Twilight stared at Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. She had always known that Rainbow had a complicated past, but actually hearing the story, it was unbelievable.
Rainbow dried her face and turned to Twilight.
Sarcastically she said, “Heh, I should write an auto-biography.”
A sympathetic grin formed on Twilight’s face.
“If you wouldn’t mind, I could write it. It wouldn’t take too long.”
Rainbow looked at her dumbstruck.
“You’d do that?”
“Only if you let me. I think it might be time to share this with the others. It might be good for them to know.”
“Well, you might have to wait a little longer.”
“Why is that?”
“The story’s not over yet.”
“Well then, tell on!”
“As I told you before, we watched the cabin for about a week. Nopony came back, so we moved in. I remember having lost the luggage on that night, but we found a bed and a hammock already inside. It was like Celestia herself was looking out for us.”
~
The floor creaked as Spectra and Rainbow walked on it. They looked around slowly, admiring the sleeping places and fireplace. It was a small cabin, no larger than the front room of present-day Sugar Cube Corner.
“I call the hammock!”
“You sure, squirt? You might fall off.”
“Please?”
“Don’t give those puppy eyes, I was kidding. It’s been a while since I’ve slept in a bed.”
They both flew onto their designated sleeping areas and fell asleep ‘till morning.
When Rainbow woke up, she found fruit under her hammock and a note.
Dashie,
I’ve gone out to fish and won’t be back for a little while. Eat your fruit and
stay in the cabin. I put some cloud on my bed for you to play with if you
want. I’ll be back soon.
Spectra
It looked like it was written with berry juice.
“I wonder when she learned all this survival stuff. I didn’t think that the army would’ve taught her that. We lived in Cloudsdale for ponies-sake--Now let’s see what I have here. Grapefruit, Apples, Black Berries, a big nut full of water, and wild strawberries. Not bad.”
Rainbow ate in silence and listened to the birds chirp all around her. She pushed some of the berries over to the side.
“I don’t know when we’ll be able to have food again. I better make sure I have some snack.”
“Smart thinking, Dash.”
“Spectra! Whoa! Look how many fish you caught!”
Rainbow was right to exclaim. Spectra carried with her a large leaf full with Salmon and Trout.
“It will get us through a few weeks.”
“A few weeks? That much could last us a few years.”
Spectra just laughed and gave Rainbow a rub on the head as she passed by.
~~~
They spent over a year in that cabin in the woods. Rainbow grew into quite the young mare. She was able to fly longer distances without getting tired. Spectra had reached almost twenty two years of age while Rainbow had just turned fifteen. They had made friends with the citizens of Ponyville, but mostly stayed by themselves. Fluttershy often came and visited them, living close to the Everfree herself.
One such day…
“Fluttershy, can you hand me the scissors?”
“Of course, here.”
“Spectra are you absolutely sure that your leg’s okay? It was bleeding pretty bad yesterday.”
“I’m fine, squirt. I put some ground up pine needles in the bandage. It helps heal the wound quicker. There.”
The two young pegasi stared at her foreleg. It seemed unmarred.
“The Pines of the Everfree have…special properties.”
“Awesome! Where’d you learn all this stuff?”
“Well, at flight school, I knew someday that I’d probably have to join the army—Yes, the uprising was around when I was that age. Anywho, knowing Dad, if I didn’t take the survival class he’d worry too much. It wasn’t long be-Do you two smell smoke?”
They all sniffed the air. There was indeed the smell of smoke. Fluttershy whimpered.
“Shy, if there’s a forest fire, you’d better get on home.”
They heard a crackling looked out the window to see a nearby tree burst into flames.
“THAT WASN’T A SUGGESTION!! GO!”
Spectra’s eyes were livid. Fluttershy did as she was told and shot from the cabin as fast as she could.
Rainbow Dash stared at her sister. Spectra looked into her eyes.
“I’m scared, too. But we’ll be safe if the fire doesn’t spread to…far- Oh no!”
Rainbow whipped her head around hearing the crack, too. The burning tree had fallen onto another nearest to it. The same thing happened over and over until the cabin was surrounded.
“Spectra…”
BOOM!!
A bomb was heard close by.
“The uprising! Spectra, I thought the princess had settled it!”
“As did I, but I guess not. I hope whatever battle this is doesn’t last too long.”
“Forget about the battle, WHAT ABOUT US?! I don’t wanna die today.”
They huddled in the corner together praying silently. The bombs seemed to go off at intervals, like beats in a song.
“I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone,
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound.”