Shadows in the dark

Chapter 7

Rainbow Dash just needed some time alone to herself. She flew over Ponyville with a rainbow trail behind her as she thought deeply to herself. Blindingly dodging anything that was in her way. She finally situated herself on a cloud and sighed depressingly. Despite all of her attempts to try and move on with her life, she just couldn't find herself to let go.

"Damn me..." she cursed to herself softly.

"Rainbow Dash! Oooh Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie's voice suddenly called from below.

Rainbow Dash looked over the edge of her small cloud with a depressed look. She saw the pink earth pony standing just underneath her. Grinning widely. "What do you want, Pinkie?" she called monotonously.

Pinkie Pie frowned and crossed her front arms. "Don't talk to me like that, Dashy! I'm just here to try and help cheer you up."

Rainbow Dash sighed to herself and rubbed the side of her head. "Sorry, Pinkie." she groaned, "I just haven't been able to sleep lately."

Pinkie's expression softened and she gave her friend a worried smile. "Do you wanna come down and talk about it with me?" she asked. For once sounding serious.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. As much as she would love to talk about her dream, Pinkie Pie just didn't seem like the kind of pony to talk about it with. Of course, she didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Nah. I just need to be by myself for a while. But thanks."

"Oh. Okay then!" Pinkie Pie said before she turned to head back to Ponyville. "Just remember that I'll always be there for you if you need somepony to talk to."

Dash smiled softly. "Thanks, Pinkie." she said. As soon as the pink pony was out of sight, Rainbow Dash rolled on to her back and stared at the endless blue sky. She wondered if Twilight could hear her from where she was. "Oh, Twi..." she sighed. Closing her eyes to imagine that unicorn was lying right beside her. "I would give anything just to speak to you again. If you can hear me, I just wanted you to know that.
"Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! You have to come down quick and come to Ponyville Hospital ASAP!"

Rainbow Dash looked over the edge of her cloud and saw the panic in the pink ponies eyes. "Why? What's wrong?" she asked.

...

"Now this may hurt a bit."

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!" Little Strongheart cried as the doctor applied the alcohol on her scrapped knee. Tears appearing in the corner of her eyes as she gritted her teeth.

"There we go! All done." the doctor said before bandaging up her knee.

"T-thanks..." the little buffalo murmured.

"See? That wasn't so hard." Rainbow Dash said to her with an assuring smile. Little Strongheart managed to put up a weak smile in return.

"So what happened, Strongheart? How did this happen to you?" Applejack asked as soon as the doctor left the room.

Little Strongheart sniffled. "My herd and I were just about to start our great migration. When we arrived at Appleloosa for the apple pies, the place was a wreck! Building were on fire and everything!"

"WHAT!?" the ponies cried in unison. Spike almost falling off the stool he was sitting on.

Little Strongheart nodded. "That wasn't all. The place was overrun with these ponies covered in this black armor. They also carried weapons like swords and halberds. They were rounding up some of the citizens into a cart like cattle. But then one of 'em spotted us. And they attacked!"

"What happened next?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Little Strongheart swallowed. Her body shaking slightly. "We tried to fight back. But they were too strong! Chief Thunderhooves told me to run away and get to another town as fast as I could. So I did. But a group of armored pegasi chased me down!"