Rainbooms and Royalty

The Offer

Rainbow Dash whirled around but every direction she looked was the same bluish mist that completely hid everything. She couldn’t see her friends, the throne room or hear a thing beyond it: it might as well have been an impenetrable wall.

“I wanted to have a moment to talk, just the two of us.” Nightmare Moon explained calmly as if this was a normal occurrence. “Free from any…distractions.”

Rainbow flapped her wings, rearing up on her hind legs and boxing at the air in front of her with her forelegs. “All I have to say can be said with THESE, babies!” She threw a quick left-right jab.

“So be it.” Nightmare Moon said calmly. “But before you do, tell me, why are we fighting?” A nonplussed expression crossed Rainbow Dash’s face as if to say, you’re kidding, right? “Celestia is dead. Should I somehow be vanquished, what would become of Equestria? Bereft of a Princess and anypony capable of moving the sun or the moon? How will Equestria survive?” The alicorn asked evenly.

“I---” Rainbow Dash’s mind came to a screaming halt as she processed this. She had been so focused, so determined on saving her friends and stopping Nightmare Moon that she never stopped to think about what would happen afterwards.

Nightmare Moon saw this and pressed on. “Celestia isn’t coming back. There isn’t anything you or I can do about that, regardless of what the outcome is. Despite what she may have told you, I never wanted her dead. I wanted her to see that she was WRONG. She made her own choice and the rest of us have to live with it. Typical Celestia.”

“You shut up about Celestia!” Rainbow barked, tensing for a fight. But Nightmare Moon refused to be baited.

“I know you…cared for Celestia. But let us look at this rationally: she is using you to fight her battles for you. You, barely out of your fillyhood, were left to face the greatest power Equestria has ever known. Why didn’t she do it herself?” She narrowed her eyes as Rainbow opened her mouth to explain, quickly cutting her off. “I’m sure she gave you some neat and pat explanation…but the truth is: she’s a coward, always using others like chess pieces.

“You—no! She…she…” Rainbow Dash wished she was more eloquent. She KNEW Nightmare Moon was wrong but she just couldn’t come up with the words to prove it!

The dark alicorn shifted the conversation to another ground while Dash was struggling. “The old world can never be brought back. It is dead and Celestia herself signed its death warrant. Instead of futilely fighting me, why not help me create a new world, a better one?”

“A-are you CRAZY? Why would I ever help you?!” Rainbow demanded. “Why would you ever even THINK that?”

“We touched minds Rainbow Dash…” Nightmare Moon reminded her. “I saw how alike we really are. Nopony can understand you like I can.”

“Yeah right.” Dash turned around, flicking her tail dismissively.

Nightmare called after her. “You mean that I can never understand that deep driving thirst for recognition and respect for your accomplishments that propels you forward? The stabbing pain when in spite of all your efforts, that your hard work goes unnoticed and unappreciated, suffering the stings and barbs of disdain from others who are just so small that they resent anypony who isn’t as puny as them?” Rainbow paused, turning around slowly. She tried to swallow the lump of emotions that threatened to choke her. Nightmare Moon nodded. “Oh yes, I understand. Better than you think. But I can help you achieve your dreams where Celestia refused to. A mere word would be enough to get you an audition to the Wonderbolts, your life long dream. You would be a member easily, a captain within a few years on your own merit. If I said the word, you could be their captain now.”