//------------------------------//
// Rainbow Dash 1: Rainbow Flies West 
// Story: Upheaval: Journeys 
// by Visiden Visidane 
//------------------------------//

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 1: Rainbow Flies West

Rainbow never did like riding airships. They were slow, cumbersome, noisy, gaudy, and full of hoity-toity ponies with no business being up in the air. She hated it when ponies said they were flying on an airship. This wasn't flying, this was lounging around on a floating hunk of wood that slowly made its way somewhere. They couldn't even take a fast airship like the Night Skimmer. Oh, no. They had to take this fancy luxury airship with its load of nobles and legionnaires. If she was an airship, she'd be like the Night Skimmer: fast, sleek, efficient. This tub was Pinkie as an airship: bulky with too much party stuff, loud, and it was an outright miracle that it could even move. 

Yet, Rainbow had to take this one. She wouldn't have minded just winging it to where they were going. She was pretty sure her companions were up to it, even if she did have to slow down for Longstride.

Longstride insisted on taking the ride, stating that they should avoid unnecesary exertions and risks on this mission. A sprained wing or a sudden bout of foul weather would put them in unnecessary danger. Rainbow allowed herself to be mollified. If only so she could slightly delay arguing with him for a few days. She supposed that he was sort of right. She certainly wanted to take on Hassyth in top form, not worn out by very long flights.

It had been two days already. They had gone from the heights of Mount Unicornia, past the White Tail Woods, and into the so-called "Undiscovered West". Undiscovered for the Heartland, anyway. The forests became thickly wooded hills, then forested mountains of snow-topped pines and firs. The Heartlanders oohed and aahed at the imposing peaks that dipped into great valleys, the white, raging rivers that cut through the rock southeastward, and the scattered villages with their columns of smoke from their many chimneys.

The chilly winter air necessitated some warm outfits, a bother as far as Rainbow was concerned, but something she was already used to. She had her leather gear on as well, this time with plenty of chain reinforcements woven into it. She was still working on weight increase to both help her speed and stamina. She had thought that Scarlet's armor was ridiculously heavy, until she ran into a lancer flight resting in Canterlot. Their heavy plate and chain armor along with their massive lances and equally ridiculous swooping blades only served as a challenge. Rainbow could only imagine how fast she'd be unarmored once she was able to fly in those. She had considered getting to know lancing while in the west, after this mission. Charging into the fray sounded better to her than flitting about shooting.

As for the sights, they were impressive for a while, until they kept going with no city in sight. Rainbow paced the upper decks restlessly, already bored with the on-board lounge and those stupid deck games Rarity insisted on playing. What's so fun about pushing little discs on the floor with sticks? Leave it to unicorn nobles to create the most unathletic games ever. Lion Court and Octavia were into it, of course. Pinkie was still scarfing down sweets with Nightcanter and Copper Mane in the on-deck cafe while Sablesteel glowered. Rainbow was already wondering if there was anything at all that Sablesteel liked. Pinkie seemed determined to find out. Copper Mane was more determined to get her to listen to a lecture.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Scarlet shouted from across the deck. "Check this out!"

Rainbow flew over quickly. Partly because Scarlet was annoying the other passengers with his yelling, and partly because he was around a gathering of ponies. As she drew closer, the source of the commotion quickly became clear. Longstride sat at the center of the gathering, eyes focused on the massive bow he was polishing. A dark blue pegasus stallion stood in front of him. The long bow slung across this one's shoulders and the Southern Legion outfit made it easy to guess what this was about.

"...stories about the mysterious 'Arrow from Nowhere'," the stallion was saying when Rainbow got close enough. "You must understand that seeing the pony behind the legend will make any self-respecting archer want to test himself against you. A quick contest is all I'm asking for."

The other ponies around them were also legionnaires with a few curious Heartland civilians here and there. Everypony smelled a brewing contest and wanted to see the result, Scarlet in particular from the way he hovered around them.

"I do understand," Longstride replied. He didn't even bother looking at his challenger. Rainbow wondered if he was deliberately being a jerk or it just came naturally without him realizing. Longstride gave the impression that he would be perfectly happy just talking to his fellow Thorns, and Black Rose. He just might have been doing that all his life. "I just don't care. Leave me alone, ranger."

The stallion's eyebrows twitched, his jaw clenched tightly for a moment, and his voice trembled with obvious restraint when he spoke. "Maybe a chance to gain something might catch your attention?" he asked. "I've got a thousand bits here that says I can outshoot you."

Longstride looked, but it was a disgusted wrinkle of his snout that faced his challenger, not a piqued glance. "Gambling is a shameful habit for any legionnaire," he said. "If you're this undisciplined, your archery is undoubtedly inferior. No testing necessary. Leave me alone, ranger."

The stallion spluttered when Longstride resumed cleaning. "Harsh words," he said, "but you sound more scared than angry. Maybe the great Longstride is just afraid that his legend will be smashed." He faced his companions and the gathered observers with a smile. "I'm not surprised. I placed first in the Highstable Archery Tournament for two consecutive years, and I have this year's in the bag as well. I have concrete proof of my skills, while the mysterious Longstride only has whispered exaggerations from the Southern Legion to speak for him. That and some papers likely forged by Black Rose, history's liar and traitor."

The other legionnaires, obviously his buddies, laughed among themselves. "You tell him, High Point," one of them said.

"The Thorns sound more like a propaganda piece to scare imperial spies anyway," another added.

Rainbow was about to put herself between them when she checked herself, well aware that this didn't really have anything to do with her. It's just that listening to such blatant, bald-faced taunting got her hackles up. In Longstride's place, she'd have accepted in a heartbeat, and put this arrogant stallion in his place. She'd get a thousand bits to boot. Why was Longstride refusing anyway? He shot her flank while she was racing. That shot alone was worth ten thousand trophies from this Highstable Tournament or whatever. And that dig at Black Rose? If it was one of her friends this stallion took a shot at, she'd drub him twice as hard. Longstride had to say yes. Besides, it would probably be cool and entertaining to see an impromptu trick shot competition on this mostly boring trip.

"Oh, come on!" Scarlet piped in. "You're going to let these guys talk like that? Let's see some archery! You can shoot circles around this guy! Then, shoot the arrows going in circles!"

"Are you done?" Longstride asked. Rainbow nearly jumped. That almost sounded like he addressed it to her, Scarlet, and High Point. He had set down his bow, and moved on to inspecting his quiver. "Leave me alone, ranger."

High Point snorted and glared at Longstride. For a moment, he looked ready to just shoot Longstride anyway. "Fine," he groused. "I just proved I'm the best archer in the Legion regardless." He turned and walked away with his friends. The other observers left as well, leaving only Rainbow and Scarlet with Longstride.

"Aw," Scarlet groaned. "That was a dull twist. I'm hitting the bar, again. You coming, Rainbow?"

"Yeah," Rainbow said absentmindedly. "I'll catch up." A brief flutter of powerful wings and a quick draft told her he was probably there already. She stood there for a few moments longer, staring at Longstride while he inspected the points of his arrows. Eventually, she had to say something. She stomped a hoof near him. "Why'd you let him walk all over you like that? There's no way you were afraid! Now, he thinks he's the greatest archer in the Legion!"

"What do I care what he thinks?" Longstride asked.

"What was so wrong about taking him on?" Rainbow asked. "You would have put him in his place, punished him for making fun of Black Rose, and won a thousand bits! Refusing just made you look like you were scared."

"Because my archery was honed to serve Equestria," Longstride said. "Not to satisfy anypony's cheap pride; not his, not yours, not even mine. As for Black Rose, if she ever concerned herself with what every overweening ranger thought of her, we would all be dead." His eyes narrowed. "Don't tell Sablesteel about this. That ranger does not deserve death."

"Hmph!" Rainbow groused. She plopped next to Longstride with her forelegs crossed. "So have you won this Highstable Archery Tournament?"

"Black Rose forbade me from ever entering," Longstride said. "She said I made gambling on the winner boring." He snorted. "Even she had her vices after all."

"Yeah," Rainbow said. "I guess that would be like Black Rose."

"Weren't you on your way to join Scarlet?" Longstride asked.

"He'll still be there when I get there," Rainbow said.

No response after that. Longstride was sharpening some arrow points with a small whetstone. Rainbow glanced at the case of bolts she had with her, and the crossbow strapped to her back. She supposed she wasn't that big on all this maintenance that Longstride was showing his equipment. Then again, she wasn't using a super special, magical bow or anything. Her crossbow was fine. 

"So tell me more about where we're going," Rainbow said, her voice much lower. "Why is Hassyth to the west?"

"Hassyth was already a disgraced noble before he came after you," Longstride said. "With the loss of his majordomo, and the vicious retaliations he drew from the Southern Legion, he would be in too great a risk if he stayed in Ophidus. He's fled to a secret manor to the southwest."

"So he's all alone then?" Rainbow asked. "This shouldn't be that hard."

Longstride shook his head. "No imperial citizen would be willing to work for him after his disgrace," he said. "But he will still have indoctrinated slaves. He'll also have enough resources left to surround himself with unscrupulous ursan and pony mercenaries. Hassyth himself is a powerful coatl overlord. Make no mistake, this will be a difficult task."

"You were the one going to do it alone," Rainbow muttered. "Don't start telling me about underestimating him."

"If you are killed or disabled in this mission, I will lose my head," Longstride replied. "Your friends will guarantee that. By myself, I could have simply retreated if faced with overwhelming odds. You and Scarlet will make sure that this attempt will be all or nothing. I'd say my chances of death have, at least, doubled."

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow snapped. "Why'd you agree to take us with you, then?"

Longstride was silent for some time.

"Face it," Rainbow crowed. "You know that you need me!"

"I hope so."

Rainbow didn't like the way that came out. "So?" she asked.

Longstride frowned, and finally stopped to look at her. "So what?' he asked.

"Don't give me that! What else is in there? You can't be this mopey if it was so simple. Spill it."

Rainbow swore she heard a sigh on there when he spoke. "The old manor Hassyth has occupied...I am familiar with the place. Given the location reported, it must be the old Willow Estate, where the Longstride Project took place."

"The Longstride..." Rainbow snorted. "Aren't you special? Getting a project named after you."

"You have it on backwards, you stupid mare," Longstride growled.

That name again. "Okay, fine!" Rainbow threw her front hooves up in front of her. "You don't have to be so touchy about it."

Longstride paused, as if just only becoming aware that he lost his monotone. Only when he regained his composure did he speak again. "There are things hidden away in that facility and its surroundings that might prove...useful. The Project's main focus was my creation, but it also involved itself in various endeavors to aid pegasus legionnaires. Including you, potentially. Also..."

Longstride stared off to the west, his lips tight. "When the Project fell apart, I hid most of the research there. If I recover it, and a great deal of additional research and ponies are put into it, then the Project might be restarted now."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "What?" she clamped a hoof over her mouth when her yell drew surprised glances. She lowered to a harsh whisper when she went on. "You mean, you can make more super snipers? Why didn't Black Rose bring this out sooner?"

"Black Rose left the matter to my discretion," Longstride replied. "I hid it away to ruminate on the matter, and I didn't decide until I underwent the stasis ritual."

"You!" Rainbow growled. She grabbed him by the shoulders with both hooves. "You kept this to yourself! Why? So you can be the only super sniper in Equestria? You selfish--"

Longstride pulled her hooves off, taking her aback by how strong his grip was. All that archery must be good for foreleg strength. "Selfish, am I?" he said. His tone cold, almost menacing. "Then educate me, Element of Loyalty, since you're so wise. As a loyal soldier of Equestria, I'm obligated to share any way to improve our nation's strength, correct?"

"Of course it is," Rainbow said. She was already thinking of what a squad of super archers could do: a barrage of perfectly-aimed shots from over the horizon each perfectly hitting their marks, enemies scrambling in a panic, unable to even tell where they should be covering from. 

"Twenty five pegasi and fifty six unicorns died to produce me," Longstride said. "By Black Rose's estimate, even a perfected process will cost three pegasi and one unicorn. How many must die to get from the process that produced me to that ideal? Should that price be paid in the name of my loyalty to Equestria?"

"Twenty--" Rainbow's breath caught in her chest. Her image of a squad of weird-eyed super snipers turned into a hill of corpses. Pegasi and unicorns piled on top of each other, lifeless eyes wide and accusing, mouths open in unfinished moans. She stared at Longstride, those things she was saying earlier soured in her stomach. Longstride stared back. His eyes, normally in a slow spin, stayed still. "Longstride...what are you?"

Longstride's snout wrinkled. "I'm a super special sniper that Equestria needs more of," he said. He exhaled, then returned his arrows to their quiver. "We get ahead of ourselves. When we do find the research, I will decide what happens to it. However, I will listen to what you have to say first. Until that time, concentrate on the mission."

"Yeah..." Rainbow muttered. She stood up and shook her head. She certainly wasn't in a drinking mood now.

"Heeey!" 

An all too familiar, high-pitched squeal came from across the deck. Before Rainbow could even react, a pink-furred foreleg was across her shoulders and around her neck. "We're docking soon!" Pinkie Pie sang out. She pointed at the great, dark shape looming across the horizon. "You see that huge mountain? That's the Great Delve!" A quick glance behind Pinkie showed that the others were approaching as well; Rarity, moved at an annoying, dignified pace with Lion Court and Octavia in tow. Copper Mane stayed at the far back while Nightcanter trotted ahead. Sablesteel had to be around somewhere...

Eager to put the heavy topic out of her mind for a while, Rainbow flew up a bit so she could see above the heads of every Heartlander gathering by one side of the airship for a view. She had seen her fair share of mountains. Certainly, the Western Barrier Land showed a lot. This mountain though...

This was the mountain of mountains. Its nearly perfect, conical peak disappeared high into the clouds. Rainbow could only guess that trying to reach this peak would only result in death from the too-thin air. Settlements dotted its vast base, likely logging villages from the cleared forest area around. The slope started with a gentle incline near the bottom only to sharply turn upward. The roads around it did not even reach halfway through. 

As they flew ever closer, their destination became clearer. Along the side of the mountain they were approaching, as close to the top as possible without being deadly, was a wide plateau, a flat space so sudden that it looked as if a giant had taken a giant axe to the mountain. What looked like a fortress sat on top of this plateau, where several airships were docked.

"The All-Mountain," Sablesteel said. Rainbow's heart nearly skipped when she found Sablesteel hovering nearly a foot away. "It's been a while. Nothing's changed on the outside, at least."

"Nothing?" Nightcanter scoffed as she took her place next to Pinkie. "I bet the Spiral Gateway has never been this busy ever."

"Ooh..." Pinkie said as she looked to Nightcanter, then Sablesteel. "Have you two been here before? Wait! Were you born here?"

"Me, a burrow-digging, gem-hoarding, delvite?" Sablesteel snorted. "Fortunately, no."

Nightcanter frowned at this, then smiled at Pinkie. "Born and raised," she said. "If we have time, I'll show you around my old haunts."

"It's impressive," Rarity said once she had joined them. She eyed the fortress critically. "But it looks quite small for a capital city."

Lion Court laughed. "My dear Rarity," he said. "You're looking at the Spiral Gateway, which is nothing more than a glorified inspection port for pegasi, war balloons, airships, and dragons. To call this the Delve is like calling the back door of a mansion the entire mansion."

"Well, in that case, the Delve sounds quite impressive indeed," Rarity said.

Finally, their airship docked into the fort. Great, wooden platforms extended from the structure to allow the passengers to walk out. At the far end were several legionnaires, ready to inspect and welcome. The docking area was a large open space with several surrounding towers. No doubt, there were ponies in there, either crossbow ponies or unicorns. Maybe even ballistae. Large stacks of crates also lay scattered round them with ponies trotting to and fro to move them. Past the docking area, a lair of massive, wooden double doors beckoned into the fortress itself. Everypony was moving there, so Rainbow guessed the entrance to the Delve was inside.

Well...everypony but her group.

Rarity and Pinkie now looked at her as the others departed.

"Looks like we part ways here, Rainbow," Rarity said. "Do take care."

Pinkie said nothing at first, opting for a sudden, bone-bruising hug instead. "I'll miss you," she said with a sniff when they broke off. 

Next to them, Sablesteel put a hoof on Longstride's shoulder. "Good luck," she said. She glanced briefly at Rainbow before staring at Longstride. "Do your job, Stride," she said. "No more, no less."

"The same to you," Longstride replied. "Take care of yourself, Sable." He merely gave an impassive nod when Lion Court gave him a friendly pat on the back, and Octavia politely bowed.

"See ya, girls," Rainbow said. She waved a hoof as they made their way into the fort. She turned towards her companions for this journey. Scarlet Rabbit grinned at her while Longstride already looked towards the side of the mountain. "Right, you guys," she said solemnly. "Let's go."





The winter air so high up the All-Mountain proved even worse than Canterlot's chilly breezes. The wind felt like little needles against Rainbow's wings as she and her companions winged their way down the slope. A lone, treacherous road did wind its way up all the way to the Spiral Gateway, but there wasn't anypony using it at the moment. Rainbow guessed that it was only there for emergencies. The All-Mountain's steep slopes promised death by abrasion for anypony unlucky enough to fall into the quick slide down them, if they didn't just fall into the several sudden drops she spotted as she flew past. The mountainside, as most of the Western Barrier Land, was covered with a layer of snow. It wasn't so bad as to make avalanches a true danger, but only an idiot would be walking around here.

While Rarity and Pinkie Pie got to live it up in the Barrier Lands' capital city, Rainbow's destination was some small village to the southwest called Southwind. Longstride knew it from memory and confirmed it by a recent map so this had be a really old village.

"So, is this Southwind your hometown?" Rainbow had to yell to fight the loud whistling in her ears as they descended swiftly. As swiftly as Longstride could, anyway. This was a comfortable speed, she supposed. 

"I'm told I was born there," Longstride yelled back, his eyes focused ahead.

"Told?" Rainbow scoffed. "You're not even sure?"

"I remember next to nothing," Longstride replied. "I spent my foalhood in Willow Manor as a Longstride candidate."

Well, that went someplace Rainbow didn't want to go yet. "What about you, Scarlet?" Rainbow asked. "We close to your hometown?"

Scarlet guffawed. "No way! I was born in Nazcatania, the Imperial Capital itself!" He did a little turn, then a spin, clearly restless with the speed they were going. To see him laughing and smiling remained surprising, though. He had been so berserk at the chance to kill Hassyth back in the Heartland. Rainbow had feared that the thought of actually going on a mission to go after his old master would reduce Scarlet into a frothing beast. She liked to think that he had learned some self-control after that incident. Better that than him simply being terrified of Vanguard Clash.

They finally moved out of their dive and into a horizontal flight. They remained above the treeline, flying across a sea of white-topped greens. Rainbow sucked in a deep breath. That fresh mountain air was so invigorating, she could probably fly for hours with no problem. They soared on quietly for just that, save for Scarlet's occasional loud whoops and maneuvers. It was great to have so much open sky out here. For a while, she could just think that they were on a grand adventure. Their packs had enough food for a week if they scrimped and saved. Their canteens were good for several days, and there didn't seem to be a problem with rivers and streams in this part of the Barrier Lands. Everything still looked good.

Longstride's sudden hoof on Rainbow's shoulder brought perspective crashing back. "Wait," he said flatly. Rainbow stopped to a hover. Ahead of them, Scarlet was a hundred feet away before he realized what was happening.

"What?" Rainbow asked.

Longstride pointed at the horizon. Rainbow squinted, but there didn't seem to be anything out there. Longstride was pointing southwest, though, to the place they were heading. "Smoke," he said. "A large column. This doesn't bode well for Southwind."

Rainbow squinted even harder. There might be a very faint wisp in the horizon...or was she just imagining it just to confirm with Longstride? She nodded, her face serious now.

"Okay," she said. She patted her crossbow and let him ahead. He was the one who could see after all. "Let's do this."