Rainbow Dash sat alone in a forgotten room deep within the black fortress Umbra, staring at a weapon that had become her life and a candle that measured its length. Emotionless eyes carefully marked each second as the candle slowly burned itself away, perhaps she would awaken from this as well.

Her face darkened as a sneer of pure disdain overcame her. “If only I was that lucky.”

She thought she had finally found peace, an answer to a question she had been too afraid to ask...but it was only a dream.

The faint light of the candle danced along the weapons crystal edge, setting its surface ablaze. It was beautiful but it did little to ease the sorrow and anger she now felt, towards the world, Twilight, and herself...especially herself.

Reaching forward, Rainbow Dash grasped her sword's hilt with her mouth and returned it to the sheath on her back. With grim determination, Rainbow stood up from her chair. A faint pop sounded behind her and the room was briefly illuminated in a soft purple light.

“Rainbow?” Twilight said softly.

“Please.” Rainbow Dash said quietly, without turning around. “I've already damned myself once already, even if it was just a dream. Dont make me do it again.”

Twilight took a single step towards Rainbow Dash. causing her to sigh sadly.

“I came here after the fight with Luna.” Rainbow said, quietly locking her eyes on the candle before her. “To try to make sense of things.”

Twilight stopped in her tracks. “What things?”

“About Luna, about Sombra.” She began quietly. “About me, about Applejack.” Rainbow lifted a hoof and began to wave it around angrily as her voice rose. “About this fortress, about this kingdom, about your brother! About my love!” She reached behind her back and grasped her sword hilt in both hooves and in one fluid motion unsheathed it and stabbed it into the table, burying it to the hilt. “And about you!” She finished with a shout, breathing heavily, face contorted into a sneer.

Twilight looked on in silence, her heart breaking. “Oh, Rainbow, this is all my fault.”

Rainbow Dash slowly turned in place, facing Twilight, sneer still in place. “No Twilight, it's not your fault.” She said, each word dripping with anger. “If anypony is to blame its me.” She began to walk towards Twilight. “Im the one who fell in love with you, who set you above all others in my mind.” Coming to a stop in front of Twilight. “The one who came back for you, who betrayed everything I had ever known in order to be with you.” Rainbow lifted her forehooves and placed them at Twilights neck, squeezing firmly. “The one who was always there for you, the one who KILLED FOR YOU!!!” Rainbow Dashed screamed in her face, hooves growing tighter around Twilight's neck, causing tears to leak from her eyes.

“And the only thing I wanted was for you to turn around and notice me.” Rainbow said in a choked whisper, tears streaming down her face. “To look at me the same way I looked at you when I knew you weren't watching.” Rainbow released Twilights neck, letting her hooves fall back to the floor. She stood before Twilight, head bowed and visibly shaking as the last piece of the wall surrounding her heart fell away, leaving it raw and exposed.

“No, its not your fault.” She said again, shaking her head. “I love you to much to let you think that it is.” She looked up at Twilight, eyes bloodshot and tears still falling. Taking a shuddering breath, Rainbow smiled the biggest smile she could manage. “I want you to be with somepony who loves you as much as I do..” Rainbow wrapped her fore hooves around Twilight in a tight hug. “And if that pony isn't me then... Im fine with that.”

“You can't possibly mean that, Rainbow.” Twilight said, choking back her own sobs as she embraced her friend. “Nopony could ever mean that.”

“I can.” Rainbow whispered. “If I'm in the way of your happiness, I'll gladly step aside so you can get their.”

“But what about your happiness?”Twilight asked, in a fearful voice, rapidly losing the battle to stay coherent.

Rainbow pulled away slightly so that they were face to face and smiled warmly at Twilight. “You will save this world from the Princesses with Sombra, righting an ancient injustice and I will be at your side, as your friend, until the very end.” She placed her forehead on Twilights, nuzzling her gently. “That will be my happiness.”

Twilight could hold out no longer, with a loud cry she completely broke down. Pulling Rainbow into a bone crushing embrace and sobbed into her shoulder. Rainbow Dash held onto her dearest friend, gently stroking her mane as she cried long and hard. Time passed, and eventually Twilight ran out of tears to shed. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Twilight pushed away from Rainbow, her face red and puffy from crying so long. The sight caused Rainbow Dash to smile sadly at her.

“Finished?” She asked, trying to add humor into her voice and only partially succeeding.

Twilight nodded her head as she returned Rainbow smile. The room visibly darkened as a great shadow passed over them. Rainbow looked past Twilight as Sombra materialized behind her, eyes glowing brightly in the dimness. She returned her gaze to Twilight and gently motioned with her head for her to go to him, smiling weakly as she did so.

Twilight took one last look at Rainbow Dash before turning away and embracing Sombra, who returned it in kind.

“I see.” Sombra said quietly, looking down at Twilight. He turned his gaze back to Rainbow Dash, eyes flashing brightly and smiled a fanged smile.

“Thank you, Shadowbolt.”