//------------------------------// // Chapter 24 // Story: War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Chapter 24: On Icy Wings Some days had passed since their outing, or date as Applejack would like to think of it. Her freak out on the Ferris wheel had gone unspoken of since then, apparently Rainbow Dash keeping up her end of their agreement. Still, she couldn't wrench her mind away from that day, having so much fun, and to that night when the two of them danced with passion and intensity in their steps. Applejack didn't think the music could move her like that, let alone the both of them, but she liked it. So much so that she would just lie there, staring up at the ceiling, contemplating the date – Oh there she goes again. It wasn't a date, no matter how nice it was, thought Applejack. The past few days had been quiet, no attacks by Daemoni, and no sign of Tikara Balak or his evil cohorts. However, there has been a drastic increase in the bizarre killings going on in Las Pegasus. Like the pony known as Tipsy, many of the victims had been found frozen to death, or killed using large spear sized shards of ice. Shining Armor had gotten a request to help in the investigation, but so far have had no luck in tracking down a suspect. Suddenly Applejack heard a knock at her door. She looked over to her sundial, which in this case was a moondial. "11 o'clock, who in the hay could that be," said Applejack. Groggily she got herself out of bed and walked towards the door. With her right hoof she opened the door; with the left she wiped the sleep from her eyes. "So what y'all want at this consarn hour!" "Sorry…" Applejack was surprised, doing a double take in the process. Rainbow Dash, apparently, was the one knocking at her door, but that wasn't what surprised her the most, it was the pillow tucked beneath her wing. "R-Rainbow, what are ya doin here," asked Applejack. "Well…Derpy flew in late tonight delivering letters. I didn't want her to go flying around at night, plus she looked tired, so I let her crash in my room. Little did I know that she snores – LOUDLY! So I came by to see if you wouldn't mind putting me up for the night – if you didn't mind that is!?" said Rainbow Dash, her demeanor taking on a rather Fluttershyness, well, shyness. Applejack considered this, on the one hoof: Rainbow Dash needs a place to sleep, so it would make sense that she would come ask her for this favor. And the bed was big enough for two ponies to sleep comfortably together. On the other hoof: Applejack would have to fight her feelings, and desires, from getting the best of her and turning this entire thing into a giant awkward night, and possibly doing something she might regret. She was vaguely aware of Rainbow Dash shaking her shoulder; Dash calling out her name was distant in her mind. Finally she shook her head and brought her attention back to reality. "Wha – what'd ya say Dash," asked Applejack." "I asked if it was alright for me to crash with you, at least till tomorrow," Rainbow Dash added. "Naw, c'mon in Rainbow, if'n ya don't mind sharin a bed," asked Applejack, suddenly thankful for the dark room hiding her reddening cheeks. Applejack ushered her friend inside, and after some arranging of pillows, the two mares occupied both sides of the bed and laid down to go to sleep. Unfortunately there wasn't much sleeping on either party's side. Applejack's mind was racing, the mare she loved was only a few inches from her, back to back, neither one wanting to look at the other. After some time it was Rainbow Dash who broke the very awkward silence. "So…I never got to ask you, but did you have fun when we went to Las Pegasus?" "Ah course I did, it was tons of fun Rainbow," answered Applejack "Cool, and I'm sorry," added Rainbow Dash. Applejack leaned to the side, glancing slightly at the pegasus, "Now what have you got to be sorry fer?" "When Gilda showed up, I almost, lost it…If you hadn't been there I probably would've made a complete foal of myself." "Don't you go apologizen fer somethin that didn't even happen, truth be told I was about to clock her myself!" They both shared a laugh, giggling at their mutual short tempers. The tension, awkward, air around them seemed to lift. It was for a split second, but their backs bumped against each other, sending a shiver down their spines. Not in a bad way, but more along the lines of surprise and longing. They just as quickly jerked back, their faces searing with heat, blushing profusely. After another moment of awkward silence, Applejack decided she owed Rainbow Dash an explanation. "Rainbow Dash…" she felt a shifting on the mattress. "What I'm ah about to tell ya stays between us, alright?" "Of course, I won't say anything to no one – want me to Pinkie Promise," asked Dash. Applejack chuckled, "Naw, I trust ya Rainbow; your word is good enough for me." Applejack took a minute to compose herself, the topic in mind was not an easy one. "When I was a filly, a long time ago, I went to mah first Rodeo show. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh took me on some of the rides, but there was one that I sneaked onto by myself…" "The Ferris wheel?" asked Rainbow Dash. "Yeah…it weren't no fully enclosed car neither; it was a chair that swung back and forth. Anyway, somethin happened and the Ferris wheel stopped, and when I say stopped, I mean it jerked and groaned! The harness arm that was supposed ta keep me from fallen out rose up. I made the mistake of leanin forward and when I did I found myself hanging on for mah life. Long story short I fell and thankfully some pegasus flew by and was able to catch me. Ever since then I've been just a bit scared uh heights, but the fear really hit me hard when, well you know…" Rainbow Dash said nothing for a minute. She tried to contemplate what Applejack had said, she had no idea that she went through that kind of trauma when she was a filly, but then there was still something nagging her in the back of Dash's mind. "Hold up, if you were afraid of heights then how do you explain everything else up till now!? Going to Couldsdale, going after me when I was under Discord's spell, and jumping off a cliff, and getting on the very thing you were truly afraid of when you knew you'd get all panicky!?" asked Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash had turned around, staring at the back of Applejack's head, waiting for an answer. She watched her fidget and groan before Applejack finally answered her. "In all honesty Rainbow, it would be you, you were the reason why – well three out of the four at least," said Applejack. "WHAT – ME!? W-wha-what did I do!?" "That part's kinda personal Dash, I really can't tell ya," said Applejack. Personal – how personal, could she!? "What's personal, why can't you tell me," asked Rainbow Dash, a hint of desperation in her voice. "I can't, not now, maybe someday…" "Applejack…?" Rainbow Dash watched as Applejack's sides expanded and deflated, indicating that she had fallen asleep. Rainbow Dash gently, and delicately, began to brush her left hoof against the blonde mane of the orange earth pony. Much like one would comfort a lover, not wanting to wake them, but still conveying their presence. After a while she stopped herself, cursing her hoof for going against her mind's conscious wishes. Dash then turned around, her back facing Applejacks. "I would never let you fall Applejack, no matter what, I would always be there to catch you…" she said under her breath, barely a whisper. With that she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. The morning arrived, and with it an ominous blood red sky. The ponies of Fort Caliburn started to mobilize; having received reports of incoming Daemoni hordes. A battle plan laid out by Shining Armor and Princess Cadance spelled out how they were going to attack their foe. A certain number of battalions would intercept hordes at Sectors 1-5, Shining Armor called on Applejack to take on a small horde at Sector 7, and for Rainbow Dash to clear out Sector 8. It was mostly a ground Daemoni attack, and shouldn't be a problem for Rainbow Dash the Sky Master. With that they saddled up and rode out to meet their foes. Rainbow Dash, in her Element Armor, flew out to Sector 8, not knowing what dangers were to come. When Rainbow Dash arrived she was met with, to her great astonishment, nothing. No winged, horned, or ground Daemoni in sight. Just a barren desert, patches of hard ground, some rock formations here and there, but no sign of the enemy, "What the hay, was that info Shining Armor got a joke?" Not wanting to have flown out for nothing, Rainbow Dash began to do some recon. Flying high in the air sweeping the sector, searching for any sign of Daemoni activity, and with some irritation and annoyance, Rainbow found nothing. She landed on a rock formation that stood seven stories tall, allowing the pegasus to rest for a moment. Using her keen eyes Dash scanned the landscape. Well this was a waste of time. Oh man while I'm out here looking for nothing Applejack's going to get more points than me! And she was already up by one! Before Rainbow Dash could make a B-line for Sector 7 she was assaulted by a strong gust of icy cold wind. The gale force blast buffeted the cyan pegasus, chilling her to the bone. With a strong flap of her crystalline wings Rainbow Dash shot up into the sky and away from the blustering wind. Once she was a safe distance up, Rainbow shook off the frost and looked down to see what had happened. The entire formation was frozen solid, the seven story tall rock pillar transformed into an oversized Popsicle! "HOLY HORSEAPPLES! What could've done that!?" she exclaimed. A chilling thought (no pun intended) ran through her, remembering the fate of the earth pony Tipsy when Rainbow went on her not-date with Applejack, as well as the subsequent string of mysterious killings using ice. "I get it, you're the one who's been freezing so many ponies to death in Las Pegasus, aren't ya!? Well if you're working for Tikara Balak I'm going to take you down! Show yourself you coward," shouted Rainbow Dash. A blur of white and brown rushed past Rainbow Dash, again and again it zoomed around her, not allowing the pegasus to focus on its target, till finally Dash lost sight of it behind her. "Where ya lookin Dash," said a voice from…in front of her! Rainbow Dash quickly whipped her head forward, her jaw dropping at the identity of the one flying before her. "Thought you were faster than that, 'Sky Master,' puhlease!" "GILDA, what the – how are you – why are you here," asked Rainbow Dash. "When I said I'd see ya around, did you think I meant in town? Ha, no Dash you can't get rid of me that easily, especially since I have a score to settle with you," said Gilda. "Score, what score, what did I do to you!?" The griffon tensed up and stared daggers at the cyan pegasus. "REALLY, you honestly don't remember! You picked those lame 'new' friends of yours over someone who's had your back since Flight School!" shouted Gilda. "And can you blame me!? I never realized how much of a jerk you were till Pinkie Pie threw that party – I mean, I know you were rough around the edges, but I never thought –!" Rainbow Dash stopped herself midsentence, shaking her head and face-hoofing herself. "Ugh, why am I even having this conversation with you, I'm outta here! See ya G!" Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and took off past Gilda, but it wasn't long before she once again saw the white and brown blur pass her and reappear in front her. "Uh-uh Dash, I'm not done!" "H-how – how did you get in front of me!?" "Like I said before, I came here to settle the score. I know all about your armor and powers, which is why I got some of my own!" A wild gust of wind started to kick up around Gilda, pushing Rainbow Dash back a few yards. Rainbow could only hover in the air as she watched the startling transformation before her. Ice began to mold over her fore talons, creating razor sharp gauntlets. Gilda's fur changed from brown, to a shade of sky blue. Her dark brown wings became navy blue, with white-frost tips. The tip of her lion tail was now an ice spike, sharp and lethal. Finally the whites of Gilda's eyes had gone black, with violet irises and yellow pupils. Within the whirlwind Gilda let out a bestial roar that mixed in with the roar of the wind itself. Rainbow Dash watched as something else moved around in the cold whirlwind with her, three ephemeral figures, running around her. Their glowing white eyes would glance at Rainbow Dash every once in a while before returning to their run. The three spirits then galloped towards Gilda, resulting in an explosion of blue light. Rainbow Dash had closed her eyes, shielding them from the bright flash. When she reopened them Gilda had a breastplate made of ice, on it were the carved heads of the three spirits, eyes still glowing. Rainbow Dash recognized these spirits, creatures that only existed in the stories of Hearth's Warming Eve, the evil spirits that were said to feed on hate and freeze all that lived. "G-Gilda…are those…!?" "The Windingo spirits, yes, yes they are," answered the ice griffon. "How, there's no way you could control them!? If anything they should have frozen you solid," shouted Rainbow Dash. "Yeah, they should have, but thanks to Tikara Balak he was able to fuse them into me so that I could wield their power! I'm not going to lie though; it hurt like a mother bucker." "All this…All this so you could fight me! You joined sides with the bad guy who wants to destroy Equestria, and anypony who stands in his way, just for that!?" exclaimed Rainbow in disbelief. "Well, to tell you the truth, he promised me something else. In exchange for killing you and your earth pony friend, I can lead the attack on my homeland in the Griffon Kingdom! He even said I could rule it once he's done with Equestria, but that's just the icing on the cake, no, the real fun is going to be me ripping you apart!" "GIIIILLLLLLDAAAAAA!" Rainbow Dash then fired a twin Spectrum Beam from her wings. Gilda brought up her fore talons and deflected the beams off her ice gauntlets, she then retaliated by flapping her wings hard and sending shards of ice at the golden armored pegasus. Rainbow Dash flew higher into the air, avoiding the volley. She extended her crescent blades and dived straight at Gilda. The ice griffon flexed her claws. Gilda brought up her left claw in a fist, Rainbow Dash's left blade smashed into the gauntlet, not even making a dent. Her foe then readied her right claw to slash at her; Dash quickly pushed off and narrowly missed the frozen death claws of her former friend. Rainbow Dash decided to switch tactics, flying off with great speed, close combat may be too risky. She looked back to see how much distance she put between herself and Gilda, Rainbow didn't get far. Gilda the ice griffon was hot on her tail (or cold depending on your preference), closing the gap within mere seconds. Finally she was side-by-side with Rainbow Dash, a look of obvious surprise was on her face, and Gilda couldn't help but enjoy the confusion that radiated from her expression. "The Windingos give me control over the air currents RD; I can fly as fast as you, even faster!" Gilda demonstrated this by flying far ahead of Rainbow Dash, circling around as to be on a collision course with the rainbow mane pegasus. Dash unleashed a barrage of Spectrum Beam blasts from her wings, while Gilda let loose energized ice shards from her wings. The quickly decreasing space between them was a warzone of explosions, multicolored light rays intercepting blue glowing shards. Some of the attacks made it through, a couple of shards cutting one of Rainbow's exposed fore and hind legs or just simply bouncing off the golden armor. For Gilda, she was using the power of the Windingos to create an aura barrier, while it was effective at diffusing indirect shots, the barrier couldn't protect her from the few direct beams as they hit her on the shoulder and in the wings. At the last second the two of them pulled up, and broke off in separate directions. The two aerial warriors then angled themselves at the other, Gilda's claws clashing against Rainbow Dash's crescent blades, sparks flying as they passed by each other. On their next fly by Gilda barrel rolled to the left of Rainbow Dash, within her claw she gathered a sphere of cold icy energy, and then unleashed it on Rainbow Dash. The winds howled as Rainbow Dash was thrown into a spiral, engulfed and forced by the overwhelming energy of Gilda's attack, Dash was forced to plummet to the ground. Further and further she fell, no control over her flight pattern, at the mercy of Gilda's attack, till Rainbow crash landed into the ground. The crater had a layer of ice covering it, towering at thirty feet, with multiple ice splinters shooting out from the main spike. Gilda zoomed down to the ground, keeping a safe distance from her work. With an evil grin, Gilda shook her head. "C'mon Dash; I know that wasn't strong enough to take you out! GET UP!" The inside of the glacier tower began to light up with all manner of colors. The glacier then erupted in a shower of sparkling ice shards, Dash jumped out and landed at the edge of the crater. The patches of ice that clung to her where melted away as Dash's body emitted a blue aura. With hate in her eyes Rainbow Dash stared down her old, ice empowered, friend. Dash could taste something in her mouth; it had a metallic irony taste to it. Rainbow Dash brought up her right hoof and wiped the side of her lip, blood. She spat out the remainder and started to grin at Gilda. "Not bad G, guess this means I don't have to hold back!" proclaimed Rainbow Dash, flaring her crystalline wings for emphasis. Just then Rainbow's Iris Caller began to blink, somepony was trying to contact her. Darn it, why now of all times!? "Go on, answer it Dash," said Gilda. Not taking her eyes off of Gilda, Rainbow Dash then tapped the Iris Caller. "This is Rainbow Dash, who is it?" "Who do ya think it is Rainbow? Listen I'm all done here at Sector 7, are y'all done with yers," asked Applejack. Rainbow Dash was about to mention Gilda, but the ice griffon brought up her right fore claw, wagged her finger back and forth, shaking her head in unison. "No…I'm, uh, not done yet." "I don't hear anythin from yer end, are ya up in the air or somethin," asked AJ. "Yeah, yeah listen I'm kinda busy!" "Ya sure ya don't need some help, ah can be there lickity split," she offered. "I – well…?" Rainbow Dash watched as Gilda began to breathe out super cooled air and talking really low. The wispy air began to form into letters. Rainbow Dash looked on in confusion as to what Gilda was up to. Do you remember those times back at Flight School? All those colts and fillies making fun of you, calling you a fillyfooler? Rainbow Dash nodded her head. Didn't it bug you not knowing who it was that started that rumor, and making your life miserable? Again, Rainbow Dash nodded. I was the one who did it Dashy…I saw you confess to that pink mane pegasus, and get shot down. I was the one who started the rumor, and then I made you my friend…Just so I could watch you squirm and writhe under the pressure of all their constant teasing! It was loads of fun! Rainbow Dash grinded her teeth, her free hoof was pushing into the ground, making it buckle under her strength. Her rose colored eyes burning with a fervor that would've melted the Windingos on the spot. "I don't need any help; I don't want your help! So leave me alone and let me fight!" "Wha – what the hay Rainbow!? I just –!" Rainbow Dash pulled off the crystal of her Iris Caller and threw it to the ground, stamping on it for good measure. Gilda only smirked at the armored pegasus mare. "Ahhhhh, what's the matter Dashy? You break up with your marefriend," she laughed. "You. Are. DEAD!" Rainbow Dash galloped towards Gilda, flapping her wings to gain extra speed! She jumped up then slashed at Gilda with her blade. Gilda jumped out of the way and shot up into the air. Rainbow Dash flew after her, not wanting to let the ice griffon get away, not now, not after learning the truth! Rainbow fired many Spectrum Beams at Gilda, unfortunately Gilda dodged each one with little effort. "YOU THOUGHT IT WAS FUN!? YOU DID ALL OF THAT TO ME BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS FUN!?" shouted Rainbow Dash. "Does it surprise you!? As much fun as it was to hang out with you, it was even more fun watching you kick the flanks of all those little foals who made fun of you!" said Gilda. Rainbow Dash doubled her speed, a mach cone forming in front her. With one flap of her wings Dash broke through, creating a Sonic Rainboom! Dash soared past Gilda, turned around, and began to strike the ice griffon. She slashed at her midsection, her wings, the exposed parts of her fore claws, even the Windingo breastplate. At the same time she would fire the multicolored beams, Rainbow Dash was releasing all her fury, all her sorrow, and hate upon Gilda. Strange thing was, Gilda never moved, she only hovered in the air, allowing Dash to attack unhindered. Rainbow Dash hovered in the air panting, glaring at the injured ice griffon. Gilda was covered in gashes, she was clutching at her left shoulder as her dark blue blood dripped down from her wounds. Despite the onslaught that Rainbow Dash dealt to her, Gilda still had her evil smile. "That's right Dash, hate me, hate me like I hate you, hate me with every fiber of your being!" said Gilda. Dash's wings began to shine with rainbow light, the glow grew more and more intense, almost threatening to burn the wings themselves. "GIIIILLLLLLLLLLDDAAAAAAAAAA!" With a mighty cry, Rainbow Dash fired a twin Spectrum Beam. The two merged together into one giant ray, bathing Gilda in its awesome power. Rainbow Dash grinned wider, she had done it, she finally got back at the one responsible for making her unable to express her true emotions and made her foalhood a living Tarturus! Now, finally, Rainbow Dash could – "Are you done?" the Spectrum Beam began to bulge in the middle, growing bigger and bigger, till it burst open and dispelled Rainbow Dash's attack. There floated Gilda, unharmed, fully healed, and glowing with power. "Wow, didn't know you hated me thatmuch! But I'm glad you do, at least now we're on the same level in that regard, though as far as power is concerned – not so much," said Gilda. "How *pant* did you *pant* survive that!?" asked Rainbow, completely dumbfounded. "Duh, I'm powered by hate, I feed on hate! That big blast you hit me with earlier, it might as well been a warm relaxing shower, considering you poured out all your emotions into the attack!" Gilda pointed out. Rainbow Dash couldn't believe it, all her power had been put into that attack, but even with that she couldn't put a scratch on her. "Now let me show you what real power is!" Gilda gathered powerful arctic energy into both her claws, and then released the full power she had garnered from Rainbow Dash's hate. Azure blue power mixed in with white snow and buffeting winds, Rainbow Dash felt as the cold almost literally pierced through her body. Chilling her bones and freezing her soul. No matter how much Rainbow Dash flapped her empowered wings, she simply had no strength left to counter the overwhelming force before her. The attack grew stronger and broader, becoming a typhoon of ice, snow, and hate filled energy. Rainbow Dash got swept away by the gale, being whipped around, and tossed into a spiraling vortex. Rainbow Dash made one more attempt at breaking free from the attack, luckily she was able to force her way through the wind wall and emerge on the other side. Her body was racked with cold pain, multiple cuts were all over her, some of her rainbow mane and tail was cut away. Before Rainbow could catch her breath she was surrounded by a giant sphere of swirling white snow, and then was assaulted by an ice wrapped claw, punching her across the face. Then by a punch to her stomach, then another to her side, and another, then another, each on coming in rapid succession. Gilda was enjoying this, she was moving with incredible speed, melding into the alabaster backdrop of the sphere. Delivering one devastating strike after another, reveling in sheer amusement at how weak her prey was! The Windingo's power, along with Tikara Balak's assistance, was finally giving her the opportunity to show her true nature, the one she had been keeping hidden from everyone, even herself! With a giant boom, the sphere of snow vanished revealing Rainbow Dash, bruised and groaning, only staying afloat by the crosswinds that were still blowing around her. Rainbow's right eye was closed, and the left was half lidded, her vision was slightly blurred, but she could still make out what was happening. The only feeling that was predominant was ice cold pain, like daggers poking every nerve ending in her body. Suddenly Gilda appeared in her field of vision, Rainbow Dash tried to shoot her a face of disdain and anger the best she could, but that seemed to be a futile attempt. "Let's say we end this, huh Dashie," said Gilda, a hint of sadistic pleasure in her voice. Gilda brought one of her single talons underneath Rainbow's chin, and tipped her upwards. The sudden change in momentum made Rainbow Dash fall backwards, plummeting down towards the ground. With an evil smile, Gilda balled up her right claw into a fist, arctic blue energy surrounded her fist as the wind howled around her. Gilda then chased after Dash, chasing after her and leading with her fist. Within a matter of seconds Gilda cocked back her fist and slammed it into Dash's midsection, making them descend even faster. Rainbow Dash couldn't stop her, the power being forced down upon her sternum, and Gilda's will, all forcing her into a terrible free fall. The ground was coming up; every second was another mile closer to the hard, unforgiving, land below. Dash knew that not even her armor could save her from this, no, in fact, she was sure that this would kill her. "TIME TO KISS THE GROUND RAINBOW DASH!" Gilda shouted. The two of them hit the ground, collapsing the land and creating a crater fifty feet wide. Gilda jumped out of the crater and landed a few feet from the edge, a large dust cloud was rising, obscuring any details therein. The ice griffon laughed, a murderous, sadistic laugh, which echoed through the empty battlefield. Gilda let loose a powerful roar of victory, she had won, Rainbow Dash had been killed! "I knew you were lame, fillyfooling, loser!" Gilda turned around and was prepared to take off. "Where…Where are you goin' G…!? Gilda quickly turned around; with a wave of her wing she blew away the dust cloud. In the center of the crater stood Rainbow Dash, shaky, disheveled, but standing nonetheless. The ice griffon gritted her teeth, she didn't understand, it wasn't possible that she survived!? "But how – there's no way – that attack should've killed you!?" cursed Gilda. "Yeah…yeah I really should. Thankfully I had just enough energy left to fire one more Spectrum Beam from my wings, the blast acted as a cushion and softened my landing, pretty smart huh?" said Rainbow Dash with a wink. Gilda was truly infuriated now, with the speed of the wind the ice griffon closed the distance between them. She took the Rainbow mane pegasus' throat into her left claw, applying pressure slowly. Gilda wanted to let her know that she could crush the mare's throat with little to no effort at all, but she wanted her to see, even struggle. "I'll admit Dash, that was some quick thinking, but something tells me that that little saving grace was all you could manage, am I right!" Gilda applied more pressure to Rainbow's throat, squeezing a little harder. Rainbow Dash tried to raise her hooves to stop the ice griffon, but unfortunately she was right, there was little power left within her. "Guess this is where the story of Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, the Sky Master, ends. Don't worry though I'll make sure your marefriend knows just how pathetically you died out here, all alone in this Celestia forsaken desert!" Rainbow's vision began to fade to black, blotches of clarity, only enough to see the face of her murderer. Dash's body began to freeze from the neck down, ice forming over her body. I – I can't believe I'm going to die like this…! A dead frozen statue…! My only regrets are that I couldn't kill this freak and…and…Applejack…! "Are you actually crying!? AHA, HA, HA, I can't believe it! The great Rainbow Dash is crying! HA, HA, HA!" Suddenly the ground below Gilda began to rumble and shake; a kind of roaring groan seemed to emit from the land around them. Gilda looked from the right, then to the left, and then behind her. There was nothing as far as her griffon eyes could see. She began to get more nervous as the shaking seemed to concentrate directly beneath her. The already cracked ground began to fissure more and more, until it collapsed beneath them both. Gilda looked below her and watched as something golden started to break through the surface…it was a hoof! The golden hoof uppercut hit Gilda in the beak, sending her flying backwards and releasing Rainbow Dash. Gilda somersaulted in the air for a few seconds before she finally regained her balance. Before she could react, she was bombarded by a multitude of stones and huge chunks of earth being hurled straight at her. The speed at which they were sailing towards her, she knew it was unnatural. Gilda used her ice powers to create a barrier of wind between her and the boulders, making them stop in their tracks. However that didn't stop what was rushing towards her from down below, three jagged razor sharp spikes jetted from the ground. Each one aimed right at her. One spike grazed Gilda's side; the other two nearly severed her head. The ice griffon gained more altitude to better get an idea on whom it was who was attacking her. A light brown Stetson hat, golden armor, a blonde mane and orange coat, an orange apple shaped crystal on the breastplate, and two green eyes that burned with a fury an intensity that made even Gilda's already ice cold blood, run subzero. The earth pony mare stood in front of the block of ice that was Rainbow Dash, her body glowing with a strong orange aura of power. "You…I'll make you pay fer what ya did to her! Do you hear me!? I'M GONNA MAKE YOU PAY GILDA!" her aura erupted like a volcano, making the ground itself shudder. "Applejack wasn't it? Alright then grounder…GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT!" Gilda shouted back. At the same time her azure aura began to flare up as well, the cries of the Windingos being carried on the whirling winds along with Gilda's roars. From a distance the two auras were glowing like beacons, stars filled with power that had descended upon the land. Gilda's newfound power of the Windingos has proven too much for the fast flying Rainbow Dash! Having been thoroughly trounced after the griffon absorbed her hatred! Now Rainbow Dash is at death's door, but Applejack has stepped in, hopefully just in time to save her friend from the clutches of Gilda. Can Applejack defeat Gilda, or will she and Rainbow Dash die before either one can tell the other of their true feelings for each other. Or will a miracle happen…!? The battle between Ice, Earth, and Sky will be settled in the exciting conclusion to the AppleDash Arc in the next chapter! Love and war continue on…!