Chapter 18.

Rainbow Dash returned to Equestria and started to fly towards the mountain that Luna had directed her to fly towards. Looking down for a few brief seconds she saw the hoof prints left by Celestial Sparkle as she had made her way to the crystal empire. Rainbow Dash knew she didn’t have time to follow the newly reborn queen as she was told to report her findings to Luna. Getting to the mountain Rainbow found a perch overlooking a small icey valley below. Finding a bolder to hide behind she landed and ducked behind it. Looking around the corner of the bolder Rainbow saw the dragon Arighith and the lady Galanthus both looked at each other as Rainbow heard the dragon say to Galanthus.

“Welcome back my Lady Galanthus it has been far too long since I saw your smiling face.”

“Yes it is had been over a thousand years since I felt the sweet breeze of a summer's wind on my fur. Or the soft gentle touch of a spring rain on my main, or heard the summer birds chirping in the trees.” Lady Galanthus said as she stared off into the valley.

The sun was just setting and Luna’s moon was reaching its zenith when the dragon Arighith began to laugh coldly saying while laughing.

“You wish to know what a thousand years has bought Princess Celestia. You wish to know what became of her since your sacrifice a thousand years ago.” Arighith said as he looked up and spotted Rainbow dash on her perch behind her boulder.  

Turning around so that his back was facing Rainbow’s hiding place Rainbow saw her chance to get in closer and took it. As she flew down to a lower cliff and hid behind another bolder she heard the dragon Arighith say to Lady Galanthus.

“What troubles you my Lady Galanthus I sense your resolve might be waning?” Airghith said as he snarled wickedly.

“I want to go and find Celestia I believe I will start in the crystal empire.” Lady Galanthus replied coldly to Airghith.

As the sun slowly dipped behind the icy horizon and the moon had finally reached its zenith in the cold night sky Lady Galanthus began to walk away stopping only to say to Airghith.

“What would you suggest then? How, would you proceed?”

Laughing the dragon unfurled his wings then flew up into the air growling out as he said to her.

“Give me command of this army, you needn’t worry about involving yourself in the tartarus of war. I will take this army and raise all within my sight to the ground. I will lay waste to all that is around me.” Airghith said as he flew in the air a few hundred feet above Lady Galanthus.  

“You!, seek that which you lost so many eons ago!, KNOW, this you will NEVER! Get back that which you lost so many years ago. Your heart will never be yours again. Now I must leave I seek out Celestia and I will start with the Crystal Empire.” Lady Galanthus said as she stopped in her tracks from leaving Airghith when he flew in the air.

The dragon let out a loud scream and blew several waves of fire towards Galanthus all of which had no effect on the light blue pony saying as he flapped his wings.

“YOU ARE ONLY THINKING OF YOURSELF AND NOT THE POWER THAT WAS GRANTED TO YOU. KNOW THIS LADY GALANTHUS I DO NOT SERVE YOU! I SERVE THE CROWN AND NOT THE FOOLISH PONY THAT WEARS IT.” Airghith screamed out in rage.

“Then tell me what would you do then if I gave you command of Nine hundred thousand soldiers?” Lady Galanthus asked Airghith as she turned back around to face him.

“I will take this army and seek out you out. If the crown should be attacked then the ones that did that will pay and pay dearly. Go to the crystal empire seek your answers, But know this should you be put in danger or the crown should come under attack I will not stop until you are returned to my side.” Airghith said as he scanned the mountain side for Rainbow Dash.

“I can agree to those terms how ever if it is battle you seek then battle you shall have. Go now to the town of ponyville and DESTROY IT.” Lady Galanthus said as she lowered her head then began to walk away from Airghith.

“Thank you my lady.” The dragon said as he smiled wickedly.

“And Airghith!” Lady Galanthus said as she looked over her shoulder.

“Yes my Lady Galanthus?” Airghith said as he landed in front of the army.

Turning her head back towards the crystal empire Lady Galanthus said only three words as she continued to walk away from the dragon Airghith.

“Leave none alive.”

The dragon upon hearing those three words from Lady Galanthus flew up into the air then breathed a large ball of blue fire. When he came back down and slammed into the ground caused a loud thunderus boom that was heard for miles around he bowed his head saying as he growled and snarled.

“It shall be done as you have commanded my Lady.” The dragon Airghith said has he slammed into the ground beneath him.  

Lady Galanthus nodded then began to trot away towards the Crystal Empire. Once Lady Galanthus was out of site Airghith landed then looked at the mountain growling out as he said coldly.

“You might as well come on out I already know you are there.” Airghith said as he drooled watching the mountain intently.  

“Oh horse apples! I am so screwed.” Rainbow thought to herself as she slowly stepped out from behind her hiding place.

Gulping loudly as she looked at the dragon and he looked back at her Rainbow said trying to muster as much courage as she could.

“I have come here to only look upon your greatness nothing more than that. I read about you in legend and tale I wanted to see if what I read was true. I meant no offense by spying on you.”

The dragon simply growled and snarled at Rainbow. She could feel his hot sticky breath on her coat and saw only death in his pale crystal blue eyes as she stared up into them. Swallowing hard she said to him while trying not to show how frightened she was of him.  

“I was wondering are you as powerful as your legend states that you are?”

Airghith simply growled as he stretched out his wings to full spread. Each one just barely touching the tall trees that outlined the outmost area’s of the valley. Looking down at Rainbow as he stomped over to her he said to her while growling.

“Yes little blue pegasus I am really as powerful as I am strong.” Airghith said to Rainbow as drool came out of his mouth and hit the ground beneath his feet.

Compared to the dragon Rainbow was only the size of a chihuahua. Realizing she needed to keep him busy for as long as she could Rainbow summoned up her courage and blunt said to Airghith.

“I don’t believe you are as powerful as you are strong. I have faced off against bugbears, a hydra and Tirek the lord of Tartarus. As well as several others that are way more powerful than you.”

Airghith scoffed at the mere notion that some other being could be stronger than him. Flying high into the air then falling back down to the valley below. He slammed into the hard frozen ground like a meteor. Screaming out in sheer anger that this little pegasus would dare insult him. Airghith screamed in rage.

“YOU DARE COME HERE AND INSULT ME PEGASUS!”

“Uh…….(gulping)...Yes” Rainbow squeaked out in fear as her fear of Airghith finally took over.

“I AM AIRGHITH. DRAGON, LORD OF ALL DARK DRAGONS!” Airghith screamed in rage.

“Yeah so what” Rainbow replied trying to stall Airghith as long as she could.

When the dragon heard this his rage was almost beyond measure. He flew into the air and began to scream as loudly as he could. Rainbow could see that her plan was starting to work all she had to do was keep him busy long enough until either help came or until she was able to think of a way out the mess she had gotten herself into.

“I AM AIRGHITH I KILL WHAT I WISH TO KILL!”Airghith screamed out in rage.

“Yeah not feeling it sorry dragon you're not so scary.”

Airghith came back down slamming into the ice and rocks as hard as he could screaming out as he stomped his feet into the icy snow covered rocks beneath him.

“I AM STRONG!” Airghith screamed as he slammed down his left back foot. Then Airghith picked up his right back foot slammed it into the ground beneath him screaming out.

“STRONG!” Airghith said as he slammed his right back foot into the ice and rocks of the valley beneath his feet. Picking up his right front foot he again screamed out.

“STRONG!” As that foot like the other three came slamming down with a loud thunderus boom. Picking up his left front foot and repeating the same process as he had done with the other three he screamed out one final time.

“STRONG!” Airghith screamed as he slammed his right front foot into the valley beneath him.

Rainbow looked around the valley she and Airghith were in then back at him before saying to him with bemused look on her face saying to him as she looked up into his crystal eyes.

“OK, so you're strong I get it. Move on already.” Rainbow said while staring into the dragon's eyes.

Airghith let out a loud thunderous scream that shook the valley that he and Rainbow Dash were both in. The mountain behind Rainbow shook with an omance quacking noise Rainbow looked up as several large boulders fell near her. Gulping hard she turned back to the dragon saying to him.

“Hey you’re going to go cause an avalanche to occur if you keep this up. If that happens how is your all powerful strength going to help you then?” Rainbow said as she dodged an incoming bolder.

Wiping sweat from her forehead Rainbow heard the dragon yell to her as she looked from the bolder to him and back to the bolder.

“MY TAIL IS LIKE A THUNDER BOLT!” Airghith yelled out as he cracked his tail causing a loud thunderous crack to be heard for miles on end.

Rainbow again just looked at him with a completely bemused look on her face while she said.

“Boring. Come  on Dragon lord don’t you have anything that is like way cool. Your strong I get that. You have a thunderbolt tail OK, cool but, not cool enough. What else do you have besides that.”

The dragon smiled a very toothy grin at Rainbow as he raised up his right front foot and screamed out to her while taking a swipe at her.

“Oh horse apples!” Rainbow yelped as she dove for cover just in the nick of time. She could feel the wind of Airghith clawed foot pass over her as she heard him yell while he swiped at her with his clawed foot.

“MY CLAWS ARE LIKE DAGGERS I CAN CUT THROUGH ANYTHING WITH THEM!!!”

Rainbow heard the scraping of Airghith’s nails clawing huge bits and pieces out of the rocks and boulders next to her as she found herself hiding behind one of them. Shaking but, not shaken enough to leave Rainbow stuck her head out from behind her hiding place then looked at the damaged boulders and rocks. She saw that six out of the eight boulders that lay strewn about her were badly gouged into. Swallowing harder this time she looked up to him half chuckling to herself as she said.

“That must have caused some damage to your claws there, better not try that again. Otherwise you might wind up breaking your claws off then you will have nothing to fight with.” Rainbow laughed slightly when she saw the claws on the dragons right foot glowing white hot from the ripping of the boulders.  

Airghith just snarled out as he unfurled his wings screaming out as he flew up into the air again.

“MY WINGS ARE LIKE A THOUSAND HURRICANES!” Airghith said as he looked down at Rainbow.

The wind that picked up from Airghith flapping his wings wildly was enough to pick Rainbow Dash up and slam her into the mountain side. Rainbow hit with such force that a small indent of her body was left when she fell back to the ground. Seeing that Rainbow was momentarily dazed by his attack Airghith smiled to himself as he came back down and screamed out to her.

“MY ARMOR IS LIKE TEN THOUSAND FOLD SHIELDS!”Airghith yelled out as he turned from right to left then from left to right in a complete circle showing off his scaly hide.

Rainbow shook her self trying to shake off the pain she felt that was wracking itself throughout her body as she shook she heard the dragon yell out to her again.

“And Pegasus!” Airghith yelled to Rainbow.

Rainbow looked up just in time to see the dragon Airghith rear his head backwards as he screamed out to her.

“AND MY BREATH.”

Rainbow hearing this gulped and felt all the color in her body drain out of her as her eyes shrank to pin needles as the dragon screamed out.

“DEATH!”

The dragon let loose a large crystal blue fireball right at Rainbow looking up in total fear as the fireball came crashing down on her. Rainbow failed to notice a purple and pink light forming around her body. Just as the fireball was about to slam into her and reduce her to ash Rainbow was teleported away from the battlefield and the dragon. Thinking the little Pegasus was reduced to little more than ash. Airghith drooled then flew up into the air again and headed towards Ponyville with his undead army in tow. Several of which were on fire from the fireball he had set loose upon Rainbow Dash. Rainbow suddenly found herself miles away from the mountain in the middle of Ponyville looking around as she blinked her eyes Rainbow exclaimed.

“WHO,WHAT,WHEN,WHERE,WHY!” Rainbow said as she heard a soft kindly voice from behind her say to her.

“Hello Rainbow Dash.” The voice said to her.

Rainbow turned around and sniffed when she saw who was standing behind her. Saying as she looked at her friend in total shock.

“YOU!” Rainbow said as she her mouth all but dropped to the ground.

“It is good to see you Rainbow.” Rainbows savior replied gently to her.

“But, how? How is this possible? We all saw you at the funeral for Celestia. How are you standing here before me now?” Rainbow asked as she looked her savoir up and down.

“I believe another can answer that better than I can Rainbow.” Rainbows savior said.

“I don’t understand what do you mean by ano…..”Rainbow was cut off when her savior said gently to her.

“Look behind you Rainbow and you will understand.” Rainbows savior said as she gestured with a hoof for Rainbow to look behind her.

Rainbow turned around again and tears fell from her eyes like a water faucet. She dropped immediately to her knees and knelt before the one standing in front of her. Rainbows savior’s friend smiled warmly to Rainbow saying to her as Rainbow cried.

“Dry your tears my little pony I have need of your element of loyalty now more than ever.” The sweet gentle voice came from the newcomer to Rainbow’s ears as she slowly stood up.

Rainbow looked up when her saviors friend had said this to her. Seeing that her saviors friend was unfurling her wings got up and ran to her then leapt into her wings crying out as she was embraced in a warm hug by the one standing behind her.

“It is you really you? Are you really here?”

“Yes my little pony I am here.” Replied the newcomer who held Rainbow tightly in her powerful wings.

Rainbow cried onto the newcomers shoulders for a good six minutes before she was set down as she said to the newcomer.

“We have missed you so much! How could you leave us like that?”

The newcomer placed a gentle wing and hoof onto Rainbows shoulders saying softly to her.

“I am so sorry that my leaving has caused so many to feel such deep sadness yet it was very necessary to ensure the that the golden age comes again to Equestria. I know that I have much to answer for and that there will be much anger from one that I have wronged so badly. Yet I hope that I can try to fix that and help her now in her time of need.” The newcomer said gently to Rainbow who was still crying.

Pulling her into a tight embrace the newcomer said gently to her as the newcomer stroked Rainbows rainbow colored mane with a powerful wing.

“Do not cry any more my little pony I am home and I will not leave you or any pony again I promise you this.” The newcomer said softly as she hugged Rainbow tightly in her wings.

“I just can’t believe you're back. We all attended your funeral every pony who was any pony came to it. You would have been so proud to see the love and joy that we had for you.” Rainbow said while crying into the newcomers shoulders.

Setting Rainbow Dash down again Rainbow looked over at her savior then back at the newcomer before saying.

“We need to sound the alarms in Ponyville right now the dragon Airghith is bringing an army of the likes that I have never seen before. There made up of skeletons we need to do something about this.” Rainbow said as she looked from her savior to the newcomer and back again.

“Yes we will do something about this or rather there is one that will do something about this for us that is.” Replied Rainbows saviors to her with a gentle smile.

“Tell us Rainbow Dash did Luna go to the blacksmith’s shop like I had requested of her?” Asked the newcomer

“I honestly don’t know if she did or didn’t.” Replied Rainbow as she bowed to her savior and the newcomer.

Seeing Rainbow bowing to both of them Rainbows savior said to her gently.

“Ok here is what you need to do Rainbow fly to the watchtower ring the bell there and get every pony out of here. I will head to the crystal mirror when you see Luna again please tell her that I will be back in two days. Tell her to look to the light upon the rising sun on that day. Help will have arrived for I shall not be returning to Equestria alone.” Rainbows savior said to her gently.

“Alright will do is there anything else that need to happen before I take off.” Rainbow asked as she floated into the air.

“Yes there is one more thing. I wish to wish you luck and that I will fight by your side in this war. Now go quickly Rainbow there is not much time. The dragon Airghith will be here within four hours.”

“Geez is that all I would think it would take that oversized lizard longer to get here.” Rainbow said as she flew off towards the watch tower.

The newcomer and Rainbows savior both looked at each other then watched as Rainbow slowly disappeared as she headed to the watchtower. Rainbow savior asked the newcomer as she headed out to the crystal palace and the mirror.

“Is there anything you would like to me to tell Rose Cherry or Red when I see them?”

The newcomer placed a gentle white hoof to her chin and tapped it lightly a few times before saying to Rainbows savior softly.

“Yes please tell Red that I miss her very much and as soon as this is over with I plan on seeing her soon.” The newcomer said gently to Rainbows savior.

“And what message should I state to Rose Cherry after all she is her mother and I am sure she would like to hear from you.” Rainbows savior asked as she turned away to head to the crystal palace and the crystal mirror.

“Please tell her that I am very sorry for all the pain that I have caused her in my pursuit of trying to get our golden age started. I never meant to cause her or her daughter pain and anger. And if you are willing I would ask that you also ask her daughter if I might partake in her wedding.”

“I will ask but, there is a lot of anger in her towards you. You might not like what her daughter or Rose Cherry has to say to you. But, on behalf of friendship and all of Equestria I will still ask. Now I must go.” Rainbows savior said as she nodded to the newcomer.

“I understand and thank you like you I must go as well. Take care my young pupil I look forward to seeing you again.” The newcomer said as she leapt into the air and flew off towards Canterlot castle

“As do I, as do I” Rainbows savior said as she headed to the crystal palace.

Getting to the palace she was greeted by spike who only nodded to her then followed her down a crystal hallway to her bedroom chamber and to the mirror. Before Rainbows savior stepped through it she looked back at Spike and said to him.

“You are just a baby dragon my friend I have been so grateful and so lucky to have taken care of you. But, now it is time for you to make your own way in Equestria. Oh, there are some blue and green jewels on my top dresser drawer have as many of them as your tummy can hold. Please go with Fluttershy and remain with her while she watches over the fillies and colts of PonyVille. I do not know if I will ever see you again. And if I do I hope it will be for the better Spike.I love you Spike now I must go.” Rainbows savior said to him  as she scratched him with her hoof behind his left ear.

Spike tried to stop his friend from leaving but, he wasn’t strong enough to fully grasp onto her right leg and within moments Rainbows savior was back in Canterlot City. She knew she had to get back to the hospital and help Rose Cherries daughter out and try to convince her to come home. As Rainbows savior started to walk down the sidewalk she heard a car horn beep at her. Turning around Rainbows savior smiled as she saw red coming down the street. Red pulled up alongside the curb of the sidewalk and unlocked her car. Rainbows savior smiled got in then the two of them headed off to the hospital. Rainbows savior knew it was now time for Rose Cherries daughter to come home. Getting out of the car Rainbows savior almost froze in her tracks when she heard a loud sickening screech. Placing a hand over her mouth she gasped out then ran inside the hospital while Red drove off. Rainbows savior ran all the way to Sunset Shimmer’s room opened the door and stepped inside. Once inside she saw that the demon was holding Rose Cherry by her throat in mid air. Her teeth elongated and her eyes as black as night. Rainbows savior screamed out only three words as she slammed the door closed behind her.

“RELEASE, HER NOW!”

Amora turned saw Rainbows savior with her back against the door clearly blocking the way out of the room and said to her.

“It is good to see you again.” The demon cooed while holding Rose Cherry by her throat.

“I said, release her NOW!” Rainbows savior barked angrily

“You keep saying ‘her’ yet you have not yet to said which one I need to let go of.” The demon replied with lust in her eyes for the meal she was about to enjoy.

Hissing and snarling the demon dropped Rose Cherry onto the bed and bared her teeth at Rainbows savior while she snarled to her.

“You really have no idea who I am do you?” The demon hissed angrily to Rainbows savior.

“Sunset please do not do this I don’t want to have to use the tantibus on you.”

“I AM NOT SUNSET SHIMMER!” The demon screamed out in anger at being insulted by Rainbows savior.

“It...it’s true….you're not…. talking with…. Sunset. You're talking….. with Amora, queen….. of the…. demons. Please I beg …….you save…... my daughter,.......save my…...baby.” Rose said as she coughed while sitting back up.

Rainbows savior looked from Amora to Rose Cherry then back to Amora before saying to her.

“Release Sunset! She doesn’t deserve what you have turned her into.”

Amora slowly backed away from Rose Cherry growling. As she backed away from Rose Cherry Amora laughed wickedly as she said to Rainbows savior.

“I will release her if and only if you agree to do me a slight shall we call it a favor.” Amora said as she turned her gaze towards Fluttershy.

Rainbows savior saw this and stepped in front of Amora’s line of vision saying to her.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Return me to my home where I will lay waste to the one that dares to sit upon my throne. Do it not and I will kill all those within this room. If you agree to this I will let Sunset and her little pink haired friend go unabated it is but of course your choice.” Amora said while slowly licking her lips never taking her eyes off of Rainbows savior while she stood in front of Fluttershy.  

The two stood staring at each other for over twenty minutes never once did Rainbows savior waiver or lose her concentration during the stare down. Amora smiled and slowly began to drool as she thought of all the things she was going to do to Fluttershy if Rainbows savior refused her request. Growling out in anger and at losing her patience Amora she all but barked out her command to Rainbows savior.

“Well what is your answer? Are you going to return me home or let me have my way with your friends friend here.” Amora said as she pointed towards Fluttershy who hid behind Rainbows savior.

Looking down at the very frighted pink haired girl Rainbows savior closed her eyes tightly then turned her head away from Amora saying only eight words when she looked back at Amora.

“OK, I will do as you have requested.”

Sunsets eyes went from jet midnight black to teal again as felt the demon leave her, her eyes rolled back into her skull and she collapsed onto her mother who was sitting on her bed. Rainbows savior rushed to Sunset’s side as Sunsets mother picked Sunset up and placed her back into the bed then took the crown and amulet off of her daughter’s head and neck and handed those to Rainbows savior saying to her.

“Thank you.” Next Chapter: Chapter 19. Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 44 Minutes