//------------------------------// // Chapter 27 // Story: Only One Speck of Dust // by TheMareWhoSaysNi //------------------------------// From up high, the wind seemed even more bitterly than how it felt near the ground. But as far as Pinkie Pie was concerned, the difference was barely perceptible. For a mare from the South Shore of Equestria, she had an amazing cold resistance. Generally, she would wear her cloak only to go outside, and once she had climbed at the top of her tower, she let it hang on one of the wooden rims. Located in the north garden, the huge tower overhung the Royale Tavern and Inn, and allowed a panoramic view on the whole area of the Great Weaver, and even beyond. It was firmly put up inside the ground, and in order to reach the observation spot, an impressive number of steps was to be climbed, which would have tired anyone else. What Pinkie Pie called her booth was covered by a roof of bricks painted in black, had wooden panels a little taller than her body all around. Roomy enough to contain three ponies, she had settled here a small table to read, and a tray filled with snow in which she kept drinks cold. All she had to do was to turn around and jump to get access to her cannon, remains of the Fratricide War which she was the only one allowed to use, and only to raise the alarm. If she had to fight, she kept a set of cutting knives at her disposal, placed in belts around her hooves. The spyglass she used to watch the city allowed her to see until the fringe of the Everfree Forest, according to the way she adjusted her lens. Pinkie Pie had already received a few pictures of the party, sent by Twilight. Behind each of them, a note had been written by one of her friends, and all swore that a party without her was not a real party, and that they missed her. It was those small attentions that counterbalanced the fact that she could not take part in the event, which she nevertheless had planned many important details. Before she arrived in Ponyville, her life had especially been marked by loneliness. She was partying a lot, of course, yet it was with strangers, passing acquaintances who came and went in her existence. She never had settled down somewhere until then… Times were hard for a lonely mare with no real education. When she had arrived at the Longreen Woodrow Orphanage, while she was nothing but a baby filly, the latter already was committed to the Fratricide War, fighting by the Armed Weapon of Destruction’s sides. All the same, Pinkie Pie had always felt as if she had known him personally. There were many pictures of him on the walls, and the eldest ones told the younger ones their memories with this pony they all regarded as a hero – forgetting on the way his past as a mercenary on the enemy’s behalf. They all thought he would come back at the end of the war, crowned with glory, and ready to give all of his love to the foals most freshly registered, even those whom he could not guess the existence. But he had never returned, and little by little hope had deserted the orphanage’s occupiers, and its staff. Most of the families were too poor to adopt, and with medical employees needed, all the help was accepted to heal the wounded fighters, who became priorities. Pinkie Pie had witnessed, powerless, the fall of the Longreen Woodrow Orphanage. One by one, the mares who had been the employees had left the place, if not the city. Abandoned, the foals had to learn how to do without help. Most of the time, it meant living at the school of street knocks. It was this precariousness which had forged her “survival instinct”. Obliged to defend herself against all the aggressions that even a very young filly such as her could suffer from, she had to quickly absorb a fighting style that was proper to the abandoned children, a fighting art that differed from the subtle and codified techniques taught by the Fighting Masters. One of the principles of this way more violent fighting style was that anything could be regarded as a weapon, and that pity had no rightful place. Of course, it all went against her cheerful and friendly nature, but Pinkie Pie had not been able to do without this way of life, at the risk to end up like these many victims that the Militias of the different cities were not always able to save. Fortunately, unlike many of her fellows, she could read and count, which allowed her not to become a theft. In fact, her first job involved reading aloud for veterans or ponies turned blind because of the excessive use of tear gas. It was a hard job, but she was always given a meal in compensation of her favor. However, she had quickly understood that when you were a filly, the most common job offers were linked to the dissolute universe of the mares of the night. Refusing propositions from touts, on the other hoof she had been hired by saloons where she had taken part at the putting together of menus and development of the entertainments. Her fondness for singing had often led her on the stage. That was how she had discovered her skills for good party planning. And yet, this way of life could not allow her to be able to belong somewhere. After some time, the bosses of the houses for which she worked always tried to force her to do sexual favors to their customers, with all the rest. Her roaming had finally led her to the city of Las Pegasus. Unlike the small mining ghettos all around, all poor and working, the main city of the region was known for its grotesque face. A lot of ponies were converging there in these still confused times, hoping they would make a fortune. Casinos, Company Houses and saloons kept on flourish, and for a young mare such as her, fond of parties and new encounters, there were many opportunities. Quickly, she had found a job in one of the many casinos of the city, where she hosted games for the foals. Las Pegasus’ euphoria, its lights and unceasing bazaar atmosphere made her feel like she finally was home. Pinkie Pie had envisioned to settled down there forever, to finally take the time to make friends she would have kept. One of them was an employee of the casino whom she had immediately get on well with. Dynamic and cheerful like herself, he often trotted her home to make sure she would not be accosted by undesirable ponies. By dint of chatting, she had learned that he also had lived at the Longreen Woodrow Orphanage. On one ordinary night, he had brought her home, and on her door step, had asked her to come in so he would use her washroom. It was too late when Pinkie Pie had understood which trap she had just fallen into. When his body had leant all its weight against hers, and he had pinned a hoof on her mouth so she would not scream, something inside of her had come to the surface, with the abruptness and violence of an explosion. When she had regained consciousness, the measly was in a pitiful state, and she was covered with blood. After she had made sure he was still alive and sent a message to the emergency services, she had packed her things, and left Las Pegasus, heading to the North Shore. Her intention was to go to Manehattan, or maybe Canterlot. On her way, nevertheless, came back to her mind words her attacker had said. Longreen Woodrow had never come back in Appleloosa because he had found love during the Fratricide War, and founded his own family, abandoning his orphanage. So, all that had happened to her had been this family’s fault, this family she never had. Her survival instinct came back to the surface, one more time. That was how she has arrived in Ponyville. The announcement of Longreen Woodrow’s death had let her shocked during several minutes, then after a paroxysm of crying, she had passed out. At her awakening, she had discovered with astonishment that instead of throwing her out, though she had tried to attack them, if not to destroy them completely, the “family” of her benefactor had healed her and taken care of her, supplying her a bed and a bedroom, and staying at her bedside to make sure she would not burst in tears again. From then on, she had not left them and now regarded them as her parents and siblings figure. Pinkie Pie received another picture, this time with a note from Twilight Sparkle. It said they were about to serve everyone the cake, and that she would bring a slice of it for her later in the night. She had had some prejudices when she had learned the unicorn would get her job back as the Militia’s Main Quartermaster, particularly after Double Diamond’s death, yet, now she recognized Rainbow Dash had a very great idea by making her come back in the clan she originally had pledged loyalty to. In a very short time, Twilight had integrated herself to the rest of The Militia. From aggressive and withdrawn, she had become more willingly cheerful and radiant. Her very sharp sense of the organization had brought a fresh wind which had cheered troop morale up. For this reason, Pinkie Pie had decided to welcome her with open hooves as if she always had been a part of the band. “I wonder if I could have a glimpse at the party from here…” She adjusted her spyglass’s lens, and turned it toward the building behind her, before remembering the backstage of the cabaret’s stage blocked the view she could have had. “Silly Pinkie”, she said slightly hitting her forehead with her hoof. “There’s nothing to see… Oh, wait a minute…” Once again, she directed her lens toward the inn, but this time she lowered it towards the ground. It seemed she had had a glimpse of something from the corner of her eye… and this something was quickly confirmed. Fluttershy, the young pegasus mare Rainbow Dash had received because she had suffered from mistreatments and feared her former boss, had just got out of the backstage door. Pinkie Pie saw her looking behind with distress and distrust, then rushing toward the magic magnetic field settled all around the inn. Only those allowed to cross it once could cross it again. Was she fleeing in the middle of the night in order to avoid too difficult farewells? No way. She was only here since the day before. She could not have healed from her wounds so fast. The Spotter Rainbow Dash had asked to come tonight was following her closely, obviously trying her best not to get noticed. In stupefaction, Pinkie Pie saw Fluttershy opening one of the gates and slip her head through the partially opened door. She frowned. It was not that she was trying to flee… She was up to no good! A few seconds later, confirming the earth mare’s theory, a pony with a mane pushed back from his face creeping through the door, followed by another, and a white unicorn with an elegant purple mane. A quick glance at the Spotter, lying on the ground with a dart drove in her neck finally convinced Pinkie Pie they all were in danger. Without hesitation, she kicked one of her cannonballs to slip it inside her cannon. She had to warn everyone that a wolf had entered the sheepfold and that what they feared the most was about to happen. Unfortunately, she had no time to light the fuse that she also received a dart in her neck. Knocked over, Pinkie Pie tried to get rid of it. It was already too late. Before she could even have raised the alarm, everything disappeared around her, and she collapsed on the floor of her booth, unconscious. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Until now, everything seemed to unfold wonderfully. This, the family owed it to Pinkie Pie and they all knew it. She was the one who had planned the party, almost on her own, and she could not even take part in it. So, as a compensation, they had decided to stay awake until breakfast in order to spend time with her and catch up what she had missed. But the night was still young. From where she was, Rainbow Dash looked with a smile the ponies she loved the most interacting together, in a good mood that filled her heart with lightness. It was a rare thing lately. It seemed to her that except her intimate moments with Soarin and of complicity with her mother, she had not been so at peace with herself since centuries. Even Twilight, the most recent member, was displaying an unsuspected cheerfulness, though her wounds stopped her from walking properly. The moment to change her bandages surely was close… Same for Applejack’s ones, giving to her formal attire a brave face that was somewhat reminiscent of the mare’s flamboyant personality. Yes, everything was perfectly fine. Too perfectly fine. Glancing at the clock at the back of the room, Rainbow Dash noticed that both Fluttershy and her Spotter had not come back. An urgent call of nature could not take so much time… Unless the mare pegasus was lost and the Spotter could not help her, at risk of being discovered… Her reflections were cut in when an employee of the inn arrived with a dessert trolley, on which stood a gigantic wedding cake. Made of four stories, the cake was covered with the most elegant white icing, with two marzipan lilac roses and flowers from the same flavor and color going down to the bottom, where the two same roses were. She frowned a little. Her demand had been clear: the roses should be of the same color than her mother’s coat. Pink and white were tonight’s theme… For a moment, it reminded her of her foalhood. When her parents came to pick her up at school, the others always were impressed. Yet, the question she heard the most was not about their past exploits. She often had been asked why, with a father with a coral mane and a white coat, and a mother with a blue mane and a pink coat, herself could have come to life with such a color pattern. The answer was not so complicated, and even quite logic. She had inherited everything from her maternal grandfather who was exactly the same. With the exception that he was male and far from having her impetuous character. From what she knew, at least. Like many other grandparents, he had died during the Fratricide War. Civil collateral damages, that was how they called what had happened to him. “Dashie, come on”, Soarin’s voice asked her, pulling her out of her thoughts. She opened her mouth in order to tell him off for using once again this nickname in front of everyone, then she changed her mind. It would be no use… Even with a good dressing down, he would probably do it again. Everypony was already gathered around the cake, mouthwatering, when she arrived and sat by his side. As they would have done during their wedding, if they could have had a reception after it, Firefly and Uncloudy Shelter both cut a part of the wedding cake, in which they bit together. In the same manner than the others around, Rainbow Dash was amused by her mother’s embarrassed reactions, especially as she knew that in a similar situation, she would have reacted the exact same way. Despite it all, it was a touching moment for everyone. Each knew how much it mattered to the heroes of the day, to be able to renew this commitment of a lifetime in front of all those they loved and who mattered the most in their lives. “Speech now, auntie”, Applejack chanted. Immediately, they all started to hit the floor from their hooves, demanding a speech from Firefly, who was crimson from shame. Rainbow Dash would have hated to be done the same, yet she took part in it with pleasure, for a once glad not to be the center of attention. In front of this enthusiastic flow of demands, the mare pegasus could not resist very long. She climbed on the high stool that was for small Apple Bloom, who was now standing on her mother’s head, and cleared her throat. “I’m warning you, I’m horrible when it comes to this kind of thing. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… Fine. Where do I begin? Thank you everyone to be here for the day when I officially made a fool of myself forever.” General laughter. On her side, Uncloudy nuzzled his wife’s neck, assuring her she was not making a fool of herself… And, in light of her tensed face, it did not seem to comfort her at all. “Let’s be serious… Thank you, sincerely. You have no idea how important it is for us to see you all. I also have a thought for our poor grounded Pinkie Pie without who this night would not have been such a success… But I already have thanked her a bit earlier today, so she knows how glad I am. “You know it, Uncloudy and I got married between two bombings, at a not so far period when Equestria still accepted the sale of disloyal artillery such as crossbows, and most importantly firearms and cannons, banished since then. What was the mentioned reason, already…?” “Too serious physical damages”, Rainbow Dash cried in order to help her mother. “That’s it. It doesn’t mean that ponies had stopped to kill one another after that, or else, of course, you wouldn’t wear your beautiful red cloaks every night. But I can feel I’m off topic… I can’t help, I give better speeches about war than love. By the way, this is absolutely awful. What would all our struggles be without love and friendship? They’re the essence of our existence, they’re what allows us to walk through the fog without being afraid. Life can be very long, but also very short. That’s why we should never forget to tell our relatives that we love them, and how much we love them. Even if it means dying from shame!” Firefly winked Rainbow Dash in complicity. The message was crystalline, and if it was for everyone, she knew her mother was trying to encourage her to say a bit more often what she was feeling for the ones she cared for. Because when she went around the room with her eyes, she realized there was no pony here that she did not love with all her heart. They each were very precious to her, in their own personal way. Sweeping the room with her eyes, she spotted Fluttershy on the cabaret’s front stage, on her own. Since how long was she back? And where was her Spotter? Yes, she perfectly knew how to blend into the background, but not to the extent of being untraceable even for Rainbow Dash. She knew she always had to be within her reach. It had not seemed to her that Fluttershy was the type to like being in the spotlight. Her presence here was nothing good. She opened her mouth to scream, yet no sound escaped. A sudden bitterness wrung her stomach… The thick velvet curtain parting the stage in two were suddenly pulled up, and behind Fluttershy appeared a whole loads of soldiers with white cloaks, armed to the teeth. A white unicorn with purple curls stepped closer, and bowed in front of the mare pegasus. No. Rainbow Dash had seen the bruises on her body. The branded tattoo with the name of the grinding house. It was impossible. She was a lost and scared mare… She needed her help. Obviously, if this really was the Unavowed Army, what she was sure of, she had been threatened to betray them. It could not be any other way. When she heard the unicorn talking to Fluttershy by calling her Milady, she understood how much she had been fooled. Without a glance, although a bit scared about what was going to happen next, the mare pegasus left the cabaret, flying with a suddenly exasperating shyness. “Traitor!” Rainbow Dash screamed on top of her lungs. Her family behind her had suspended each of their actions, their eyes staring at the stage. They were stunned, even Knight Shelter, and this despite the fact that it was not for the same reason than the others… But the Head’s Council members had their faces as tensed from anger as Rainbow Dash’s. She saw the white unicorn open her mouth, but another mare, a pegasus with a jade coat and a fire-like mane, took a step forward and talk before the other had time to say anything. “Now you know how it feels like…” “Hey! This is my line!” Rarity cried. Frowning toward the newbie who could not stop being extremely zealous, she intimated her to take a step back, and came at the front stage, right at the spot where Fluttershy had stood a few minutes before. “Nice to meet you all, my name is Rarity, Main Servant of his Lord, The True King Blueblood, and I am sorry to inform you that this party is over. Savor the last minutes of your existence… and let me a slice of this cake, it looks absolutely succulent.” Rainbow Dash was immensely angry with herself to have trust Fluttershy. She had looked so scared, so innocent… Yet the fact that she rubbed shoulders with Pinkie Pie on a daily basis had taught her to mistrust innocence. Even in the case where the mare had been manipulated, it did not really matter. She had taken part in what was about to begin. And she would pay the highest price for that, this The Militia’s Head promised to herself. However, this was not the perfect moment for lamenting or guilty feelings. Her Council was prepared for whatever might happen, even for this, and each of them knew exactly what they had to do. The army that kept on swelling on stage surely was waiting for a signal before starting their acts of war. There was no time to waste. Without conferring each other, they started to hammer the floor with their hooves. On stage, Rarity looked at them in surprise… It was not the moment to clap. Unless this was a freaky way these ponies have to galvanize their troops. They would lose, anyway. The Unavows outnumbered them loosely. And then, she understood. Their hooves strikes sounded like telegraphs… They were sending a message to the rest of The Militia! Of course, the Council only could help The Militia’s Members, and not the other way, but this Rainbow Dash’s family members were considered as citizens. Too bad for the signal they were expecting. She had to start the attack without further delay. Just like earlier, Rarity opened her mouth, ready to scream – the most elegantly she could – to her own troops to get into the fight, and just like earlier, she was interrupted by this arrogant newbie called Lightning Dust. “Attack! And no quarter!” “I am the one who give the orders, Good Gracious!” No one listened to her anymore. Without a care whether they knocked her or not, all the soldiers rushed toward, while the Council retreated toward the back of the room, in order to protect their family, the best they could. “Spitfire… Bring everyone in a safe place”, Rainbow Dash asked, staring at the enraged bunch rushing toward them. “Right now.” Rainbow Dash had talked to her with Head of the Militia’s voice, and not with the tone of the niece by marriage that Spitfire enjoyed to tease. As a member of the Greater Council, she had the power either to contest either to support orders from one of the Heads, and to protect every Equestria’s Council. She did not need to be asked twice, and tried to repatriate Melrose, Uncloudy Shelter, Firefly, Apple Bloom and even Knight Shelter by the emergency’s doors. Already, Rainbow Dash had bounced forward, her sword between her teeth, in order to annihilate attackers, and each of the members had joined the fight, that was immediately enraged. When they were at the final hurdle, Spitfire noticed with dread that young Apple Bloom had not followed them. She had run to her big sister and brother, like fascinated by what was under her eyes. The mare pegasus opened wide her eyes, scared to death. She absolutely needed to rescue the little filly.