//------------------------------// // Good Behavior // Story: Fate After Failure // by Antisocialtwilight //------------------------------// Fate After Failure Chapter 11: Good Behavior This was it. Rainbow Dash's last day in the Cloudsdale Juvenile Correctional Facility, a month ahead of schedule for good behavior. It had been a hard few months, and it would have been harder if Gilda hadn't been watching her back the whole time. Dash owed her life to Gilda, she knew that much. It was because of Gilda being Dash's 'Guardian Angel' that she had another two months added to her sentence. Dash was being bullied by one of the more butch pegasi in the CJCF. It had been going on for weeks, and when Dash started crying in her bed because of her, Gilda had had enough. The bully was been found the next morning hung upside down by her feet like a bat from the ceiling in the cafeteria. They wouldn't have found out it was Gilda were it not for a few feathers unique to griffins, and Gilda, being the only griffin in the CJCF, was the obvious suspect. Gilda didn't deny the accusation, and after that nobody messed with Rainbow Dash because of their fear of Gilda. That was two months ago; now, she was free to leave the CJCF. "This is it, Rainbow Dash," the warden of the CJCF told her with pride. Despite the warden's gruff exterior, she had grown to care for Rainbow Dash, in a motherly sort of way. "You have your life back. Make wise choices, I'd rather not see you under these circumstances again." "Yes, ma'am. I'll be sure to not screw things up this time." Rainbow Dash said, and hugged the warden. After that, she was on her way out. Gilda had watched her friend leave silently. When it was time to go, Rainbow Dash looked at Gilda with well-deserved gratefulness. Gilda didn't say anything to her friend because words didn't need to be exchanged, it would just soil the moment; Gilda simply smiled and nodded to her friend as she left their cell for the last time. Now, Gilda was in a room that was all but forgotten by the guards and other staff of the CJCF. It was a lost spot, being for a long time to be just a myth in the CJCF, with a great view of the front gate. It wasn't that it was hard to find, but nobody really wanted to find a small, empty, dusty room called the 'Attic'. However, there was one outstanding feature of the Attic that made it invaluable to Gilda for this particular moment: a window with a perfect view of the front gate-area of the CJCF; the Attic gave Gilda a literal 'Bird's Eye' view. When the coast had cleared, Gilda made a mad dash to the Attic to watch her friend leave her. As Gilda watched Rainbow Dash, she had also seen a strange thing in her peripheral vision: two ponies wearing black hoods approaching the guard's stations from the side. As much as she wanted to watch her friend go, the dark ponies were very suspicious. Gilda's fears were proved right when she saw them blow sleeping powder into the inattentive guard's faces. This just got serious... Gilda thought as she tensed up. After the guards were asleep and bound, the dark ponies had turned and looked toward Rainbow Dash, who was still walking away from the CJCF. Don't you dare, you freaks! The dark ponies had began walking steadily toward Rainbow Dash, slowly at first, creeping like zombies towards the unsuspecting mare. Rainbow Dash began walking away from the CJCF, letting it all sink in; she was a free mare. Soon, her thoughts turned to Gilda. She wishes she could have helped Gilda more. There was nothing she could do now; in all likelihood, Rainbow Dash would never see her again. Who knows, Dash thought, it's a small world, maybe we will meet again soon. But like with the warden, Rainbow Dash hoped it wasn't under similar circumstances. Then, Rainbow Dash heard the deep, heavy breathing of two ponies behind her. When you're in prison, being able to know when somebody is behind you is invaluable. It can save lives, and it had saved Dash's multiple times. This time, however, Gilda wasn't by her side; she didn't know if she would make it out of this. Where were the guards? Rainbow turned to see two dark-clothed ponies, smirking and poised for attack. Rainbow was scared, and unlike in the CJCF, screaming wouldn't help in this situation. Rainbow Dash screamed anyway, before her mouth was muffled by one of the dark ponies I have to stop this... Gilda thought, starting to sweat, looking around the Attic for a way out. But how do I get out of here? She hadn't come to the Attic often, and she didn't stay long when she did. This was different, though. How tight could security be on a place nobody thought existed? There had to be a way out, maybe a secret passageway, like in movie. Gilda assessed her surroundings; the ceiling was cement, she wasn't going up and out, going down would only lead down into the Juvenile Barracks, where the Juveniles lived, that was a no as well. To her left was a bookcase, to her right some crates, behind her a fire extinguisher, and in front of her a window...a breakable glass window Gilda thought. She went toward the window, and tapped it's glass; it was too hard for her to break with her claws, but that fire extinguisher... Please let this work, she thought, grabbing the fire extinguisher, and preparing to charge at the window. I gotta get to Dash before them! Okay, one, two... Suddenly, Gilda heard Rainbow Dash scream for help, before being muffled by her attackers. "Three!" Gilda shouted running towards the window as hard as her body would allow, smashing the window behind her, and soaring out of the Attic straight toward's Rainbow Dash's assailants. Gilda had been able to tackle the dark pony who had grabbed Rainbow Dash, and finished it off with a hit from the fire extinguisher. The other began to growl like a dog. While Rainbow Dash cowered behind her, Gilda had taken a fighting stance. "Bring it, freak." Gilda said, not intimidated by the dark pony. The dark pony charged towards Gilda, and Gilda charged toward it at twice the speed. But before Gilda could able to make contact with the dark pony, it teleported past Gilda, grabbed Rainbow Dash, and kept running. "You're not getting away!" Gilda yelled, running back to the fire extinguisher, and threw it like a spear, hitting the dark pony in the back of it's head. Dropping like a ton of bricks, Rainbow Dash was able to squirm out of it's grip with ease. "Gilda! You saved me, thank you! How did you escape?" Rainbow Dash said, exhilarated. Just then, about seven guards came out to see two of their guards passed out...right where Gilda had taken down the dark ponies. "Assaulting two officers, Grizelda? Looks like you're going to be here a lot longer." the leader of the guards said venomously, enjoying it just a little too much. "What? I didn't-but they were attacking Dash!" Gilda said, to no avail the guards' faces didn't change from their angry expression. "Gilda, RUN!" Rainbow Dash said, beginning to run herself. As they were running however, the guards began to catch up. "Dash, there's only one thing we can do now!" Gilda said. "We can't surrender, Gilda!" "Not that! Follow my lead!" Gilda said. After running a few more yards, Gilda slashed a hole in the clouds they were running on, grabbed Dash, and performed a Dive Bomb from Cloudsdale to Equestria below them. When the guards began to follow them, Gilda blew the bits of cloud she had grabbed into the Guards' faces, blinding them just long enough for Gilda and Dash to disappear into a cluster of clouds. After a few minutes, the guards decided to regroup back at the CJCF. "Hope you enjoyed your freedom while you could, Dash; we just became fugitives." Gilda said. End of Chapter 11 To Be Continued...