"Thanks for bringing me home, guys." I said as I hopped out of the balloon.
"It was no problem, rainbow." Twilight responded.
I waved them goodnight as they floated away in her balloon. I turned back around to my house. I opened the door to the darkened house and felt around for the light switch. I soon found it and turned on the lights. The home was a nice, little home, with a table with a bench and a kitchen and two bedrooms.
"Home sweet home." I sighed, walking towards my room. I opened the door and walked in. I shut the door behind me and hopped on the bed. It had been a long day, with the hospital and everything, so I curdled up on the bed and went to sleep.
~~~~~~(|)~~~~~~
"Tw-Twilight?" I asked, looking up at the mare who was hugging me.
"Yes Rainbow Dash, I am here." She responded.
"Where am I?" I asked, trying to look around.
"Canterlot Castle." She said, releasing me from her embrace. I looked up and nearly let my jaw drop. There was Twilight, surely, but she stood at least twice my hight, and she had wings. She wore her Element of Harmony on her head, and had a necklace similar to Celestia's.
"Something wrong, Rainbow?" She asked. I shook my head a little, clearing my mind.
"No, Twilight, but, since when were you and alicorn?"
"Oh, well, my memory isn't as good as it once was, but I think that happened, oh, say 250 years ago?"
My jaw dropped. At least a foot.
"You mean…. the rest of the gang?" I gulped hard.
"Yes, Rainbow, they passed on long ago. I'll tell you this; They lived grand lives and grieved when you never returned."
"Never returned? Never returned from what?"
"From Your-" she started, but everything suddenly melted away into darkness.
"Hello-o-o-o-o?" I said, my voice echoing into oblivion.
"Hello again, Rainbow Dash." A dark, snide voice said. I whirled around, gazing straight into the holes of darkness again. The eyes seemingly filled with hate and knowledge. "Did you miss me? Or do you miss him more?"
"Shut up." I said bluntly, sitting hard on the ground.
"Oh, the poor Rainbow Dash is too tired and grumpy to speak to little old me? Such a shame." It jeered.
"Why can't you let me sleep in peace?" I said, whipping my head around to face it.
"Because this time, I have a job to do." It proclaimed proudly.
"Oh?"
"Yeah." It said, leaning closer. "WAKE UP!"
~~~~~~(|)~~~~~~
I awoke with a jolt, sitting up, my wings spread wide. I was on the floor, again. I quickly got up and looked out the window. Luna's moon was still high in the sky, but that…. creature made me not want to sleep. I walked to the door of my room and opened it. There, sitting on the table, was a small white box with an occasional hole in it. A small note was attached, connected by a fray string. On top of the box was another note. I opened the note attached first.
Give to a Good Home
My head started throbbing, making my clutch at it and sit down. After it passed, I stood up and opened the note that wasn't attached.
Rainbow Dash, if you are reading this, go to the Everfree Forest's far edge. There, you will find answers.
-M
"Now that's odd." I thought. "Who's M?"
But now it was time for the box. This box seemed very familiar, but the hazy memory throbbed with pain inside my head. I hesitated before placing my hooves around the lid, and opened it.
Inside were three objects; a strange, green cocoon-like thing, a strange green scale, and a very strange crystal-thing. Many crystals protruded from the center, in which a light, almost as bright as the sun, shone through the little gaps. It was about the size of my hoof, but was far to sharp to pick up.
As I observed the objects, a letter appeared in front of me, adorned with the royal seal. I immediately took off the seal and opened up the letter;
Dear Rainbow Dash,
You are required in Canterlot because of a most urgent problem. I await your appearance.
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
P.S.- Tell no one.
P.S.S.- Burn this.
I set the letter on the table, taking in the information. I now had a difficult choice to make; To go to Celestia, or to meet with this mysterious "M". I sighed, and sat down in a chair. I felt a familiar snuzzle on my leg, and I reached down and patted Tank on the head.
"What should I do Tank?" I said, looking down at him. "I want these 'Answers' whoever it is has for me, but I also need to see Celestia."
He simply did his slow blink in response.
I sighed louder, planting my face in my forelegs. IT was silent for a long while before I felt the snuzzle again, this time more vigorous. I looked down at Tank again, who now had somehow gotten a long, black cloak from the closet. He held it up to me in his mouth, his eyes sparkling with defiance.
"Your right Tank. I can defy Princess Celestia this once." I said, standing and picking up the cloak. I threw it on and walked to the door. I picked up my saddle bags (Which I now always kept packed for a journey) and opened the door. The cool night air blew in, making me shiver a little. I looked back at Tank.
"I'll be back before you know it, buddy!" I said, drawing the hood over my head. I walked out the door, spread my wings, and took flight. The nightly air aided my flight, as it was blowing towards the Everfree. It was a short trip to the Everfree, and with the aid of the wind, even shorter. I landed with a cloud of dust arising around me.
"Hello?" I called, my voice ringing in the still night. Silence followed.
"Helloo-oo?" I called again.
"Ahh, so she decided to show. How very nice." A voice said out of the darkness.
"Damnit, you win the bet." A different voice said, this one sounding more ruff. I heard the jingle of a few coins and a satisfied chuckle.
"Show yourselves!" I yelled at the forest. a few trees groaned in the wind, but overall, nothing moved. Then, all of the sudden, a green light erupted from within the forest. It came closer, and then dimmed. On either side of me, a pony stepped out. on my left was a dark green pony with a black vest on, dark purple eyes, and a dull red and blue mane. On my right came a tannish colored unicorn with a red and orange mane and light blue eyes.
"Good evening, miss Rainbow Dash. I see you got our letter." The one on the right said.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Oh, that's simple, Rainbow my dear. I am Mercury."