Soarin and Rainbow Dash flew high over Ponyville, making haste for the small apple farm on the edge of town. Dash flew close to Soarin, never wanting to even let him out of her sight. She made quick glances back behind them, thinking about all that had happened.
Dash eventually found herself tearing up, with everything that had occurred that night striking her all at once, like being struck in the heart with a dagger. She could remember the look on Blaze's face before she died, Spitfire's insistence that they leave, and of course, the compound going up in flames. Her home for the past year had just been destroyed.
"Ah.....ah..." Dash muttered out as tears began to stream down her face, getting Soarin's attention. He reached a hoof over and placed it on her shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look.
"We'll be safe soon, just a bit further." Soarin reassured her. She nodded slightly and continued to fly beside Soarin until they finally reached the farm. The many storm clouds had rolled in and the rumble of thunder could be heard above them.
As they flew over the farm, Soarin pointed to the barn, where lights could be seen inside. They two hovered down as raindrops began to fall from the clouds. The two quickly entered the barn as the downpour began.
The second after Dash and Soarin closed the door to the barn, Dash fired herself at Soarin and squeezed him in a tight embrace that made Soarin feel like he was about to burst. Dash buried her face into his neck and let out all of the emotions she had been forced to hold in that night. Soarin quickly wrapped his arms back around Dash as he felt her tears begin to dampen his fur, but he didn't care, she needed his calming embrace.
As Soarin stayed still and held Dash for as long as she needed he looked over and noticed that the barn was indeed not vacant. Fluttershy and Scootaloo were standing a few feet away, but weren't moving as they saw Dash break down in Soarin's arms. Behind them, Rumble sat on a hay bale, looking on with a sorrowful expression. The last occupant was one of the ponies who ran the farm, Applejack. She gave Soarin a faint smile and nodded to him, as if telling him that the barn was theirs for the night. Soarin nodded back at her before she turned and left the barn.
After a good few minutes of an embrace, Dash stepped away from Soarin, her eyes now red and still a little wet from the tears. She turned to look at Fluttershy and Scootaloo, who looked extremely concerned. Fluttershy took a step forward.
"Dashie? Where's Blaze?" Fluttershy asked. Dash simply shut her eyes and threw herself at Fluttershy. The two hugged tightly, with Dash also signaling for Scootaloo to join. She did and the three shared a moment of shared sadness over their fallen friend. As they did, Soarin trotted over to Rumble.
"Rumble, where's Blossom? Wasn't she supposed to come back here with you?" Soarin asked. Rumble blew air out of his nose before looking back up at Soarin.
"She.....didn't make it." Rumble said quietly. Soarin let out a silent gasp and his eyes widened.
"Wh.....what happened?" Soarin asked with hesitation, unsure if Rumble would be able to recount what happened. But surprisingly, Rumble quickly answered.
"She burned to death on the lawn. Took out a few Wonderbolts with her. She.....she did it to herself......entirely on purpose." Rumble explained. Soarin's eyes became even wider. She self-immolated?
"Any idea why?" Soarin asked. Rumble shrugged.
"No.....but I guess she's back with my brother now." Rumble said as he looked up through one of the barns windows into the stormy sky. Soarin and Rumble then turned their attention back to the others as they finally broke off their hug. Dash quickly wiped her eyes and gave Fluttershy and Scootaloo reassuring looks before returning to Soarin's side.
"So, what's gonna happen now?" Scootaloo asked. Soarin and Dash exchanged worried glances before Dash spoke.
"The Compound....it....it burned to the ground." Dash said, making Fluttershy and Scootaloo both gasp. Soarin growled.
"It was the Shadowbolts, Nightstalker sent in his brother Nightshade and his team. We took out 3 of them, and when we made a break for the exit, Nightshade blocked us." Soarin recounted. Rumble walked up beside Soarin.
"Uncle Nightshade? Dad was serious about this." Rumble said in disbelief.
"Spitfire was the only reason we managed to escape before the place burned down. She.....stayed and fought him." Dash said shakily. Scootaloo quickly went and gave Dash another hug to calm her down as she looked ready to break again. "I...I don't know what's going to happen now, or where we'll go." Dash said. Soarin rested a hoof on her shoulder and looked at everyone else.
"For now, let's just get some rest, and we'll figure out everything tomorrow, Ok?" Soarin suggested. The others nodded and dispersed to get ready to hit the hay. But before Soarin could start turning off the lanterns in the barn, a loud knock was heard at the barn door. Everyone froze, Soarin looked towards the barn door and walked over to it.
"Who is it?" Soarin asked.
"It's Applejack Sugarcube, somepony's here, says she needs to speak with you." Applejack's voice could be heard beyond the door. Soarin exchanged glances with the others, and Dash joined him at his side. Soarin and Dash both nodded to the other before looking back at the door.
"Come in." Soarin said. The barn door opened, and in stepped Applejack, she turned around and motioned to someone just outside the doorway. Then, in stepped Fleetfoot, her usual shadowbolt jacket she wore was not on her, and she had several injuries, including a bleeding cut on her back and a limp in her right hind leg. Soarin and Rumble's eyes widened when they saw her, while Dash failed to hold in a slight growl.
"What are you doing here?" Dash said with a hint of menace, unsure if she was there to take Soarin. Soarin tapped Dash on the shoulder and stepped towards Fleetfoot. Rumble did the same, stepping up next to Soarin.
"Fleet? What are you doing here?" Soarin asked. Rumble went up to her and began to inspect her wounds, Fleetfoot mostly ignored Rumble and looked at Soarin.
"That god I found you. I didn't know where to look, but I needed to warn you." Fleetfoot said as she winced due to her injuries.
"Warn us about what?" Soarin asked. Fleetfoot took a deep breath.
"The mansion, it's been......destroyed. The Wonderbolts managed to take many of us down, so many that the Shadowbolts began to retreat. In the fighting I saw Nightstalker and Solar Storm clashing, but I didn't see the outcome before the mansion became overrun with Wonderbolts. I barely managed to get out unscathed before the mansion caught fire." Fleetfoot explained. Soarin gave her a confused look.
"The Wonderbolts burnt down the mansion too?" Soarin asked. Fleetfoot nodded before also giving a confused look.
"Wait, too? Did....did Nightshade burn down the compound?" Fleetfoot asked. Soarin nodded and Fleet smirked. "Huh, great minds think alike I guess. But that isn't really why I came here, it's Anarchy right now in town, Shadowbolts and Wonderbolts alike are clashing and pretty soon every chapter of the Wonderbolts and Shadowbolts will be fighting." Fleetfoot explained. Dash covered her mouth, realizing that this could mean a kind of war between the two groups, and others might get caught in the crossfire.
"What do we do then?" Soarin asked. Fleetfoot looked down before looking at Soarin, then at Dash.
"I want you to do what I did. If you have anything that gives away your allegiance to either the Shadowbolts or Wonderbolts, get rid of it, and get out of Ponyville. Go into hiding if you have to." Fleetfoot looked back over at Dash. "I don't know what you're doing with her, but I frankly don't want to know, just get out of Ponyville and don't look back." Fleetfoot explained. Soarin was unsure what to think of this, but he saw the panic and fear in Fleetfoot's eyes, something she only ever shown in very rare circumstances. Soarin nodded and stepped over to Dash.
"Thanks Fleet." Soarin said. Fleetfoot smiled.
"Don't mention it. If you two make it out of this alive, come find me in Fillydelphia, I'll buy you guys a drink." Fleetfoot said before quickly turning and heading back into the storm. After she left, Soarin turned back to the others in the room. Rumble was looking after where Fleetfoot had gone, Scootaloo looked extremely worried for Dash, and Fluttershy was staring wide-eyed and looked like she had just realized something horrifying.
"I....I...I need to get home." Fluttershy suddenly said and made a move for the door. Soarin quickly moved in front of her.
"Woah, hey, you heard what Fleet just said, it's a warzone out there. It's best to wait till morning before planning our next move." Soarin said. Fluttershy shook her head.
"Exactly, I have animals there, and if they get caught up in this fighting then they could get hurt or worse. I NEED to make sure they get out okay!" Fluttershy argued. Soarin was ready to argue back when Dash tapped on his shoulder. He looked over and Dash gave him a pleading look.
"Soarin, don't. If her animals are in danger, then nothing is going to stop her." Dash said. Soarin frowned but sighed in defeat and nodded. Dash turned back to Fluttershy and gave her a hug.
"Please be careful Flutters. I Promise you will see me again. Just....don't do anything too risky, okay?" Dash said. Fluttershy nodded. Before she could move for the door, Rumble spoke up.
"I can come with you. Protect you if you need to." Rumble offered. Fluttershy was caught off guard by the offer, but grinned at him.
"That's...very kind of you Rumble." Fluttershy said. Rumble nodded.
"Besides, I have to see if anyone survived at the mansion......see if my dad is OK." Rumble said quietly. Soarin glared at Rumble and walked over to him.
"Rumble?! Are you serious? Did you heard any of what Fleetfoot said?" Soarin shouted angrily. Rumble glared back over at Soarin.
"Yeah, and that's exactly why I need to go back. My family is in danger, and I'm NOT going to run away!" Rumble shouted back, louder than he ever had before and Soarin was taken aback by it. Rumble took a deep breath and walked up to Soarin. He placed of hoof on his shoulder.
"I can't go Soarin. I'm not gonna lie and say that I am 'proud' of my family's history or the conflict with the Wonderbolts, but it's still. my. family. I HAVE to go back." Rumble said sternly. "To give you some hope, if my father.....really.....is......dead.....and if uncle Nightshade is too, then I'm the leader then. And if I can, I will try to the best of my ability to run the Shadowbolts better, and if possible, end this stupid feud." Rumble explained before drawing Soarin into a hug. "I'm gonna miss you bro, but I need to stay. Have a goo life, and keep her safe." Rumble said, motioning to Dash. Soarin gave him a nod before Rumble walked over to Fluttershy.
"Let us be off then." Rumble said. Fluttershy nodded and the two flew off into the storm, leaving Soarin, Dash, and Scootaloo alone in the barn. Soarin turned back to the other two and sighed.
"Alright, I guess now we can hit the hay." Soarin said. Scootaloo had look of hesitation. Dash walked over to her.
"What's wrong squirt?" Dash asked.
"It's just.....so much has happened, and I don't know what I'm gonna do. I can't go back to the orphanage, can I?" Scootaloo asked. Dash gave her a reassuring hug.
"No, you shouldn't, none of us should stay in Ponyville." Dash said.
"But where can we go?" Scootaloo asked. Soarin walked up to the two of them.
"We'll figure that out tomorrow, but for now, we should just get some sleep." Soarin suggested. Dash and Scootaloo nodded. The three then chose their sleeping spots. Applejack had placed sleeping mats and blankets in the corner and in the loft. Scootaloo chose the loft while Dash and Soarin laid in the corner.
Dash snuggled up to Soarin and the two laid in silence in the now dark barn, with nothing but the patter of the rain and the occasional sound of thunder being heard. Soarin felt Dash stir as she snuggled as close as she could to him. He smiled at her through the darkness.
He was beyond happy that they managed to get out alive, but now they had to deal with more trouble on the way it seemed. But Soarin knew that as long as he and Dash were together, nothing would stop them.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Dash suddenly whispered. Soarin smiled.
"I'm glad you're safe too Dash." Soarin whispered back, tightening his grip around her.
"I....I'm kinda scared Soarin. I don't know what's gonna happen, and I'm worried that something worse WILL happen." Dash whispered with a shaky tone. Soarin leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips, Dash was immediately drawn into the kiss and all her worries seemed to melt away as she felt the comforting and warm feeling of his lips against hers. After holding it for a few minutes in blissful darkness, the two pulled away.
"I love you Rainbow Dash. I have fears too, but I am certain that as long as we stick together, watch each other's backs, then we can overcome any hardship. I promise you, I will stick by you and we will pull through." Soarin whispered before planting another kiss on her cheek. Dash smiled wide through the darkness and kissed his lips again.
"I love you too Soarin. I promise that I will always be with you." Dash said before snuggling back into the crook of his neck. Soarin smiled as he felt himself gently drift into sleep.
They were going to make it.....together.