//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: To Jack a Rainbow // by Toraka //------------------------------// Complete silence. Hardly any light. All around her warmth and softness. No pain, doubt or concern. From what Applejack could tell, this could be the afterlife. A quiet rustle from her right told her the opposite. Looking over, Applejack remembered that her paradise was not behind the veil of death, but in the world of the living. With Rainbow Dash. What a beauty, she thought. Apparently, they had had quite a battle over the blanket in their sleep. Which, as nearly every contest between them, had been won by Dash. Now the rainbow blanket was crumbled up near Dash's head, extending each color of her mane ten times its length. Through the window (more accurately, opening in the cloud wall), Applejack could see the rising sun. Somehow, she was drawn outwards by it stronger than any force known to her. Applejack didn't want to risk waking up the sleeping beauty, so she carefully slid out of the bed as quietly as she could. Stepping out into the fresh morning air, Applejack immediately saw why she'd been so mesmerised by the sunrise. The moist air made the borders of the sun sparkle like a diamond in the, well, sun. She kicked up a bit of cloud, which quickly dispersed and formed a small stripe of rainbow in the air. In the distance, the snowy caps of Canterlot mountain reflected single light beams over. "What an awesome sight, right?" Rainbow Dash slowly trotted to her side. "Not quite as awesome as the sight Ah'm havin' right now." "Heh, of course, nothing can be THAT awesome. By definition. Mareiam and Webster asked for a picture of me to put under "awesome"." "So, you ready to learn my secrets?" After breakfast, Rainbow Dash had made Applejack follow her into her entrance room. "'T's what Ah asked for, right?" "Right. So..." Dash pushed a secret button in the wall, hidden under a hoof of cloud. The nearby bookshelf (Which was filled only with a few dusty lexica) flung to the side. Behind it, there was a variety of objects hanging on the wall. Biggest of them all was an outfit, white on the oustide, red on the inside, with various bags and belts on it, finished at the top by a large hood. A fair number of gadgets and contraptions hung around it. For each, there seemed to be a slot on the outfit in the middle. The same symbol Dash had been wearing in her mane appeared multiple times in the hidden closet and on the outfit. Applejack let out a small whistle. "Wow. Clichè!" Whatever answers Rainbow had expected, this was not one of them. She was at a loss of words and didn't manage to put out anything more than a confused cough. "Ah mean, ya know, the whole 'Hidden button, stuff behind bookshelf' thing." "Uhm, kinda. Works, though, doesn't it?" "Ah'm waitin' for yer explanations ta all o' this. What are those things?" "Well, I'd best start somewhere. I am part of a secret society dedicated towards keeping peace in Equestria by influencing - or eliminating - those of importance. No, I'm not. I was. I am. I suppose you never really quit." "Eliminate?! What the hay?" "Calm down. We've been mostly inactive for such a long time now. Mostly. Not even Celestia can keep her whole kingdom under control." "But... Why? What issues are there you'd have to get violent fer?" "Luckily, few. As I said, mostly inactive. We've kept in hiding, not doing much more than talking to those who need to be corrected. But you've never looked into the face of a true target. There's no other salvation for those." Applejack was struggling to comprehend what had been said. "So those things are yer... Equipment, Ah suppose?" "Yes. The center piece, both in function and literally, is the outfit. It's traditional and does not draw unwanted attention like RAINBOW hair would." "Really? You do realise yer easier to spot when yer wearin' clothes and not just going without like everypony else?" "Here, maybe. But the Brotherhoof was and is active mostly in snobby places like Canterlot. Also, if anypony bothers to give you a second look, you've already lost in most cases." "Makes sense." "Below it are some smoke bombs. Useful for area denial, breathing room in combat, distraction... Pretty universal. To the right of that are some emergency bits when you can't access the rest of your savings because they're looking for you." "And, finally, the most known and perhaps most important piece, the Hidden." Rainbow strapped the device on a foreleg. As she did an inconspicuous movement, a blade of five inches length sprung forward, then quickly retracted again. Applejack jumped backwards a little bit out of surprise. "Heh, yeah. It utilises the element of surprise, our greatest weapon. Not to be confused with the Elements of Harmony." "Tha's a whole lotta stuff ya got there. Did you ever... use it?" Applejack was afraid of the answer. "Once, and there was no other way. He would have threatened everything. After that, I was lucky enough to never again have to." "So tha's where ya got them tenets or what ya called 'em." "Stay your blade from the flesh of innocents. One. Be discreet. Two. Never compromise the Brotherhoof. Three. Yes, those are the highest... Only, actually, laws for us. Nothing is real, everything is permitted." "Ah don' have ta understand that, do Ah?" "I don't, either. Only the wisest and most experienced truly grasp the meaning of those words. For us other idiots, the shallow insight you get from simply hearing it is enough. Not everypony can live up to the understanding Luna had." "Princess Luna? How's she in all o' this?" "Oh, she founded the Brotherhoof back in the day before she was banished. It was a really messy time back then. It would take care of what business Celestia's open approach could not solve on its own. We work in the dark to serve the light." "Tha's why ya know all o' dem stars?" "Kinda. No, to be honest, it's an entirely different story. A little while ago, shortly after your... generousness... had got me injured, I woke up in the middle of the night. Something drew me to Canterlot." "Why does everypony pick on my form? Those are apple bucking hips, nothing else!" "Yeah, they are. As it turned out, Luna herself had decided to summon me when she saw how fascinated I was with her night sky. We spent quite a while stargazing, just like the two of us did last night. While I was there, she also healed my ankle." "So ya went an' looked at tha sky with somepony who's not only your Brotherhoof's leader, but also the highest royalty you can get?" "She invited me!" "Tha's quite interestin', Ah must say." "Wanna learn more?" "How?" "This might sound overwhelming, but there are also ponies out there against us. They are organised as well. Our cause is not exactly legal sometimes, but they are worse. They want to seize domination over all of Equestria, and stop at nothing for that!" "And how does that affect me?" "I am relatively high up in the order. They're hunting for me. It's your decision to take the offer, but I'd like you to receive some training so you can defend yourself in case they find us. In case they want to blackmail me." "Ya serious?" "I'm serious. I don't care if they kill me. I want you to be safe." "Whatever's yer desire, Ah'm doin' it." "Great. So let's... Huh. We're marrying pretty soon, don't we." "At least ya remember." "Well, no matter. There's enough time." It had been a hard time for Applejack, but she was ready. Physically. Mentally. Even though she'd been athletic before (except in her flanks), the training had not been a walk in the park. In order to get the required mobility, most of the members were pegasi. She, obviously, was not. So, she had had to learn how to climb and run to highest efficiency. While most of the time, stealth would provide her cover, she had to know her way around the rooftops in case she'd get into a chase. There were more rules than Rainbow had mentioned. Technically, they were just derivations from the first three, which Applejack had had to repeat and follow until she could literally recite them in her sleep. She had to rest well and much longer than she used to. Eat lightly, and little at once. Lie to her friends to throw them off her trail when she was going to training. One, two, three. Stay attentive at all times. Never risk stomach crumps in unexpected chases. Never compromise the Brotherhoof. Then, there was the most important part of her initiation, combat training. In case they would find her, despite her keeping a low profile. Dodging. Counterattacking. Distracting the enemy long enough to allow safe use of the Hidden. Of course, Applejack prayed never to have to use those skills, but she had to learn them. To be ready. "It's time, Apples." Rainbow Dash awakened Applejack from her trance. She gestured for the earth pony to follow her into the ceremony room. "Ya gonna be present?" Applejack asked as they walked the small distance side by side. "Everypony is. I'm even pretty much required for the ceremony. I said I'm high up, didn't I?" Applejack suddenly stopped when she stepped into the room and saw who was there, waiting behind a lit brazier. Rainbow pushed at her slightly oversized flank to make her keep walking. Either she'd been completely oblivious while in thought, or the room had a second entrance. "Fluttershy? She, of all ponies and other under the sun, is also a member of the Brotherhoof?" "Master actually. Not hard to imagine, if you think about it. That mare can vanish out of plain sight if she sees as much as a shadow. She's perfected stealth. She's been Mentor some time now, although now Luna will probably take back over soon." Applejack couldn't wipe the surprised expression off her face. Fluttershy gave her a shy smile and nodded to confirm what Dash had just said. "La shay' haqiqah, koulo shay' moumkin. The wisdom of our creed is revealed through these words." "Er, beg yer pardon, whadya jus' say?" Applejack's outright question made all but two of the present ponies gasp. "The highest rule, you..." Rainbow grumbled at her. She was interrupted by Fluttershy. "Oh no, it's alright. I suppose nopony's told you the old version. I prefer the newer one too. A-chem! Where other ponies blindly follow the truth, remember..." "Nothin' is true." "Where other ponies are limited by morality or law, remember..." "Everythin' is permitted." "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are the Brotherhoof. Nothing is true, everything is permitted." Everypony joined in with Fluttershy in the last sentence. The building they were on was rather high. Applejack didn't care. She was told to prove her faith, and so she did. After a second of falling headfirst, she figured she should possibly check her landing zone. Not that she could do anything about it now. Not that she cared about it now. She was at inner peace. Rainbow would catch her, she was sure. If she didn't, well, she'd grow old and they'd be reunited eventually. Just as Applejack had clenched her eyes even tighter, she felt the electric fizzle of magic on her fur. She opened her eyes to see she was floating still a bit off the ground. Slowly, she descended. Some other ponies from the Brotherhoof, including Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, met her on the ground. "Ah suppose Ah've passed that test, eh? But whaddya catch me so early for? Could've waited some more time, really. Hey... Where's the unicorn, anyway?" "There is no unicorn. Not now. It was just a stored spell, designed to trigger when there is a specific event in the target's brain." "Like, prove yer faith? Ah guess Ah did that. Ya would've catched me if Ah hadn't activated it, right?" "Um, sure. By the way, you triggered it higher up than anypony I remember. Congratulations." "Sugarcube?" This time, the two lovers, or, to be exact, wives, laid in Applejack's bed. It was a bit small, but it did fit them both. "Hm?" "Ah was thinkin'... How many of 'Them' are out there? Will I have to go on a contract? How big is tha danger fer me ta be found really?" "Well..." Rainbow Dash couldn't suppress a small chuckle. "First, still some. Second, not if you don't want to. If we're lucky, nopony will have to execute a contract of that sort. Third... Kinda small. But I wanted to have no secrets standing between us." "So it was all jus' so Ah unnerstand what's goin' on with ya?" "Not just that. The risk is there, it's just small. Maybe I just wanted you to get in because we're awesome. Who knows?" "So we're not really in danger?" "I doubt it." "Then let's have a good life. Off to Fillydelphia and don't you dare not give me the best honeymoon ever!"