Rainbow flew slowly home and then immediately went to work. She had missed being with Scootaloo earlier, and that bugged her a little. Sure, Scoots was fine, she was off visiting Lightning and Dusk in Torkuda’s cave. She would go to school and then sleep over there, all planned out and fine. But this was a bad day, a day a mother kinda needed her daughter.
Rainbow took longer than usual to do her job, but then, she normally moved so fast, going slow for her still looked fast anyway, no one noticed.
Finally she clocked out and looked down to her home. She really didn’t want to go home to an empty house. She needed to play, that’s just how she felt- couldn’t really explain why in her head, but it was what she needed.
She kept going pretty slow, thinking as she went. She cared about Silent, but none of what she did was mattering. Celestia didn’t listen, no one was joining the cause, and Fire Sky… he was probably just getting worse.
The sun went down as she flew.
The mouth of Torkuda’s cave started to come into view. A shadow fell over her and she heard a voice singing a strange song. “Alright… alright… alright.” The voice gave a small chuckle, then sang again. “Alright, alright, alright.”
Rainbow’s heart started to race. Why was he here? She looked around as he came into view. He was alone.
He flew in front of her. “A brilliant attempt I must admit,” Fire Sky said. “Dark Skies tells me you broke that bitch’s jaw for sure. She has an annoying habit of healing, but according to him it was sure a pleasure to watch.”
“What do you want Fire?”
He laughed. “What do you think? Get out. Leave. I can see it, you’re already changing Silent Storm. You’re changing him, like you mares always change us. Well what right have you?”
“I’m not trying to change anyone- well I tried to change Celestia but you apparently know how that went.”
“Yes it was a terrific show, not sure for what audience, but ultimately nothing came of it.”
“Show?”
“Oh I’ve already figured out the part you play in all this witch. An element bearer just happens to take our side?” he then started in a mocking tone. “Oh but she just can’t make a difference… please.”
“You think this was all a show? I fought an elite guard!”
“Like he would have hurt one of Celestia’s precious element bearers. He was supposed to die.”
“What the hell? Fire listen to me, you just sound crazy right now.”
“Would it really be so surprising? We stallions compose ninety percent of your military. That way you always have enough stallion bodies to throw at a problem.”
“There are mares in the military-“
“Oh please, those precious Wonder Bolts? Spit Fire is the leader, but trust me, the first time they go into combat, somehow Soarin will be in the front.”
“Soarin is respected by the team. They messed up with him once, but it was- well… I mean it was kinda dumb but-“
“I already told you what I want witch. Give me your word you’ll stay away from Silent and the camp.” Rainbow glared at him. “Silent warned you not to cross me didn’t he?”
“He did.”
“So, you want me to believe you respect him? But I can see it in your eyes, just like the words of a stallion always mean to a mare, his words meant nothing to you. He means nothing to you. He’s just a tool for you to use.”
“No.”
“No what?”
“No he’s not. And no, I’m not staying out of it.”
Fire laughed. “You know, I suppose I implied you mares are incapable of love just there. I don’t believe that at all, just that you can’t love us… well, no more than you do a dog. But I do know what means more to you than dogs like us.” Rainbow’s eyes grew hot with rage. She was barely holding herself back. In her eyes, Fire was still just as much a victim as- “A daughter means more than a dog doesn’t it?”
Her eyes went large. “You leave her alone!” A blast of fire shot at Rainbow’s wing a searing heat tearing through it. Rainbow screamed and fell through the air, watching as the navy blue pegasus flew towards Torkuda’s cave.
(***)
Lightning stared at the ceiling, Scootaloo watching her. They were really just hanging out at the horde right now. Lightning levitated her school papers above herself with her electricity.
“Can you write with it too?” Scootaloo asked, curious.
“Oh I just barely figured out how to do this… what’d you get on question four?” she asked back.
Scootaloo looked at her papers. A voice came through the air as she did. “Anyone in here?”
Lightning rolled to her hooves. “Who’s there?” she asked.
Blue flames shot into the room as a laughing stallion entered the room. “What the heck!?” Scootaloo shouted.
Lightning spread her wings, electricity shooting around her. “I don’t know, grab Dusk and run!” Scootaloo obeyed, running over to Dusk, who was sitting behind a large golden jug. She grabbed the younger colt but the large stallion almost appeared in front of her.
She ducked down quickly as a pair of small hooves slammed into the face of the stallion forcing him to fly sideways. Lightning touched down and stumbled, the impact apparently hurting her legs pretty badly.
Scootaloo almost dragged Dusk, both of them running over the pile of treasure in the room, taking cover behind large pieces of gold.
Lightning stretched her wings and screamed, huge bolts of electricity flying at the new stallion, who moved in anticipation and shot into the air above her attacks. The stallion looked down at her, his eyes seeming to glow with blue flames. He grinned and Lightning moved sideways quickly, her heart beating fast- that look scared her. Her fearful move did dodge a powerful bout of flames, but she also tripped over several small coins on the floor.
The stallion waved his wing at the filly, flames bursting towards her. Lightning’s electric powers shot her into the air just in time. Lightning shook her head, thanking her lucky stars she had decided to practice using her powers even after the battles with Gray had ended.
“Do you really think a pipsqueak like you can fight me?” The stallion asked.
She shot to the left, stopping without reason and then shot back right, slamming into the stallion, causing him to drop into the treasure pile. Lightning’s shoulder hurt, but she still focused her eyes on the recovering stallion. She charged her powers again, twisting in the air and shooting forward with her hind legs- and completely missed her soft target as he rolled away, slamming into a large stone pot that shattered and peppered her body in stone shards. The stallion mocked her again. “Brave, but idiotic.” Lightning tried her wings to take flight again, but they seized up with pain from the shards stuck in them. “Well-“ and the stallion was sent flying over the entire treasure pile slamming into the cave wall.
“Really think I’m that easy to get rid of?” Rainbow Dash shouted. “Fire Sky if that was the best you’ve got I’m way out of your league.”
“You think a cheap shot is the best- little girl, stick with manipulation, you mares really aren’t good at fighting.”
Rainbow’s eyes flared- as they did a powerful light flashed at her eyes as a large hoof then slammed into her face forcing her out of the air and into the dragon’s horde. Rainbow stood up, fire shooting up around her, drawing her attention as a back hoof crashed into her face and tossed her across the room. A plume of flame shot straight towards her, which she narrowly dodged as a shoulder impacted her straight in the face and forced her into the ground.
She staggered to her hooves as the stallion slammed into the ground in front of her. “I know what you’re thinking, just how did Silent Storm beat someone like him?” He chuckled. “So many things wrong with thinking that. First, you have no idea what Storm can really do, if we both let loose on each other, there would only have been one fight. Even now I’m just toying with you girl. We hold back to not kill each other, but you of course, I have no such compunctions about.” He shot into the air, fire gathering around his form. “where’s the yellow one?”
As the two had been fighting, Lightning watched, but also quietly moved down the corridor to the opening of the cave. She let out the loudest scream she could manage and heavy bolts of lightning shot out of the cave into the night sky. “She’s calling her daddy you idiot,” Rainbow replied. The cave shook with a roar like a thousand voices.
A large vase slammed into Rainbow’s head and she fell limply to the ground. Fire Sky grabbed her, Lightning flying in front of him. He fired a plume straight at the filly, burning her, the filly falling down and screaming. Fire Sky shot out of the cave.
(***)
Rainbow slowly woke up, looking around herself. She stood up, realizing she was on a large stage. “Wake up girl!” came the voice of Fire Sky. She quickly spread her wings and glared at him. The stallion just laughed. “Behold, the symbol of Celestia’s military might!” he shouted.
Rainbow looked out to see hundreds of stallion stomping and shouting in a crowd. Her eyes went wide.
“What’s wrong girl?” Fire asked. “Celestia has been behaving this way for hundreds of years, are you really surprised we have numbers? There was more than just one person gathering disgruntled stallions to us. Your society ignored us because there weren’t many of us… are you sure of that!? You kicked us out of abuse shelters, out of homeless shelters and you stole our children. Silver’s stallion refugee camp was actually one of the youngest in Equestria. I’ve been gathering stallions from wandering groups and making one unit out of all of them. Most of them aren’t trained but… well we’ve got some tricks.”
Rainbow shook her head. “Fire Sky I’m not afraid of you.”
Fire laughed at this. “Really? Then fight me again.” Rainbow didn’t move from where she was. “You know better hmm?” He performed air quotes, “”I’m not afraid of you”, psychological tricks won’t work here bitch. You’re terrified of us, it’s obvious. Also, you won’t confuse us, our goal isn’t fear.”
“What is it then? Reform? You’re all undermining Silent Storm, how the hell-“
“Revenge! You took our children, our money, our lives, you treated us like property, like the only reason we existed was to facilitate your lives! We wanted love from you, but you showed us no such thing!”
“We mares? Why are you talking about us like a monolith? This is idiotic!” Rainbow shouted back.
“Am I so different from Celestia?”
“She’s wrong, but so are you.” Rainbow said.
“But if we do enough wrong, we can’t be ignored any longer, now can we?”
“Why am I here?- You’ll never beat Celestia!” Rainbow shouted in defiance.
“Wanna bet? She’s never won a fight, without all of her precious elements of harmony.”
“Why am I here?”
“Why do you think? The elements need all six of you to work. So what if one is missing?” Rainbow’s heart beat faster and faster as Fire raised his wings. No, the elements didn’t exist anymore, but apparently he didn’t know that.
A loud roar shot across the sky and a loud crash echoed behind the crowd of stallions. A massive green dragon brought his maw down and roared into the audience, the sheer force tossing the ponies away like toys. “Damn dragon!” Fire Sky yelled. “Just like a mare, always need a male to fight your battles.”
“Only one of us has a problem with working with the opposite gender, Fire. Torkuda wants to help me, I’ll take it.” She shot into the sky. She quickly flew to the dragon and over to his ear. “Thanks, but let’s scram. A ton of those guys are impulses, they’ll take you out in no time.”
“They injured my daughter and violated the sanctity of my lair!”
“This is not the time to be macho, let’s go!” Rainbow shouted.
“I have to defend my daughter!”
“Don’t throw away your life for an idea!” Rainbow shook her head, watching the stallion pegasi forming up in the air. “Listen to me, what your daughter needs isn’t to be avenged, what she needs is YOU! Now let’s go!” The dragon closed his eyes, a furious growl coming out. “I-“ And Rainbow’s breath was practically shoved out of her lungs as she was grabbed by a massive claw. The dragon shot into the air, tearing away from the scene. As they went a loud blast went out, Rainbow realizing quickly it was a sonic boom.
After a few seconds Rainbow squirmed out of the dragon’s grip and flew up to his head, barely able to keep up without going full speed. “Please tell me the kids aren’t just back in the cave.”
“Do you think I’m stupid and slow or something?”
“You tried to fight about a hundred stallions for nothing.”
“That freak burned Lightning’s face!” Torkuda said. “I’m her father, it’s my job to protect her. What would you do if it were Scootaloo-“
“Yes, yes, we’re not so different blah, blah, blah, I know-where are the kids?”
“A place… a very safe place… trust me.”
Rainbow didn’t like her daughter being somewhere even she didn’t know how to get too. She raised her hoof. “That is… probably best-for now. Look we have to get to Ponyville and get my friends. Something bad is coming.” Rainbow closed her eyes, thinking to herself ‘Sorry Silent, the rules just changed.’
“What are you talking about?”
She spoke up. “We need to gather my friends and get to Canterlot to warn Celestia, something is coming. I really can’t go into detail. You stay in Ponyville after dropping us off okay?”
“They don’t like me there.”
“They can get over it, they’ll need your protection.”
“You’re really worried about something aren’t you? What’s going on?”
“Something bad… all I’m doing is choosing who it happens to.”
(***)
The two arrived in Ponyville, the citizens of the town scattering as they landed. “Oh get over it!” Torkuda shouted in frustration.
“Um… don’t wanna fly all over town- Torkuda can you… ya know… roar or something?”
“I suppose,” The dragon said. The dragon reeled back and then threw his head forward unleashing a roar that shook the ground, a sensation like thunder moving through Rainbow Dash.
“Ya know, I know a certain DJ who might like this effect,” Rainbow noted.
The dragon ended his roar. “She’s basically my children’s nanny, I probably know her better than you,” he replied.
Twilight appeared nearby shaking her head. “Torkuda… ya know if you want everypony to get used to you, you have to give it time.”
Apple Jack came running up as well. “What in tarnation?” she shouted as she ran.
“I’ll have you know sir, you just scared off all of my customers for the day, I hope you’re happy!” Rainbow didn’t even have to look to know who that was.
Pinky finally bounced in. “Um… Torkuda, everyone likes being scared and all, but can you save it for Nightmare Night… oh hey Rainbow- and everyone- all except Fluttershy.”
Rainbow sighed. “Yea, would have figured she wouldn’t come to a dragon roar.”
“I can try again,” the dragon noted.
“Not how you get her,” Rainbow said. She sighed. “This is embarrassing but… OWWWW! Oh it hurts so bad!” Rainbow shouted. All four of her friends turned their heads to her. She dropped to the ground holding her right wing. The four ponies gathered around her and, like clockwork, Fluttershy appeared above them covering her face with her hooves. Rainbow smiled. “Okay now that everyone is here-“ Fluttershy yanked her wing out from her. “OW! For real what are you- OW!” Fluttershy started lightly tapping Rainbow’s wing.
Fluttershy lowered her eyebrows. “I going to guess you just wanted to get my attention but- yea I’m fixing this,”
“Now really isn’t the-OW!” Rainbow sat down. “Ya know I really regret all those assertiveness classes we had for you.”
Twilight flew next to Fluttershy as she examined the wing. Twilight spoke up. “Rainbow this isn’t a faked wound, it looks like a burn. What happened?”
Rainbow sighed again. “Guys, I’ve been trying to handle something alone.- OW- think you could be a little more gentle there?”
“I am Rainbow, I’m surprised you could fly with this thing like it is,” Fluttershy said back. “I think I’m going to have to wrap it up-“
“We really don’t have time for that Flutters,” Rainbow said. “Just give me a little salve, that should do the trick right?”
Fluttershy looked to be holding back a glare. “Rainbow Dash, you have a daughter, you take care of yourself or you’re going to-“
“Fluttershy I’m not being selfish here okay? Something really bad is coming, I have to get you guys up to speed and we have to get to Canterlot- like yesterday. Torkuda will drop us off outside the gate and then come back here. Gals… I don’t know how to handle this right but we have to move fast.”
“What’s going on then?” Twilight asked.
“I’ll give you a salve, but this better be good,” Fluttershy said. “Sorry... just don’t, you know, like seeing my friends hurt.”
Rainbow nodded, “Me too. That’s why I don’t know how to do this.” She bit her lip. “Everyone, I’ve been visiting a refugee camp for the last few days.”
“In Griffinstone?” Applejack asked.
“No, a refugee camp from us,” Rainbow said. She looked Twilight in the eyes. “Well Twilight, can you guess who would need to be refugees in our country?” Twilight looked away. “Figured it wasn’t that big of a surprise. But the truth is, apparently Celestia didn’t just create victims, she created monsters. What do you think happens when someone has nowhere to run? They’re angry Twilight, and many of them… they’re going to attack.”
“A group of homeless stallions is going to attack the capital?” Twilight asked. She shook her head. “Rainbow I’ve been trying to tell you, I’m changing my mind okay? Do you know which direction they’ll be coming from? Maybe can we head them off and talk them out of it.”
“The only reason I’m even talking to you about this Twi is because they are WAAAAY beyond that point. All you’d wanna do is turn them in anyway-“
“Rainbow you have to give me a chance-“ Twilight shot in but Rainbow didn’t let her finish.
“Twilight, I don’t know where we’re going to be after all this alright? But that doesn’t matter right now.”
“Rainbow I just had a different opinion,” Twilight said. “I didn’t see what you saw. You’re not being fair.”
“Why I said I don’t know Twilight...“ Rainbow paused, but then shook her head. “But like I also said, it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna need help,” Rainbow said.
“Ya want us ta fight a buncha refugees?” asked Apple Jack. “Rainbow I’m just guessin’ here but if I knew their stories-“
“They would break your heart,” Rainbow said. “But those stories are going to be the stories of who knows how many others if they pull off an attack on Canterlot.- Is the wing okay?”
Fluttershy nodded. “I still would like you to rest it- but I… I guess.”
Rainbow turned her wing to the others. “Their leader did this to me before knocking be out cold, all while fighting Lightning Strike too. These guys are not a joke.”
“So what’re ya thinkin’ the plan is?” Applejack asked.
“Not normally my department, I need you guys,” Rainbow admitted. “I know you in particular still can’t fight Applejack, so if you wanna stay behind that’s fine.”
Applejack grunted. Her breathing apparatus was still around her neck. It didn’t impair her movement, but it was a constant reminder of her battle with Gray. “That’s kinda a permanent condition ah got… heck we don’t even know if we can still use the elements or that weird power up thing…”
“Probably not,” Twilight said.
“Still… ifn’ this is about Celestia’s laws, ah’d like to go with ya’ll and give er a piece of ma’ mind!”
Twilight shook her head. “Like it or not girls, we have to warn Celestia. I feel betrayed by her too.” She looked up at the dragon. “I assume Torkuda’s here to um… expedite our travels.”
“I’m actually here to protect Ponyville, but apparently taxi is also one of my designated roles… hold on, how do we know these stallions are attacking Canterlot and not Ponyville?”
“We don’t,” Rainbow said.
Torkuda looked at the home of Vinyl and her sister Octavia. “If something happens here while we’re away, Lightning will be devastated.”
Twilight looked down. “I… I’m a late comer to all this anyway. I’ll stay behind. I can catch up when Torkuda returns.”
Torkuda leaned down so the ponies could get on. “All aboard then.”
“I’ll fill everyone in on the details on the way there,” Rainbow said.
“You’ll be coming back right Torkuda?” Twilight asked.
“Yes.”
He took off. Rainbow thought she wouldn’t- but she did- she found herself looking back at Twilight until she faded from sight, obscured by the clouds.
(***)
As the flight went, Rainbow explained to her friends what had been happening with her and Silent Storm as well as the danger posed by Fire Sky and what she knew of Silver Strider’s history.
Rainbow looked out over the sky as Torkuda continued to fly rather slowly so they didn’t fall off. “I don’t know how much time we have before things explode. I’m worried it could be a few hours, but maybe- who knows, I have no idea what Fire’s time table is. Don’t really know much of his plans.”
“We’re going to work this out darling.” Rarity said.
Pinky seemed to be taking ferocious notes, which caught Rainbow off guard. She walked over. “What is all this Pinky?”
“Hmm?” she said. “I trying to figure out how many kids are in the camp.”
“I don’t know how many ponies are in the camp period. Hundreds… possibly thousands. So the kids… probably a lot.”
“Hmmmmm… they all must be having terrible birthday parties- but that’s a lot of kids- I’m gonna have my hooves full… gonna need to call some friends on this.”
Rainbow laughed. “Don’t change Pinks.”
“The gate to Canterlot is just ahead, I’m dropping you all off,” Torkuda said.
(***)
The group proceeded into the city, Rainbow anxiously flying above, watching for any signs of Fire Sky or his stallions. She realized she would only know Fire himself on sight, but still, she had to hope she stood a chance to intercept them.
Flutter shy sighed. “Um… everyone… AJ is injured, Rainbow is injured, I-I have to be honest. I would feel better if we just concentrated on warning and maybe evacuating here. We can’t fight.”
Applejack nodded. “Probably fer the best that. Gimme a minute, Rares, any thoughts?”
“Probably should have had the dragon make a display before he left so we could attract the guard,” Rarity noted. “That not really being an option now… Rainbow and Fluttershy, you two scout different evacuation routes besides the main gate. We’ll then need a distraction if we want to get anyone out period-“
A powerful explosion rocked the area around the group. “Welp, figures!” AJ shouted. Rainbow turned and looked seeing hundreds of stallion pegasi flying through the sky dropping off several earth ponies and unicorns and then firing back into the sky.
Electricity shot over the city as a light blue stallion tore overhead screaming something that couldn’t be made out at his distance. The sky started to fill with magic explosions, unicorns apparently firing into the sky creating an artillery distraction.
Rainbow scanned the incoming stallions and sighted Fire Sky in their midst. “Wing it!” she shouted. She fired into the sky headed straight for him.
A white pegasus changed direction and headed straight for her. He flapped his wings once at her, Rainbow understanding immediately what that probably meant, rolling to the side. A loud sonic blast shot from him ripping into the street below.
“Move off Beacon!” Fire shouted. “Everyone move away from me. She’s wants to fight me, let her. I don’t fear a pathetic mare.”
“Then perhaps you’ll allow me to step in!” came a shout from above him. The sky filled with a powerful light and Celestia descended in front of him. “Brave enough to take us both on?” She asked as the stallion recovered his sight.
“Brave, sure, but not stupid- Get the element bearer boys!” Several stallions changed direction in the air again and started going straight for Rainbow.
The cyan mare grunted. She shot at them at full speed, spinning in the air and sliding right, banking in a huge circle around the pursuers, the attackers moving about in confusion trying to catch her.
Rainbow shot back down to her friends. “I’ll run interference, you guys get ponies out till I’m caught-“ she hissed at a sudden pain in her wing and almost dropped to the ground.
Rarity ran below Rainbow Dash, her horn glowing. Smoke shot out of the white unicorn’s magic and surrounded them.
Rainbow couldn’t see and was suddenly grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. She then heard something she never even imagined she would hear.
“Girls, get her out of here, I’ll distract them, she’ll never stand a chance with that wing.”
Rainbow shouted, “Fluttershy don’t you dare!”
“You have a daughter Rainbow, get home!” Rainbow barely recovered her vision in time to see the silhouette of her pegasus friend shoot into the air above her.