The war against Sombra was getting far more worst then it already was. First the destruction of the Crystal Empire, then enslavement of their ponies, afterwords the beginning of the war.
Sombra formed an army with the enslaved crystal ponies and took them to fight agaisnt Equestria.
The ponies of Equestria were on their day a like any other, until suddenly an alarm went on to tell the ponies that they where under attack and so they went and hid as the royal army went and fought.
As time went by they needed new recruits for the army as Sombra's was getting stronger by the minute, the Equestrian army was getting desperate, so they took what they could get. Not only stallions where getting into the fight, but mares as well; well some mares and stallions, because others needed to work to make uniforms and provide food for the soldiers as well as many more necessities.
The Army was formed by Earth Ponies and Unicorns since they only could be on land. And the Air Force -which you could guess- were the pegusus as they took the sky.
Earth mares were incharge of taking out any rock that came their way, the most known for doing that were the Pie sisters, taking out every rock at the blink of an eye.
Unicorns were in charge of fighting and beating ponies on the ground with their magic, along side the stallion earth ponies.
Then there was the pegasus mares, they fought side by side with the stallion pegasus taking the sky, dropping the frequent bomb here and there; most of the pegusus already had lost a wing during the fight, most of them pegusus stallions, but there was one mare that already lost a wing … and will probably loose the other.
Rainbow Dash is her name and flying fast is her game, but right now it isn't; right now she's trapped, her wing is under a boulder that won't budge to get off and none of the Pie sisters are there to help. Then she heard something and felt the ground tremble; it was an avalanche heading straight towards her. The last thing she saw was a pink blur as she fell unconscious under the sea of rocks over her.
Pinkamina and Limestone Pie were destroying the rocks that captured their fellow soldier and try to save her before the worst could come. They finally took her out and checked if she was even alive.
They checked her pulse.
A pause.
thump … thump … thump
She's alive. Pinkamina took this unconscious soldier, put her over her barrel and took her to the medics faster then she could blink and left her there for the medics to take care of her and went back into the fight.
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“mmm..mmm…grr.. GAH! What, where am I?!” Rainbow Dash suddenly awoke, the yelling causing her a head ache and her eyes taking somewhat of the enviorment she was in.
Doctor Redheart and some nurses surrounded Rainbow Dash and a machine to check her heart rate, she concentrated on that until doctor Redheart spoke: “Miss Dash, you have finally awoken, good, right now your in the medic area sector ‘B'. I’m sure you recall the last thing that happend before you got all of those bruises.”
And it was true, most of her body was coverd in bandages; nothing too bad, but bad enough to give her some scars for life. “Well… the last thing I remember was that my wing was under a stupid rock! And seeing a pink blur before I passed out under those damn rocks. Wait! My wings, how are they?”
Doctor Redheart told the nurses to go and then sighed, “Miss Dash, you're going to be fine, your body will be fine… but as for your wings, well, your replacement has been completly destroyed, so we had to take it off and there won't be another replacement for a couple of months; but as for your only wing, there is still some hope that it could be fix if-”
“AWSOME! This wing will be fixed in no time-"
“If, Miss Rainbow Dash, if and only you take care of it, it will be back in six months.”
Pause, a long pause for Doctor Redheart and Rainbow Dash… especially for Rainbow Dash, that is until she decided to speak.
“Six mounts… you expect me to be waiting for this wing to cure? For six mounts?!” Now Rainbow Dash was felling somewhat of a felling anger and nauseous at these news. Now I can't help Equestria, I mean my body wasn't built for fighting like earth ponies or fighting with magic like unicorns, I was made to fly, now what am I going to do?
That train of thought was interrupted when Doctor Redheart cleared her throat, “Miss Dash, there is still a lot you could help with -well, not in the milatary. You could help with the cause that Princess Celestia put up before coming to fight along side us."
Yes, the war against Sombra was getting worst and worst by the minute as Princess Celestia herself went to fight beside her little ponies, but also sending those badly injured to help the cause. There were even pamphlets which they could choose from to go and help and then come back when they were already cured, or so Rainbow Dash thought.
But the thing was that Rainbow Dash never really stopped to look at these so called ‘jobs' the princess put up for the cause and never thought this would happen.
So much for trusting my instinct, she thought, rolled her eyes and grunted, “Fine, bring me one of those pamphlets so I can choose one of these quote on quote ‘jobs'.”
Another pause.
“Miss Dash, do you know how many injured soldiers are harmed every day?” Doctor Redheart asked Rainbow Dash with a petrified look on her face.
“Many, I suppose, but what does this have to do with the cause?” Rainbow Dash shrugged.
“It means that you can't choose anymore, those panflets are useless, they only thing that they provide you is the information of the job that you are assigned to do. And since the only injured part of you is your wing and not your hooves, General Spitfire decided to send you to tree buck duty in Sweet Apple Acres. There’s only three ponies running that place and one of them is a filly Miss Dash, a filly! For Celestia's sakes even fillies are brought in for this war.
“Miss Dash, you will be in that orchard working with the Apple siblings for the next six mounts, so you'll get used to it … sigh, the nurses will be back to change your bandages and tommorow will be your departure for Ponyville, oh, that's where Sweet Apple Acres is. We will inform the siblings of your arrival and your condition so that they won't go hard on you, goodbye, Miss Rainbow Dash." With that Doctor Redheart left and Rainbow Dash grunted.
“Ugh! Great, just great! Six months of being on a farm … sigh, perfect." She massaged her head and slouched back on her bed, awaiting what would come next.
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Whooo Whooo!
“WE'VE ARRIVED AT PONYVILLE, I REAPEAT, WE'VE ARRIVED AT PONYVILLE!"
They announced there destination. Rainbow Dash got off the train, she started to stretch until she felt a pang of pain when she stretched her injuered wing.
“Gah! Bloodyhell, damn wing, ugh!" She grabbed her bag filled with little to nothing, brushed off the dust from her uniform and walked off the train in search of one of the Apple siblings, but found no apple cutie mark, she ‘tsked’ at that thought when a little filly appeard infront of her.
“Good evening ma'am, are ya Miss Rainbow Dash?” The little yellow filly asked with a curious glint in her amber eyes.
“Um, yes kid … who askes?”
“Whoo, I thought I would never find ya Miss Rainbow Dash. Ah’m Applebloom, Ah’m from Sweet Apple Acres. My sister sent me ta find ya, and lookie here I find ya! Now come on, she’s gonna be mighty worried if we don’t arrive home before sundown," Applebloom started walking and signaled Rainbow to follow along.
“Sister, huh? So is it just you and your sister, or is there more to the Apple siblings?” Rainbow asked as they enterd the little village.
“Well no, Miss Dash, oh, is it alright if I called ya Miss Dash?”
Rainbow nodded.
“Okay! Well, Miss Dash, it's us three siblings; me, Applebloom being the younger one of the bunch-"
“Evening to you, Miss Applebloom!” A mare in a stand selling carrots greeted Applebloom as they strolled through the village.
“Evenin' to ya too, Miss Carrot Top's!” They ended their greeting as they kept on walking, Rainbow suddenly felling like all eyes where on her.
“Well as you see, we Apple folk are pretty much known in this here town, it ain't that big as you can tell, but well, it’s all we got. And it ain't a big flashy town either, heh. Making it not eye cathching enough for it to be a target of destruction.”
That comment made Rainbow Dash chuckle, “Funny thought you got there kid, buuuut you were talking about your family and you sorta lost me off track."
“Oh! Right, right, where was I? Oh, as I said, Ah’m the youngest of the trio, making me the most energetic one. Then there's my sister, Applejack. I can't really talk for her, all I can tell ya is not to make her mad, she's a feisty one I tell ya. Sigh, then there's my older brother, he's not much of a talker, so don't go on hopin’ to have a decent chat with good ol’ Big Macintosh.”
“Heh, they sound like a riot." Dash deadpanned.
“Oh, you'll love ‘em once ya get ta know ‘em.”
After that it was pure on silence as thay passed house by house; until they got a view of an orchard filled with apple trees of all kinds … and smoke from the now turned into factory barn that cast over the orchard causing it to fell uneasy.
If the place wasn't so dark and gloomy it would be cozy, Rainbow thought as she followed behind the young filly outside of the now turned factory barn.
“Home sweet home, excuse the smell of smoke and apples, you’ll get used to it," Applebloom shrugged and kept on walking.
“Come, Miss Dash, y'all might as well get ta knowing the sibling’s before anything else,” She ran into the barn as the door closed behind her and started talking inside, and before Ranibow could enter the barn the door opened wide infront of her.
Before her stood a mare; she wore a camouflage uniform with some nets in her hair, as for her features… blonde mane, orange coat and esmerald eyes, simple, yet she was looking at Dash just like General Spitfire called her out for making a grave error with those jade eyes. She didn't do anything to this mare, yet her instincts took over and was on guard and puffed out her chest.
“Y’all must be Miss Rainbow Dash." Applejack. Rainbow guessed, her voice deep yet somewhat sweet.
“Yes ma'am-" Rainbow saluted, a sly smile played on her lips “-the one and only mare to kick flank every day in the sky to protect Equestria on your farm… you're welcome by the way." That smile turned to a smirk as she swayed her hair to present her awesomeness.
“Thank ya kindly, Miss Rainbow Dash. Names Applejack,” she narrowed her eyes. ”but don't forget who feeds your tummy when y’all get hungry in the battle field-" she prodded Rainbow Dash at her chest and started walking circles around her. “-and don't forget who’ll be takin' care of yer wing over yonder for the next six months ‘til it get's all tidy and clean so y'all can go back to the field again,” she stopped walking and stared directly at Rainbow’s eyes. “and don't you dare forget who you'll be working for the next six months, so take work seriously …we'll explain more at dinner,"
She walked inside and commanded, “Macintosh! Go show our guest her room and cook dinner. And Applebloom get yourself here filly, yer gonna help me ‘til Bic Mac is done with dinner.”
Geez, talk about bossy. Same as the commander… heh, good, Rainbow thought waiting outside the barn, her view and earshot not that far away from inside the barn.
“Sure thing Applejack!” The filly joyfully cheered approaching her older sister.
“Eeyup," As Applejack dissapeard from her view a red stallion in the same uniform came before Rainbow's eyes, startling her with his height.
“Hi'ya Mr. Macintosh, the names Rainbow Dash." She raised a hoof for him to shake, and he shook it almost breaking Rainbow’s arm.
“Whoo… you sure got a grip there Mr. Macintosh."
“Eeyup,” He started walking towards a smaller door at the side of the barn, Dash following behind him inside the barn home.
“Huh, nice place… cozy." Raidbow said while gazing through the place.
Big Mac nodded. “Eeyup."
“Tell me, Mr. …eer, will this job be somewhat of a challenge or nah?”
“Hmmmm…Eeyup."
Huh, the kid was right after all… not much of a talker for sure. There was silence as they climbed a set of stairs that took them into a hallway with a door on the left side and another door to the right, the right one being almost at the end.
“So, like, is Miss ‘Grumpyjack’ back there always like that, or is it some kind of a show she likes to put on?”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac said making Rainbow Dash raise an eyebrow.
“Yup what, the first one or the second?” She questioned.
“Second, Miss Dash." They kept on walking, meaning Rainbow's room is the far right one.
“Heh, I knew you could talk," She said that earning a glare from Big Macintosh. “Heh, sorry, but it's nice to know she won't be mean to me all the time… right?”
“Don't count on it Miss Dash, she's might stubborn… here's your room, get confy now." With that he turned and walked away, leaving Rainbow alone in her new headquarters for the next six months.
It was pretty decent for her room, but had a problem with the mattress. Since she is a pegasus and in the army they didn’t have that much money for hay mattresses, they just used clouds from the sky and now she’s used to sleeping on only clouds.
“Better talk that one with Miss ‘Grumpyjack’ at dinner." She chuckled and took off her uniform and put her stuff in the drawers. A while passed upon hearing a knock at her door.
“Miss Dash! It's time for supper!” The little filly kept on knocking until no end until Rainbow opend the door.
“Geez kid, that's loud knocking just to tell me it's time for dinner.” Rainbow Dash put on the nicest smile she could muster for the young filly before her.
“Oh, Ah’m sorry Miss Dash, it's only that it's been so long since we had company for dinner. Ah’m just so excited like for havin' you as our guest and part like, y'know… renter of some sorts." Appleblom had that pure on child face of excitement that one wore on the morning of Heart's Warming Eve and Rainbow Dash had not seen one in a long time, well, not since the war had began.
Rainbow Dash was frozen to the ground staring at the young filly before finally chuckling, “No problem kid. Just next time, don't try and break the door. See, there's a crack there thanks to your powerful hooves." She finshied with a grin.
Appplebloom chuckled herself, “Don't even know my own strength. Well we better get going to get the grub while it's hot, don't want it to get cold now do we?” There she was a again, the little filly with one of the purest excited faces Dash had so often forgot that still existed in the cruel world that surrounded them.
“Yeah, let’s go!"
They got to the kitchen, where the dinning room was also placed, then saw what was on the table; good ol’ mashed potatoes, fried carrot sticks and pure on hay. It was far more better from what they served in the milatary, still some Granny Smith applesause but there was plenty here to make her mouth water from just the smell.
“C'mere Miss Dash, sit next ta me. Applejack sits on the other side of the table, so y’all better sit next ta me if ya don't want ta get bucked in the face.” Applebloom patted the seat next to her.
“Uh, yeah, sure thing. But where is your sister, or your brother for that matter?” Rainbow asked while getting next to Applebloom's seat.
“Right here Miss Dash,” Applejack entered the room without her uniform and a stetson on her head. Big Mac following right behind her, also without his uniform and nets.
“We don't like eatin' with our coats all dirty or our uniforms on, it's not right in our eyes to do that. I expect you ta do the same thing Miss Dash." Applejack shot a glare towards Rainbow hoping she got the message.
“Um, uh yes Ma'am,” She mocked a salute with a smirk. “caught that loud and clear.” Then she winked towards Applebloom and heard the little filly giggle.
“Hmmmm… I got my eyes on ya' Miss Dash, y’all better be careful. Well anyway, Ah’m starvin' so giddyup and get yourself some grub y’all!” She put on a smile for the very first time since Rainbow was there, but then dissapeared as Applejack noticed Rainbow Dash seeing her smile and served herself some mashed potatoes, Dash following serving on some carrots.
As everypony started eating, Applejack decided to speak up, “Well Miss Dash, mmm-" she munched on her meal. “-as you'll be in this here house hold for the six month’s to come… or well, until that there wing get's fixed, we would much appreciate if you do things the Apple way on this here farm and stick to our rules until you’re fixed as a fiddle."
Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, sure ma'am, tell me the rules and I’ll try to stick to them… buuut there's a little problem, the thing is, since, y'know, I’m a pegasus, I usually sleep on clouds, so, um, could I change the matress of my bed to a cloud mattress instead?”
“Well, ya see, Miss Dash, the problem with that is that there ain't no cloud here ‘round these parks since a long time, so y’al-" Applejack got interrupted by the pegasus.
“But there's a cloud right there," She pointed out towards the window where there was a big enough cloud for her to make as her mattress.
“I could bring it down if you have a lasso, since, y'know, my wing is broken."
“I, um-" Applejack was interrupted once again, this time by Applebloom.
“Ya hear sister, y’all can have your mattress back if Miss Dash here'll sleep on a cloud mattress, y’all can sleep confy this time, not like last time. I bet you chased out the other soldier just ‘cus ya weren't sleeping well, right?” The little filly chimed in with the most enthusiastic voice, probably becuase she thought she was right.
“Well, um, Applebloom, the thing with the last injured soldier that was here on the barn, was that he was… not very helpful, so that's why I kicked him out," She explained to her sister and then shot a glare towards Rainbow. "But as for you, Miss Dash, y’all can get the rope next ta the barn door and get yer cloud. But ya gotta get your mattress outta' your room and put it inside my own, it's the room next ta your’s by the way."
She finishied with a sly smirk and a competitive glint in her eyes, thinking Rainbow Dash couldn't handle that. But Rainbow responded with her own smirk and competitive eyes.
“Sure ma'am, bet I can do it in a minute!” Rainbow exclaimed.
“We'll see about that, Miss Dash." Applejack slouched on her chair as she wore a smirk.
“Oh yeah? Time me!”
With that, Rainbow shot out of the dinning room, went to the rope and got it ready. She got ready, aimed and… fired! She throwed the lasso towards the cloud, caught it, brought it down, went running into the dinning room, cloud being dragged behind her, and when she passed it she heard: “T'was thirty seconds Miss Dash!”
She kept on going, climbed the stairs towards her room, fluffed up the cloud and put it aside as she lifted the mattress off her bed and onto her barrel, she took the mattress and into the next room. She saw the bare wooden bed frame.
Heh, good thing I sleep on clouds or this mare would’ve chewed my ear off just becuase of a bad sleep. She finished that thought with putting the mattress onto the bed and shooting right towards the kitchen.
“Sooo, how much time did it take?” She asked as a cocky smirk played on her face.
The dinning room was complete silence, Big Mac and Applejack both wore shocked expressions while Applebloom…
“Whoo-wee Miss Dash, that was one minute on the dot! That was amazin', first you where like whoosh outta' the kitchen, and then ya were like shazam passin' this here dinnin' room towards upstairs, and then ya where like whaposh standin' right infront of all of us, that. Was. AMAZIN'!” …was totally amazed of what just occurred in front of her if you couldn't tell.
“Heh, well kid, that minute could’ve been ten seconds if I had my wings, but a minute can do for now." She said whilst straightening her messy side bangs.
While Rainbow was dealing with her hair, Applejack spoke: “Well, Miss Dash, that was one heck of a performence you just throwed, but that run in the house will be the last ya will run in this here building, as rule number one is…”
“No runnin' in the house,” All three Apple siblings chanted at the same time.
“Rule number two is always be helpful around the farm, using your common sense - if you have one - to offer help or do the remaining chores if there's any left.”
“Ugh, I do too have a common sense ma'am.” Rainbow rolled her eyes at the comment the mare had made. I'll show you who has common sense Applesack, she thought and glared at said pony.
“Well… y’all have ta proof yerself, Miss Dash. You'll have enough time with six mounts on yer hooves and nothin' else ta do but be on this here farm makin' sweet, sweet applesauce fer the troop's out there. Now, where was I? Oh, yes,
“Rule number three, don't try and eat the applesauce. Me or Mackie here see ya tryin' to eat the applesauce when it's not in the can, y’all go sayin' bye bye to this here farm.” Applejack finishied her scentence shooting Rainbow Dash one of the nastiest glare's she had.
“Rule number four is don't make Applejack mad, or she'll kill ya." Applebloom whispered out loud towards Mac as they both chuckled.
“Ha ha, very funny y’all," Applejack deadpanned before rolling her eyes and getting up from the table. “Well then, since Miss Dash is staying her first night here she's got the honor of washing the dishes as Ah’ll put on some new blankets to my mattress. Miss Dash, knock on my door so I can change yer wing bandages."
“Wait, you’re going to take care of my wings?” Dash asked surprise at these news as she put on a teasing grin as she asked her next question: "Wait, do you even know how to preen wings?”
That got a flushed look on the other mares face. Huh, she get's flustered easely, interesting. Rainbow Dash got a devilish idea in her head as she smirked.
As the mare still had a tint of pink on her cheeks she spoke: “As you may recall, Miss Dash, I did say that I was goin' ta take care of yer wings for next few months, so… yes, yes I know how ta take care of wings. And if that is all, Ah'm a head to mah room.” With that she turned around and head into the living room, Rainbow Dash’s gaze never leaving the earth pony until she disappeared.
“Whelp, that just happend.” Rainbow’s eyes still on the door where the mare had dissapeared through.
“Eeyup." Big Mac agreed.
“What's the matter with her though? So serious." Dash's eyes still lingering on where Applejack had been.
“Well, Miss Dash, right now she's still a little bit stiff, with y'know ‘stranger in the house' thing. And well… she don't rightly trusts you right now, but when she does, whoo-wee! Will ya love her. Anyway Ah’m gonna hit the hay, Big Mac ya coming?”
Applebloom said trying to calm down the pegasus and her nerves towards her older sister. And that done, she stood up and made her way towards the entrance to the living room awaiting for her older brother.
“Eeyup." Big Mac got up his seat and walked where the little filly stood.
“Well, y’all better get ta washing if ya wanna hit the hay early, g'night Miss Dash!” The little filly finshied - with once again - the smile only the young one's could master.
“What she said, g'night Miss Dash." Big Mac nodded towards the rainbow-hair pegasus and left the room, Applebloom following right behind.
“Goodnight!” She shouted towards them and then sighed seeing all the plates and pots that awaited her.
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“Ugh, finally!” She finshied the last of the pots seeing as the plates where the easiest to clean first.
She made her way towards her room, when she almost passed the first door and realized her wing bandages needed changing. She put on a cocky smirk, leaned on the door frame and knocked.
As the door opend to show the mare of the other side, Rainbow Dash just kept on that flirtatious smirk on her face.
“Hi'ya ma'am, I’m ready for my preening.” She took a step toward to the earth pony before her as she widened her flirtatious smile as Applejack backed away from the pegasus.
“Now, Miss Dash, Ah’m not going ta preen ya, Ah'm just gonna change yer bandages." Applejack explained.
“But a little preening woldn't hurt now would it ma'am?” Rainbow Dash tilted her head to the side bringing her snout closer to Applejack's as the farm mare cheeks flushed. It's working, Rainbow thought as her smile got wider as she gazed into those furious esmerald eyes.
Wait, furious? Before she could answer her own question she got shoved out of the farmers face and into the corridor.
“Miss Dash! As I said, I won't be prennin' ya any time soon, Ah'm a change yer bandages a that's it, y’all can do yer own prennin' if ya want, but not tonight. C'mon, let's get ya some new bandages."
She got a first aid kit for pegasi and went towards the next room, Rainbow following right behind.
As they enterd the room Applejack stomped a hoof on the floor, “Sit. Now." She orderd the pegasus.
“Wow, a little rushed, aren't we?” Rainbow Dash sat down as she still wore that cocky smirk of her’s.
“Sigh. No, Miss Dash, Ah’m just tired and want to get this over with."
“Okay, fine, you’re not making this fun, y'know?” Rainbow Dash pouted.
“There’s nothin' fun with changin' some ol' bandages. Now quit squirmmin', you’re already makin' it harder then it is."
Dash stopped moving once she felt one of her wing bandages was taken off, she bit her lip so a yelp wouldn't escape her mouth.
“There we are… oof, that's quite the bruise ya got there Miss Dash. It don’t look like there will be any prennin' any time soon. Y'all don’t even have feathers, what happend anyway?”
“Well, there was this avalanche and my wing was under a rock and I don't know what exactly happend for it to loose it's feathers, but could you hurry and cover it up. It's starting to sting a little."
“It's a little pain, Miss Dash, I bet you’ve been through worst...” She dralled out.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Tch, yeah, I guess, but it still stings, and itches... a lot. So tell me, how does a farm pony much as yourself know how to take care of a wing?”
A pause, “…Can't respond ya, Miss Dash.”
“Why, ma'am? Is it some sort of secret?” Rainbow questioned the mare before her.
Another pause, “…Somewhat."
Silence. Nothing but silence after that.
Applejack was adjusting the bandages so they wouldn't be too unconfortable until Rainbow broke the silence.
“Sooo like, will I get one of your uniforms, ‘cause I don't want to be working in my uniform."
“Sigh, Miss Dash, Ah’m sorry to say, but we don't got another uniform, especially for pegasi, so I guess you'll just have too work with your uniform or nothin'.” Applejack glared at the pegasi as she was still adjusting the bandages.
“Sigh, fine. I’ll figure out a way to work in this, I'll get used to it sooner or later.” Rainbow Dash sighed and slumped down a bit with these news, but then Applejack patted her back, signaling she was done.
“Well, the wings all patched up. Tommorow’ll be the start of six months of good ol' honest farm workin'. Rest well, Miss Dash, tommorow’ll be a long day.”
“Yeah, can't wait.” She deadpanned as Applejack exited the room.