//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The New Toy // Story: Turbulence // by Rainbow Hyphen //------------------------------// Something kept driving her forward. Perhaps it was hope, hope that the mumbling was the coming from the pony that owned this castle. But something told Rainbow Dash that, that mumbling at the bottom of the stairs wasn't hope at all, but the opposite. A voice in her head warned that if she continued down the stairwell it would be here undoing. Rainbow looked around and noticed she was standing still. Fear had finally gotten to her. She took a deep breath in. The cold, damp, air of the castle filled her lungs. Though, it wasn't at all as refreshing as the outdoors, she still found it calming. She exhaled and put on a look of determination. She was a Wonderbolt and Wonderbolts weren't afraid of anything! She rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping with her new found bravery. When she reached the bottom all that bravery vanished. She had entered another hallway, this one smaller than the last. Her eyes widened as they seen the figure at the end of the hall. A giant stallion, perhaps bigger than big mac. His front hooves were up on a table to steady himself as he nuzzled some object. Every few times the stallion would let out an abnormal laugh as he moved the object on the table from left to right with his muzzle. Luckily for Rainbow Dash, he wasn't facing her. She became increasingly unease, but decided to approach him. After all, this pony appeared to be the only one here besides herself. Maybe he was the one who fixed her wing. But somehow Dash knew that wasn't the truth. She knew it wasn't a good idea to go forward but what choice did she have? To go back to her room? And do what exactly? Wait for him to come for her there? No. She wanted to leave this place as soon as possible and maybe this stallion could show her the way out. She finally made up her mind and walked slowly down the hall towards the stallion. She got about half way when the stallion's head stopped nuzzling the object and went still. Rainbow stopped in her tracks. Fear set in but she blocked it all out. She had to keep her cool. "Hello..." Rainbow said nervously. The stallion at the end of the hall grabbed hold of the object on the table with his mouth and turn to Dash. He had a dark orange coat with a dark brown mane and tail. In the front, Dash could tell this was one of the biggest ponies she had ever seen. And almost the most muscular. Though something about this pony seemed off. He seemed disfigured but dash couldn't put her hoof on it... although... whatever it was gave her chills. The stallion studied Rainbow, his eyes, focused. It was like there was nothing else besides Rainbow Dash in the hall. It was like he was a colt in a shopping center and he had found the world's greatest toy. "I-I'm looking for the exit... I can't seem to remember how I got here and I um..." She began but couldn't find the words to finish. This was a bad idea and she knew it. With her back legs, she slowly inched toward the stairs behind her. *Thud* The object, a old doll, dropped from the stallion's mouth. Rainbow inched back more trying her best not to panic and bolt for the stairs. She looked back at the stallion, a smile began to form on his face. The kind of smile a filly or colt would give off when they see something they like. That smile made something snap in Dash's head. The Rainbow filly whipped around and bolted for the stairs. She didn't need to turn around to know the stallion was after her. She could hear each thundering stomp as his hooves hit the wooden floor. She raced up the stairs and into the long hallway. The stallion was right behind her, she could hear him grunting and laughing as he chased her. She neared the end of the hall, the room where she first woke up. She dove into the room and slammed the door shut pressing her weight against it. The stallion rammed his whole body into the door, knocking dash onto the floor. She scrambled back up and looked around. This stallion must not know how to open doors but that wouldn't stop him from getting to her. She had to think of a plan. That's when it hit her. Dash rushed to the window and, trying to remember Applejack's style, turned to where her back legs her facing it and gave it a hard buck. The door slammed again. The stallion was almost in the room with her. She then turned her head to find the window had a small crack in it. She lifted up her back legs again and put everything she had into the kick. To her relief, she heard the sound of glass shattering. But in the celebration, she had forgotten why she was breaking the window in the first place, then the sound of the door caving in and a huge stallion staggering into the room reminded her. He shuck he mane back and forth, getting all the dust and wood out of it. Then he looked around the room for his new toy. He imminently rushed to the broken window and peered down below. When he couldn't see his newly found toy he started to cry and ran out of the room. "He must be going down to the yard to search for me" Dash said to herself, tucked tightly under the bed. She let out a smile and for the first time since waking up in this castle... she felt safe.