//------------------------------// // The Sombra campaign, present day // Story: What If // by elPossenreisser //------------------------------// “Howdy, Captain.” “’lo, Applejack.” Captain Rainbow Dash gave Applejack a lopsided salute as she entered the old farm house’s kitchen. Next to all the new brick buildings of the cannery the farm house felt warm and welcoming. “Good to see you.” “Yeah, you too,” Applejack replied, turning around from the sink where she had been cleaning some pots. “I’d been hopin’ to see ya when they done told us that your company would be positioned in Ponyville.” She reached behind herself and grabbed a towel to dry her hooves. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” “Me too, actually,” Rainbow Dash said. “You go first,” they both said in unison. Applejack gave a sheepish laugh. Rainbow Dash chortled. “You go first, AJ,” she hastily added before Applejack had an opportunity. “Okay, then,” Applejack said, looking down at the towel she still held in her hooves. Like an afterthought she turned around and carefully placed it on the counter next to the sink. When she faced Rainbow Dash again, her cheeks were flushed. “Listen, about today—I mean tomorrow—“ Suddenly she found it hard to speak. To avert Rainbow Dash’s gaze she lowered her eyes and stared at the clean floorboards. “You don’t have to worry,” Rainbow Dash said, although her voice was anything but steady. “I’ve taken care of everything for you. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” “Eh?” Applejack made, surprised, and looked up. “Your mayor, pardon my Prench, is an idiot!” Rainbow Dash snarled with sudden anger. “A militia! Are you kidding me? You guys have no experience! You’ll get slaughtered in battle!” She stomped her hoof on the floor. Applejack could see that the soldier was making an effort for regain her composure. “It’s madness, sending a bunch of badly-armed hardly-trained civilians to battle. That’s what I told the General, but she gave me some spiel about jurisdiction, and that if your mayor wants her militia she can’t do anything.” “You don’t think we’ll win, do you.” Rainbow sighed. The scar across her eye seemed even deeper than it used to before. “There’s no way in Tartarus we’ll win. We’ll be shredded to pieces. Sombra’s armies have driven us here all the way from the Crystal Empire, and he’s only gotten stronger as he went, inducting ponies in regions his armies conquered. We can’t outrun him now that we’re squeezed between the Everfree Forest and Ghastly Gorge, that’s why we’re here. That’s why there’s gonna be a battle tomorrow. Not because we’d want to.” She gave Applejack a wary smile. “Don’t tell me you don’t know that.” “Of course I know that,” Applejack replied a bit more forcefully than necessary. “Not all the details and whatnot, but even a backwater civilian like me knows it ain’t lookin’ good. That’s why I’m glad to see you.” She lowered her eyes again. “I missed you, y’know.” “Applejack, don’t,“ Rainbow said, flinching back. “Just hear me out, will ya?” “We’ve been over this!” Rainbow said. “We both agreed it wasn’t gonna work out!” “That was then. Things have changed, wouldn’t you say?” “Applejack, I—“ “I know, you’re a soldier an’ I’m a civilian. You’ll be fightin’ Sombra’s forces and there’s always a high risk you ain’t comin’ back. Y’know what? Nopony’s likely to come back from tomorrow, including myself. I know that perfectly well!” Tears were running down Applejack’s cheeks, but she didn’t avoid Rainbow’s eyes any longer. “This is likely our last night in Equestria. I’d rather spend it with you.” Rainbow stared at her, mouth agape, shaken by Applejack’s emotional speech. Slowly she shook her head. “No, AJ. That’s not how this goes.” “Consarnit, Rainbow—“ “Listen to me, AJ.” Rainbow pulled a few papers out of her uniform jacket. “I pulled some strings. This is a pass to leave town. You’ll be on the last evacuation train tonight. We’re taking the ones who are not in the militia to Dodge Junction. This paperwork is good for you and all your family.” “The hay am I gonna do in Dodge Junction?” Applejack cried out. “There’s gonna be a trek heading to Griffon territory, starting in three or four days. We’re evacuating everypony we can from the south. Intelligence believes that Sombra might leave the Griffons alone once he’s done with us.” “But—“ “Damnit, AJ, will you shut up!” Rainbow’s wings flared, and Applejack saw the new metal replacement in her right wing. “You told me you’re taking care of your family. Take them someplace safe.” “Applebloom is already with our relatives in Appleloosa. It’s only me and Big Mac,” Applejack replied flatly. “Then that’s even more reason to be on that train. Find Applebloom and get her on that trek to Griffonia. Appleloosa won’t be safe for more than a week when Sombra is through with our army tomorrow.” She finally crossed the distance between herself and Applejack, putting a gentle hoof on her cheek. “Be there for your family.” Applejack buried her face on Rainbow’s shoulder and just cried. Rainbow Dash gave her a few minutes before she stepped back. “I gotta go, AJ. See you around.” “Take care, Rainbow Dash.”