One of the most beautiful sights that could be seen in Lotusville was dawn in Applesake’s orchard. That was one of the reasons she didn’t mind waking up early to work. She whistled a happy tune as she cantered between her beloved apple trees. Sunlight seeped through the canopies painting everyday a unique picture on the floor. Applesake smiled with contentness as she put three wicker baskets under a tree, getting ready to buck it and collect the fruit. She took a deep breath and adjusted her hat, smiling again as she thought nothing could ruin her morning. Of course, she immediately cringed as she heard creaking leaves.
“Whoever ya’ll are, stop playing hide and seek. We are no foals.” However, there was no response other than another little crackle. Applesake kicked softly the closest tree, making an apple fall on her hoof. She bit it, enjoying the sweet taste. Then, she launched the rest of the apple with all of her strength to a nearby bush. A melodic, almost musical CLANK! and the whimper of pain that came after it told her she had hit her target. A very confused soldier came out of the bush, accompanied by three very angry colleagues. They wore Silencio’s colours on their armor, and brandished swords.
“Hey, Target, are you alright?” One of them said, helping his lightly injured and greatly embarrassed partner.
“Yes, yes, just give me a second.” Target adjusted his helm, unsheathed his sword, and tried to put on a fierce gesture. Applesake couldn’t help but smirk at the soldier, who had apple juice dripping on his face.
“Who are ya, and what are ya’ll doin’ in my orchard?” She said, idly playing with another apple.
“There is no such thing as ‘your’ orchard, farmer,” answered one of the soldiers, “for all that is in this village is now property of Lord Silencio.”
“Ah see. Is he coming to buck the trees and distill sake, then?” Applesake smirked as she saw the soldiers cringe.
“Why you! How dare you!” Said another of the soldiers, stepping forwards. “Applesake the farmer, you are under arrest. You are suspect of hiding Princess Curiosity!”
“Ah’m suspect? Ah hate yer bureaucracy. She’s right now sleeping in one of mah rooms. There ya go. Now ah can’t be a ‘suspect’ anymore.” Applesake repressed a chuckle as she saw the soldiers turn red with rage.
“Well, that actually makes it easier,” Target said tasting the closeness of sweet revenge (and apple juice). “We just have to kill you now.”
“Come on, Flutterblade, my dear student. I know you can do this.” Flutterblade’s master smiled beatifically, looking at her student with manifest pride. The little swordsmare wannabe filly looked up shyly, finding hard to keep her head up to look at her master: A towering white mare, always smiling.
“Eep… I don’t know, master… I’m scared of the blade. What if I hurt somepony accidentally?” She replied, looking at the ground.
“That’s why you train, Flutterblade, so one day you’ll be able to hold that sword and protect instead of hurt. Now, let’s do it again.”
Flutterblade’s master took another fruit basket and started throwing every piece in the air. Her student didn’t disappoint her, cutting each piece with precision, so she decided to up the ante. She lifted a black, metallic ball with a lit wick and threw it in the air after a watermelon. Flutterblade stopped her sword strike mere inches before hitting it and started running away.
“Aaaaaaaaaaah!” She ran as fast as she could, but she was no match for her master’s powerful wings, and soon found the tall mare in front of her, still smiling. “You’re crazy, master! That was a bomb!”
“And you reacted quickly and avoided it, my dear. One day, when you’re a full grown swordsmare, you’ll have to fight, and that day the danger will be real. I could shield you from every danger, but that wouldn’t teach you anything. You need to stand on your own. I’m very proud of you, Flutterblade.” Flutterblade’s master held the little filly in her hooves, hugging her closely and nuzzling her. And nuzzling her again. And again. And again.
“Uh… Master, what are you doing…?”
“So proud! So, so proud!” She kept nuzzling endlessly. “So proud!”
“Master? Master?! Master! Stop!”
And that’s when Flutterblade awoke. Confused by her dream, she felt as if her master hooves were still all over her. It was silly. Her master was sweet and loving, but never that touchy-feely, so she couldn’t think a reason for such a strange dream. At least, until she noticed the full situation. She was tucked in a bed and there really was a white mare hugging and nuzzling her: Princess Curiosity.
“Eeeep!” She screamed, loud as a leaf falling from a tree, but still enough to wake up Curiosity.
“Mmm… What is the matter…? WhatOH MY GODDESS, I AM SORRY!” Curiosity screamed letting go of Flutterblade.
“What are you doing on my bed, Princess?” Flutterblade asked, trying to hide her massive blush.
“Well, you see… There… You remember our little chat yesterday?” Curiosity interpreted another little eep as a yes. “After that you fell asleep and I thought a tree branch might have not been the most comfortable place to sleep, so I levitated you down and brought you to this room.”
“Oh… That explains why I’m here.”
“It does, right, Flutter, dear?” Curiosity said quickly. “Well, time to get up, don’t you think?!” She got as fast as she could out of the covers.
“But it doesn’t explain why you were in my bed.”
Curiosity’s ears drooped. “Well… You see… It is…” Curiosity’s eyes scanned the room, trying to avoid Flutterblade’s gaze. “There was only one free room!”
“But you were in my bed.”
Curiosity remembered her filly days. Her father taught her all he knew about strategy and tactics, and sometimes, you needed to switch to a radically new strategy. Indignation would do. “But of course! There is only one bed in this room!”
“Oh, but…” Flutterblade tried to reply.
“What?! Are you suggesting, that me, a Princess, should sleep on the floor?!”
“But I could have…”
“What, again?! Are you thinking I would put a friend to sleep on the floor while I sleep in the bed?! Clearly the only fair solution was for us to share the bed, Flutterblade! Now let us go and have some breakfast! I am famished!”
“Oh… That makes some sense… Eep... Let’s go.”
“Hiding criminals is a capital offense! Applesake the farmer, you are going to die right now!” One of the soldiers said. He opened his muzzle again to continue his speech, but as he did, Applesake bucked the tree. It was a fluid move, one that almost looked easy, but the moment her back hooves connected with the bark of the tree it exploded with a loud cracking noise, falling down in a shower of splinters. The now speechless soldier let his muzzle hang open in awe when he noticed that every apple had fallen into the baskets.
“Ah hope ya are some kind of oracle, because if ya are not, Ah’m going to make y’all eat those words,” said Applesake with a wolfish grin.
Ah’m good, Applesake thought as her hoof connected with the jaw of one of the soldiers. Ah didn’t forget how to do this, she continued as she leaped kicking with all the strength of her haunches the second soldier.
Ah’m bucked, she thought when the third guard was able to punch her while trying to recover from her last hit. Applesake jumped back, flailing her front legs in an elegant pattern.
“Surrender, Applesake.” Target pointed his sword menacingly towards the mare. “Surrender and your death shall be quick.”
“Well, maybe Ah’m not as good at this as Ah used to be, but Ah can still break some bones before Ah fall!” Applesake bolted as quick as she could, bent on headbutting Target.
Her head connected with Target’s chest, sending him backwards, and before anypony had time to react, Applesake bucked the next soldier. She tried to keep a steady rhythm, hitting every soldier in sequence, keeping them off-balance; but she couldn’t keep if for too long. One of the soldiers hit her with the back of his sword on her already tired haunches, making her tumble sideways.
She rolled flailing her legs again to ensure nopony could get close during that moment of weakness. She got up quickly with precision and eleganc, getting once again in her fighting stance ready to give hell to the three soldiers in front of her.
…
Three? OH, BU… She tried to turn, but it was too late. Target’s blade was already swinging, ready to sever her head.
Ah wish Ah had time to make peace with myself, she thought, closing her eyes, but, instead of feeling the coldness of steel in her neck, she just heard a dull thump.
“You are too slow!” Rainbow Smash said to the surprised Applesake, holding the unfortunate soldier by the neck.
“Why?” Applesake replied, not sure of the situation.
“Punches first, words later, Sakes.” Rainbow said with a smug grin.
“Sakes?” Applesake and Rainbow got side by side, ready to fight the three remaining soldiers. They didn’t even wait for them this time, opting for a quick charge. The soldiers readied their swords to counter them, standing their ground, waiting for the two mares to attack. Suddenly, Rainbow took off, distracting them momentarily with her rainbow trail.
Then, Applesake’s brutal headbutt remembered one of them why you should stay focused while fighting. With only two opponents left, Rainbow and Applesake got back to back in the middle of the soldiers.
“Hey, nice flank, Sakes. Pretty toned.”
“Not the time, riceball.” Applesake tried to hide a little blush.
“Are you two going to fight, or are you going to make out?” The soldier in front of Applesake teased. The earth mare ducked, and Rainbow rolled over her, chopping him with her right wing, making him fall unconscious.
“Is that Wing Chun? It’s been a long time since Ah’ve seen it.”
“You know Wing Chun? Hey, you’re a box of surprises.”
The remaining soldier tried to capitalize the distraction and charge. He ended being rewarded by a strong hoof punch on his jaw that sent him crashing on a tree.
“Anypony else wants to fight us?!” Rainbow Smash screamed. She looked positively disappointed when nopony else came.
“So, riceball, why did ya actually help me? Yer the enemy, ain’t ya?” Applesake took off her hat to clean her sweat with her front hooves.
“You healed me! I come to kill Flutterblade, and instead of just kicking me out and letting me rot on the streets, I wake up covered in bandages!”
“So what, riceball?” Applesake started walking towards the door, motioning Rainbow to follow her.
Rainbow clopped the dirt. “Flutterblade is a soldier! Soldiers are selfish and cruel! Sure you had to convince her to not kill me while I was knocked out! I’m just a mercenary, so, when I saw those idiots, I thought punching them hard would be a good way to repay you.”
“Nah, riceball. Flutter’s the one who bandaged ya.” Applesake walked to the kitchen and put a kettle on the fire. “Tea?”
“Nah. I’m leaving. I don’t want to be close to her.” Rainbow started walking towards the exit.
“Wait just a mite, riceball. Why do ya hate her so much?” Applesake clenched her teeth on Rainbow’s tail and brought her back.
“Hey! Lemme go! She’s a soldier! She’s selfish, evil and… And evil!” Rainbow stroke her tail while Applesake dropped some tea leaves in the kettle.
“Who are ya tryin’ to convince?” Applesake didn’t even look at her.
“Uh?” Rainbow tilted her head in confusion.
“I think ya actually want Flutterblade to be evil, just because you think every soldier is evil. Ah get ya didn’t want to tell yer story to her, but Ah would like to hear it.”
“Look, Sakes. I kinda like you. You have a nice tavern and got some sweet moves, but I don’t trust you enough to tell you that story.” Rainbow resumed her walk.
“Well, then give us an opportunity.” Applesake stirred her tea without even looking at Rainbow.
“Huh?” Rainbow stopped and turned towards Applesake. “What do you mean?”
“There’s going to be a war, riceball. Silencio wants to steal the throne, Magnificent won’t allow it.”
“Whatever. That’s not my fault.” Rainbow shook her head.
“Nah, it’s not, and it’s not a lot of ponies fault either, don’t ya think?” Applesake poured her tea in a cup.
“Of course not. Wars are… You know… Powerful ponies stuff and that. Politicians and such.” Rainbow did a dismissive hoof gesture.
“Well, while ya’ll are thiking about leavin’ and not doin’ anything, we’re thinking of going to Bluewaters pagoda, smacking his head and tellin’ him to stop this. And that’s just the start, riceball.” Applesake slurped her tea.
“We?” Rainbow asked.
“We. Flutterblade and Princess Curiosity. And now that they tried to destroy mah orchard, me too, ‘cause no one tries to destroy mah orchard without getting his head bucked. What Ah’m tryin’ to tell ya, riceball, is that there’s gonna be lots of soldiers all over Neighpon doin’ horrible things if somepony doesn’t try to stop it. Yer strong, ya know how to fight, but ya only fight for money, so, why don’t ya try to fight for a cause?”
Rainbow stood silently for a while, turning slowly towards the door again. Suddenly, she turned again towards Applesake. “He would have liked it…”
“Who, riceball?”
“Nevermind. I’ll give you an opportunity. But if you’re not really as cool as you’re telling me, I’ll leave!” Rainbow clopped the floor. “And if Flutterblade tries anything funny, I’ll kill her this time!”
“I’m sorry… I don’t know why you hate me that much, but I’m sorry.” A third, soft and sweet voice surprised both Applesake and Rainbow Smash. Flutterblade, accompanied by Curiosity took a seat and served herself a cup of tea. “But I would really like it if you fought on our side.”
“Look. I’m not gonna say I trust you,” Rainbow Smash continued “but I’m starting to think that maybe, just maybe, you might actually be the good guys here.”
“We are trying to avoid a war, darling. I think that qualifies us as the ‘good guys’” Curiosity said with a cocky smile.
“We’ll see. But I need to know something even more important right now.” Rainbow Smash stared suddenly at Applesake. “Dude, those moves were tight! Where did you learn to fight like that? I can’t believe you are just a barmare.”
“That’s because Ah’m not just a barmare. Ah… Ah actually met Flutterblade before.” Applesake looked down. Curiosity and Smash stared at Flutterblade, making the shy mare hide behind her own mane.
“Why did you not tell anything before, darling?” Curiosity asked.
“Ah’m a monk from the order of Shining Truth. Ah’m, in fact, the last one.” Applesake continued. “Ah left the monastery when it got destroyed by the war.”
“What?!” Rainbow Smash clopped her hooves on the table. “Are you telling me the Truth monks are real?”
“Yes, riceball, Ah’m one of them after all. Ah get stronger when Ah’m truthful, Ah get weak when Ah lie.”
“So… Awesome! You gotta teach me some moves! Maybe I can teach you some of mine too!” A little squeak interrupted Rainbow and everypony looked at Flutterblade. It was almost like a supernatural power, getting noticed with such little sounds.
“Applesake, we’ve fought together before, and we were unstoppable. I know you wanted to leave that kind of life, and I know you don’t like fighting, but I must ask you: Will you help us stop this war?” Flutterblade tilted her head upwards a bit, letting her mane fall sideways.
“Ah will. As ya said, Ah don’t like it, but Ah can’t hide here and hope somepony else comes to fix mah life. Not doin’ anything would be the same as fightin’ on Silencio’s side.” Applesake suddenly smirked “Also, nopony tries to destroy mah orchard without getting bucked.”
“You said that twice, Sakes.” Rainbow Smash smirked.
“Then ya’ll know just how important mah orchard is!”
“But you lied to me!” Princess Curiosity’s sudden outburst made Rainbow Smash hit the kettle, spraying Flutterblade with hot tea.
“Aaaaaargh! It burns!” The swordsmare kicked instinctively the table, hitting Applesake on the muzzle.
“Dammit, filly! Be more careful, won’t ya?!”
Suddenly the three mares were glaring at Curiosity.
“So, Princess, ya were saying?” Applesake asked, trying to hide her murderous eyes.
“Ahem…” Curiosity gulped. “You lied to me! You said you were a farmer! You said that your farm got overran!”
“And it’s true. We had a little farm at the monastery. Ah spent a lot of time there, so when the army came, it was overran with the rest of it.”
“But that’s…”
“Ah half truth? Riceball, when ya can’t lie, sometimes ya have to bend the rules.” Applesake threw Curiosity a cheeky smile.
Meanwhile, Rainbow whispered to Flutterblade “Is this usual with her?”
“Those outbursts? Remembering something you said before when it’s no longer relevant? Yes. She does that.”
“I think I don’t like her.”
“Well then, darlings!” Curiosity got up. “I think we all know what to do now!”
“Take a little nap? I’m tired.”
“Start cooking lunch, riceball?”
“Taking a little bath? I mean, we actually smell kinda… I mean…”
“Hey, where is that guy that was here yesterday when I came in?”
“Dusk Wrath? He left after the fight to see her family.”
“Oh my, I hope he doesn’t get in trouble because of us.”
“Ah hope not, he was nice.”
“AHEM!” Curiosity cleared her throat loudly.
“Are ya alright, riceball? Were you telling somethin’?”
Curiosity facehooved. “Lord Bluewater is a traitor, and he is Silencio’s accomplice. We must stop him!”
The other three mares broke into a chorus of “ooh’s” and “aah’s” as they remembered their previous conversation and started getting ready. Soon enough, four were heading towards Bluewater’s pagoda.