//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Further Beyond // Story: Crusader Ponies (Romance of the Six Counties) // by swirlstar //------------------------------// Further Beyond Twilight grumbled in annoyance as she refused to meet Fluttershy’s gaze. She’s too weak for her own good… don’t tell her anything, Twilight, or else she’ll find some ridiculous way to meddle in this. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” the purple unicorn replied. “But Twilight… shouldn’t you at least try and stop Applejack and Rainbow Dash from doing this?” Fluttershy protested meekly. “I mean, if you are fine with it.” Twilight tried to reassure the yellow pegasus. “They’re still friends at heart, Fluttershy. I’m sure they’ll be friendly again, once they beat it out of their system.” Of course they are going to, because once they’ve exhausted themselves I’LL come in and impose Celestia’s will on them. “I’m not so sure, Twilight... you saw Applejack; she even refused to leave on the same day as Rainbow Dash... they seem to really mean it…” “Fluttershy, it’s fine!” Twilight made a dismissive gesture. “Applejack and Rainbow Dash do this all the time! Nopony else is going to be involved, so don’t you fret so much.” “But the other poni-“ “Oh, uh, sorry Fluttershy, look at the time!” Twilight leapt up from her throne. “I have a meeting with… erm… the Princess’ envoy! Yes, the Princess’ envoy. Gotta go!” “But, Twilight… Twilight? Oh, what have I done?” Fluttershy whimpered to an empty room. * “Now Rainbow Dash, I may think you’re a stinkin’ cheater, but I truly don’t wanna fight you,” said Applejack from the wooden ramparts. “So why don’t you just leave and I’ll let this slide.” The cyan pegasus snorted. “Ha. Ha. Ha: that’s so funny! So you’re telling me to get out of my own land?” “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. This ain't your land!” Applejack retorted. “It is! Twilight said so! You shouldn’t be here!” “Well, then I don’t think Twilight can just be givin’ Fluttershy’s land away just like that!” “So why don’t you leave and hand it back over to Fluttershy?” “I certainly will if you do it first!” Applejack grinned cheekily. She knew, of course, that Rainbow Dash could not accept this proposal, which she herself had not much appetite for anyway. Not now, at least. “I- ah, forget it,” Rainbow Dash pawed the ground impatiently. “Applejack! I'm giving you an hour to surrender the fort... or else prepare to get stomped by my invincible army!” Cheers and stampeding erupted from Rainbow Dash’s force. Applejack was unfazed. “Come and take it, you goons!” * Years of experience with farming meant that Applejack knew the value of preparation. Years of friendship with Rainbow Dash also meant that Applejack knew that her ertswhile friend would not do so. Such knowledge worked in the orange mare’s favor. “Countess!” Lightning Dust’s voice came from outside the makeshift tent. The cyan pegasus sniffed. “Come in,” she said despondently. “Thank - oh, Celestia, my Countess, what’s the matter?” Rainbow Dash was huddled in a corner, back facing the incomer. She sniffed again. “I… I… lost,” she stammered, trancelike. The brash pegasus offered some words of comfort. “It was only a minor-” “I can’t believe I lost!” Rainbow Dash interjected. “To Applejack as well! I- ” the pegasus tried, in vain, to find suitable words before collapsing back into a depression. Lightning Dash tried to console her. “Dash, you can’t win all the time… ” “I know,” Rainbow Dash muttered unconvincingly. “And maybe you should look on the bright side of things. Nothing is totally bad. I mean, if I wasn’t expelled from the Wonderbolt Academy I wouldn't have had such a great time in the Force!” Rainbow Dash let out a small laugh. It was true; rising to commander of Pegasus Force during the Changeling Crusade, Lightning Dust soon outranked the Wonderbolts. Furthermore, she became the one ordering all those suicide missions, those that killed off so many… Soarin’, Spitfire… “Anyway, that’s by-the-by. Everypony except for that stupid farm horse supports you, Dash! Applejack doesn't even have a strong reason to back her claims! All we need to do is pin her here, and then wait for the other ponies to come to our aid. Is Twilight going to sit by and let some underling defy her orders?” Like her namesake, Lightning Dust’s words split the clouds of misery that were circling around Rainbow Dash’s head. The prismatic mare’s ears pricked up, eyes regaining their previous sparkle. “Wow, Lightning Dust! No wonder they made you commander back in the war!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, confidence flooding back into her psyche. “So all we gotta do is make sure Applejack can’t move one inch further into our lands! That’s amazi- ” But then Rainbow Dash thought of something. “But wait… what if Applejack… ” “What if Applejack what?” Lightning Dust asked. “Hmmm…” Rainbow Dash’s mind ran through the different possibilities. It's only me and Pinkie Pie who border her. “I guess… no. She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t dare do that. Not with what she’s been saying.” * “Come on out, you coward!” Rainbow Dash’s voice resonated once more around the fort. “Why don’t you actually fight for ‘your’ lands, huh? Are you just going to tell other people to do what you want, again?” “Ignore ’er,” Applejack muttered offhandedly to the messenger ponies at the door. “She’s failed twice at capturin’ this fort. No point in leavin' it.” The orange mare was still brooding over the letter she sent to Twilight. Or more accurately, the lack of response to said letter. She remembered explaining to Twilight about how she was actually fighting for Fluttershy’s restoration, and that Rainbow Dash was simply hell-bent on taking over the entire Duchy. Therefore, the orange mare wrote, truly we good friends should unite to stop Rainbow Dash’s aggressive behavior. That letter was sent a week ago. Surely Twilight would have gotten it by now. I don’t get this. Twi doesn’t reply late… maybe it’s been taken by Rainbow - no, no, that mare wouldn't think of somethin’ like that. So it must be that she doesn’t wanna reply. But why not? I mean, I’m doin’ what she wants - at least, it looks like I’m doin’ what she wants - and back then we were such good friends, so really there’s no good reason… unless… UNLESS… Applejack's mind began to whirr into action. The Council Hall in Twilight’s place. Everypony is there. Solemn atmosphere. Twilight clears her throat and begins to speak. “Applejack, your lands are very productive.” “Oh, thank you kindly, Twi’. It’s been mighty hard work and everythin’, you know, but I think we’re all gonna be on easy street from -” “Oh, Applejack, I think you mean ‘you’re’, not ‘we’re’.” “Wha’? ‘s this some of them new grammar thingies?” “Oh no, Applejack. I think we all want some of that land for ourselves. I think I’m going to order Rainbow Dash to help you see the light…” Oh Celestia. Applejack’s eyes widened. That explains Fluttershy… Rainbow Dash… Twilight… oh, Celestia, I can’t believe… Alright, calm down, Applejack; sure this all looks very strange, but there’s no point in makin’ things look more complicated than they are… but then, there’s no way Twi’ would act like this, unless what I just thought of was true! “Countess?” Applejack was suddenly brought back into reality, complete with the sounds of enemy ponies jeering and Rainbow Dash hurling more futile insults. “Didn’t I say ignore ‘em?” Applejack said. “Ma’am, this is something different.” The messenger handed the mare a scroll. Applejack looked at the cake-encrusted parchment. “Pinkie. Huh.”