//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Pilots of the Storm Dancer // by Green-Venom //------------------------------// “Apple Bloom, could you please take those sunglasses off? The class has started.“ Apple Bloom flinched upon hearing those words, being snapped out of her thoughts about I-ris. “Well I… no not really…“ she bit her lip, trying to think of something. “It’s a medical condition…“ Technically not a lie. “A medical condition?“ Cheerilee repeated unsurely. “I wasn’t informed of something like that…“ “Wait, I’ve got a paper…“ Digging through her saddlebag, she fished out the doctor's certificate, handing it to her teacher, who quickly read through it. “I’m sorry Apple Bloom, I see now why you would want to wear those.“ she finally replied, regarding her with a mix of pity and worry. “Tell me if you need anything, alright?“ Apple Bloom simply nodded, quickly checking if the sunglasses were still hiding her glowing eyes, as her classmates started whispering towards each other. She did her best to ignore it. The rest of the class passed without incident, but she knew it wouldn’t last. During recess, it finally happened. As she walked into the courtyard, she was approached by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “What was that about a medical condition earlier? Did you finally find out why you’re still a blankflank?“ Apple Bloom continued walking, trying to ignore them. “Hey, I’m talking to you.“ Apple Bloom was forced to stop when Silver Spoon cut her off before she got surrounded by the two fillies. Nervously looking around, she backed off, as she was forced into a corner. “Leave me alone!“ “What? We’re only asking a question…“ Silver Spoon responded. “What’s up with your eyes blank flank?“ “I won’t tell you…“ “Are you sure?“ Diamond Tiara slowly approached her. Stress level passing maximum safety level… Scanning for potential hostiles… Two crosshairs suddenly appeared in Apple Bloom‘s vision, marking Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Targets found. Engage? “Yes…“ Firing authorization granted… Long ranged guided missile initiated… Striking targets in T-34-33-32-31… “…I’m sure of that. Leave me alone!“ Diamond Tiara simply reached out with her hoof as a response, ready to snatch them off the Apple filly. …29-28-27… Suddenly Diamond Tiara was pulled back, preventing her from grabbing the sunglasses. “Didn’t you hear her?! She wants to be left alone!“ Scootaloo repeated, shooting the bullies angry looks, as she let go of Diamond Tiara’s tail. Sweetie Belle wasn’t far behind, quickly stepping between Apple Bloom and the bullies. …21-20-19… “Uh, girls?“ Silver Spoon suddenly spoke up. “What is that?“ She pointed at a small object rapidly approaching them, fire trailing behind. Whatever it was, it was quickly getting closer. …16-15-14… “It’s heading for us! Everypony run!“ Apple Bloom‘s eyes fell upon the countdown which had appeared in her vision, before glancing at the crosshairs marking Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Realization of what she had done slowly dawned upon her. …10-9-8… Seeing her friends running away with the bullies, she quickly stopped them. “The other way!“ she ordered without thinking. “It’s not here for us.“ …5-4-3… The object passed above the Crusaders' heads before a loud explosion shook them to their cores. Apple Bloom felt like her stomach was rotting. Muffled sounds entered her ears, but they wouldn’t make sense to her, everything blurring into a senseless mismatch. At some point, a hospital carriage had appeared, when did that happen? She didn’t know, nor did she care honestly. All she knew were the same four words, constantly repeating in a single, looping sentence. “This is my fault…“ A few medics rushed passed her, carrying a stretcher between them. A bleeding body lying on it. “This is my fault…“ Single tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. A medic appeared next to her, guiding her away. She followed without resistance, obeying like some kind of machine. “This is my fault…“ A second stretcher passed her, carrying a different body this time. Was it still breathing? “You knew…“ Apple Bloom flinched, looking up to find her friends, carrying faces with unreadable emotions. “You knew it wasn’t coming for us… How did you know?“ Apple Bloom fell quiet, biting her lip, as she glanced at the smoking crater where the weapon had struck. Guilt was still heavily eating away at her stomach as she silently watched, how the carriage raced off, to rush Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to the hospital. “Girls… I have to show you something…“ Some time later… A unicorn walked around the smoldering crater, wearing protective gear as he scanned the ground with his magic. Not too long ago, some kind of attack had occurred here, and two fillies were injured in the process. He tried not to think too hard about it, but it still disturbed him deeply. Why would anypony… no… anycreature take such senseless acts of brutality? It wasn’t even an attack of a predator seeking to feed, just an attack out of the blue with no motives whatsoever. “I found something!“ The stallion looked up, upon hearing his college’s shout. Turning around, he found a unicorn mare in similar protective clothes holding up a small vial with something inside. Walking closer to take a look at the evidence he saw that it was some kind of blue glowing substance…