//------------------------------// // Disqualified Entrant: It Happens to the Best of Us // Story: Cutting Ties // by fic Write Off //------------------------------// This submission was disqualified for reason: Submitted after deadline. Author: r8edmosth8ed "Hey kid, where'd you learn to fly like that?" Her raspy voice squeaked to the muddy street. "Rainbow..." Scoots splashed to the ground on her haunches. They hadn't seen each other since the good old days. Scoots had grown now. Three years of cerebral palsy treatment. One summer in trekking over Equestria's mountains. One winter in the griffin skies. It's like all along, time was the only one to race against. The mangy guard pulled at the net tighter. "I don't care who she saved back then. Right now, she's a danger to us all." "Don't lock her up. I have a better idea." a desperate voice spoke. Filthy Rich. The good old days. The royal alicorns and Twilight left Equestria on royal matters. Twilight had somehow ascended everypony else, raising the bar for the more competitive of her friends. "I hope that's rainwater in your eyes." The ragged pegasus peered through the rope. Scoots didn't know what to say. "Let's go back." "It's not that easy." "Take her to the throne!" The mob shouted beneath her until she was flown off. If you can hear past the wind blowing through the tall buildings of Ponyville, you can faintly hear that a song is hummed. As most of the citizens of the once-bustling city slept, the glow of one small cider house crept through small windows and into the narrow alleyways. Lonely souls drag their hooves to the clatter of foaming mugs, low voices, and slow music. Heads turned and lips pulled up to momentary smiles at the sound of opening door. This is the greeting of the night. It is just the right amount of love. Hoof by hoof, the fastest flier in Equestria took a slow trot past quiet conversations and sat at a table in front of the band. Hours passed. This was her last song of the morning. The mare on stage closed her eyes and pulsed her head to the piano. Her hums turned to words. You are the warm to my cold From the days of old Sweetie's hoof spanned across the dark tables. A mug of hot cider sat unnoticed on Scootaloo's table. My soul on fire, set me free Creature, creature— why do you hide? Sweetie opened her eyes and gasped, drawing glances. "Scootaloo." "That's me." She stepped off the stage and sat next to her old friend. The room applauded lightly. "Where have you been?" "With the griffins." She looked back at her wings. "I needed to catch up to somepony." "Oh Scootaloo!" "It's okay. I already found out." "It was hard for her. No matter how fast she was, she could never be with her friends and the Wonderbolts at the same time." "She pushed herself too far somehow." Sweetie nodded. "While I was training with griffins, she challenged the dragons. She's been on the run ever since." "Until tonight." Patrons were saying their goodbyes to the owner, who began rolling barrels into the cellar. Relief washed over Sweetie's face. "She was bound to face up to her mistakes. She'll be fine." "I'm not worried. I just hope she gets better." Sweetie spoke of how despite pony inferiority was law, Rarity found a way to keep most dragons in line. Her ability to control the gem market enabled her to become rich. Most ponies who did not stay in Ponyville followed Fluttershy into the Everfree in search of a new home. The Apple and Cake family, along with Pinkie Pie, work to provide food for the oppressed. The owner had put away every trace of the night tavern when a beautiful white mare with a violet mane entered. She wore violet jewels and was escorted on both sides by scowling firebreathers dressed with the royal dragon flag. "Rarity!" Scootaloo jumped up out of her nap on the table. The escorts stepped forward. "Please, boys. Settle down. Old friends do not need to call me Miss Rarity. Wait outside." She shooed them away then put on a smile. "It has been a while. You aren't part of the resistance, are you? I jest." "No. I've just returned from a trip." "I see. Everypony's been taking trips. Fluttershy is afraid of dragons, so I don't have to tell you that she left in a hurry when they started to settle. " "Is there anything we can do to stop them?" Rarity adjusted her necklace with a hoof. "I've given it thought, but with everypony so scattered, you may as well search for a new home. Even if the dragons leave, there are still diamond dogs." Scootaloo started out the door. "Sweetiebelle, I'm going back to the skies for help." Scootaloo entered the griffin skies for the second time. She was welcomed with open wings and awaited an answer. After thinking, the elder griffins made their decision. "No. The final answer is no. If there is nothing in it for us, why should we care to burn our feathers?" "Time is running out! If we leave now, we could free Rainbowdash. With her helping us, you wouldn't need to worry." "Our answer is final." A familiar punk griffin swooped in. "I'll go." Canterlot was a city taken over. The dragons could not get through the magical barrier around the city, so they had diamond dogs dig under it in a sneak attack. "Dragons don't seem like the type that would... you know... make plans." Scootaloo sped up. "You know? I think you may be on to something." Gilda shouted over the wind. A swarm of dragons patrolled the area, practicing their chomps and punches. "If we go fast enough, do you think we can break through?" Scootaloo shouted back. "Scootaloo, that's crazy." "But it just might work?" "No, it's just crazy!" It was too late to argue. Scootaloo had already started gaining altitude. With a sigh, Gilda followed the orange speck into the zenith. The clouds were far below them. The air was getting thin and tears trickled down Gilda's eyes. Something flashed downward next to her. Gilda heard a part of what she thought was a scream, but noted its resemblance to "C'mon!" A hole parted in the clouds below, revealing the rolling, green land of Equestria. Is this pony nuts? Gilda's head became light. Falling! She rattled her head awake and tilted her beak after Scootaloo. She had pumped into a few wingstrokes every last bit of her energy, so she could not lift them again. Her heart beat quickly from exhaustion and excitement. She relaxed for a moment, letting the air ruffle her feathers. This is nothing like junior speedsters. I've missed this. This is Dash's flying. Ahead of her, she imagined her buddy Dash in Scootaloo's place. "LET'S GO!" She tensed herself into aerodynamic perfection and quickly surpassed her highest speed. "What took you so long?" Dash's smirk could be seen in her. The griffin inched up beside her. A glow began to form, a rumble was heard, and then a flash of brilliant light appeared. In the city of Cloudsdale, blue flight suits were quickly dusted off at the colorful sight. The dragons scattered to the four corners and far depths of Equestria. On the Canterlot castle grounds, Rainbowdash was being offered, net and all. "You have what you all came for. She's the one you were looking for, now leave!" Laughter rose from the throne. The dragon lord snarled through his yellow, crooked teeth. "She did anger us, it is true. However," the shadowy figure shifted in the mobile throne. "You must realize that I have acquired a certain... taste. A taste for—" A rambunctious dragon threw out, "Taking anything we want." Within an instant, the dragon was incinerated. "A taste for sharing. We're trying to share with you our culture. We're trying to share the story of how dragons survive." A long, sharp claw reached out of the shadows to stroke the cheek and caress the chin of a teary-eyed Rarity. "W-we m-must be—" "Louder." The dark mass lowly rumbled." "We must be— generous— to whomever needs it." Two pointed claws reached toward Rainbow's net and lifted it with ease. "We will need many gems for the journey back." A snort of hot smoke puffed into Rainbow. "Who knows how long it will take?" CRACK! A solid hoof slams into the dragon's jaw, creating chaos in the skies with the unorganized liftoff of a dozen dragons. No sooner than they could adjust their bearings, lightning cloudtrails swooped into the picture, tipped with Cloudsdale's heroes. It was Wonderbolts versus firebreathers. Beneath the blasts of fire and pegasus tornadoes, Rainbowdash's rope prison was cut by griffin claws. "RETREAT!" The dragons flew into the sunset with a little less machismo than they once had. "Why didn't you come see me? Why did you stay where you could get caught?" Gilda did not face her old friend. "I've done a lot of thinking." Dash laid down in the tall grass. "I don't want to fly away from my problems anymore." Scootaloo crash-landed nearby, out of breath. Dash dragged herself closer to the feathery heap. "I'm not going to run away, but I'm not cut-out for this loyalty stuff. I think somepony else needs to be where I can't." Scootaloo's eyes were closed and her mane was in a mess over her face. "So what now?" "I'm leaving." "You brought all of these friends together and now you're just going to leave? After all this, you're even going to let her wake up without you?" Gilda whipped her wings forcefully. "Sorry." Dash was struggling to lift her head to the windblown Scootaloo. "Pft. Whatever. The ponies who had the displeasure of meeting me forgave me. They'll forgive you too." "I need to forgive myself first." Gilda kicked up a plume of dust and turned around. "That sonic rainboom will bring them back! They'll all come back!" She sat next to Scootaloo, asleep in the grass. "I wish it was that easy."