Rainbow Dash headed towards the training grounds at the back to the pony camp, where Black Diamond was waiting. She smiled, catching the wooden sword he threw her way. Rainbow took a deep breath, holding the blade just like he had showed her. She tried to calm her mind, to anticipate his moves, but her thoughts kept wandering. Not to anything in particular, just wandering. Black Diamond caught her in a moment of day dream, hitting her in the side. The air rushed out of Rainbow's lungs and she coughed as Black Diamond shook his head.
"What's going on Rainbow? You just haven't been concentrating during our sessions lately." Black Diamond asked. Rainbow said nothing, still trying to catch her breath. Black Diamond sighed.
"I'm sorry about that Rainbow, but I really am trying to save your life. Out on the battlefield, its chaos, constant chaos, where just taking a step and not being ready can cost you your life. You know what Rarity told me? She said that you were brash, always looking for a fight, but loyal. Never hesitating when your friends are in trouble. That's why I took it upon myself to train you personally, I want to see that Rainbow beside me when I fight. And I want to know that she can handle herself." Black Diamond told her. Rainbow took a deep breath, gritting her teeth to get past the pain. She stood slowly, looking Black Diamond in the eyes.
"I know Diamond, I do, and I'm trying, but this isn't the type of fighting I'm used to. I expected to go home with Applejack and relax after waking up from the coma, but instead I was thrust into this stupid war." Rainbow said, mentally exhausted. "Then this prophecy came up and to be honest, I'm with Applejack. I don't want the responsibility if it means the deaths of others. As much as I like to talk a big game, I'm not a killer." Black Diamond put his hoof on her shoulder, a small smile spreading across his face.
"None of us are." He told her. Rainbow took up her stance again as Black Diamond walked to the other end of the duelling circle. She took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes, studying Black Diamond for the slightest movements. He leapt at her, swinging the sword again, but Rainbow was ready, blocking the swipe and countering with her own. Black Diamond didn't let Rainbow rest, continuing the assault with swipes from the sword and mixing it up with swings from his hooves. Rainbow dodged or blocked most of them, but even then, a few got though. Rainbow fell to the ground, and Black Diamond put the wooden blade to her throat.
"This is kind of unfair; your special talent is fighting." Rainbow said, frustrated at losing. Black Diamond let her up and laughed.
"Actually my special talent is with weapons, it has nothing to do with fighting." Said Black Diamond, stretching his legs for a jog.
"I can instantly use any weapon I pick up, no matter where it's from or what it is. But my fighting skill, my intuition, I had to learn that." He said, and Rainbow followed him as he began to jog around the track.
"Do you see what I'm trying to say Rainbow?" He asked and Rainbow nodded slowly.
"I think so, you're saying that no matter how much natural talent I have, there is always more to learn." Rainbow said, hoping that she was right. Black Diamond winked affirmatively.
"Now let's see if you're just as fast when you're not flying." He said jokingly. Rainbow smiled narrowing her eyes and pulled ahead. They raced around the track, both ponies not giving up, and Rainbow was reminded of the running of the leaves back in Ponyville. She pushed herself harder, as Black Diamond pulled a nose in front of Rainbow, but the gap was quickly closed.
'C'mon Rainbow, you gotta go faster, faster.' She screamed mentally, drawing on her last reserves of strength, she pulled in front of Diamond, inch by inch, until he gave up out of sheer exhaustion. Both ponies collapsed on the ground, and Rainbow could hear cheering. She turned to see that a crowd had gathered to watch the race. She could see Pinkie and Twilight, as well as Luna. Black Diamond, panting hard, crawled over to her.
"Well done Rainbow, I think I can put my fears about you to rest now. Providing you keep practicing with the sword. Rainbow smiled, exhaustedly putting her hoof on his back in a symbolic hug.
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Applejack and the large sailor pony circled each other, their eyes locked, as though begging the other to make the first move. Applejack reached the young mare that the sailor had hit and put her hoof on her shoulder.
"Get out of here and don't look back." Applejack said, and the mare galloped off into the crowded streets. The large pony shook his head.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." He said threateningly, and Applejack smirked.
"Neither do you." She replied, and they continued to circle each other. The sailor finally attacked, faster than Applejack had expected. She jumped out of the way, before bouncing forward with a punch of her own. She hit the sailor in the side of the head, and Applejack had expected to have his head become lodged on the cobblestones because of her super strength, but it didn't happen, as though her powers had worn off from staying sad for too long. Instead, the sailor's head just snapped back, and he staggered. He recovered quickly, attacking Applejack again, but he managed to hit her in the side. She gritted her teeth and hit back. The exchanged continued for a while, with no style, just punching and kicking as if they were fighting professionally instead of a brawl. Applejack laughed with joy as she got the upper hand on the sailor, tripping him up and beating him down.
She stood over him, panting, before looking around and seeing the shocked faces of the ponies that had gathered. Big Mac pushed past them and grabbed Applejack, leading her away before the police arrived. Applethunder and DuskDrift were waiting in an alley, having grabbed as much food as they could and hid. Applejack put her saddlebag on and they galloped through the side streets towards the edge of town. They stopped when they got outside the towns borders, all of them in a slight state of panic.
"That was great." Shouted DuskDrift happily and the others looked at her, confused.
"Galloping through the streets, fear of being caught by the police, it was thrilling." She said, elated at how things had transpired. The others started to laugh at the absurdity of the moment.
"You didn't get out much, did you sugarcube." Applejack said to DuskDrift, who shook her head. The waited until they had caught their breath before continuing down the road towards Ponyville.
Two uneventful days of walking later and Applejack they reached the top of a hill, with Ponyville stretching out below. Applejack smiled, simply glad to see a friendly and peaceful setting. As they made their way through the town, Applejack tried to ignore the stares they were getting. For a moment, Applejack thought she saw Derpy, but realised that she must have been mistaken. They headed towards the library, an enormous tree that had been hollowed, but still managed to grow larger every year. A single tear rolled down Applejack's face as she saw it, the place where her and her friends had planned all of their adventures, and was the first point of call during a crisis. Applejack opened the door to the library and her moth dropped open, as Applebloom pulled her lips away from Spike's, shocked and embarrassed.
"Applejack! Big Mac! You're here." Said Applebloom happily, galloping over to the two and hugging them. Applejack stared at her little sister, and was saddened to see how much had changed. Not only was Applebloom nearing Applejack's height, but she had also stopped wearing the pink bow, instead wearing her mane and tail in the same style as Applejack. But what shocked her most was the fact that Applebloom had her cutie mark. Applejack stared at the painter's palette over a hammer that rested on Applebloom's flank.
"Cousin Applethunder!" Exclaimed Applebloom, jumping on Applethunder. They all walked on to library at Applebloom's insistence and sat down. Applejack looked at Big Mac and could see him staring daggers at the now teenaged Spike. They were introduced to DuskDrift and sat their awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"So how goes the funeral planning?" Said Applejack finally, and Applebloom's smile disappeared instantly.
"Ah've almost got everything sorted, I just need to find some photos of Granny Smith to put on display at the wake." She told them, and Big Mac stood.
"Ah need to talk to Spike for a moment, Aj, follow me." He said, and they followed Big Mac downstairs into another section of the library. Once out of Applebloom's earshot, Big Mac turned to him with an angry expression on his face and stared at him.
"What in the hay are you doin? Taking advantage of our little sister when she's in such a vulnerable state." He said, and Applejack could hear the venom in his voice. Spike backed away, holding his hands up as a sign of peace.
"What are you talking about? I'm not taking advantage of her, we're an actual couple, and have been for months now. Relax; seriously, you don't have to worry. I promise to treat her right and everything." Spike said nervously. Big Mac looked at Applejack and shrugged and she shrugged back.
"Fine, but if ah find out of any indiscretions. I will hunt you down and turn you into boots." Big Mac threatened. Applejack had to turn away so that Spike didn't see her giggle. They walked back to the others and sat down, as the awkward silence returned. Applejack could see that Applebloom had something to say, but was holding back.
"What is it sugarcube?" she asked, and tears began to roll down Applebloom's face.
"I… I just…. Why did you leave me all alone?" She asked and Applejack looked down, afraid of the question she knew was coming.
"I'm so sorry Applebloom. But ah had too, for love. I couldn't sit ideally by while the pony ah loved died. I hope you can forgive me." Applejack explained. Applebloom shook her head.
"Ah forgive you, I just wish you had given me some indication that I wouldn't be seeing you for about two years." She said, standing up and storming out of the room. Applejack started to follow her, but was stopped by Spike.
"Trust me, just give her some space for now." He told her and Applejack sat back down.
'Ah'm sorry Applebloom.' She thought.
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Rainbow and Pinkie stared at each other, eyes narrowed. Their eyes burned with viciousness. In a pink blur, Pinkie leapt on top of Rainbow and held her down, laughing as she did so.
"Fine, you win. Now get off Pinkie, the mud is going on my mouth." Rainbow said irritably, as the crowd cheered. Rainbow stood and walked away with her head held low, hating that she had lost the impromptu iron pony competition that she and Black Diamond had started. Now that Rainbow had been eliminated from the wrestling event, it had come down to Pinkie and Black Diamond. Rainbow grabbed a towel and cleaned the mud off her face as the ponies got into position. Black Diamond was the first to attack, locking Pinkie's front leg into her shoulder. But Pinkie countered by dropping to the ground and using the mud to slide under Black Diamond. Pinkie pulled hard and Diamond was flipped onto him back, Pinkie put her hooves on his chest and held him as Luna counted to three. Rainbow cheered loudly as Pinkie struck a victory pose, and Black Diamond stood up laughing. He walked over to Rainbow and sat next to her as ponies lifted Pinkie onto their backs and did a victory lap of the track.
"You realise all this started because I was trying to teach you a valuable lesson." He said, and Rainbow laughed, realising that he was right.
"Yeah, but I learnt something else in the process. That to get what you want, you can't be afraid to push yourself a bit harder than usual." She told him and Black Diamond smiled.
"Now I know for certain that you are ready for battle." He said. Screaming suddenly erupted from behind them.
"Well we're about to find out." Said Rainbow.