“Is she going to be alright?”

“Yes, but we have to be watchful of her. That Collector she fought, it worked her over pretty bad.” Redheart said, before pausing, with a sigh. “And as much as I hate to say it Rainbow, she did overexert herself, maintaining that spell she was using on you didn’t help any.”

“I know, I know, but she’ll be fine right?”

I was nervous, caged by some unseen force, as I stared at Trixie. She just laid there, her breaths slow and even. Why was she even here? Why was she even in this position? Why had I let her push herself so hard, and for what, to make sure I was safe? She’d said back in Las Pegasus, that she’d give her own life for mine. Well, she was pretty damn close to giving it. I thought I was stronger than this! I thought I could protect those that I knew! I thought...I thought I could protect the ponies I cared for! Damn you Rainbow Dash! Damn you for your weakness; you’re pathetic!

“Rainbow, don’t beat yourself up over this. Trixie cares for you, that’s very apparent.” Redheart paused, before offering me a kind smile. “She didn’t want to see you get hurt. She didn’t want to take the chance to lose you.”

“She’s an idiot.” I said suddenly, as small beads of tears rolled down my face. “Why would she die just so I could live, that’s selfish, then I’d be alone again.”

“Dashie.” Redheart cooed softly, as I felt her forehooves wrap around me. “I know what you mean when you say you’ll be alone again but, I want you to remember, I’ll be right here at your side; ready to help you.” She said, squeezing me gently. “Now, I’m going to see what can be done, about the gaping hole in the side of the tram.” Redheart let go of her comforting embrace, and moved to the door of the compartment we’d placed Trixie in, smiling the whole time. “I’ll check on you later Rainbow, but do try to get some rest, until then.” With that Redheart slipped out of the compartment, and from my view.

What should I do? How can I help Trixie, is there anything I can even do? I had only my thoughts to occupy the, empty, silence that hung in the air. “This was all my fault.”

“Well, you are right about that one.” Called an all too familiar voice.

“Why are you back?” I asked the Draconequus that floated just behind me. I turned from Trixie my eyes falling on Discord, as he lounged on a pink cloud.

“Well isn’t it obvious? You’ve fallen asleep.” He replied, pulling a glass of chocolate milk from the cloud. “I mean it’s really the only time I can talk to you, but that’s a story for another time; yes another time indeed. Now! Back to business.” Discord raddled on, between drinks of his milk. “I came to check on you, to make sure those ‘nasty’ Collectors hadn’t bested you, and here you are. Isn’t it wonderful!?”

“Wonderful! Trixie is on the verge of death! Too weak to even be conscious!” I shouted, while anger boiled in my very soul. “This is not wonderful! This is-”

“Enough, enough, stop whining. The fact of the matter is simple; you were too weak to protect her. Seriously, you almost got beaten, if Trixie wouldn’t have helped you, then you’d have been KO’d; game over.” I watched him throw the empty glass over his shoulder, and as it hit the ground it didn’t shatter, but turned into a duckling.

I sat, dumbfounded, for a few minutes. His words had cut me worse than any blade, because they were lined with something, something I had come to deny lately; truth. The duckling hadn’t helped much either, but it was more...odd, than totally disheartening.

“I...I...”

“Hurts doesn’t it? Hurts knowing that you can’t do anything, while those around you fall, but survive.”

“It’s not like I wanted this to happen!” I shouted back, tears streaming down my face. “It’s not like I wanted Trixie to get hurt!”

“But it’s your fault she did! Your weakness caused all of this!” Discord shouted back, before his cloud vanished, and he stepped towards me. “You’re a failure to your friends, to Equestria, and to yourself!” Discord said, his eyes locked on mine.

What did he know? Why would he even care? He was on the winning side, that insects side. Who was he to say such things, such hateful things, but then again...who was I to say they weren’t true?

“Leave.” He said suddenly his face blank, his voice cold. “You don’t want to see Trixie get hurt, nor Redheart, and the only way to make sure they don’t, is for you to leave.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” I asked, falling to the floor in despair.

“You have a destiny, a higher purpose, that you cannot fulfill.” He paused for a moment, glaring down at me sternly. “This world is pure chaos, disorder, anarchy. You think that I’d be absolutely ecstatic about this, but the grim truth of it is this; Chrysalis will burn this world to the ground.” I listened in disbelief as Discord spoke, and watched as he sighed. “She and I are two different sides to chaos, and believe it or not, I’m the lesser of the two evils.”

“Then why don’t you stop her?” I asked suddenly.

“It’s not my place to do so, never was, and it never will be.” He said with a shrug. “You however...you will be Equestria’s emissary of change, as it is your destiny.” He turned from me, and began to chuckle, before bursting out into full on laughter. “I’ve said it before, but I’m still your enemy Rainbow, and you should never see me as anything other than that.” Discord shot me a quick glance over his shoulder, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, as he began to fade away.

“Wait a damn second!” I shouted after him. His laughter still echoing.

“You think you hate me now, wait until you wake up...then you’ll know true hatred.” With that Discord vanished, and I found myself panting, covered in sweat at Trixie’s side.

A dream? Was it all a dream? Discord had said I was asleep, that he could only speak to me while I slept, but still, it all felt so real. I couldn’t help but wonder, as my eyes drifted down to take in Trixie’s blanketed form. She looked so peaceful, so at rest, as she lay there. The way her hair rested gracefully on her pillow, barely covering her face, while her chest moved in rhythm to her breathes. “Wait until you wake up, then you’ll know true hatred.” What did he mean?

~~~~~~The next day~~~~~

The first rain, it’s soothing scent, and it’s melodic rhythm. The rain brings with it a surreal calm, a state of rest, and a longing for peace. That same rain, falls before me, now nothing more than a reminder of my sorrows. Rain. Rain is pouring down on this world. The sun hidden behind a sky of dark clouds, that sings out, with the song of thunder. Why did this happen? Why did it all have to be this way? Are we so powerless, so insignificant, that no matter what, we can’t even dream of standing against the trails of this world?

Equestria, this wasteland it has become, is nothing more than a carcass festering with each passing moment. The sun bleached bones of those dead, and those who will die, will be all that stand the test of time. Time, the one thing we always seem to have too much of, until we realize that time can end. This realization comes to us all, once we see change, when it’s often too late.

Is it too late? Will time drive me away, or will you return from the edge? What can I do to help, what could I possibly do, to repay you? Dammit! Somepony, anypony, give me an answer!? Trixie wake up! Please don’t leave me. Please don’t let me be alone again, don’t let me wander this place in solitude. I-I’m scared. I’m scared to walk through this twisted, dark, world without you. Please Trixie, I’ll stay by your side. So please, don’t leave mine.

“Rainbow, dear, are you alright?” I heard Redheart call from inside the tram door, as I sat just outside.

“I’m fine.” I wiped my eye’s quickly, hoping to brush away any tears she might see, before turning to face her. “I’m fine, just watching the sky.”

“You wish you were up there in that sky, don’t you Dashie?”

“I do. I wish now, more than any other time before, that I could soar through the sky above. I just want to fly away, to leave it all behind, and remember when life was worth living.”

“Do you not think it’s worth living now?” Redheart asked, as she stepped to my side.

“Everything, everypony, is gone.” I said, staring off into the distance, before closing my eyes. “What’s left...I mean, is there anything worth fighting for anymore?” I asked, as I looked to Redheart. She smiled, as she turned from me, and sighed softly.

“Only if you think you’ve found something worth fighting for.” Redheart paused, after she spoke, before moving towards the tram door.

“Wait.” I called, reaching out for her. “I’m sorry. I’m...I-I’m just scared. I’m scared that I’ll lose you, Trixie, and everything I’ve come to care for.” My voice trembled as I spoke, my body fighting back tears, as I closed my eyes. “I lost everything once, we all have, but I feel like I’ve lost so much more.”

“Tell me then Rainbow. What is it that you lost?” Redheart said, with her usual kind smile.

“I’ve lost my love, my home, my friends. I watched as Luna was turned to stone, and heard her last shouts, before her sapphire coat turned to marble.” I could feel my will give in, as tears slowly started streaming down my face, and my memories flooded back. “I’ve lost my hope, my element...and my wing.”

“You really are pathetic, aren’t you?” Suddenly called an all too familiar voice.

I opened my eyes to the sight, and sounds, of battle. The scent of blood was thick in the air, and bodies lined the ground beneath me, causing my body to tense. “What’s going on!?” I shouted, as I stared into the eyes of Chrysalis.

“You’ve lost! Your little rebellion has failed, and once again, the bodies of thousands lay at your hooves!” Chrysalis said, her voice full of venom, as she struck me down. “I can’t believe I ever thought of you as a threat. You pathetic, broken, element.” Chrysalis laughed, moving a forehoof to rest on my throat, as she stared down at me. “Don’t worry now you can be with that Earth Pony, and that traitor Trixie!”

“I’ll kill you!” I shouted, swinging my forehooves wildly, as I pushed myself up. “I’ll drag you to hell with me!” I felt cold air rush across my face, my eyes darted open, and I was back on the tram. I was alone, and in my cabin. My body was drenched in sweat, I felt nauseous, and my head throbbed in pain. What’s happening to me? Was that all a dream?

“I can assure you it wasn’t real.” Discord called to me suddenly.

“What are you doing to me!?” I shouted.

“I’m doing what must be done.”

“Driving me insane? I’d sooner just let you kill me!”

“Who said anything about driving you crazy?” I turned quickly as I saw Discord take form at my side. “I’m simply trying to help you, although I’m more so helping myself. Don’t worry yourself about the details.”

“Am I...am I still dreaming?” I asked suddenly.

“Why yes you are, in fact, you’ve been dreaming.”

“What?”

“You’re actually still in the same dream from before, or perhaps, this is the original dream. Who’s to say? Now I’m sure you’re wanting out of here, and I completely understand, but I can’t allow that.” Discord said, as he floated into the air, and vanished.

“Please...please just let me wake up.”

“I can’t, well actually I could, but then you wouldn’t learn anything.” Discord suddenly appeared upside down, above me, his eyes locked with mine. “Remember that whole business I said about destiny? Well this is me giving you a push in the right direction, or maybe the wrong direction, really just depends on how you proceed.”

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my head hung low, as I cursed Discord beneath my breath.

“The question is what do you want from yourself? Usually that’s an impossible question to answer, even more so for myself, but that doesn’t matter.” Discord sighed, before an idiotic grin spread across his face. “I’m giving you the chance to answer that question. This world of dreams I’ve sealed you in, is well, it’s all created from your memories. Here you may see what has happened, and what may happen...based off your own thoughts, and fears of course.”

“So you expect me to find the answer, to a question, that I don’t even know? I hate you.” I said with a drawn out sigh.

“As you should. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have chaos to spread about.”

I watched as Discord vanished once more, and sat there in silence, awaiting him to call back out to me. Minutes passed, and I sighed in frustration, as I finally stood from the bed. What am I going to do? How am I gonna get out of this? What answer am I seeking, and for that matter, what is the bucking question!

A world of dreams, created from my memories, why would Discord seal me in this place? What was the answer he wanted me to find? I couldn’t help but wonder as I paced about the tram.

I stopped, inhaling deeply, and I cleared my mind. I could feel a change, a shift, as my vision drifted in and out of focus. The cold steel of the tram was no more, the low rumble of the engine vanished, and I found myself standing in Ponyville.

“What in Celestia’s name is this?” I asked aloud, as I gazed upon my former home. The streets were bare, devoid of all life, and yet it was still perfect. No chaos. No death. This was Ponyville in it’s prime, in a time of peace, in a time long gone.

“This is what you wanted to see.”

I turned quickly, as I heard a voice call out to me, and was left speechless as I stared at myself.

“W-what kind of madness is this?” I watched as my other self chuckled softly, and took a step towards me, as her form became basked in light.

“Madness? No Rainbow, this isn’t madness, this is fate.”

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I could only watch in disbelief as her black coat reflected the sunlight. Her mane, my mane, deprived of it’s rainbow hue, replaced by different shades of crimson. The thing that scared me most though were her eyes, that stared at me with murderous intent, full of hatred.

“F-fate?” I asked, as I absentmindedly reached for my katana.

“Are you afraid Rainbow? Afraid of what I am?”

“I’m not afraid!”

“Liar!” She shouted. She rushed me, sweeping my hooves from beneath me, slamming me to the ground. I gasped, stunned by her overwhelming speed. That’s when I noticed...she still had her left wing.

“You lying filth! You can’t even be honest with yourself!” She roared. “You’re afraid Rainbow, you’re terrified, because you can’t understand what’s going on.”

I could feel my heart race, my body trembled, under the weight of this dark incarnation of myself. I couldn’t speak though, I couldn’t do anything, all I could do was stare into her soulless eyes.

“You were supposed to be something! You were supposed to evolve!” She yelled before sighing. “You were supposed to become everything I am, and you almost did it, but you couldn’t let go of the past.”

“Let go. LET GO!” I roared. I pushed myself up, planting my back legs into my other selfs stomach, forcing her off of me. “I was never given a chance to let go! My life was ripped from my hooves!”

“Stop your whining!” She shouted before knocking me back with a powerful strike. “Wasn’t that why you’ve done all this!? Isn’t that why you’ve come so far!? Because you wanted revenge for that life you lost!?”

“I never wanted revenge for my own sick pleasure! I wanted to avenge those I lost!”

“You wanted blood for blood! You’re just too weak to admit it!” She pulled back throwing another swift blow, and stared at me with a sick smile, as I met hers with my own. Our hooves slammed together, resonating energy from their impact, and suddenly Ponyville was gone, replaced by Canterlot during the Changeling siege.

“Just think back you coward, and remember, why do you fight?”

“I fight for those who no longer can! For those who never even had a chance!” I was furious, enraged by my dark counterpart, as I readied myself for a fight.

“They died, they all died, and you’re the one who lived. Why won’t you just admit why you fight? Why you crave battle? It’s not for some kind of justice, or vengeance, you seek death.”

I was caught off guard by her words, and even more so by the kick she threw, as I was sent flying through the gate of Castle Canterlot.

“You had abandoned all that love, and friendship, will save the world bullshit. You had learned to crave the blood lust that consumed you, found pleasure in the death you left in your wake, and became the monster that Equestria would need to survive.” She moved to stand over me once more, and stared down at me, before throwing several kicks to my ribs.

I yelled out in pain, as I felt my ribs crack, and blood began to drip from my mouth. “Why are you doing this to me?” I asked. My breath strained, my chest heaving, as I felt my body growing heavy.

“Look at you. You’re pathetic.” She said. Her voice full of malice, hatred dripping with every word, as she spat at the ground. “You’ll never leave this place.”

I could feel tears streaming down my face, my chest burning with an intense pain, while I struggled to stand. “I will leave this place. I will return to Redheart, to Trixie, to Equestria.” I said through blood soaked coughs.

“Why bother? You’ll only end up failing them?” She called as she turned from me, and began walking towards the castle courtyard.

“I’ll return to Redheart so she can always remember what life was like, before all of this, when our princesses still ruled.” I called out as I stood. “I’ll return to Trixie so she’ll never have to be alone, so she’ll never know the pain of loss, to face the horrors of the world with her.” I could feel my legs steady with each word and the pain in my chest subside. “I’ll return to Equestria and fight for it, fight for all those who still have hope, because I’m the only one who can!”

My body became covered in light as Canterlot melted away, and I found myself surrounded by the San Palomino Desert, my dark half simply smiling. That’s when I realized that my wing, my left wing, had regrown.

“Things are about to get fun.” I said with a smile.

“Finally, we can agree on something.”

We stood there, surrounded by sand, as we stared the other down. I could feel the familiar anticipation of battle surging through my body, but this time, this time it was different. This time I didn’t fight out of selfishness, or the guise of justice, this time I fought because I knew I must....because I was the only one who could.

We launched into the air, both soaring high into the sky, and I was overwhelmed by the almost now foreign feeling of the wind against my coat. We collided, matching each other blow for blow, as a flurry of strikes rained between us. The very world around us rippled from the force of our strikes, sending shock waves resonating, as my body tensed with excitement.

My very life was on the line, along with those who still needed me, as was the future of Equestria. Only I could save my home. Only I could restore it to it’s former glory, and make sure that Chrysalis came to justice, but first; I had to beat my own darkness.

“Be careful Rainbow!” She shouted.

She caught me across the jaw with a swift hook, sending me flying back through the air, before I spun around to regain my balance.

“Why do you say that?” I asked, as I hovered in the sky.

“Because if you lose now, then you’ll never leave this place; but I will.” She darted forward, unleashing a devastating combination of attacks, as I fought with everything I had to put her words out of my mind.

“I won’t let that happen!” I shouted. I grabbed her throwing a vicious headbutt, sending her reeling, that echoed out with a sickening crack.

“You bitch!” She roared. She shot up higher into the air, disappearing into the glare of the sun, before diving down and grabbing me. “I’ll make sure you never leave this place!”

We slammed into the ground, sand flew into the air, and she rained down strikes on me. I held up my forehooves, desperately trying to protect myself, before planting my hind legs into her stomach, and forcing her off me once more. She skidded back across the sand as I pushed off the ground, a small trail of blood trickling from my mouth, and tackled her.

“Buck you!” I roared as I slammed my hoof into her stomach. “I’ll never let you leave this place! I’ll never let you unleash whatever the hell you are on the world!” I swung again, and again, landing strike after strike. I straddled her, using the weight of my body to hold her down, as I connected with punch after punch. She smiled, she only kept smiling, as I continued to beat her.

“Why! Won’t! You! Stop! Smiling!” I roared. I stood, throwing her over my shoulder, before taking hold of her.

“I guess you aren’t so pathetic after all.” She said, as she continued to smile, before I was sent flying back.

I yelled out in pain, as the world around us transformed once more, I slammed into the remains of Luna’s Temple, and I took in the sights of Las Pegasus during the pony riots.

“You’re stronger than I thought.” Dark Dash said as she slowly moved towards me. “But you still haven’t learned a thing. Just because you realized you’re the only one who can fight, doesn’t mean you’ve found a reason to fight.”

“Yeah you’re right.” I said. I stood slowly, flexing my wings, spitting up a bit of blood. “But it’s a step in the right direction, the first step to finding out what I want from the remains of this bucked up world, and the first step towards kicking your ass.” I said with a smile.

“You know I almost feel bad about having to destroy you.” She burst towards me, the ground beneath her seeming to warp from the sheer force of her speed.

I smiled as she reached me, and we locked, my hind legs dug into the earth beneath as she pushed me back. I pushed back, my wings spreading behind me, causing her to smile even more wickedly. I dropped down, falling back as I pulled her towards me, and sent her flying over me. I sprung back to my hooves, as I watched her turn mid air, catching herself with her wings, and I rushed her.

I tackled her once more, wrapping my forehooves around her, as we slammed through the walls of the temple, and traded a few well placed strikes.

“Let go of me!” She roared. She reached down, grabbing me around the stomach, as she lifted me, and slammed me head first into the ground. She threw a swift kick to my body, sending me rolling across the floor of the temple, before I jumped up. I rushed back at her, as we clashed in the center of the temple, pushing each others strength to it’s limit.

I turned, taking hold of her forehooves, and slammed her to the ground, planting my hoof firmly across her throat. I stared down at her, breathing heavily, while she stared back at me.

“Why do you fight Rainbow Dash?” She asked of me calmly.

“I fight because I must, I fight because I want a world of peace, I fight...because I want to save Equestria.”

“Well, well, it seems like you found your answer Rainbow.” I heard Discord call out, and turned to find him, sitting upon Luna’s altar.

“Why are you back?” I asked calmly, moving my hoof from dark dash’s throat, and turned to him, as she stood.

“I’ll get to that, but first, did you have fun playing with your shadow self?” Discord asked with a wicked smile.

I started to speak, when my dark half stepped between us. “Listen here Discord, goodie goodie over here may not have the guts to do it, but I’ll kill you right here and now if you don’t leave.”

“My, my Dash, your darker side has quite the temper. Lets send her away so we can speak, in private.” Discord raised his scaled hand, and snapped his fingers, as my darker half suddenly vanished. “There, that’s better, now where were we?”

“Wait!” I shouted, as I took a step towards him. “What did you do with her?”

“Are you worried about her? Well don’t worry your little stripped head, she’s still her, she always will be.” He replied with a grin, as he pointed to his black heart. “She’s that rage you feel every time you fight, the blood lust that consumes you with every battle, and she’s the hatred that burns in your very soul.”

“Is there no way to be rid of her?”

“Nope, I’m afraid not. She’s just as much a part of you as you are her, and theres nothing you can do about it, but anyways back to business.” Discord sprung from the altar, and landed before me, with an impish smile. “So what have we learned?”

I sighed deeply as I leaned back and sat down, before looking to Discord once more, sickened by his smile. “I’ve learned that it has to be me that saves Equestria, that restores balance, and stops the beating of Chrysalis’s black heart.”

“Good, that’s a start, but what else have you learned?”

“I learned that I don’t fight because I have to, but because I want to, because I want to save Equestria.”

Discord smiled, and leaned back, as he stretched his arms out. “Well it seems like you’ve learned all you needed to know, but that’s only a small part of it, now you need to apply what you’ve learned.”

“So you’ll let me return? You’ll let me wake up?” I asked, trying to hide the excitement I felt.

“Yes, once I leave you this time, you will wake up in the real world.” The smile that had been broad across Discords face only moments ago, was now gone, now replaced by a look of sadness. “This will be the last time I visit you Rainbow, so remember what I’ve tried to get you to learn, because you will need it in the coming days.”

I stared at Discord as he spoke, looking at him with more confusion than ever before, wondering what he meant. I was thrilled to be rid of him, as he was my enemy, the very creature that lead those filth that attacked Ponyville. Still, his sadness troubled me.

“One day you will know that which I cannot tell you, but until then remember one thing; I am your enemy.”

I watched as the world around me vanished, Discord slowly faded from my view, and I could feel a familiar warmth spread through my body.

I could suddenly feel the warmth of the sun against my face, as the soft rumble of the tram returned, and the weight of my body against my bed. I opened my eyes slowly, smiling as I took in the sight of my cabin, before feeling something move at my side. I rolled over, my vision blurred slightly from the light around me, and was met with the sweet scent of Trixie. She was there, at my side, cuddled up to me with a smile. I could only smile myself, burying my face into her mane, while I basked in the warmth of her body.

This was real. I was finally back, my nightmare over, after what felt like an eternity. This is why I fight for this mare at my side, who filled a void that I thought would never close, for Trixie. I denied being a hero so many times, despite so many calling me just that, but I just couldn’t believe it. I have to believe it now, I have to accept that very title, because I have to be the one to save Equestria. I have to be Equestria’s hero, the hero to all those who still have hope, and protect those I love with everything I am.

“Rainbow...you’re awake.” Trixie whispered.

I looked at her with a smile, before leaning forward, kissing her cheek softly. “Yeah, I’m awake, but you still need rest.”

“I love you Dashie.” Trixie smiled, as she nuzzled her face against my neck, and kissed me happily.

“I love you too Trix.”

I’m the hero Equestria needs, and now, I’m finally prepared to be that hero. For now though I think I’ll stay in bed just a little longer.