Rainbow glared daggers at me with clenched teeth. She slowly rose up to her hooves and slowly walked up to me. I looked around for an escape route, desperate to get away from Rainbow, convinced she would kill me.
"An intergalatic hussy?" she hissed, "WHY ARE YOU CALLING HER THAT?"
Slightly fearful of her anger, I pathetically whimpered out my response, "Because I don't know who she is."
"HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO DARING DO IS?"
She was right in my face, making me feel particularly scared. Who'd have thought a rainbow maned pastel pony could be scary?
"Errrrrr, well......."
"Well what?!"
"She's not known in Russia. We've never heard of her."
"BUT SHE'S DARING DO!"
"So?"
"SO?!" Rainbow screeched angrily, "That's it. I'm taking you to my house and you're not leaving until I get it through to you who Daring Do is!"
"But I can't walk on clouds."
Rainbow scoffed, "Figures. Anyway it doesn't matter, my house doesn't have cloud floors, you'll be fine. I'll fly you to my place."
"But I don't want to go."
"I wasn't asking."
Before I could react, she picked me up and began to fly me back to her house. But Rainbow being Rainbow, acted before she thought things through, and flew into the closed door; a resounding thud reverberating throughout the room and a throbbing pain reverberating throughout my head.
"Damn it Rainbow," I whined, rubbing my head with my hooves, "Couldn't you have at least let me open the door first?"
Eventually we were in her Cloudhouse, which to my surprise was quite extravagant; how rich was Rainbow to afford a place like this? I daren't think what the mortgage repayments are. One thing I was grateful for were the marble floors, meaning I could walk around freely without fear of plummeting to my death.
Rainbow had flown into the kitchen for some reason while I parked my plot on the sofa as ordered. I wasn't waiting long before she returned with two huge tubs of popcorn and a large drink of apple cider each.
"Dash?"
She hoofed me one of the tubs of popcorn and put the cider in the coffee table.
"You're not leaving this place until you know who Daring Do is, and you're going to find out by watching the first film in the series."
"OK."
What other answer could I give? Free food and drink, a film to watch, it's not like I had anything else to do. How could it be worse than what Dash and I suffered earlier.
"Just let me set everything up."
Rainbow quickly began setting up a projector and screen, making me think of the early days of cinema.
Pretty soon she had finished and after switching off the lights, parked herself next to me, "Sit back, watch and enjoy."
(Third Person Perspective)
*MEANWHILE IN CANTERLOT MAGISTRATES COURT*
The Chief Magistrate sat behind his deck, and began reading from a scroll.
"Applejack, you stand accused of one count of inflicting category three grievous bodily harm upon the unicorn stallion known as 'Apollo', on the date 23rd June 1003, at approximately 1.36pm. It is reported from Ponyville Royal Infirmary that the aforementioned stallion, Apollo, did suffer bruising as a result of the accused's actions."
The Magistrate placed the scroll down.
"How do you plead?"
Spending the night in custody had given Applejack time to think about her actions. Hearing the charges read out before her seemed to hammer the nail home for her, especially hearing about Apollo's injury she had caused. She didn't intend to hurt him that bad, though she knew that was hardly a reason to kick him in the first place. That and she realised she faced a possible prison sentence, and without her on the farm, production would decrease, the farm's profits would diminish which could ultimately cost her the farm altogether.
Realising the seriousness and possible dire consequences of her actions, she bowed her head in shame, sighed and gave her answer, "Guilty."
"Very well," replied the Magistrate, "As it has been determined to be a category three GBH offence, and you have pleaded guilty to the charges, you will face a lesser sentence."
Applejack looked back up, relief evident on her face.
The magistrate, continued.
"Certain mitigating factors shall determine the severity of your sentence. Mitigating factors are as follows: this is your first offence, and you only struck one blow upon the victim. You are also a pony of good standing and also an Element bearer. Also, as no other incidents like this have been reported, the court considers this to be an isolated incident. Also, as you are one of four known ponies to work on the farm known as Sweet Apple Acres and the limited availability of workers, the court acknowledges that the livelihood of the Apple family could be affected due to the reduced workforce, and that the defendant is also a caregiver for the Earth Pony known as Granny Smith, the grandmother of the defendant."
Applejack listened patiently as the magistrate spoke out he mitigating circumstances. Her heart pounding the entire time.
"As such, the court will be lenient in carrying out sentencing. Applejack, you have plead guilty to the charge and taking into account the mitigating circumstances mentioned, you are hear by sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years."
Ah guess that's reasonable, Applejack thought.
"Also," the magistrate continued, "You shall also serve a six month Community Order, effective immediately; wherein you will commit eight hours per week to said order. Also, you are to pay a fine of five hundred bits to the victim. Miss Applejack will be sent all necessary documents by recorded post in due course."
Applejack didn't particularly like either of them. Community Service, everyone watching her pick up litter or clean graffiti, knowing she is a criminal; and having to give five hundred of her bits to Apollo?
She didn't want to, but shouting her mouth of at the Magistrate would do her no favours, and considering what she did; she got off lightly.
Ah think ah'll shut up....for now at least.
"That concludes the trial. Court is adjourned, Miss Applajack is free to go."
With that the Magistrate got up and left the court, followed by the court usher and two guards. The two guards flanking Applejack removed her shackles and escorted her out of the room and towards the main door leading into Canterlot.
Grateful that she wasn't at least going to prison, she did have the problem of getting home.
She had no money on her to catch a train.
And it began raining, heavily.
Rarity was sitting comfortably in the armchair in Flutterhsy's cottage, sipping a cup of tea. The pair were discussing the earlier events with Apollo and Rainbow, with Apollo in particular the topic of discussion.
"What do you make of Apollo, Fluttershy?"
"Apollo? Oh um....he's nice."
"Is that all?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, doesn't he seem......familiar to you somehow, like you've met him before?"
"Not really," replied Fluttershy, "I think I'd know if I met a pony like Apollo before. His cutie mark alone is a bit more unusual."
Fluttershy of course knew exactly who Apollo was, but was sworn to secrecy by Celestia to keep quiet about it. Unless of course, his identity was revealed through other means, including Apollo himself revealing it.
"Indeed," Rarity replied, "I must say though, many pony's cutie marks are quite literal in their meaning, but Apollo's....had he not told us I doubt I would have guessed his special talent. Speaking if which, have you seen him use illusion magic?"
Fluttershy shook her head, "No. And according to Twilight he intends to create machines that she says are impossible to exist."
"Yes, I overheard their conversation at the party, most unladylike of me I know; but, I do find his ideas, interesting."
"But what about what else Twilight said, about his cutie mark not being related to engineering?"
It hurt Fluttershy to play the part of the idiot, she knew that Apollo was exceptionally clever with engineering; having shown her a few diagrams and explained a few things to her in Canterlot before he was transformed.
"While I say it's unusual, it's not unheard of. My cutie mark shows diamonds, yet I am a seamstress."
"Good point. But I do hope Apollo and Twilight get along."
"So do I dear. I do not care for a repeat of the monster attack."
Fluttershy winced for a moment. She knew that Apollo, or Vladimir, was in fact quite gentle; despite his seemingly crazy nature and use of strong language.
"Rarity, what do you think of the creature?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, almost everypony in town is saying mean things about him, when they were the ones to chase him around trying to hurt him."
"But the mo-...creature, hurt Rainbow Dash."
"Not on purpose."
"Fluttershy, I know you love animals but-"
"Rarity, I've known Rainbow Dash longer than any of you. If she says that the creature didn't hurt her on purpose, then the creature didn't hurt her on purpose."
"Are you sure? I mean Rainbow's concussion was quite bad."
"I'm sure Rarity. You have nothing to fear from the creature, in fact, I think you both would even get along."
"You think so?" Rarity asked in shock.
"Of course. Also, just think; he could have come to you for clothes, and you would be the first pony in history to make clothes for an extra-equestrian life form."
"Extra-equestrian? You mean he's not even from this world?"
Fluttershy shook her head, "That's right."
Rarity's eye began to twitch, "You mean I could have been the first to make clothes for an alien?"
Fluttershy nodded, "Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll see him again. But if we do see him again, do you think you could....maybe, not hurt him?"
"Don't worry Fluttershy. I may not have witnessed what this strange creature did, or the townsponies, but I will not hurt your friend. He is your friend isn't he?"
"Of course. He's so nice, and he's really good at hugging!"
(Back to 1st Person Perspective)
*MEANWHILE, IN RAINBOW'S HOUSE*
I had been watching the Daring Do film with great excitement. All Rainbow had to say was that Daring Do was pretty much Indiana Jones and I would have understood. But then Rainbow wouldn't know about him.
It was a pretty well made film and the picture quality was clearer than I was expecting. According to Rainbow, she bought the best projector on the market (that she could afford).
"What did you think?" asked Dash.
"Good."
"Heh heh, I knew you'd like it!" she replied, shoving a hoof full of popcorn into her mouth.
"Got anything planned for later?" I asked.
"Not much, probably practice some of my moves."
"Moves? For what?"
"The Wonderbolts!"
I blinked, "Who are they?"
Dash dropped the tub of popcorn, scattering pieces all over the floor. She turned to me, shock and anger ingrained on her face. She got to her hooves and slowly got up close to my face, her nose almost touching mine.
"You don't know who the WONDERBOLTS are?!"
There was a few seconds of silence as I just blinked at her again, her angry scowl not wavering. After a few seconds, I couldn't hold it any more and burst into laughter.
After a few seconds of laughing and Rainbow looking at me like I'd gone made, I composed myself and filled her in on a few things.
"Sorry Dash, couldn't help it. I know who they are."
"You do?!" she asked excitedly, her angry scowl now replaced with a grin of absolute joy, "Are you a huge fan as well? Have you ever met them?"
"I wouldn't say I'm a fan, but I have met them."
"REALLY?!"
I nodded, "Spitfire herself put me through a few training exercises to get me used to these legs."
"That's awesome! I'd love to.....wait a sec, what do you mean 'get me used to these legs'? You'll have always had those legs, it's not like you suddenly-"
Even before she replied I'd realised my mistake.
And now she's looking at me.
Not saying or doing anything else.
Just looking at me.
I could almost see the cogs in her brain working as she slowly put the pieces together. She got up and slowly walked over to me, looking at me more inquisitively and getting right up to my face and looking me directly in the eyes.
She knows.
"You're the creature I flew into."