I ran a bit farther into the twisting maze when I came to a solid door with a small window in it. I peered through and my heart stopped. There on the floor curled into as tiny a ball as she could make herself, her cyan coat, mane and tail dyed black. Rainbow Dash.
I backed away from the door and went to work with my lock picking spell, but it was too advanced. My panic and worry slowly turned to rage. At Rainbow for not listening to me, at the so-called ‘colts’ that would beat a mare, at myself for ever letting Rainbow into this world. I fumed. My horn grew dark and black, blacker than the darkest night Luna could muster. I felt my eyes blaze white hot as my rage grew I turned and kicked at the steel door with all my might. Once. Twice.
On the third kick the door didn’t so much give way as it fell off its hinges. The loud crashes of me kicking the door and its subsequent crash to the ground had stirred Rainbow Dash. She slowly stood in the middle of the room. Expecting the worst of any beating she could imagine. But her face quickly changed from one of defiance to hopeful relief as I entered her cell.
She rushed to me, holding me as tightly as she could. Though she would never admit it I could hear her subtle sobs. Whether sobs of pain or joy, I would never know. I pulled her away and brushed her mane out of her face.
“Are you alright, Dash? What did they do to you?”
She grinned a wickedly cocky grin. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
I caught myself on the verge of tears. “Same old, Dash. Come on. Let’s get you out of here so I can finish this.” I put my arm around her and she did the same, letting me support her weight as we limped back out into the hallway.
“Oh how touching. The daring detective come to rescue his damsel in distress.”
We stopped where we were. Mr. ‘Bean’ had finally caught up after the storm inside the club.
“Tell me, is it comforting to know that you’ll die in each other’s arms?”
I pulled Rainbow’s arm from my shoulders and began to set her down against a nearby wall. She immediately protested.
“What are you doing? I can help you beat him,” she whispered, harshly.
“I know you can, Dash, but after what he did to you, this is my fight. You stay over here and try not to look too surprised when I kick his ass.” I kissed her on the cheek and turned to face Mr. Bean. “Ya know, I never did catch your name.”
“Oh, what good are names among those already bound for the grave?” Mr. Bean was sure of himself.
“I just figured you’d like your headstone to be right, because if it’s left up to me yours will read, ‘Here lies Mr. Bean. A colossal prick and mare beater.’ We’ll have to put up a sign that says ‘Please no spitting on the grave.’” I was more sure of myself.
“Let’s just end this, shall we?”
He fired a magical shot from his horn as he finished his sentence. To my luck, his aim was terrible as he missed wide to my left. I rolled to the right and fired back, my aim was a little more true but he was able to dodge in time. We both retreated to cover and took the customary shots at nothing we could hit.
“Just hit him already!” Rainbow’s shout brought a smile. That mare was so impatient.
I rounded the corner again, firing wildly. I took cover as several shot pinged the wall next to me. I had to think of something beyond this. I had to find a way to get around behind him. I looked down the hall and saw I was at a dead end. Great.
I gathered myself for another barrage when I heard the sounds of Rainbow grunting.
“Hey, what’re you doing!?”
“Come out, come out, detective. I’ve got somepony who’s just dying to see you.”
I slowly rounded the corner and saw Mr. Bean standing with his arm around Rainbow Dash. His horn glowed with a charge shot.
“There’s a good lad. Now come out here in the light so I can get a clean shot.”
I walked forward slowly, never taking my eyes from his. Rainbow struggled in his arms and he tightened his grip. I could see Rainbow struggling to breathe.
“That’s it. Now just die like a good little filly.” His horn grew brighter and my eyes wavered to Rainbow.
She was really struggling against him but getting nowhere. I once again felt my rage building. Something inside me had broken. I saw a bright white flash and felt a dazzling heat.
----------
How we had managed to slip from the club without drawing more attention was beyond me. We had, however, picked up a tail and with the three of us moving as one, it would be much harder to lose him.
As we walked, I leaned into the two of them and laid out my plan. “Sky, when we pass another alley, move down it and the fly up to the rooftops as quick as you can, Sugar and I are going to cross the street when you do that. There’s only one colt following us so splitting up will be a better idea. As soon as you’re on the rooftops, head back to the hotel and wait for me. If I’m not there in 2 hours, you get on the next train out of town.”
Rainbow nodded as I turned more toward Sugar. When we cross the street we’re going to find another alley and head down it. I’m going to hide in the alley but I need you to continue to the other side so the pony tailing us can see you. Okay?”
Sugar looked absolutely terrified but she gave me a quiet, “Okay.”
Rainbow wasted no time. As soon as I had finished explaining the plan she took the first alley and zipped up to the roof. Moving out of sight if the tail decided to follow her.
As I thought, the colt still followed Sugar and I as we crossed the street. We came to the next alley and moved down it, I hid behind a dumpster and gave Sugar a reassuring pat as she continued on.
The colt that had been tailing us was none too bright. He followed her obediently and as he stepped next to the dumpster I punched him as hard as I could in the face.
With a clang and a thud the pony bounced off the dumpster and landed on the ground. I looked down the alley to Sugar, who had stopped at the end and turned to see what I was doing. As I approached her smiling, a black carriage pulled up and the door opened.
My heart sank as I saw two colts reach out and grab Sugar. She screamed for only an instant as they gagged her. I ran for all I was worth toward the open carriage but it sped away before I could get anywhere near it.
I felt the anger rise up in my chest. We’d come this far only to fail? No. You couldn’t beat this one if you tried. They’re the mob. One way or another they always get what they want.
I swore at myself. The only way I’d get her back is if I’d been able to stop that carriage. She’d be dead in less than 30 minutes and I was responsible. A feeling of hopelessness filled me. I hated failing more than anything.
I wandered my way through the streets, heading slowly back to my hotel. I would grab Rainbow and leave in the morning. As I reached my hotel, and finally my room, I heard strange noises coming from inside. I quickly opened the door and was met with a scene that makes my blood boil to this day.
Rainbow lay on the floor curled in a fetal position as two colts stopped themselves mid-stomp. A third stood between me and them.
I lost it. Feeling a black rage take over my whole body, the rest was a blur. I fired a shot at the colt in front of me and then charged the two standing over Rainbow. Hitting the first one with the full force of my charge I watched him tumble and crack the glass window of the hotel room, falling to the ground in a slump. I quickly turned and slugged the third colt in the mouth, watching him fall backward and over the bed.
I turned to Rainbow Dash and gingerly picked her up. “You okay, Sky?”
She smiled at her fake name. “Yea, I’m okay. These guys really only got in one good shot before you showed up.” She hugged me tight as an unspoken thank you.
From the doorway we heard the sounds of somepony stirring. The henchman had regained his feet and this time rushed me. I pushed Rainbow away and took the brunt of his charge toppling end over end as we hit the window again, crashing through. Being thirty stories up we had quite a long way to fall. I kicked and bit and punched at the colt falling with me. I wanted him to die before we hit the ground.
Finally, I headbutted the colt as hard as I could and I saw him fall unconscious. Close enough. I spread my arms and legs outward, in a futile attempt to slow my fall. I was getting close and I accepted the Rainbow was alright and she would make it out of the city just fine.
From above me I heard a thunderous boom. I turned in the air to see Rainbow Dash zooming toward me with a black streak trailing her and all of the glass on the side of the tall hotel shattered and began to follow her. I felt her grab my hooves and cut hard out toward the open sky. I smiled as I watched the black streak she was leaving in the night sky. The hotel staff would wonder for years what had happened.
She flew far and fast, leaving Las Pegasus behind us. She eventually slowed down and lost the black streak but she never stopped flying. Not until we had reached the next town with a train station. That was where she stopped.
We had waited all night in that train station. Never speaking. The next morning we boarded the train for a long silent ride to Ponyville. I tried to think of something to say. Something to lighten the mood but there was nothing to be said.
As we walked off the platform in Ponyville, Rainbow had stopped me.
“Look. I know things didn’t go as you planned and that sucks but for what it’s worth. This whole experience was... eye-opening. I don’t know how you do this all the time. I know losing that mare was hard for you. It was hard for me too. But some things we just can’t change. Sometimes, we just can’t win.”
I sighed. “I know, Rainbow. And thank you. Catastrophe though this was, it was nice to have a partner for once. If you work at it you could be a great detective.”
She smiled and giggled slightly, “I think I’ll stick with the weather.” She turned to leave but something stopped her and she turned back to me. “Hey, what happened in the hotel room? I remember seeing you open the door but then I just saw a bright flash and everything felt warm and then you were picking me up.”
“I don’t know. I think seeing you on the floor with those colts standing there. Something just snapped in me and I wanted to do nothing but save you. I guess some part of me just took over.”
“Well, whatever part it was.. Thanks.” She leaned forward and kissed me and for a moment, the world fell away. It was the kind of kiss you see in movies and dream about in real life. As she pulled away, she blushed at me.
“Wow,” was all I could muster in response.
“I am still your ‘wife’ for a few more days. How else could I thank you?” She winked and turned to leave but I stopped her one last time.
“Rainbow. Promise me you won’t follow me anymore. That you won’t try to live the life of a detective and that you’ll just live the life of the fastest pony in Equestria and a proud member of the weather team.”
“Where’s the fun in a promise like that?” She had asked with a coy smile.
“Please Rainbow. I need to know you’ll never end up like you did the other night. Just promise me.”
“I promise,” she said, with a reassuring nod. “No more investigating for me.”
All I could do was smile are her. “Thanks Rainbow. Take care of yourself.”
“You too, Shadow.”
And like that she was gone.
----------
I stood where I had moments before but Rainbow was on the ground and Mr. Bean was nowhere to be seen.
I rushed to Rainbow’s side, helping her to her feet. But she pulled away, staring at me in disbelief and struggling to stand on her own.
“You did it again.”
“Did what?”
Rainbow just stared at me. “You just turned completely black. All of you. Except your eyes. They were such a bright white that I could barely see. You rocketed forward toward us and then I felt a warmth. Like the sun on my face when I take a nap. But somepony was screaming. I guess it was Mr. Bean. I looked in his direction and just saw him fade away and then you grabbed me and laid me down here before it all went away and you were standing back across the room.”
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t intended to do any of that. I wasn’t even that magically inclined. I shrugged my shoulders at Rainbow Dash.
“Guess I don’t know my own strength,” I said, as I put my arm around her once more.
She laughed softly. “Can we just get out of here please?”
We headed back to the dungeon entrance and were met by Luna and Twilight.
“What happened down here? We heard a scream all the way from the gardens.” Luna looked overly worried.
“Well, Princess, we’ve got one evil leader down and one to go.”
Twilight giggled. “Not quite. When the Princess went to the gardens she cast a guard spell on Discord’s statue. Let’s just say the garden ponies will have to find somewhere to put the new statues.”
Rainbow Dash laughed. “That’s great, Twi. But is there any chance I could get to a doctor?”
Luna stepped forward and cast another spell on all of us and as the familiar feeling of weightlessness wore off I recognized the Ponyville Hospital in front of us.
I looked up at Luna as I helped Rainbow inside. “Thanks Princess.”
----------
I went to visit Rainbow Dash in the hospital a few days later. She was up and ready to get outside but the staff had insisted that she remain at least two more days. Resigned to her fate she’d been reading Daring Do books to pass the time. As I walked in, I laughed softly.
“I used to love those books.”
Rainbow put the book down and hugged me as I walked up next to her bed. “Yea, they’re pretty cool.”
I sat down in the chair next to her bed as she stared at me. I was collecting my thoughts when she spoke.
“Did you just come to sit there or did you want to talk?”
With a smile I said, “You’re so impatient. We’ve got to work on that.”
“That’s what Twilight and Apple Jack keep telling me. Hasn’t worked yet.”
We both laughed half-heartedly before I got serious.
“Why did you go in there, Rainbow?”
She looked out the window, thinking before she answered.
“I don’t know. I’d overheard Twilight talking to Luna one night and I thought I could get in and out without anypony noticing. You’d taught me a lot and I figured I could handle it.”
“Dash, I never taught you anything. I just told you what to do. If you really wanted to help Octavia you should’ve come to me. You know I would have helped you.” I could see the tears welling up in her eyes as I leaned forward and pushed her mane away from her face. “Don’t ever be afraid to come to me. One bad time in Las Pegasus isn’t enough to make me not want to see you. Celestia knows I’ve sorta missed having a partner.”
Her eyes held back the tears and turned hopeful. “You have?”
I had to tread carefully here. “Of course, Dash. You were the first time I worked with anypony and, while it wasn’t the best job I’ve ever had, you saved my life. I’ll always owe you for that. But I don’t want to put you or anypony else at risk. This is the second time I’ve found you on the ground after being beaten and that tears me up inside. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, Dash.”
As a tear rolled down her cheek she leaned off the bed and into me. She apologized for everything. For going off on her own, for following me to Las Pegasus, for not listening to me. I just held her and let her ramble and cry. When she finally fell silent I pulled her away from me and looked her in the eye.
“Dash, I’m only going to offer this one time. If you want to learn how to do what I do then I will teach you. It won’t be easy, you know that. But if you truly want to be my partner then I’m willing to have you.” I was looking her dead in her beautiful eyes.
She smiled and nodded. “I’d like that. I liked being Sky Chaser.”
I kissed her. Her surprise quickly gave way and she melted into me. As we parted, I smiled at her. “Maybe one of these days that won’t be an alias anymore.”