//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Disturbance in the Skies 
// by Quillfeather 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5


Everything hurt. Pain radiated throughout her body and only darkness stared her back in the face. Opening her eyes, Rainbow could see forest and rocks all around her. She had landed right next to a path leading up the mountain towards Canterlot. Guards were scattered around her, some stirring just like her, but others still unconscious. They seemed to be in the same amount of pain as her, but luckily for them all they were Pegasi. They were built for durability just in case they fell from hundreds of feet up. That didn't mean they couldn't break bones as some of the guards were finding out. One had a leg twisted at a wrong angle and another had his left wing hanging limply from the side.

Slowly she got up as best she could and realized that she could stand without feeling like she was going to keel over right then. She plopped onto her rump quickly so as to get the pain off her right foreleg. Looking at it she knew it wasn't broken, but for some reason she couldn't move it. Rainbow stared at it blankly for several moments until a voice broke her spacing.

"So what'd you mess up?" A sing-song voiced chimed next to her. Looking up, she saw a light brown guard staring at her in concern. Her body was littered with scrapes, some bleeding, from what she could see due to the armor. The guard let out a puff of air which made her realize that an answer was expected. Blinking several times, she answered as best she could. "My left front leg hurts and I can't move it. I know it's not a break, believe me I've been through that before," she explained. "Let me take a look," the guard said. She looked over her and prodded around lightly with her hoof. The guard stopped and then whistled before directing her attention towards the cyan pegasus. 

"Well it looks like you dislocated your shoulder. Easy fix I suppose."

The sound of hooves announced the presence of yet another guard. He gave an uneasy smile towards her before looking towards the other guard. 

"What is it?"

"I need your help pushing this shoulder back into place, Sparks."

With a knowing glance he went behind Rainbow. 

"Alright we're going to put your shoulder back and...it might hurt a bit."

"A bit?" Rainbow didn't like the sound of that, but she gritted her teeth waiting for the pain to smother her again. She wouldn't give into crying to easily or screaming for that matter. She was the best flier in Ponyville and could clear the sky in ten seconds flat. She was too prideful to show her pain and today wasn't an option. The cyan pegasus nodded and looked straight forward.

With a nod of their own, the guards went to their duties. The stallion gripped Rainbow's sides, holding down her wings, to the surprise of the pegasus. Before she could register this fact enough to buck, the mare pushed the shoulder together. Rainbow Dash sucked in her breath as tears welled up in her eyes and then the pain was gone as quickly as it came. Sparks and the mare let go of her and backed off a step to give her space. "There, good as new," the mare said. "Uh, thanks," Rainbow said as she scratched the back of her head.

Sparks began to walk away to check up on other things after giving her an apologetic smile. The mare nodded, but stayed. Not knowing what else to say as the awkward silence began to deepen, she got onto her hooves. Her shoulder was still sore, but it would do. Thank Celestia she could still walk after a fall like that. That brought up a question she wanted to ask though. "So, uh, what caused that boom?"

"The name's Cinnamon, and that 'boom' came from Canterlot. As to what caused it, that is top secret as of now."

That answer wasn't going to fly with her at all. Top secret after it blew them all out of the sky? She snorted. "Listen here, I'm not some stupid filly that needs her mom to hide behind. Whatever it was just blew us out of the sky and I think that's reason enough to know what it is if you know." She stamped her hoof in anger. If she had to, she'd beat the crud out of these ponies until she got the answers she wanted. Several of the guards tending the hurt ponies, looked towards her and one had the audacity to shake its head at her.

"It was from the Princesses," Sparks uttered as he came towards them after tending towards the pegasus with the broken wing. Cinnamon shot him a glare, but he paid her no heed.  "The Princesses? Why would they cause that?," she asked confused. The stallion sighed. "They don't mean to cause anything that is playing out. Something is wrong between the two, but Princess Luna has been keeping any of us from knowing. To tell you the truth, I'm getting the feeling that we'd be better knowing."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Princesses were keeping secret about why they were potentially destroying themselves even though lives were at stake. Yes, it was a monarchy Equestria was under, but they would never hide something this troubling from their subjects. They were though. Rainbow stood in there in shock. To think just checking on a bunch of storm clouds like this led to a discovery of this caliber.

"So where do we go from here?"

Cinnamon snorted back at Rainbow and flicked her tail. Her attitude was really starting to get on Rainbow's nerves.

"We follow our orders and take you back Ponyville. None of this concerns you."

What? Go back to Ponyville after learning that the real problems were in Canterlot? Was she insane. Apparently, but Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "Fine, I have plans anyways," she chimed. Her plans were to talk to Twilight who would want to know what was going on. She was Celestia's student and wouldn't fall for this nonsense of it only being the guard's problems.

The stallion seemed to want to say something, but Cinnamon cut him off. "Alright, Sparks is everypony tended to?"

"Yes ma'am. We can't fly though because Mist broke her wing."

At this, she nodded and then turned to stand in front of the group. It consisted of Mist, a grayish pegasus with violet eyes, a rather ruddy red fellow who's leg was pulled up in a makeshift splint, a light blue stallion, Sparks and his light yellow and orange build, and Rainbow herself. 

"Fine, we will walk and take this pony to Ponyville. From there, we will gather any guards present and make our way back to Canterlot. There will be no resting until I give the order. Stay vigilant. Is that understood?"

Neighs answered her and they hobbled together to form a group. They were a pathetic looking lot, but they quickly formed an escort party. It wasn't as awkward as before though because no one was pulling on her legs. Mist stood on her right, Sparks on her left, the light blue stallion was helping the ruddy red, and of course Cinnamon was in front. Apparently she had taken it upon herself to become leader from what her violet eyes could see. With Canterlot to their backs they began to make their way towards Ponyville which was a long way by foot.

Rainbow turned towards Sparks. "So who died and made her leader?" Instead of the orange stallion answering, Mist piped up. "Cinnamon is the next in line to become Captain of our fleet. She has proven herself several times, even fighting off Nightmare Moon until she passed out to keep Celestia safe." As she explained her eyes seemed to go distant. She blinked and turned towards Rainbow with a light grin.

"Really? She did all that?"

"Eh, she got lucky sometimes, but that's how the Equestrian troops work since there are no major battles to be fought," Sparks shot in. "Still a guard of Equestria worthy of our respect."

If she was such a great pony why was she acting like a butt head. Seriously at first she thought she was all nice with her helping fix her shoulder an all, but now it was a different mare she saw. No matter who she was, the cyan pegasus didn't like her. 

"Whatever, she needs to cool off."

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After what seemed like hours of trekking, her hooves were beginning to throb. There was only so long she could walk without feeling as if she needed to cut her feet off even if she was Rainbow Dash. She wasn't the only one hurting though. The rest of the group had their ears and necks drooping except for Cinnamon. The mare was dragging her feet though. The whole group needed to stop and rest.

"Hey Cinnamon, mind stopping for a bit, we're all a bit tired back here," she asked. 
With that it seemed someone had thrown a switch or something with the pony in front of her. The brown pelt tensed up before a glare was shot in her direction as she turned her way. "Does lil' Rainbow need a rest? Can't keep up the pace and need a nappy wappy?"

The cyan pegasus blew air through her nose. She didn't need to fall for this. She just had to keep calm. 

"No, actually it looks more like your crew needs one."

At this anger sparked in Cinnamon's eye. The way it snapped so suddenly instantly gave a good explanation as to why this mare's name was what it was. It could be sweet, but be suddenly sharp out of no where. 
"I don't need a 'prisoner' to tell me what to do with my squad."

"Prisoner? When did I become a prisoner? Are you crazy, lady?"

Mist edged her with a hoof and a glance to calm her down. It didn't work.

"As far as I'm concerned you are at this point."

"What?!"

Before Rainbow could continue on, Sparks took a step towards his leader. "Cinnamon, she is nothing more than a villager. Why so harsh?"

With Sparks' interjection, Cinnamon looked towards him and shook her head. "Can't ya'll take a joke," she spoke and then turned around. From there she flicked her tail to order them to continue on as she began to walk. Rainbow was left to wonder what was wrong with the pony in charge of her. 

"We head a few more miles before we hit the hay. Fillydelphia should be coming up within then," Cinnamon spoke up. With that the squad seemed to have a pep in their step again; everyone except Rainbow Dash.

Sure enough, by the time the sun was setting, they had reached Fillydelphia. The city was full of bustle even at this time of day. Carts were being loaded with grocierys, party's were going on, and the park was being used. Everything was just as it would during the day. It was a bit different than what Rainbow Dash was used to, but she was just glad to reach civilization.

When they approached a hotel, Cinnamon went inside, but everyone else stayed outside just in case there was no room. Rainbow's eyes looked around until she felt someone else's burn into her fur. Turning her head to the left she noticed an inquisitive little filly unicorn. Her horn was aglow with an illumination spell so she could see. It lit up her purple blue face to show deep blue eyes which brimmed with curiousity. Dash gave a sheepish smile towards her and waggled a wing at her. At this the pony smiled and seemed to get enough curouge to take a few steps towards the troup. 

"Hi," her little voice called out. Night was finally around the city, but the glow dutifully did it's job. 

"Hi, what's your name?"

"L-Luminescence," she stuttered shyly. Seeing that Dash wasn't seeming anything but unfriendly at that she had the courage to go on. "What's yours?"

"The name's Rainbow Dash."

Luminescence giggled at this. Dash looked to her sides to see if the guardponies had any reaction. They were leaning against the walls of the hotel or next to the various stands selling food. No one was paying any mind to her, but her ears still got a bit hot.

"What's so funny?"

"Your name matches your mane and tail."

"So?"

"Actually I find it very funny too," an all too familiar voice said behind her. Cinnamon had finally come out of the hotel and had a smile plastered onto her face of sheer amusement. The filly grinned wider at the comment. Dash merely huffed. She would rebuke the filly with making fun of her own name, but looking into those cute eyes stopped her. Luminescence was already so shy and perhaps someone else had picked on her as well. 

"I see where you're getting. Heh, I think it's a bit funny too, but once you see me pull off a rainboom believe me it makes up for the name," she said while feeling a bit too touchy than she usually did.

Cinnamon regarded her and seemed to approve with the way she was handling the comment. Of course all Dash could go on was a blink, but even that meant something when the guard was full of spice.

The guard then took a step forward. "Everyone in the troop, return to the hotel," she said with a normal voice, but power seemed to resonate from it. Even over the road noises and city squabble the ecompiment was back in a heartbeat. Seeing that everypony was accounted for, she opened to door for them. "The innkeeper will give you your keys. Everyone already knows whom they will be rooming with I'm sure. Rainbow Dash will room with me for safety reasons." All the guards went inside without so much as a squeak. They were all tired and the road hung heavy on their hooves.

The leader looked at Dash and the filly and then went inside. Knowing that Cinnamon expected her to come in a minute, Dash looked towards the Fillydelphian. "Well I gotta go Luminescence. Nice getting to meet you," she calmly said feeling just a bit awkward. Luminescence's eyes seemed to grow sad knowing that this pegasus was going to leave. "Oh, okay, bye Rainbow Dash," she said. The little filly waved goodbye and then began to trot down the now dark streets. Her little light allowed the mare to follow her new friend for a few minutes until the light vanished around a corner.

With a flick of her tail, she too went to her 'home' for the night. 

When she entered the dimly lit reception room, she noticed Cinnamon talking to two of her squad. It was the ruddy colored pegasus and Mist, both of whom had hurt themselves in the fall. Both had new bandages on and this time slings. A nurse had definitely seen to their wounds and now they could rest easy knowing the bones would set right. Looking over at them she hung back, unsure if it was proper to intervene. 

"She's alright you know." The voice caused Rainbow to spin around in fear only to realize it was Sparks speaking. His eyes glittered with amusement as she ruffled her feathers back into place. "I guess so, but she can be a real jerk," she spoke. 

"That seems to come with the job nowadays. Everyone gets rough and tough if they are relied on by so many day in and day out. Why don't you spend dinner with Mist and I. I hear the place here makes fantastic broccoli soup and I doubt I'm the only one here needing some energy."

With nothing else to do, she walked towards a sitting area which served as the small hotel's restaurant. The hotel itself wasn't that big as it was situated in the old part of downtown. However, the place had the feel of an ancient wise building that was acquired in well furnished mansions years ago. 

Mist waved them over and gave each a menu. "Sparks it seems you brought a friend. Hey Rainbow Dash, I hope you don't mind sharing this tiny table with us. It seems their fresh out of tables for four."

Dash took a seat and the menu offered to her. "You can just call me Dash if you want to," she smiled. At this, Mist seemed to grin absurdly. Finding this a bit too much like Pinky, the pegasus looked at the contents of the menu. Reading through the dishes and the descriptions that accompanied them her stomach rumbled. It'd been since breakfast since she ate and that didn't count as much because it was only a piece of toast to get her by for the first weather duty. She hadn't counted on being out so long. Thinking back she couldn't believe how much had happened since then too. She'd done her weather duty, went to Canterlot, was thrown out of the sky by an explosion, and had since been traveling with a group of guards by hoof. To say the day had been adventurous would be an understatement. 

After deciding on what she wanted to eat, a strawberry salad with strawberry sauce, she looked at the only friendly members of the squad she had met. Sparks seemed outright comfortable in the seat he was in. His cup kept having to be refilled with water about every five minutes and his mouth never seemed to shut up. Mist seemed a bit more tame than Sparks and entered her input when necessary. Her eyes watched every movement though as if she was calculating what would happen next. All in all the two of them amused her. Still weren't as awesome as herself, but still pretty cool nonetheless. 

"So, Dash, what is your lifelong dream," Mist asked as she turned her surreal eyes towards the cyan pony. "Oh, that's easy. I want to be a Wonderbolt," she said enthusiastically. Dash stretched her wings out and her eyes shined as she voiced this while Mist and Spark looked on with an amused expression. This story they had to hear.