//------------------------------// // Return // Story: Mare Do Well: As The Sky Falls // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// Mare Do Well moved carefully among the abandoned buildings, taking advantage of the darkness that shrouded the cloud city to avoid detection from the occasional passing griffon. First thing she needed to do was find out what they’d done with everypony. Remaining in the shadows, the costumed pegasus saw the opportune moment when a lone griffon thug flew near where she was hidden. Quick as she could, she lunged out, slamming her hoof into his face, then pulling him backward into the alley she was in. “Wha—“ The griffon began, but was promptly hit in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. “Where are they keeping everypony?” Mare Do Well demanded in a sharp whisper. “Why should… I tell… you…?” The griffon asked, gasping for breath. “Wanna find out?” Mare Do Well asked, raising her hoof again and preparing to slam it down between the griffon’s hind legs. “No! No! Don’t!” The griffon cried out, though his voice was still hoarse from the blow to his chest. “They’re in the weather factory! Most of ‘em anyway. Razorbeak left the Wonderbolts at the hotel for the changelings. Skylar’s got ‘em guarded though, good luck even gettin’ to ‘em!” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes behind the lenses of her mask. “Why should I believe you?” She asked. “I’m still a little ticked from that last fight, I could stand to take out a few frustrations…” She threatened. The griffon just whimpered, knowing he wasn’t in much of a position to fight back now. “What choice do you have?” He asked, terror in his eyes. “Look, I don’t care, just let me go! They’re in the Stargazer hotel, top floor penthouse, get up there, the Wonderbolts are all yours! I mean, assuming you make it past Skylar and the changelings, that is, but that’s where they are, I swear!” Mare Do Well stood off him and nodded. “I believe you...” She said. “So you’re gonna come with me.” With that, she hit him again, then wrapped her forelegs around him and took to the air, carrying the winded griffon with her. ~ With a loud grunt, a griffon was knocked unconscious as Mare Do Well’s captive was flung at him unexpectedly. Immediately after, the costumed pegasus flew straight at a second guard, slamming him into the hotel wall and bashing him several times with her hoof till he, too, was out for the count. The windows to the top floor had been barred up, so she’d have to handle things the old-fashioned way. Sliding her mask up and grabbing a grenade belt off of one of the griffon guards with her teeth and taking one last look at her handiwork with some satisfaction, Mare Do Well pushed open the doors and went inside. Several griffons were lounging inside the lobby, their heads all turned as one in surprise as Mare Do Well entered, but before they could stand, the superheroine gave a quick jerk with her head, shaking the pins loose of the grenade belt she carried and flung it at them, jumping behind the door she’d come through immediately after. The explosives went off seconds later, and Rainbow Dash smirked as she slid the mask back into place when she heard the panicked screams. Re-entering the smoke-filled room, she saw several griffons had been injured or unconscious, others were missing, presumably having fled. “How’s it going?” She asked, flying past them to the elevator and pressing it on, entering once the doors opened. As soon as she entered, the pegasus flew up, knocking the emergency exit hatch open, and flew straight up the elevator shaft towards her destination. In seconds, the pegasus made it to the top floor, forelegs folded as she stared at the closed doors, then pushed an emergency button on the side and readied herself. Zipping through the doors the moment they opened wide enough for her to fit through. Ahead was the hallway, the penthouse would be at the end. Reaching the door, she came to a stop, making a soft landing and listened. She could hear angry voices, some of them sounded like chittering. Changelings. The thug she’d interrogated earlier had mentioned another griffon was there too. Time to surprise ‘em. Kicking open the door, she found Spitfire and Soarin standing over the unconscious griffon and a pair of changelings sprawled on the floor, causing her to cock her head in surprise. “Oh, good. You’re here! We just handled him! Guess one of the guards told him you were coming.” Soarin said. “Gave us the chance to break free!” “So, what’s the plan? Where are the others?” Spitfire asked. “I was told all the Wonderbolts were here…” Mare Do Well said. “Well they aren’t! When we came to, we were the only ones here.” Spitfire answered. “I see. Guess they’re at the factory, then.” Mare Do Well replied. “Still, awesome work! I can’t believe I almost thought about leaving you guys during the academy training.” She said. “Oh really? When would you have thought that?” Spitfire asked. The instant she said that, however, Mare Do Well bucked her in the face, sending her crashing into the wall and falling to the floor. With a slight groan as she fell unconscious, her form shimmered, revealing a changeling underneath. A groaning was also heard inside the closet, and another Soarin tumbled out, sitting up with a dazed look on his face. “Where—“ The second Soarin muttered. “Whoa!” He shouted, looking at what appeared to be another him, who returned his response with a wicked smile. The false Soarin’s image shifted as well, revealing another changeling, its evil sneer still in place as it suddenly became a copy of Spitfire. As soon as it did, the two changelings and the griffon laying on the floor stood up, assuming the forms of Fleetfoot and Rapidfire. Two more then emerged from behind the bed, morphing into Surprise and Smokescreen. “Well, well, looks like you’re out-numbered.” The griffon, whom Mare Do Well remembered being named Skylar said as he snapped his claw and pointed at her and Soarin. “Attack!” Soarin, feeling invigorated again now that the changeling’s hold over him was lost, charged at the fake Spitfire, attacking with all he had. “Ow! Stop! Soarin! Please!” The fake Spitfire pleaded, “Why would you do this?” She asked, backed against the wall as his hoof was drawn back. Her eyes flashed green, but it seemed to have no effect on him. “Easy, because you’re not Spitfire!” He said with a smirk, then swung his hoof forward, knocking the imposter unconscious. The moment she fell to the floor, her form shimmered and rippled, revealing another changeling. Mare Do Well struggled against the four other imposter Wonderbolts as they attempted to swarm her, but her speed and reflexes kept her out of their reach. They had the Wonderbolts’ looks, but not their talents; they’d proven that much at the show. As she made another move, though, the false Fleetfoot managed a lucky hit, sending Mare Do Well to the floor. As the costumed pegasus rolled over, she saw the imposter grin as it prepared to deliver a blow, only to be knocked aside by Spitfire. The real Spitfire. “You alright?” She asked, looking down at Mare Do Well, who gave a nod. “Cool, ‘cause I’m seriously ticked off right now at these guys. Any preferences?” “Just let me have the griffon.” Mare Do Well answered, getting up. “Take out the changelings, the other Wonderbolts’ll wake up once each one that’s been feeding off them’s beaten.” The false Fleetfoot got back up, rejoining Skylar and the other imposters, and soon the fight resumed. Mare Do Well flew straight at Skylar, who lunged at Mare Do Well in turn. He was weaker then Leo had been, but was faster. Still, nothing she couldn’t handle. Jerking back to avoid his claw swipes, the costumed pegasus thrust her hooves forward, striking at him, he flew straight up, rebounded off the ceiling, and dropped down on her, claws stretched. Mare Do Well weaved to the side to avoid him, the griffon’s claws missed her, but still managed to graze her cape and leaving a tear on the side. “Hey! I like this outfit!” Mare Do Well protested, using her normal tone and causing Spitfire to turn for a second in surprise and get cuffed by a changeling. Recovering quickly, the Wonderbolt captain returned her attention to her foe and did a spin and a back-kick, sending the next false Wonderbolt’s head jerking to the side with a crack and it fell to the floor, reverting to its original form. Brushing herself off, Spitfire raised an eyebrow, she swore that mare’s voice was familiar. Was that…? Immediately, Mare Do Well returned to the offensive, dropping to the floor on Skylar’s back then slamming her hoof into the back of his head, knocking out the griffon as Soarin just finished bringing down two more false Wonderbolts. ~ Skylar groaned, opening his eyes and finding Mare Do Well and the Wonderbolts standing over him. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll tell us what you know. What’s Razorbeak up to?” “What’s it matter?” Skylar asked. “We’ll die anyway!” “TELL ME!” Mare Do Well demanded, slamming her hoof into his chest. “Go to Tartarus!” Skylar protested. “I’ll watch as Spitfire here sends you there a piece at a time if you don’t talk.” Mare Do Well threatened, smashing his left claw with her hoof. The Wonderbolt captain approached with a smirk. “And I’ll be glad to.” She said, inches from the griffon’s face, causing him to whimper a little. Her glare did more then cow overconfident academy cadets. “O-okay! Okay! But look, I got appointed just recently, I haven’t been in the loop as long as Leo was. Razorbeak’s got everypony at the weather factory!” Skylar began. “Yeah, yeah, I already know that. Is that really all you know?” Mare Do Well asked. “Maybe I should let Spitfire take out her frustrations on you.” She mused. “No! No! No! There’s more! You don’t have much time! Razorbeak’s got a bomb set in the factory! He’s gonna blow it up! Once that happens, it’ll cause all the weather still being stored in there to be released, and a chain reaction will rip Cloudsdale to shreds!” The griffon confessed. “And then Equestria’s weather goes helter-skelter.” Spitfire concluded. “Exactly. It’d take nothing short of a miracle from the Princesses to fix that, and even then what’ll it matter? Equestria will be without any stable weather. Win-win situation for Razorbeak.” Skylar added. “Why’s he doing this?! What’s he got against Equestria?” Mare Do Well demanded. The question had been bugging her this entire time. Nightmare Moon wanted revenge for being banished and forgotten, Discord just lived off the chaos he caused, the changelings wanted to make Canterlot into their own personal banquet, and Sombra wanted his throne back. This didn’t make any sense to her; what did Razorbeak possibly have to gain out of this? “He never said anything other then settling some score.” Skylar replied. “So what brought you guys into this? And the changelings?” Spitfire asked sternly. “We’re just an activist gang from Eagleopolis! He showed up one day, offered us a chance to make a huge impact on Equestria, you know, in the spirit of the Griffon Wars?” He asked, nervousness creeping into his voice as the last part came out. “He paid well! Musta been loaded or got a nice inheritance recently!” The griffon insisted. “And the changelings? Some deal he made before he came to us. Guess he was offering them you guys and anypony who survives this city going down! But I don’t know what he’s after, okay?” “Guess I’ll have to find out myself.” Mare Do Well said. “Thanks.” With that, Spitfire smirked and gestured for the other Wonderbolts to tie him up. “So Razorbeak’s gonna blow up the weather factory. Maybe we should get a move-on, Dash.” The Wonderbolt captain said quietly, causing Mare Do Well to pause. “How did—“ She began. “Your moves, your speed, not to mention your voice when that griffon tore your costume. Think I can’t remember what my cadets are like? Especially the one who saved my life, saved Soarin's pie, and told me off once?” Spitfire asked with a smirk. “Well let’s go save Cloudsdale.” Grinning, Mare Do Well and the Wonderbolts spread their wings and with a combined charge, knocked the barred window loose and flew off into the sky, heading towards the weather factory. ~ “Boss!” A griffon thug with a few singed feathers cried out, flying into the storage facility of the weather factory and landing on a catwalk. The costumed griffon standing at the edge turned and glared at him. “What?” Razorbeak asked. “Mare Do Well! She’s back!” The griffon said. “Excuse me?!” Razorbeak demanded, approaching and smacking the griffon in the face with his armored claws and knocking him off his feet. “I’m telling the truth, boss! Look at my feathers! She broke into the Stargazer, I’m pretty sure she’s freed the Wonderbolts by now!” The griffon explained. “Then they’ll be on their way here…” The griffon leader snarled, clenching his claws. “So, she decided she didn’t have enough, huh…” He slammed his claw down on an alert button and took up the intercom. “Attention! Mare Do Well and the Wonderbolts are on their way. Engage immediately! They’re NOT going to mess this up when we’re so close to winning! Do what you want to the Wonderbolts, but let me make this clear; Mare Do Well’s mine, got it? Anyone who kills Mare Do Well answers to me!” The griffon terrorist turned and looked over at the slightly singed messenger. “Well?” “Boss, I’m not exactly in top shape here, I barely got here as it is so—“ Before he could finish his sentence, Razorbeak took aim and blasted him with a bolt of lightning from the gauntlet. “Sorry to hear that.” He said coldly, shoving the smoking body off the catwalk and then, wings spread, he departed to prepare for Mare Do Well’s arrival. Outside, Mare Do Well and the Wonderbolts drew closer to the factory, several griffons emerged, prepared to fight them. “Dad… everyone… I’m coming.” Rainbow Dash said softly.