//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Storm in the Sky // by Dashieluvzcandy //------------------------------// "Why are you doing this?" screamed a voice as the sounds of a scuffle could be heard drawing nearer and nearer. "You know too much." growled what sounded like a stallion's voice. The cyan pegasus surged forwards with Scootaloo at her heels. She came within close enough distance to see Ice Petal grappling with the two stallions that had stolen her money earlier that day. They reminded Rainbow Dash of those jerks from flight camp, Dumb-Bell, Hoops and Score. The stallions were definitely of the same build as the bullies. "Scoots stay back from the fighting, I'm gonna go in there and help Ice out." "No I can fight as well, those guys won't catch me." exclaimed Scootaloo. "Look squirt, no arguments you're staying back." But it was too late for Scootaloo to retort because the two pegasi had arrived at the fight scene. Rainbow flew straight into the mess. She jumped on one of the stallion's backs who was cornering Ice Petal and started to rain down blows on him. She snuck a quick glance to the side to see Ice Petal and Scootaloo throwing punches at the other stallion. The little orange filly was pretty agile as she ducked and dived under the bigger pony's blows. Rainbow averted her attention back to her fight. The stallion gave a strong buck that sent Rainbow flying off his back, she responded quickly, using her wings to bring her to a stop. Pain flared through the polychromatic mare's wings as the stop had been much to sudden. Her opponent came hurtling through the air towards Rainbow Dash. She just had time to fly out of the way and gave a small chuckle as the stallion smashed into a cloud brick wall. "Ha, my grandma can fly faster than you! I guess not everypony has the skills to defeat the fastest pony in Equestria!" taunted Rainbow. The stallion looked enraged as he got back on his hooves. He flew right up to Rainbow's face and whispered. "At least I still have parents, yours are probably glad they don't have to put up with a loser like you anymore." Rage took over Rainbow's senses as she slammed into her opponents chest, pushing him hard into the ground. Adrenaline kicked into overdrive as she gave the stallion a hard punch to the jaw. She continued to inflict wounds on the stallion without a shred of mercy. Suddenly Rainbow gasped for air as her opponents hoof made impact with her stomach. She lost her footing and tumbled backwards. Rainbow tried to shake off the pain but she felt dizzy from lack of air. Teeth punctured her wing as she tried to get back into the air. The stallion had a steely look in his eyes as she twisted around to see him holding on tight. The teeth suddenly let go as the attacker tried to grapple with the younger pegasus that was on his back. Rainbow quickly swooped in to grab Scootaloo as the stallion gave a vicious buck. "Nice one kid." She flew down to the ground to let Scootaloo get off and managed to block a punch that came from the side. The other stallion was nowhere to be seen. Ice Petal came to join them with a bleeding gash on her leg. The three pegasi managed to corner the remaining stallion that had been fighting Rainbow Dash. "Why did you attack her?" growled Rainbow, gesturing to Ice Petal. "None of your business. I was about to defeat you if your stupid friends didn't intervene. Such a shame that one of the Elements of Harmony couldn't defend herself. Oh wait that's why there need to be six of you. You're all weaklings without each other." Rainbow slapped the irritating pony across the face. "I don't think you're in the position to make insults so just do yourself a favour and shut up and answer my question. Why did you attack her?" "So we can get the chance to hurt one annoying pain in the flank mare." He smirked. Rainbow thought for a second that he meant Ice Petal. "Dash look out!" screeched Scootaloo. She twisted around just in time to see the glint of a knife plunge into the part attaching her wing to her body. White hot burning pain made Rainbow drop to the ground. White stars danced at the edge of her vision. Pain like nothing she had ever felt before consumed Rainbow. A scream that sounded nothing like herself burst out of the mare's mouth. Warm blood soaked her blue wing feathers as a welcoming black void swallowed everything. Rainbow Dash sunk into a blissful unconsciousness. Ice Petal could only look in horror as she saw the pony who had helped her crumple to the ground with a look on her face that looked like she was enduring pure agony. Behind her stood the other stallion that had abandoned the fight with Ice. Now she realized that he must have run off further down the alley so that he could make a surprise ambush. His blade glinted with red and he had a maniacal smile on his face. She desperately hoped there wouldn't be another fight because her leg was causing moderate pain and they needed to get Rainbow Dash to a hospital. Fast. Luckily the stallion that they had been talking to was pretty injured and didn't look like he was up to another fight. "Oops my knife must have slipped. Don't worry we'll be paying you two another visit soon." Smirked the newcomer as him and his companion flew down the alley towards the exit. 'This is all my fault, I really need to stop rushing into things.' thought Ice Petal miserably. This pegasus and her companion had been the only ones to show her kindness in Cloudsdale. ' I should have been more careful!' Ice reproached herself. The cry of a broken filly brought her back to reality. "Rainbow Dash!" sobbed Scootaloo as she crouched down at her side. Ice Petal rushed over quickly to inspect the wound. She swallowed back disgust at the blood. There was heaps of blood but not enough for the knife to have punctured an artery. Ice saw that the cut had gone about a quarter way through the part that was attaching Rainbow's wing to her body. She knew that as the only grown up here it was her job to do something. "I need something to staunch the blood flow, what do you have?" She said briskly to Scootaloo. The orange filly slowly untied her scarf and handed it to Ice Petal. "I guess this will have to do for now. We need to get her to the hospital ASAP." Ice tied the scarf around the wound tightly but not too tight otherwise it would completely cut off the blood flow to the wing. She spotted Rainbow's saddlebag lying on the ground nearby. It must have flown off during the fight. "Scootaloo if there's any water in there pass it here." Scootaloo pulled out a bottle that was about half-full. Ice Petal gently propped Rainbow up a bit so she could untie the scarf from her neck. She folded the scarf up and poured water on it. Ice squeezed out the excess water and cleaned off the blood that was slowly beginning to dry on Rainbow's wing. She hoped that she was doing everything right because Ice Petal had only ever been taught first aid once when she was a filly. She had never performed it before. "Ok I'll carry her. I might need you to try and put her on my back though." Ice Petal crouched down so as to make it easier for Scootaloo to drape the limp form of the rainbow-maned pegasus on her back. Scootaloo had a surprising amount of strength for such a small filly. Ice didn't know that she got it from doing all those tricks on her scooter. Rainbow Dash wasn't actually that heavy so Ice Petal found it easy to try and keep up a fast pace. Scootaloo walked at her side as the two pegasi came out of the dark alley and into the street. Luckily the hospital was just down the block. 'This has turned out to be such a bad day.' thought Ice Petal with a huge sigh.