other side of the room and picked up a chair, then quietly dragged it over so it was opposite Rainbow. She then sat down and looked her friend in the eyes.

“Rainbow… What’s wrong?”

It was a simple question, said in a gentle way by a friend she respected and trusted with her life. Yet, the blue mare still couldn't find the words to explain. All she could do was sit there, unable to reply to her concerned friend.

Minutes went by with only silence.

Fluttershy eventually got up from her chair to sit next to her friend, then began to run a hoof gently through Rainbow’s mane.

It was odd, having the roles reversed. Usually, it was Rainbow who had to be strong and comfort her yellow friend, but, now, it was the opposite. The two sat silently on the couch for a few more minutes, the only sound that filled the cottage with the soft sounds of sleeping animals and even softer coos of support from the yellow Pegasus.

“It's okay, Rainbow. You don't have to tell me if you don't have too,” Fluttershy spoke softly. “I’ll be here if or when you do. Just… tell me if there’s anything I can do to help, please?”

Rainbow sniffed, then finally spoke, “I don’t know, Flutters… I just… I don't know what to do.”  Her hooves began to shake.  To hide her rising anxiety, Dash wrapped them around her torso.

“What do you mean?” asked Fluttershy.

Rainbow was silent, then muttered, “I… I screwed up, Fluttershy. Remember… Remember… R-remember…”

“Remember what?”

Rainbow’s tears resurfaced and she was unable to stop them from leaking out.  “R-remember that year in flight school?  When I...”

Fluttershy instantly stopped petting her friend. “Y-you mean when you–”

“Yeah…” Rainbow interrupted, then she shook her head softly. “She’s here.”

Fluttershy brought a hoof to her mouth.  “H-here?  In Ponyville?  Are you sure?”

Rainbow nodded.  “I-I think so.”

“Oh, my…” Fluttershy squeaked out. “What are you going to do?”

The sky blue Pegasus shook her head again. “I don't know, Fluttershy… I don't know what to say, what to do, anything! I'm just… Just stuck.”

“There there,” Fluttershy cooed. “It’ll be okay…”

“Not it’s not, Fluttershy!” Rainbow screamed. “It's not going to be alright!”

Fluttershy flinched back in terror at her friend’s outburst and hid behind her mane. The animals in the room all woke up in unison at the blue mare’s outburst, and immediately began to panic. Instinct kicked in, and Fluttershy instantly jumped from the couch and began to calm her animal friends.

All the while, Rainbow’s eyes went wide as she observed the aftermath of her outburst. She slowly curled up into a ball, then began to sob into her hooves.

Once all of the animals were calm, Fluttershy returned hesitantly to her friend’s side. “T-there there…”

The blue mare didn't respond, only continued to cry. It would be a few more minutes until the sobbing stopped, to which Rainbow then rose back to her hooves and sniffed again. “Sorry, Fluttershy. I didn't mean to… I shouldn't have yelled at you…”

“It’s okay, Rainbow,” Fluttershy spoke with a smile. “You didn't mean it, and the animals aren't mad at you since I explained how upset you are.”

Rainbow looked up at the plethora of now awake animals who gazed down at her from around the room, and she didn't need Fluttershy’s ability to communicate with animals to notice their sympathetic expressions.

“Um…” Fluttershy continued as she shuffled her hooves nervously. “I-I don't think I can be much help, right now. I mean… I'm good with animals, but not ponies. I, uh… I don't know how much help I can be.”

“It's okay, Fluttershy…” Rainbow whispered softly, her head lowered.

“But, um… I do think Twilight can help you. I mean, she’s really good at stuff like this.”

Rainbow flinched.  “T-Twilight?  I… I don’t…”

Fluttershy held Rainbow’s hoof in her own.  “Rainbow… I know it might be hard to tell her about… well everything… but I’m sure she’ll understand.”

Rainbow wiped her eyes with her free hoof.  “I-It’s not just that.  I… she’s mad at me.  I… I pranked her and…”

Fluttershy sighed.  “Oh Rainbow… you know Twilight; she loves all of us.  She won’t hold a grudge because of a silly prank.”

The sky blue Pegasus raised her head. “Yeah… Yeah, I guess,”

“Please… just talk to her.  If you want to get through this, you’re going to need your friend’s support.  If you want, I’ll be right by your side.”

Rainbow nodded.   “It’s fine, I can do it alone.  I’m going to head over to her now.  But, uh… can you do me a favor?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Scootaloo is sleeping over at my house, and… well, she’s still there. Would you… watch over her while I talk to Twilight?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Of course.”

“Thanks,” Rainbow said, then exited through the door.

(\/);,,;(\/)

Twilight put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. She held a smile, but her mind didn’t mirror her expression. Inside, Twilight was confused. She had listened intently to her friends story, but she still didn’t understand why she was so upset. Daring a question, the purple unicorn asked, “So… What is it you need my help with, Rainbow? What is this all about?”

The sky blue pegasus took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. She had rehearsed her revelation over and over before she got to Twilight’s library, knowing that she would eventually tell all there was to tell. Even so, it was arguably the hardest thing she ever had to do. Her deep breaths slowed down as her heart rate decreased, then, she was able to talk. “Scootaloo is… she’s my… my daughter.”

Twilight froze. “D-Daughter?” she sputtered. In a single instant, everything made sense. From the strange psychological visions, to why it involved Scootaloo. Twilight put all the pieces together in a neat, methodological order. Once she made logical sense out of all of it, she regained her senses.

Twilight ran the numbers, but even though her math checked out, she still had to know. “How… how old were you?”

Rainbow just shook her head. “Too young, Twilight. I was… I was a stupid, horny teenager, okay? I wanted to… I thought that…” She closed her eyes and bit her tongue. “I was stupid, Twilight…”

Twilight pulled her friend into a gentle hug. “Shhh… it’s alright Rainbow. You’re not stupid. You just… made a mistake…” Twilight winced at her word choice. As much as she was always willing to help her friends get through anything, finding the right words in delicate situations was still a low point. “And you gave Scootaloo up for adoption, I’m guessing?”

Rainbow nodded sadly. “Yeah… I-I couldn’t… Mom said it was f-for the best. She said I was too young and we couldn’t afford to take proper care of her, so… I gave her up.” Rainbow tightened her grip on Twilight, unable to choke back a new wave of tears. “I-I-I didn’t want to, Twilight! I-I didn’t want to just… just give her away! B-but I d-didn’t have a choice!”

Twilight said nothing. She merely continued to hold her broken friend; allow her to let all of the sorrow out of her system. Soon enough, Rainbow’s sobs quieted down. She held on to Twilight for a moment longer, then broke the hug to gulp down another glass of tea in hope that it would calm her nerves.

“You never realized sooner?” Twilight asked, wanting to get as much information as possible to properly assess the situation.

Rainbow sniffed and shook her head. “A-after I gave her away, I tried to move on. It… It took a while but… but I…”

“You forgot about her,” Twilight finished. It made sense. Something as traumatic as giving birth at such a young age, then having to give up that child would warrant repressed feelings.

Rainbow nodded. It sounded terrible to her. What kind of mother forgets about their own child, and doesn’t even recognize them after being around them for years?  That wasn’t who Dash was.  She was supposed to be the Element of Loyalty, the pony who stuck by her friends and family through thick and thin; to hell and back.  How was she supposed to be the Element of Loyalty after abandoning her child?

Both mare’s sat in complete silence, unable to speak to each other. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but that they didn’t know what to say. Eventually, however, a question made it’s way to Twilight’s lips.

“What are you going to do now?”

The sky blue pegasus hesitated to answer. “I don’t know, Twilight. I can’t just go up to her and say, ‘Hey! I’m the dumb teenager who got knocked up and gave you up! But, I’m less dumb now, so let’s be a family again!’ No… that won’t work. I gave up that opportunity a long time ago.” She hung her head and stomped her hoof on the floor. “She’s still in foster care, Twilight! Mom said she would get adopted by a good family, and that they would give her a better life than we could have. And… and I thought so too, but apparently we were wrong. I just… what do I do? Do I tell her? How do I tell her? What will she…”

Then the tears came back. The pegasus mare threw herself into her friends hooves. She cried and sobbed out garbled words, none of which Twilight could discern. The unicorn mare held her friend, but said nothing. She didn’t know what to say. Eventually, Twilight felt her friend’s sobs weaken, eventually fading to nothing. The purple mare looked down to her friend, and noticed that she had fallen asleep. With great care, Twilight sat up and used her magic to carry her sleeping friend up to her bed and gently tucked her in.

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