Chapter 11: The Mountain
In the past five years, Cloudsdale had installed sections of the city that were composed of steel, not cloud. This allowed for other ponies, other than pegasi, to visit the great metropolis.
Shuttles went to and from the city every day. Today one headed for Cloudsdale's South Side.
Rainbow Dash stared out the window of the shuttle. She tried her best to ignore the awkward glances she got from the other riders. She was the only pegasus on the shuttle, for obvious reasons.
She instead looked at the shimmering sky. The clouds. The sun was high in the sky today, and it shimmered off the beautiful white wisps. She remembered the time when she WAS the sky. She was a rainbow streak that exploded across this sky in a wave of color.
This was her playground. Her kingdom to rule. And it had been taken from her.
It was time to get it back. But she needed help.
Cloudsdale Penitentiary. A wart on the surface of this great city. A horridly ugly building containing the lowest life forms in Equestria. Rainbow smirked as she thought of this. This had been HER home for months. She knew it all too well.
She had a few minutes before the shuttle touched down. She thought of the topic that had lost her hours of sleep the night before.
Thunderspark. Her fillyhood enemy. Her adult friend. Gone. Murdered by a foul creature. Because of her. She knew now the full cost of her recklessness the day she engaged the changeling queen in combat.
She remembered their younger years. At flight camp. He had been the first to start calling her Rainbow Crash. Oh how she hated that. But she had never completely hated him. He had a certain fiery charisma to him. And do die alone, surrounded by the enemy. It was unfair.
The shuttle touched down. Rainbow stepped out onto the sunny metal. The sun glared down at her with a hot intensity. She smiled.
"I missed you sun." She murmured. But the sun was short lived. She trotted through the entrance of Cloudsdale Penitentiary, and back into the darkness.
She shuddered. That cold, impersonal air. She remembered it all too well. This place was hell. And nopony in their right mind ever willingly returned to hell.
But she had to.
She limped through the cell block. She received chants from the prison population. She waved sarcastically at them, making them even angrier.
"Come back to stay Rainbow Crash?" A prisoner called out
"Yeah. Hi. Sorry. Didn't bring a pen. No autographs today." Rainbow said nonchalantly.
She trotted up the a cell at the end of the block. It was isolated from the other cell block. For prisoners of war.
Luna and Celestia stood before one of the cells. They watched Rainbow hobble up.
"Are you sure about this?" Celestia asked her.
Rainbow sighed. "I've had nuttier ideas than this."
She trotted up to the cell. "Hey? Anypony awake in there?"
A black figure stretched, then rose from the bed. It's fly wings beating made a little flitter that filled the darkness surrounding it.
"Yo. Shadow." Rainbow called. "It's Rainbow Dash."
The changeling turned around. His eyes widened when he saw her.
"You? What are you doing here?"
Rainbow sighed. "You said that the broken can heal. Did you mean it?"
Shadow frowned. "Well...yes. Yes I did."
Rainbow looked down at the floor. "I need to ask you a favor."
"Ponies don't usually ask favors of changelings." Shadow replied dryly.
"Yes. I know. That's why this is so wacky. But anyway...do you know about a mountain? Out west? Near the coast?"
The changeling nodded. "Yes. I have climbed it many a time."
"I want to climb it." Rainbow Dash said.
"I wouldn't recommend it." The changeling said. "In your present state, you are too weak to handle it."
He turned and slowly trotted back to his bed.
"Wait. I...I need to climb it. In order to regain my strength."
Shadow slowly turned and sighed. "Your fire."
"Yes. The only way they see me getting my 'fire' back is by climbing this mountain."
"And you need...what? Someone to carry you up the mountainside?"
Rainbow shook her head. "No. I need a guide. Somepony who knows the mountain. Somepony to push me when I stop moving. Somepony to train me. And I figured...you might want out of this place."
Shadow looked around and chuckled. "Really? How'd you know?"
She listened to the jeers of the inmates in the distance. "Call it a gut feeling. Are you in?"
Shadow shrugged. "I guess. First a question. Do you trust me?"
Rainbow looked at him carefully. "Um...I guess?"
"You see, you've made your first mistake. I will guide you pony. But only because I have yet to repay my debt. Don't think for a second that I am worth trusting. You are a pony. I am a changeling. And were I not indebted to you, I'd have already killed you."
Rainbow looked at him, confused. "But you'll help right?"
Shadow rolled his eyes. "Yes. I will assist you."
Celestia gestured to the guard. He unlatched the cell door. The changeling cautiously exited. He sized Rainbow Dash up.
Rainbow Dash was slightly larger than the skinny changeling both in height and bulk. Rainbow Dash had the advantage. Even in her thinner, weakened state. Which was fine. More peace of mind for the pegasus.
The two trotted back towards the shuttle. What a sight they would be.
Celestia pulled Luna close and whispered into her ear.
"I don't like this one bit. I can handle the business in Canterlot on my own. You keep your eye on them."
Luna nodded. "I shall sister."
The balloon touched down in the forest. Rainbow Dash and Shadow were deposited. The great mountain stood before them. It blocked the sun from view with it's grand, rocky physique.
"Beautiful." Shadow muttered. "Are you ready?"
Rainbow looked at him, then up at it. She nodded.
"How hard can it be?"
Shadow chuckled. "You have no idea."
They began the climb. It was a fairly flat trip up the mountainside.
Rainbow Dash had thought about the changeling's words. Had he been warning her about himself? Was he planning something? Perhaps repaying a debt was a ruse for something more sinister.
Shadow looked around the mountainside. "I must warn you. Changelings patrol this area fairly often. If we come across any, stay behind me."
Rainbow nodded. Did he mean that? He couldn't. If they happened across some changelings, he would surely hand her over to them, and escape to his homeland. She was regretting her decision already. But she figured it was far too late. And she still had somewhat of a physical advantage over the changeling.
He was making a steady pace up the mountain. Rainbow on the other hand, was straggling along. She did not have the muscle mass to keep up.
A month in the hospital. It had sapped her of her strength. She had lost almost fifty pounds during that time. It was time to get it back.
"You know, for the fastest in Equestria, you're pretty slow." The changeling quipped.
Rainbow glared at him. "Why'd you come on this trip?"
"I told you. To repay a debt."
Rainbow eyed him suspiciously. "You told me not to trust you. Why?"
"Because I think you'll live a longer, happier life if you don't get used to trusting changelings."
Rainbow stomped up to him up on her three good legs. "So what does that say about you?"
Shadow smirked. "Now there's some of that fire back."
"Shut up about fire. I need to know if I can trust you."
The changeling continued smirking. "You're afraid. You fear me. Honestly, I'm flattered. But this is unnecessary. I will not betray you."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Well then I guess we should keep moving. After you." She was still very suspicious. And she would certainly not let this changeling out of her sight.
Shadow turned and continued up the mountain side. Rainbow noticed something else suspicious. He was carrying a saddlebag. This was probably the first time she'd ever seen a changeling carrying a saddlebag. It's contents were a mystery.
But now the climb had to take precedence. Rainbow continued onward. As they continued to climb, the ground became somewhat steeper. She thought of Applejack. That pony would've been at the top already. She was in her physical prime.
Rainbow Dash was making pegasi look bad with her slowness.
Another thing changed with the altitude. The air. As she got higher, the air got thinner. Harder to breathe in. Her newly rebuilt lungs were getting their first real workout.
By the time night fell, Rainbow's body was reminding her of it's trauma.
Her joints felt like they were tearing apart. Her body screamed at her, begging for rest. She winced, but paid it no mind. Pain was something she had grown quite accustomed to over the months.
But of course, pain still hurt. And she couldn't help but wince every time her left hoof hit rock.
The changeling showed no sign of slowing. Stamina was a specialty for changelings.
Rainbow was falling behind quickly. Even as the ground leveled off slightly, she could find no solace from the pain, nor gain any ground.
The air was moist here, even if it was horribly thin. It felt almost like a sea breeze hitting the mountain. Rainbow loved that. That moist air. It reminded her of being inside a cloud. A feeling she sorely missed.
And so she rumbled on. Her body threatening to betray her with every step. She wished she had enough energy left to care.
Her lungs were the first thing to go. She suddenly felt a pop in her chest. She began wheezing. Her breathing became tight. Panic set in.
She couldn't breathe. She tried calling out for help. She managed a whimper. The changeling was so far away. She whimpered again, louder this time.
Shadow's ears perked up. He turned. He quickly dashed down towards her.
"Stop. Stop moving. Lie down." He commanded. He put his hoof on Rainbow's chest.
Rainbow Dash slumped over. "I...can't breathe...help...please..."
Shadow dropped the saddlebag on the ground. He opened it and began digging through it rapidly.
"Hold on. Just keep breathing as softly as you can."
Rainbow tried to do as told, but her panic was becoming too much. Her breathing became heavy again, her lungs wheezing from the damage of overuse.
"Here." Shadow pulled out an oxygen mask. It was connected to a small tank.
He placed it over her muzzle. "Breathe. Breathe."
Rainbow Dash felt the oxygen flooding through the mask. She felt her lungs refilling with air. She breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.
"Yeah. Perhaps we should just turn in for the night." The changeling said.
Rainbow Dash managed a nod, still desperately taking in air.
Shadow looked down at her. "You trust me yet?"
Rainbow smirked. "Getting there. Getting there..." She trailed off.
"You need sleep." Shadow said. He reached deeper into the saddlebag and produced a blanket. He paused, then awkwardly lay it over Rainbow Dash's collapsed body.
"It gets cold on these mountains." He said. He sat down in the grass.
Rainbow Dash looked up at him. "Thanks. What about you?"
Shadow shook his head. "The last thing I need is sleep. Go on. Get comfortable."
Rainbow shifted position. As she did so, her left foreleg flopped uselessly at her side. The changeling took notice.
"What is wrong with that?" He asked.
"What? Oh. It never really healed. It's just...permanent I guess. Something to remember Chrysalis by." She chuckled weakly.
"Let me see." She looked at Rainbow's foreleg. It was indeed, quite out of place. "I see what happened. This repaired itself wrong. It happens occasionally. It can be fixed."
"It can?" Rainbow asked, slightly fearful.
Shadow nodded. She grasped it firmly, then popped it out. Rainbow let out a cry of agony. He fumbled around with it, before popping it into it's proper socket.
Rainbow pounded the rock and roared at the unnatural pain coming from the left side of her body. The changeling grimaced.
"Oh don't worry. It was just in the wrong socket."
Rainbow looked up at him angrily. "Have you ever heard of a heads up?!"
Shadow shrugged. "Heads up."
"Ugh!" Rainbow growled angrily. She got up. The pain was beginning to subside.
"Try walking on it." Shadow said smugly.
Rainbow threw him another glare, then gingerly put her weight on the forehoove. She winced. Then she paused. There was no reason to wince.
There was no pain.
"What did you...?"
"I told you. It was repaired wrong. Your bones were grinding together every time you used it. Now it's in it's proper socket. You should be feeling considerably less pain."
Rainbow nodded. "I...I am."
Shadow smirked. "Very well. Have a good night eh?" He turned and sat down on the stone ground.
Rainbow sighed. "Hey, look...thanks. Really. This'll really help with the climbing."
Shadow nodded. He smirked again. "After this trip, it will be you who owes me many debts."
Rainbow Dash thought deeply. "Well...there isn't much I could really do..."
"Please Rainbow Dash. That was my misguided attempt at humor. Do not trouble yourself with it. Good night."
Rainbow Dash laid back down. The blanket felt good, sealing in the warmth in the cold, misty air. She closed her eyes. She opened them one last time. Something she saw had interested her.
The changeling shivered. It looked almost like a seizure. She looked closer at him.
Scars. They lined his back. Deep, hideously patterned scars. She shuddered.
The changeling's ears went back. He turned and glared at Dash.
Rainbow looked away. "Sorry." She stammered weakly. She closed her eyes and returned to her dreams.