//------------------------------// // A Matter of Planting Seeds... // Story: The Last Flower // by TheMareWhoSaysNi //------------------------------// The trip had been long and perilous. After the relative dampness of the Everfree Forest, the group’s cart had to go through many various landscapes, from the dried prairie to the desert, passing by dry lands, all this under a temperature around fifty degrees Celsius during days, which always collapsed during nights. Each time, Rainbow Dash volunteered the first to watch over their improvised camp, and Sunset Shimmer suspected her not to be asleep for real during most of her own watch as well as Pinkie Pie’s. What never ceased to amaze the young woman, was her new fellow’s reactivity. At the least noise, at the least strange manifestation, all her senses seemed to be in a state of alert, and nothing could escape her hawk’s eyes. She would be a precious addition to her “army”, this was a fact none could deny. However, Sunset Shimmer often wondered whether she would be able to do with her authoritarian character. She had charisma and displayed a resolution that commanded respect and it often was difficult for her to proclaim her ideas. It wasn’t really what she had expected, if she had to be honest. In her letters, Twilight Sparkle was describing Rainbow Dash as a sharp personality, filled with determination but light-hearted, who liked pranks and naps as much as she liked physical efforts and rigor. If a part of this portrayal fit reality, cheerfulness was the missing portion of the picture she had a chance to have a glimpse of until now. It was a war and the aftereffects of a war that had come in-between this picture and the image that was right under her nose. There laid the bloodcurdling reality. It didn’t make things easier all the same, and very often, Sunset Shimmer tended to forget about this detail. Finally, New Canterlot’s horizon was in front of them… At first glance, nothing could help to ascertain that this was a Ghetto with inhabitants. The beginning of fortifications that was built after the end of the Uncivilized War crumbled down with the Butterflies’ attack and the stones had been covered by sand with time. The fate of the few wall faces still there seemed to be taking the same direction. All the buildings that used to be the pride of inhabitants and of the Community Power had disappeared and what was left, just like the rest, had been devoured by the desert which growth couldn’t be stopped by anything anymore. In the past, this Ghetto was the greatest of them all. The most beautiful one and the most impressive one too, though it had never looked anything like the big cities of the postmodern era, with neon and giant screens. With the theft of their Angels, the bloody fights that happened there, it seemed like this past had never existed. As if the remaining inhabitants only fantasized it… As far as Rainbow Dash was concerned, the vision rather felt like a nightmare. Even today, she could precisely tell where this boutique had been, where the big exchange market had happened, where the Ivory, Equestria’s black market, was hidden… She could picture all the streets in which Twilight, Fluttershy and herself used to run, the benches on which they sat to eat poppy-flavored candies, every of the places where they used to play, exchanging secrets and trying to fix old transistors found at the National garbage dump. Even this dump had been wiped away… Her heart tightened inside her chest, and it felt like she was chocking. Her hands clasped around her father’s badge that her mother had given her before she left. She was trying to hold on to it with all her soul, afraid to sink into unconsciousness if she let it go for even a second. But when they passed by what used to be her house, which postwar rubbles had also been eaten up by red sand, she understood that if she wasn’t able to take shape of this awful truth, she could never stay here and help saving anyone. Right before they left the Ghetto, Pinkie Pie, her mother and herself, gathered what was necessary to survive in these rubbles that were now buried. Canterlot didn’t look like Canterlot at all anymore, like a woman once beautiful and now disfigured by old age. Now the Ghetto was nothing but an agonizing corpse, decaying inside its tomb. Although the cart was still moving, she jumped out of it and ran straight in front of her, without a word or a glance back. It didn’t escape Sunset Shimmer’s vigilance, nor any of the other travelers’, and she stopped the both horses of their carriage – now harnessed together at the wain to make sure none would flee if they were attacked again – frowning. “Don’t try to catch her”, Pinkie Pie told her before she could even do the least gesture. “She needs to be alone. Please understand that she spent all of her life here…” Sunset Shimmer understood. Canterlot also was her hometown. Just like Rainbow Dash, when she came back, and she saw what destruction’s stigmas had done to her favorite places, and to all of her landmarks, she had been in a state of shock. If only the money the inhabitants had been able to gather before the Butterflies’ attack hadn’t been stolen to them, they could have started to rebuild their Ghetto, and even without giving it back its past splendor, at least, they could have restored a bit of its lost dignity. As for Rainbow Dash, forgetting the reason why she was in Canterlot again, she kept on running among the skeletons of her teenage years. There was not the hint of a street, not a wall face mysteriously still there that didn’t remind her of someone, of a perfume, of a memory… The tears blurring her vision formed some kind of nebula, and each time she wiped them away with the back of her sleeve, new ones appeared. Even when a grain of sand came and land inside her eyes, or was crushed under her teeth, she couldn’t stop running. She couldn’t stop running until she would have reached it. This place that had been her last abode, this place where she met with her destiny. This place where, as strange as it seemed, though she had been learning the best ways to kill an enemy, she also knew an unprecedented bliss. And when, finally, she stopped in front of what was left of the building, her knees gave in under the weight of her shock, and she fell in the sand. The Military Academy, where also was the base of the Resistance Army, was one of the buildings that suffered the least of damages, probably because of its size… Yet, what was under her eyes was nothing but a heap of rubbles, spread as far as eyes could see. Her legs still shaky, Rainbow Dash stood up, and decided to make a few steps among the stones and dust. It was impossible to tell where had been the offices, the dormitories, the practice rooms, the main events gymnasium… Everything had been annihilated, left for dead. What could have remained of the furniture or of the weapons seemed to have been plundered already, since all she could unearth under the rocks were more rocks and sand. It felt like her heart would stop when she had a glimpse of what looked like a piano, half sunk inside the rubbles, with only one side of it unbroken. Without a care about the wounds it could inflict her, Rainbow Dash walked at full throttle towards the instrument and her fingers brushed a few of the remaining white keys. “Rainbow Dash… Is that you?” She froze, the beating of her heart once again like about to burst. Was desert and dust giving in her hearing hallucinations now? She probably hadn’t drunk water for too long. After she had seen Misty Fly stepped on a mine without the possibility to help her, and she herself had been injured by the deflagration, with the consequences that she knew, they told her he was on this endless list of men and women declared missing by the end of the Uncivilized War. All along her convalescence, she had been waiting for him, filled with restless hope… and he never came back. It hadn’t always been easy, but she forced herself to think he was dead, not to keep on holding on to what her father used to call “the last flower standing when everything else has been destroyed”, since everything and more had been wiped out already. It couldn’t be real. She might be in some kind of hallucinatory trance. Yet, Rainbow Dash turned around, with the same fever in her heart that she held back then. But conversely to that period, her heart’s wish wasn’t disappointed. It really was Soarin standing a few feet away among the ruins of their shared memories. If she was in the middle of a dream, then too bad. It always was best to lose your mind into a delightful fantasy than into the hell of battles. Had she felt like herself completely, she would never have done something like that. Affection that was too effusive had always felt embarrassing to her, and she’d never felt attracted by the penny dreadful her other fellows liked to read before going to bed, fantasizing of love and romance. But it was a fact, ever since she had penetrated into this ghost of a Ghetto, she wasn’t completely feeling like herself. So, listening to her heart only and no longer to reason, she ran again, grazing her calves and knees on the way, and as soon as she was in front of him, she fell on his neck. Sensations felt too real to be these of a dream or of an illusion. When she felt Soarin’s arms holding her and nestling her against his body, Rainbow Dash knew she was going through reality, as palpable as the visions of the end of the world that surrounded them. He hadn’t died. She would have questions in a few moments, but for now, the fact that he hadn’t died was all she could think of. He hadn’t died. Everything couldn’t be lost forever if Soarin was still alive. Their following kiss had a taste of salty tears as well as of sweet marshmallows. Yet, she broke away from him, almost reluctantly, caught up by the harsh reality of things. The carefreeness of their love story was over. Times were different. And after she mourned him for so many years, it was impossible for everything to remain what they were back then, when they used to train, not knowing they would have to fight for real only one year later. “You—You’re alive…” “I am. I’ve been in a coma and only woke up two weeks ago. It’s… a long story.” When circumstances would be more favorable, they would sit together and would talk about everything that needed to be discussed, but now, with twilight coming, it was more and more complicated to get your bearings in the Ghetto, and the temperatures were about to fall. At first sight, she hadn’t changed much. Her body was as athletic as what it used to be, and she wasn’t any taller. Her skin had remained of a porcelain white, of a creamy texture, and she had the same big expressive almond-shaped eyes, her lovely cheeky face. But the mischievousness in her eyes seemed to have deserted her. How he would have liked to keep on holding her in his arms, so they could forget about their surroundings, like they did back then, locked up in a bubble of bliss together. But he knew they were in a sort of hurry, and that she wasn’t here for him. In all likelihood, Sunset Shimmer didn't warn her of the fact she found him and saved him. Why? Why hadn’t she played such a trick up in her sleeve? Although he thought he had a better understanding of her motivations now, Soarin kept on asking himself questions about her plans. Military strategy didn’t really seem to be her forte, yet she had been chosen as the leader by the inhabitants, such as the new customs wanted. In fact, the first question the young woman asked him was about Sunset Shimmer. “Have you also been recruited by Sunset Shimmer in order to plan an attack on the Hive?” “Yes, in a way. It’s not like I really had the choice.” In front of Rainbow Dash’s lack of understanding, he shrugged. “Long story. Once again.” “Do you trust her?” “To be honest… I’m not sure. In a sense, I do. And in another… I’m wary. It’s a Military quirk, I suppose.” “I suppose so. I missed you.” Soarin didn't expect this. Especially so suddenly. Rainbow Dash never discussed much about her own feelings, especially not with words. She was a hardline Military, focused on action in every aspect of her personality. Something might have changed, despite it all, if she could tell such a thing to him, looking straight into his eyes, without a blush of embarrassment. Yet, he couldn’t help displaying a smile, and when she stretched her hand in his direction, he took it unwaveringly, following her through the ruins of what had been the setting of their blooming love story. Even during the battles, they hadn’t been separated. Rainbow Dash had been under the direct orders of her father, with the same rank, though she had integrated the highest level of the Academy two years after him. They fought each time side by side, exchanging ammunitions, covering each other, and Soarin liked to think this was the reason why they’d been through the war relatively uninjured. Until she ran after Misty Fly into what apparently had been a mere trap. They had lost each other on that dreadful day, and the fact they were together again today, walking hand in hand in the middle of rubbles, almost felt like a miracle. But miracles didn’t exist, and he knew what he was talking about. What was about to happen had nothing of a fairytale. ***************** Only once getting closer of the bunker inside which lived all the survivors of the Butterflies’ attack was it possible to get the first glimpses at the apple tree hovering over the cultivable lands they all worked at. The tree wasn’t as impressive as those that used to constitute Sweet Apple Acres, but in the middle of the desolate scenery, it shone like a precious gem. The vegetation outside the Ghettoes was rather limited. The desert offered a few cactuses it shared with some variety of bushes and trees with the dry lands. Only the withered prairies produced herbs and Echinacea flowers but they tended to become rare too, little by little. Without the Angels, Equestria would have probably been wiped out like the Northest part of the West Continent. Since Equestria no longer was protected by high walls, its ecosystem was rather limited as well. It made of these few cultivable lands and of this apple tree some kind of oasis, an unexpected island of hope and life. From the moment they approached the entrance of the bunker, where a few persons were waiting for them, Rainbow Dash let Soarin’s hand go, aware of how unjust it could seem. He could have understood if she hadn’t put a certain distance between them. As if everything that happened before never occurred at all. His back got knotted and he felt as if an iron bar was planted between his shoulder blades. “We were waiting for you,” Sunset Shimmer started. “We need you to vote for or against Muffin and Dinky’s acceptance.” “I beg your pardon?” Rainbow Dash asked with bile in her voice. “No decisions are taken unilaterally here. Everything’s submitted to the inhabitants’ vote.” Perhaps. A display of democracy, no matter which shape it took, was always a good thing in those confused times where the temptation of totalitarianism was huge. However, Rainbow Dash didn’t really like the fact Sunset Shimmer wanted to discuss again of how legitimate it was to accept a mother and her baby in their community. If every of the persons that were here hadn’t voted for, she would have willingly show her dissatisfaction about this decision. “Good. Since everybody agrees, I’m going to show you your room and to explain you how our shelter is working.” “Won’t ya make the introductions first, Sunset?” Applejack questioned, taking one step forward. “Oh, yes… Well… Sorry. I’m disturbed because I’m tired.” Applejack was the leading Producer. Out of all those who lived here, she was the one with the best experience of crops, agriculture and how to manage the gatherings. She produced the necessary seeds, watched the girls’ digging over, warned then if a sand storm was approaching, prepared schedules and decided of what tasks each had to do. She also was the one who gave the orders for cooking. As far as Rarity was concerned, she spent most of her time mending or creating clothes for the workers. Life inside the bunker didn’t ask for a great luxury of items to use, but she also was in charge to make sure their well was working correctly, as well as all the electrical supplies, thought it wasn’t her specialty. Of course, she also was responsible for the maintenance of the cropping tools, and most importantly, of the guns. Most of the other girls were Envoys, Entertainers, Traders or Diggers, and since they didn’t really need the abilities of these Castes, they had learned to farm, to cook, to use guns and weapons and to manage the command post, which main use was to check out whether strangers would be approaching and whether or not they were a threat. Since the Butterflies’ attack, there wasn’t a soul anymore that came near Canterlot. In fact, a rumor was running inside the bunker, saying the other inhabitants of Equestria thought the Ghetto had been wiped away completely. Just like the outside, looking like a big rock burning under the sun, the inside was very basic. The few ceiling lights which illuminated the corridors of a weak whitish glow were nothing but small bulbs hanging at iron wires. The armored doors of each rooms also were plain, and it was easy to get lost. It wasn’t a surprise for Rainbow Dash that most of the inhabitants would rather spend long days cultivating crops on lands that were chemically fertilized. If she spent more than two days locked up in this gloomy place, she would turn insane. Although the Everfree Forest was a hostile environment, that a threat could appear at any moment, and that life there was of an almost stern simplicity, at least she could see the sun, smelling the perfume of plants and trees, and feeling the wind on her skin. She already missed her wooden house. By this time, her mother probably was busy washing Fluttershy. It was the moment where the nightingale and the pinch-marks were singing. The moment where the smell of the mushroom soup was floating between the walls, the moment where, finally, satisfied of her hunt, she could rest while sipping a red berry tea. She took a glimpse at Pinkie Pie. For someone who liked joking and having fun so much, this gloomy atmosphere probably felt oppressive. Her instinct didn’t trick her. The young woman’s cheeks were scarlet and small sweat drops were shining on her forehead. She never made any secret of her claustrophobia, which almost deprived her of her job as a Military Healer… A trauma which dated back to her preteen years, when she had to wait for days and days, on her own and in the dark, for a sand storm to stop, locked up in a shelter. “Isn’t there a room with at least a small window? Pinkie Pie isn’t feeling well. She’ll never be able to sleep under the ground.” Sunset Shimmer stopped walking and turned around to see Rainbow Dash. It was obvious that this was the one question too many. Things weren’t supposed to be this way. She shouldn’t have to beg her to join them, or to receive new mouths to feed, even less to give a special treatment to someone who wasn’t even supposed to be here in the first place! Who did she think she was? A very important person? The Elite Caste no longer existed since the beginning of the Uncivilized War, it wasn’t for other persons to grant themselves rights that turned them into privileged ones. And then, she realized. Rainbow Dash never needed them. They needed Rainbow Dash. Without her, it would be impossible to understand the gadgets Twilight had created, and even less the vehicles. Without her, there was no way they would prevent the Hive from doing anything. They didn’t have her abilities, not yet. And they lacked time to learn properly. “There’s a bed in the kitchen…” “I go with her”, Rarity volunteered. “I’ll explain her where to wash and everything else, this way.” Taking a glimpse at Rainbow Dash, thus making sure everything was fine, Pinkie Pie followed the purple-haired girl. What a beauty she was! She never had the chance to see such a beautiful and elegant person since… since Maud’s death, maybe? The complete visit of the bunker took nothing more than ten to fifteen minutes. There were only a hundreds of inhabitants, divided up on two “floors”, and outside of the command post, the whole was constituted of rooms, in which also were reserves of canned food, of water flasks and of gas masks. The trip had been exhausting and Sunset Shimmer only wanted one thing now: washing up and going to bed. And so she considered Rainbow Dash probably was feeling the same way. Private rooms were rare. Soarin and her were the only ones who had theirs. Yet, she thought it would be a good idea if Rainbow Dash had her own as well. It wasn’t in order to bribe her; it was for a convenient reason. As a Military, she was well used to a morning routine that was quite different from the others’, and she could bother them. “Here’s your chamber,” she said while opening another one of the doors which were many here. Rainbow Dash took a glimpse inside. It was nothing but a small cube of reinforced concrete, with a couchette of the same material, on which there was a survival blanket. A few little recesses had been dug in order to put personal belongings, and a small lamp was hanging at the ceiling, on the same model than all the other ones. She would never be able to sleep on her own in such a place… All the same, she didn’t point it to Sunset Shimmer. She had been demanding enough. But, once everyone would be asleep, she knew she would sneak out and join Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash had good reasons not to join Soarin instead. Some things had to be said first. And it wasn’t fair for the other girls, deprived of a masculine warmth for so long. Plus he could see things that she didn’t want him to see… If she thanked Sunset Shimmer now and decided to stay in her room immediately, she was sure the girls would let them together alone, considering the two lovers had things to catch up on, even if only talking. She wasn’t feeling ready for it. It hasn’t even been one hour since she had learned he was still alive, and the sensation remained a bit blurred, and this, even though she couldn’t ignore his presence – the way she never was able to ignore it. Thankfully, something had her intrigued since she had stepped inside the bunker. Her mind whispered to her that now was the right moment to ask. “Can I see it?” “What?” “Your Angel…” Sunset Shimmer opened her eyes a bit wider. Military held a knowledge a bit more advanced than the rest of the population about the energizing entities which allowed them to survive in these complicated conditions, but it didn’t mean it was the only Caste which could understand the way they worked, conversely. However, she decided to grant her request. It didn’t cost anything to let her see it. But she also had to show Muffin her chamber… “Applejack, could you please bring Rainbow Dash to our Angel’s room?” “Eeyup. No problem!” Right before she followed Applejack, Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin, who she smiled to, hoping it would reassure him. He had to know she held no grudge against him, conversely, she was happy to know he was still alive and here by her side. If the circumstances had been different, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated to give him much more of her. But things were what they were. He smiled back at her, right before he went the other way, following the bunch visiting with them. After a small journey of a couple of minutes, on the same floor, Applejack opened another security door, and moved aside to let her step in. The room wasn’t much bigger than what they called chambers. Neither was it more sophisticated than the rest, or even more than the command post which, energetically greedy, was situated nearby. The biggest difference was the light. Instead of the pale glow of the corridors, it was dazzling, like an aurora borealis, with touches of pink, blue and green. And yet, the sphere in which the Angel was encapsulated wasn’t any bigger than a balloon. Nothing too impressive when compared with the enormous globes of the widest Ghettoes. She took a few steps forward and, without the fear about the light, came closer in order to press her palm against the glassy ball. She immediately felt a sweet warmth stroking her skin. When she took off her hand before the warmth turned into a scald, Rainbow Dash noticed she was shaking. Before she could see it, she hadn’t realized how moved she was to be in presence of such a hope, such a chance for the future, that the Angels represented. Even if, just like everything, ill-advisedly, it could turn into a weapon of mass destruction – although of a least power than what the humans of the postmodern era had been creating, of course. “We lost all the others. It had wiped everythin’ away when they exploded. That’s all we been able to save.” “It’s better than nothing at all.” “Ah always wondered how such a thang could keep so many persons alive.” “They come from the sun. Solar energy is very powerful. If we could create panels which would capture the light of the sun, the way they used to have, we wouldn’t need Angels anymore. Or it would multiply their energy.” “So, they better not fall into the wrong hands.” “Like you say.” “Where would we find anythin’ to make panels, anyway?” “I don’t know.” Many times, she had wondered whether it would be that worth for humans to get back their lost splendor, despite heat, despite pollution that had never disappeared. They were able to destroy as much as they were to create. And there was no good without bad, life needed both to work. Yet, each time, she came to the conclusion that it was best to keep on living this way, and to stop looking for constant progress. Life was tough, but now it was less likely to be worse… Except if another war happened, a prospect she had never envisioned until now. And now that the threat seemed real, Rainbow Dash didn’t want to stay with her arms crossed, waiting for things to happen. Especially because without this, she could never return home, and enjoy life peacefully. “It’s good, I’m ready to go back to my chamber. Thanks a lot, Applejack.” “Yar welcome,” the young woman answered, shrugging. “If ya need anythin’ else, don’t hesitate. My chamber’s right beside yars.” They both left the room, that the young Producer locked up behind her, before leading her to her room again. They didn’t utter a word before they were in front of the door, both in deep thoughts, meditating on all that had been said. Before she let her to rest, yet, Applejack had one last thing to say to her new fellow. “Since we don’t have Amazons, Am the one in charge of the horses. Well, Sunset, Lyra, me and ya are the only ones with a horse, but… Ah saw yars was blind. Does she need somethin’ in particular?” She found this mare wandering alone in the deserted streets of Canterlot, right before she left with her mother, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy for the Everfree Forest. They already had two additional stallions back then, miraculously survivors of the Uncivilized War, but these mounts were old and died as soon as their trip was over. Yet Tough withstood, despite her sight that was already short, despite the difficulty of such a travel and the meteorological conditions. It was the reason why Rainbow Dash chose this name. “No. She’s living like any sighted horse. She lets the other horses guiding her in the pen, that’s all.” “Ah have to tell ya… Ah congratulate ya for the domestication of a blind animal. Ah heard that back in Fillydelphia, they shot ‘em if they have the least of flaws and then they eat the flesh. Ah can’t wait to work with ya.” “So can’t I,” Rainbow Dash answered with a smile, before she stepped into her room. She didn’t really know Applejack. All she knew about her was what Sunset Shimmer told her and the little conversation they had together. And yet, something inside of her had immediately made Rainbow Dash put all her trust in her. The way she stood. The way she smiled and spoke. It showed that earning respect from peers sometimes could go either way. ********************* Knowing what time it was each time he woke up in his chamber remained a bit complicated for Soarin. His stay at the Underworld hadn’t been long enough for him to get new habits there, and his whole body was still functioning the way it did during the war, when the first rays of the sun were so intense you couldn’t do otherwise than opening your eyes. Losing his Military’s reactions was also a difficult task. The morning exercises, making his bed with hospital corners, his hairdo always perfect and his outfit flawless, shirt clean and shoes polished. Among all those inhabitants from various Castes, he always felt as if he was some kind of foreigner. But this was about to change. First of all, because now he started to know the girls who peopled the place and especially because now, Rainbow Dash was with him. They both had always been on the same wavelength. Everything was easier when they were together, supporting each other, shoving each other to go farther, stronger. Now she was by his side again, although they no longer shared the same bed, he had stopped worrying. About almost everything. Not thinking much, he opened the door of her chamber while announcing “it’s me, Dashie” enthusiastically, not even knocking neither. Much to his surprise, Rainbow Dash didn’t welcome him with the wide smile he was expecting. She pushed the door so strongly the thing closed up against his nose, her face red from embarrassment. From what he had a glimpse of, she was busy putting her clothes on – a sweater with an integrated muffler, a hood and a kangaroo pocket, which were perfect for an outing in the desert, along with leather pants with buckles. And this detail let Soarin dumbfounded. How many times had he seen her naked, or had he looked at naked parts of her skin? She never been the modest type, especially not with him. If he closed his eyes, he could still sketch every curve of her body. He knew exactly where were each of her birthmarks, each of her beauty spots and scars. He wasn’t any common fellow. He was the one she held hands with so many times, the one against who she snuggled in the cold of the night, who she entrusted with each of her fears and of her hopes for the future… When she finally opened her door again, he could see a sparkle of fear through her magenta eyes as she saw his wounded nose, tinged with a slight red. “I’m so sorry, Soar’… You surprised me and I panicked. I’m no longer used to it; you know?” Soarin nodded, though a part of him kept on thinking there was more to her attitude with him than she let him know, something she was hiding. But it probably wasn’t the best of time to start such a conversation as this. Sunset Shimmer and the others were waiting for them in the kitchen, in order to speak of their strategy to reach their goal. “Is your nose alright? I don’t know whether there’s ice here. It’s such a strange place.” “It’s true everything here feels different. Yet, the way we used to live during the war wasn’t perfect at all. But I don’t know… I can’t feel quite like myself since I’ve arrived.” “Same here. To be honest, I already can’t wait to leave,” Rainbow Dash stated with an embarrassed laugh. There it was again. This connection between them. This way they had to always be in consonance about feelings and intuitions. The reason why their couple was so perfect laid here as well. Though they had a completely different character, they complemented each other wonderfully, and when they were together, they felt invincible. The ultimate proof of this statement was that, during the war, their worst misfortunes happened to them from the moment they parted. They both exchanged a conniving smile, and for a very short while, Soarin felt as if he were years ago, back at the Military Academy. But reality got him back quickly. Just one look at the corridor in which they stood was enough to remind them that the Canterlot of their memories was gone forever. Did this country called Equestria still deserved to be known as a nation? Each of the Ghetto were not separated and had cut all means of communication. The semblance of harmony they lived had been broken down for all time on the day Sombra killed the members of the disappeared Caste of the Elite, and stole its very first Angel. “We’re expected to speak strategy. Are you ready?” “I am.” He stretched out his hand in order to grab hers, but Rainbow Dash was able to avoid it, and Soarin had to resolve and let things remain this way. What got them connected hadn’t disappeared completely, and yet, he could feel it had been transformed because of time, and this thing she seemed to be hiding. What saddened him the most was that they could never have this conversation as long as they were here. To get privacy in this place was a bit complicated, as he witnessed on the day he saw Rarity and Applejack in the command post. A bit later, someone confirmed him this was the kind of accident which happened all the time. The easiest way to be alone and never bothered was to venture in the ruins of the Ghetto. How could anyone want to talk about love in such a place? When they stepped into the kitchen, everyone was already there. Out of Pinkie Pie and Muffin, Sunset Shimmer had apparently invited other members of the community, among those who weren’t getting ready to work in the fields, and that they met on their way. “Sorry to be late,” Rainbow Dash said while getting closer, greeting the others with her head at the same time. “There’s no problem,” Sunset Shimmer answered. Funny. Her voice was saying something while her body was saying something else. Although she displayed a confident attitude, Rainbow Dash knew that each time she did something the young woman didn’t like, she tried not to show how upset she was, while not succeeding completely. Yet, it wasn’t in an attempt of defiance that she did the things she did. It was because she listened to her consciousness and always tried to behave in the fairest way possible. If others didn’t like that side of her, well that was too bad for them. Rarity stepped closer and gave the two newcomers a cup of coffee, and Rainbow Dash couldn’t miss the embarrassed reactions she had each time she interacted with Soarin. It wasn’t making her feel jealous, but rather curious. There were many things she still had to discover about this place and its inhabitants. “Well, now everyone’s here, I think we’re going to start,” Sunset Shimmer began, leaning over the Equestria map laid on the table. Obviously, she hadn’t summoned them here to have a discussion. She already had a very precise idea in mind about the way they would bring down on her knees the transgressor Chrysalis, who called herself Queen, in the same way that Sombra was a self-proclaimed King. Rainbow Dash was curious as well to hear what it was. “According to my sources, right now the Hive is floating in the area of the McIntosh Hills. Generally, it first goes around the Outside Lands before it comes back to the Inside Lands where their turn is faster. Despite its technological advancements and numerous Angels, it is impossible for the floating Ghetto to tour the complete country, Outside and Inside Lands included, in less than two months and a half. Which means before it’s going to be in Canterlot’s sky, we have this time in our hands in order to train and to fix our weapons and vehicles created by Twilight before we’ll attack.” Every of the person around seemed to agree with the plan, nodding in a knowing way. However, a palpable awkwardness was floating among three of them. By turns, Rainbow Dash glanced in Muffin’s direction, then towards Soarin, and the face they displayed was singing a different kind of lullaby. There were good ideas in Sunset Shimmer’s plan, of course, but still, it lacked something. This maneuver laid too much on chance and speculations, saying that if they attacked an unprepared Hive – since Canterlot seemed to be a ghost Ghetto with the exclusion of the fields they were cultivated – although they were understaffed, maybe they could take it by surprise and win on the fact they weren’t expecting anything. It was forgetting that what Chrysalis had at her disposal were more than mere soldiers, which most of them weren’t even, but an undefined number of cyborgs, cyborgs which had been able to put down a Ghetto such as Canterlot, even though it was already half-destroyed by the chaos the war caused. In no way the Militaries they were could accept to get involved into a fighting strategy which laid so much on conditional. It was a solution which sounded too precarious and fragile. “Is that your plan? Waiting nicely for the Hive to be above us and attack it with that little army of yours?” “Yes, it is…” “So you want us all dead?” Immediately, almost all eyes conveyed towards Rainbow Dash, wide opened from surprise. No one here ever dared putting Sunset Shimmer’s plans into question. Out of them all, she was the one with the widest knowledge, though she had never been of the Military Caste, and had learned everything she knew in books and with experience. Maybe, but now they had at their disposal real members of the Caste, so it was best to use them. Wasn’t it the reason why Sunset Shimmer called Soarin and her? For their experience of war and of military strategies. Not to walk into the lion’s den, hoping they would escape from the potential swipe of the claws. Once again, she didn’t mean to upset the young woman or to put into question her “authority”. All she did was voicing her opinion, maybe not in the most of diplomatic ways, for sure, but the result was the same. And, hadn’t Sunset Shimmer repeated many times there were no leaders here, unlike the other Ghettoes, that everybody had their say in the matters? Without it, her New Canterlot would be no different than any other places in Equestria, where selfishness and corruption were the only masters. “Do you have another plan in mind?” Rarity asked. She was the first one who dared opening her mouth after the shock. “Maybe I do…” “In this case, I’m looking forward to hear it,” Sunset Shimmer claimed. She stepped back and showed the map to the young woman, implying she let her take the lead. There was something a bit ironic in her gestures, as if she was already expecting to see her fail. Unwaveringly, Rainbow Dash came forward to the empty space let by Sunset Shimmer, and saw both Soarin and Pinkie Pie coming closer too, and the others parting to let them in, as if it was where they naturally belonged. “If the Hive tours all Equestria in two months and a half, it gives us this amount of time to gather a wider army. How many Butterflies were they when Canterlot had been attacked?” “Somethin’ like fifty,” Applejack answered. “So around fifty of them have been enough to destroy what was left of a Ghetto as large as Canterlot and to kill more than half of the remaining inhabitants, am I right?” “You are,” Sunset Shimmer replied, her clenched jaw contrasting with the glow of curiosity shining in her eyes. “Since last year, who knows how many of these Butterflies Chrysalis had been able to create? I have to remind you she got most of the most talented Masters of Elements still alive at her disposal. The cyborgs aren’t human beings easy to take by surprise, they’re machines. Us alone aren’t enough to defeat them, especially since we can’t know how many of the Butterflies the Hive now has in its possession. We have to gather a much wider army, if possible with a lot of Militaries…” “And how on Earth could we do such a thing?” “By asking help to the other Ghettoes. I believe this is about them as well, because without us warning them, they’ll be attacked unprepared. We have to target the biggest ones which are reachable in less than two months and a half… Muffin?” The young mother stepped closer, shyly. Just like Pinkie Pie, her simple-minded appearance and her crossed eyes couldn’t be trusted. She wasn’t a warrior, conversely, but she knew the West Continent like the back of her hand, better than anyone in this room. Her knowledge about roads, but also about the habits and peculiarities of the other Ghettoes was unmatched. In a few seconds, she was able to mentally draw a simple and meaningful itinerary. “The closest ones would be Las Pegasus, which has something like ten Angels, then Cloudsdale with seven Angels, then Appaloosa and finally Fillydelphia with both five Angels. The Ghettoes with the greatest numbers of Angels are those the most likely to be attacked and plunder by the Hive. Plus, there are the places where life’s the most comfortable and so where a lot of Military settled. Two of them even are led by Militaries.” “It’s perfect. Once gathered a bigger army, then we’ll be able to attack The Hive in two times. First, we’ll free the imprisoned Militaries and Masters of Elements who are participating against their wills to the elaboration of the Butterflies, then we’ll gauge how many Butterflies there is and try to destroy them. After that, a few days later, we’ll attack the weakened Hive again.” “Without her Butterflies, she’d still have fighters, that’s for sure, but human fighters. And human fighters are something we can take care of,” Soarin finished. “Exactly.” Once again, they both exchanged a conniving look… but they quickly were slowed down by the sudden weighing silent hovering over the room. It felt as if they all had fought a boxing game and were knocked over, lost, no longer sure of where they stood. It was really different from Sunset Shimmer’s plan. Of course, chance still was a part of everything, but it was always the case in battles and wars. No one could tell in advance the ins and outs of a strategy, but if this one sounded rather elaborated and thought through, there always were more chances for it to succeed than the opposite. This time, it was Applejack’s turn to break the strange silent with her legendary frankness. “Gee, this is a strategy, apple heavens!” No one missed Sunset Shimmer’s furious glare at her but just like the pretty blond farmer always did, she received it with a simple shrug. “Ya know am always honest, sorry. But this is somethin’ I’m OK with bein’ enrolled in.” “Think about it, Sunset Shimmer,” Rarity said, putting a hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “It will lead us to the same result that is getting rid of both the Butterflies and The Hive.” If there was something the Envoy remembered from the teachings she had learned in History books, it was that conflicts of ego were always responsible of the worst disasters on the battlefield. What hurt her the most wasn’t that Rainbow Dash submitted a plan which seemed to won public support more than hers… It was the fact she hadn’t been able to come with the same scheme; with the experience she’d gained over the years. Once again, she was brought back to her lack of knowledge in the matter. Because if she took a closer look, it seemed obvious that what the Military girl proposed was of a better content. And it was rather logic since she had been raised for the defense of civilians and that she had always swum in this universe. After all, Sunset Shimmer was nothing but an Envoy who had turned into a fighter by necessity. She still had a lot to learn, and the most obvious of evidences had just been thrown at her face. “Fine. Let’s adopt this plan, then… When do you think we’ll be able to leave?” “I’d say in three days, maybe five days at the max. I think it’s going to be enough time for us to prepare our weapons, food supplies and packs, for Muffin to draw our itinerary and for me to fix Twilight’s Flying Vehicles…” “I can draw your itinerary in two days,” Muffin replied. “It’s perfect. Are the vehicles that broken?” “I don’t think so.” “Four days sound like a good concession.” “Very well. We’ll leave in four days, then.”