A/N: So I am going to change shit up. Be ready for a transition. I am going to a different pony. I hope you like. I am giving warning to reduce confusion. Please review. It means so much to me.

Chapter 6: Reports.

Rainbow Dash laid in her double bed. She lie awake staring at the ceiling. She tried being still as possible. Celestia had told Rainbow that she would soon be venturing beyond the shield that surrounded Canterlot and the area around it. Rainbow laid thinking about her duty. 'What will I find out there? I haven't seen outside Canterlot in nearly two decades. What about Cloudsdale? How does it look? The magic should still be in place but it must have taken a toll. What about Ponyville? It was fairly fine when we left. The disease hadn't reached there but the ponies were starting to freak out when we left. It doesn't matter I guess. It is my duty as a wonder bolt to follow the orders of the rulers.'

Rainbow looked to her right at her partner. She caused the bed to shake slightly and her partner stirred. The unicorn opened her eyes slowly. Rainbow knew she would go back to sleep. "Good morning Rarity."

Rarity looked at the Cyan pegasus. "Morning darling. Did you sleep well?" Rainbow sat up. "Yeah just fine." Rainbow looked down at the covers. Her mind still wondering.

Rarity had picked up on Rainbow's mood instantly. She sat up as well. "What is wrong?"

Rainbow looked at the aged pony. Both of them hadn't changed much. Rarity more so then Dash. Dash had been mostly natural even before the world collapsed. Her coat had faded slightly. Making all her colors less vibrant. She had kept her figure with training.

Rarity had been more effected. Without her constant supply of beauty products her coat lost it's shine as well has her mane. She had already been white so her coat color was not as effected as Rainbow but her mane lost it's glamour. It looked more like Twilight's coat now. It took her some time to get use to life enclosed in a single city.

Rainbow still found her as beautiful as before. "I was just thinking about when I start going beyond Canterlot." Rarity had forgotten about the plan to re-inhabit Equestria and how Rainbow would have to play her part. "It will be fine. It can't be so bad. Didn't the princesses say that they would only do it if the disease was gone? You might not even have to go."

Rainbow had thought about that but didn't think she was that lucky. "That won't happen. They way they out it, the disease has either killed every pony and died out or the ponies have become immune and the disease has died out. It seems no matter what I am going."

Rarity was sure of herself. "I know you will be fine. How bad could it be? It will be sad but we will clean up and fix everything and life will go back to normal." Rainbow didn't know about normal life. " Normal? How could it? It has been so long. Nothing is normal anymore."

Rarity didn't like the pessimistic attitude. "Don't think like that. If you do you will only make things worse." Rainbow gave Rarity a kiss. "Yeah, your right. I need to get going now." Rainbow left for her meeting with the princesses.

Rainbow had a long walk to the castle. The sun was up and emitting it's glory across the streets. Canterlot had not changed much since it was closed up. The only major change was the a weather control station had been built above the city. It was so that the weather didn't get out of control in the area. Rainbow passed many ponies she knew. Many soldiers who she had trained with in preparation for the coming task. She had spent most of her time with the wonder bolts but she had trained with some earth ponies and unicorns in fighting without wings. She had her wings strapped down during them so she knew how to fight if the got hurt. 'We can protect ourselves. The soldiers are tough. If some bad guys try something they will regret it.'

Rainbow entered the castle. A clock on the wall told her she was just in time. She opened the throne room doors. All of the princesses sat on each of their thrones. Three high ranking soldiers stood in front of them. Shining Armor sat on Cadence's right. Rainbow sat on the floor next to Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow whispered in her ear. "What is this about?"

Twilight didn't whisper her answer. She announced the meaning of the meeting. "We are here to discuss the reports from the scouts we sent a few days ago. Before we continue I wish to introduce every pony." Twilight pointed her hoof at the pegasus pony the left of her. "This is Striker, the head general of the pegasus forces." Twilight pointed to the center pony. "This is Iron Wall, the head general of the earth pony forces." Twilight pointed to the final pony to the right. "This is Ice Storm, the head general of unicorn forces." Twilight pointed to Dash. "This is Rainbow Dash, the bearer of the element of loyalty. Now that that is out of the way. Striker, what do you have for us?"

Striker stepped forward. She was navy blue. Rainbow could see the orange tips of her mane escaping from her hat. She wore her complete uniform. She was not a wonder bolt so she did not where that uniform. The uniform was blue like her coat and blended in with it. "The scouts that returned with reports of bad news. From what I can tell the ponies who are left are uncivilized. They are going to be an obstacle. That is just the ponies who returned. Most of the ponies have not returned and in light of the recent findings assumed dead. Nearly seventy five percent of the scouts sent out have not returned. Taking back Equestria will be a difficult task. From what I have heard the ponies don't even know about the princesses any more. We have one report that sticks out though. One of the scouts came back with a tale of a unicorn and pegasus saving his life. Unfortunately his partner was killed for his armor. But the unicorn and pegasus killed six ponies to save the scout. The unicorn told him of horrible things that have happened in the absence of leadership."

All the ponies looked shocked at the news. Celestia questioned Striker. "What things?" Striker didn't look to happy about telling the news. "Well the thing that stuck out to me was a mention of a town that… well it kind of spawned from…" Rainbow Dash became impatient. "Spit it out already!" Striker looked at Rainbow. "It spawned from bandits raping and training the kids to do the same."

Celestia didn't know how bad how it had become. "This is horrible. What have I done?" Luna looked to her sister. "Don't blame yourself. You did not cause this." Celestia did feel responsible for it. "We were suppose to lead them. I was suppose to protect them. It is my duty. I must make this right."

Striker was the one to ask. "How should we proceed?" Celestia felt compelled to continue. She had to bring order. "We will take control of one town at a time. We make right from this wrong. We will restore order to Equestria." Iron Wall stepped forward. "Where shall we start?" Celestia did not have the answer, she turned to Striker. "Where did the unicorn that helped your scout come from?"

Striker thought for a second. "I think it came from Ponyville." Celestia had her answer now. "We start there. Maybe this we can find this unicorn and maybe have some help."

Rainbow had a question for Striker. "What of Cloudsdale? Is it ok?" Striker faced the curious pony. "It seems to be mostly intact but not uninhabited. Seems to be heavily damaged and has a large amount of ponies staying there. We found a few chunks of cloud and building floating separated from the city. It looks like it could be worth salvaging but would take a long time and have to devote a lot of pony power to it."

Rainbow sighed. "Well at least it is intact." Cadence got Strikers attention. "What of the Crystal Empire?" Striker didn't have much information. "Well I don't really know anything about it. It seems every scout that went sent never returned. So we know nothing other than it must have a large number of bandits if they managed to get all our scouts." Cadence was saddened by the news. Shining draped his foreleg over her and whispered something in her ear.

The meeting continued on. The ponies discussed the rest of the regions of Equestria. It concluded with Celestia telling the generals to prepare to move immediately and report back when they are ready. Almost every pony left the room afterwards. Only Luna and Celestia stayed.

Rainbow walked beside Twilight. "Why did I have to attend the meeting?" Twilight had failed to explain why in her letter. "I thought you would like to know as much as possible since you will be going out there." Rainbow was happy that Twilight thought about her but that didn't fully answer her question. "Why not have the others attend as well? Why only me? I am sure Applejack would like to know when she can return to her farm."

Twilight had thought of the others but didn't find it necessary to have them in this meeting. "I will inform all the others about what is going on but I wanted you to attend because you are the only pony that is going out any time soon. You will be out there with the soldiers. You are the pony who will be at most risk. You were on the list to scout as well. I told them no because you are the element of loyalty and we can't risk you being hurt. You will have to go out there eventually. You are a wonder bolt and that means you will have to play your part."

Rainbow had no problem playing her part in this. "I know. I am ready to do so. It makes me nervous but I want to make things right just like any pony. When do you think that I will be going out?" Twilight couldn't know for certain. "I don't know to be honest. I have not seen the military prepare for an operation like this. You can go ask Striker if you want." Rainbow nodded and ran to catch up to the pony.

Rainbow caught up to the pony. "Ma'am I would like to know when I will be deployed." Striker had been talking to the other generals and didn't take kindly to being interrupted. "What makes you think that I will tell you?" Rainbow wasn't sure what she meant. "Twilight told me to ask you." Striker didn't like that Rainbow was friends with Twilight. "I know the princess is your friend. I have seen your type before. You have reached your position because you know a pony, not because you worked for it. Plus you are a wonder bolt and every wonder bolt is the same. A bunch of cocky ponies who don't know shit about fighting. You may be good enough for them but that doesn't make you good enough for me. Now get out of my face."

Rainbow did the exact opposite and was nose to nose with the general. "I am proud of being a wonder bolt and I worked my ass off to get where I am. I don't need any shit for it. It was one of the hardest points in my life when I was accepted to be a wonder bolt. Any pony who knows me knows I am the best. I just came over to ask a simple question. I am ready as any pony to go but I wanted to know when I would be leaving my loved ones. I didn't expect to get third degree for it."

Striker didn't like this pony. "Who do you think you are talking to a superior like that?" Rainbow glared into the generals eyes. "I am Rainbow Dash. The fastest and most loyal pony in Equestria." Striker wanted to nock this pony down a notch. "Fine you want to know when you will be going out? You will be the on the first mission. Be ready in two days because if you aren't I will strip you off your wonder bolt status." The general smiled. "I hope you don't die like so many of my other ponies, because I want to see your face after being out there for a day."

Rainbow had enough of this pony. She flew off to find Rarity. 'Damn bitch. Why does she have to do that kind of stuff. All I wanted was to know when I was sending out. It isn't like I was asking her dirty little secrets or anything. Where would Rarity be right about now? She had the day off today right?' Rainbow checked Rarity's favorite café first. Luckily she was there. Without saying anything Rainbow took a seat across from Rarity. Rainbow had dropped down from the sky and scared Rarity. "Ahh! Rainbow?"

Rainbow stretched her forelegs presenting herself. "The one and fucking only."

Rarity knew that Rainbow wouldn't curse in front of her without being upset. "What has happened?" Rainbow flung her fore legs up. "Oh for starters Striker is a total bitch. For two it seems that Equestria is in a shit hole right now. Oh and this is the best part. I have to leave in two days. Apparently the bitch doesn't like me and is sending me on the FIRST DAMN MISSION! So not only am I going out there I am going to have no information beside the little I have now! And all we know now is that it is REALLY FUCKED UP! This day has effectively turned to shit." Rainbow crossed her forelegs in a huff.

Rarity set her tea down. "Rainbow it will be ok. She may have made you upset but that is no reason to talk like that and to me none the less." Rainbow sighed. "I know Rare. I am sorry but it is just that I was already having trouble getting around the idea of going out and now I have to be one of the first ponies besides the scouts to leave. I heard the reports too. It isn't pretty. I will spare you the details but there is a high risk I might not come back."

Rarity wouldn't stand for this any longer. "I don't want to hear it. You are one of the strongest ponies I know. Not only physically either. You have overcome great things. You have made decisions that many ponies could have never made. I know that you will be fine because if you don't come back to me I will get you for it. Now how about we spend a relaxing day together?"

Rainbow smiled. "Yeah. You always make me happy Rarity. I am glad I have you, and I will always be here for you."

A/N: Yes I am making "When A Rainbow Cries" and this story be true to each other. It is not a sequel to WARC though. WARC is independent. This story does have WARC exist though. So anything that happened in WARC has happened in this story but I might have a sequel to WARC one day so that means this story does not happen officially in WARC timeline. Also I am considering this story my first flop by the way. It has done so bad so far I am considering it a flop. The only reason I haven't taken it down is because I am not sure if I can ever recover it and I am only continuing it because if one person enjoys it I want that person to be able to finish the story line. If any one is enjoying it than thank you for doing so and please review it. Happy thoughts on yall.