//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Everfree // Story: Treasured Moon & Stars: Vol. 2 Treasures From Mirrors // by TigerSwirl448 //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Everfree Daring stared at the screen showing the radar, seeing several small white dots showing planets. She sighed seeing a larger dot and pointed at the dot. "This must be Everfree." Twilight leaned in to see the large dot appear again. She turned to Applejack. "Are the coordinates correct? Everfree is well known as a rogue planet, it doesn't have it's own orbit." Applejack nodded looking out into the stars squinting her eyes looking around. "I'm sure. Even without the radar I know where it will be." Daring gave Applejack a look then turned to Twilight. "And how exactly can you know where this rock is?" Applejack smiled turning to the bow and pointed at the large strange planet approaches. "True Earth ponies have magic, professor. Our magic is finding suitable rich planets." Applejack turned with a wink at Twilight seeing her smile. Daring blinked at the claim. "So it's true?" Daring asked intrigued. Twilight smiled and nodded to her friend. "Of course, I forgot where Applejack came from." Twilight walked over to stand by her comrade, seeing the giant planet loom closer. "Where, exactly, are you from Applejack?” Daring asked intrigued. Applejack tipped her hat and turned to Daring. "Eden. The Garden Planet." "The Garden of Eden?" Daring asked excited. "You're from the greenest planet in the Green Belt?" Applejack nodded. "True Earth ponies are born there." Applejack smiled leaning forward on the rail. "Where an Earth pony’s magic is strongest that was used to create the infamous Green Belt. The true harvest and breeding planets of the Equestrian Galaxy." Applejack frowned and stared darkly at Everfree. "And now my people are now looked to as savages and hundreds of my people are killed even in the planets we call our home." Twilight blinked and stood by Applejack and placed her hand on Applejack's shoulder and squeezed. "Is that why you went to the pirates?" She asked. Applejack sighed deeply. "I tried to get on Eden but it was taken over by the unicorns. My family, my race, are being treated like slaves." She sighed shaking her head. "I got home, luckily the unicorns didn't take over every farm and plantation on Eden. I got to see my family for the first time in years." Twilight turned away feeling horrible. "They came that night, taking over the farm and orchard I grew up in. Mac... my brother tried to keep the unicorns from barging in as I tried to run. I remember hearing cries and screams of murder and pain and I knew I made the most grievous mistake in my life. I lead them there. I lead them to my home and they were after me. I was able to get away before more of my friends and my family were killed. They followed me, luckily, but I feared that what was left of my family was now under their slave order." Applejack turned to Daring and Twilight with a glare. "Nightmare Moon found me running at the docks and saved my life. In a way I became a slave just like the rest of my people. I was forced to stay with Nightmare Moon as payment for being saved. I did as she said and did what I wanted. Kill unicorns and pegasi scum that did this to me." Daring stroked her chin giving Applejack a searching glare. "Did you kill innocents?" Applejack stiffened, turning back to the professor with a glare. Daring quirked her brow with a glare of her own. Twilight looked down to see Applejack's hands clenched tightly into fists. She was eerily silent and Twilight could see the conflict and guilt in Applejack's eyes. "I killed hundreds of ponies in my life. That's all I can say." Applejack walked off turning towards Everfree. "I suggest we prepare supplies and the life boats. Bring plenty of guns. There are monsters in in the forest and some are even pony shaped." Applejack took the nearest stairwell and headed down the hatch towards the engine room. Twilight turned away, feeling horrible sadness and guilt. Daring sighed rubbing her face. "I have a bad feeling about that pony, Twilight." "Applejack is the most trustful ponies I know..." Twilight paused turning away. "And she is a master in killing ponies." ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ "Planet ho!" Raindrops voice echoed through the tubes waking everypony who was asleep. Rainbow sat up hearing the call reaching for her knife but finding her sheath was empty. She turned rubbing her eyes of sleepiness. She opened her eyes to see all the hammocks were empty of bodies. She turned to Octavia's hammock to see it empty. She looked down by chance then felt her heart jerk seeing the red coat on the floor by her feet. It was folded neatly by her boots. She reached down to the coat and picked it up and sighed, rubbing her thumb over the red stained cloth. She sighed again setting the coat down to pull on her boots. She unfolded her coat and pulled it on as she rushed up to the deck in time to stare in awe at the giant planet before her. "So that's the legendary Everfree?" A voice said. Rainbow turned to see Blossomforth standing by her with Raindrops standing behind her with her arms crossed across her chest. "It's a little ominous ain't it?" Raindrops asked with a shiver in her wings as she swiped her shaggy aqua bangs out of her eyes. Blossomforth sighed with a nod. "We were told to get prepared for the drop off." Rainbow nodded with worry turning to see Applejack, Twilight and Daring talking to each other as if planning. Twilight had a journal and was marking in it. Knowing Twilight, it was either drawing or note taking. Rainbow sighed, possibly the latter since it was so many years ago since Twilight drew pictures. Twilight turned and smiled with a wave for the three pegasi to walk over. The three walked over to Twilight and Daring and Applejack. "Alright now, here's the plan. We can't have too many ponies on the ground. There is a dock by a large gorge and we'll tie the ship to the dock." Applejack turned to see Apple Bloom walking over with a grin on her face. "The ship is ready, ma'am!" Applejack smiled and ruffled the younger Apple's mane. "Atta' girl, go help Sweetie Belle with the food supplies." Apple Bloom nodded and ran off. Rainbow turned to see the young unicorn looking at Apple Bloom as the two ran together to the mess deck. "Wait a sec, I thought you said that this ship will be docked while preparing the lifeboat?" Blossom asked. Applejack sighed. "’Cause the dock is the only safe place to keep our ship at and to avoid being noticed by some unwanted company." Applejack said looking around expecting a pirate ship to come by. "Besides we can't bring every pony on this trip, so the rest of the group will have to stay in the ship." "So who's going?" Raindrops asked rubbing her arms as if chilled, staring at the large dark green planet. "Well me of course.” Applejack answered. “I have to lead y’all to the place. Then I believe Professor you are fluent in most Zebra languages right?" Daring nodded. "Well I did take three years of Zebra in high school." Twilight chuckled seeing Daring's smile of pride. "Of course, I was thinking of asking Raindrops to join us to help the professor carry the captain on her stretcher." Raindrops nodded. "Sure... can I?" She asked turning to Blossom for permission. Blossom bit her lip thinking, the look on her face didn't look encouraging. "As much as I would love for Raindrops to learn about different planet terrains I don’t think that's wise." Raindrops sighed with a pout getting a slap in the back of the head for making an unsoldierly act. She whined rubbing her head, glaring at her commander as Blossom gave her a look. Applejack sighed. "Well I can take the uh... helmspony." She whispered pointing to Derpy to see her staring into her musket barrel peeking in. Her finger pulled the hair trigger and let out a zap of laser. Luckily Derpy was centimeters away from being zapped. She yelped dropping the musket brushing her singed banes. The group let out a common wince of worry. "I'll go," Twilight said with a determined look. "Absolutely not." Daring yelped out before Applejack did. "But Professor!" "No," Daring said firmly. "You’re the Element of Magic and allowing you into an unpredictable place like Everfree is just pushing it. Besides I need you here to protect the Princess." "She's not coming?" Rainbow asked. "I don’t think it wise." Daring said just as Applejack clear her throat. "Why not let her come along?" She asked innocently. "No!" Rainbow snarled glaring at Applejack. "Octavia is not to leave this vessel." "I am too going to leave!" Everypony turned to see a glaring Octavia with a new puffy sleeved white shirt, her salmon vest still on her. She was dressed like a spacer alright, to Rainbow's surprise. "Absolutely not!" Rainbow shouted out with a glare. "You are not leaving this ship. It's way too dangerous to be out in this place." "I can take care of myself thank you, Captain Dash," Octavia said primly with a glare of her own though her eyes shown fear. Rainbow snorted. "Oh yeah? What about back in the temple? You weren't in control then and you were almost killed." Octavia bit her lip thinking. "But Applejack wants another pony to carry Vinyl's stretcher. Since Corporal Raindrops cannot because of her uh commander's orders, and Derpy being incapacitated for the job, and Twilight unable to come either to protect the ship and the children, I belief it's best I should go. You need my help." Octavia turned to Applejack mostly. Rainbow turned to see Daring with a pained look. Even Twilight was thinking too. "You, you can't be serious." Rainbow sputtered staring at Applejack. "She can't go." Applejack shrugged. "Well I don't see why I can't let a fellow Earth pony help out." "What?!" Rainbow yelled out as Applejack smiled at Octavia. "Besides, Royal or not, she had guts running from the Nightmare Moon and Blueblood and all. And I say she can come with us." Rainbow blinked several times opening and closing her mouth at the shock, pointing at Octavia to see her jumping with excitement. "Thank you! I won’t let you all down." Octavia said with a salute to Applejack. Applejack smiled and saluted back. "Now head on down and get the captain ready." Octavia nodded and headed to the cabins. "What about Luna?" Twilight asked suddenly. "We'll worry about her once we get situated." Applejack said worriedly. "I have to talk to my friend about her before we do anything with her. Right now the main problem is getting Captain Scratch better. Once we get situated we can get the others here with the Princess." Twilight nodded at the idea realizing why Daring wanted her to stay. "You can count on me in protecting the ship." Daring smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Rainbow stood there thinking hard and fast, trying to figure out what to do. She could order for Octavia to stay on the ship but... she sighed and turned away to think more ignoring the planning of the landing and the travel. The only thing that worried Rainbow was Octavia's safety. She can’t allow Octavia to just go where ever she wanted with this type of company. Not that Rainbow didn't trust Applejack... Okay, she doesn't trust her old friend with the princess. She turned, watching Spike and Octavia as they carried a stretcher with a sleeping Vinyl strapped in. Rainbow blinked to see how sickly the unicorn looked. For the first time since the dungeon she got to see Vinyl, and now she felt sick herself seeing how bad she looked. Octavia and Spike set Vinyl down as everypony got to look at her. Applejack turned away as they started to enter the planet's atmosphere. "Don’t y'all worry none," She declared. "I'm sure my friend will help her. Captain Scratch will be back and kickin' soon." Octavia smiled at the Earth pony and turned back to Vinyl, stroking her face with her finger. "I hope so." Rainbow turned to see the large gorge Applejack told everypony about. "Keep a look out everypony, the dock is a tiny thing, easily missed." Applejack called out looking over the rail searching for the dock. Rainbow continued to watch Octavia as she sat by Vinyl. Rainbow blinked seeing how Octavia was stoking the unicorn's face and how she sat there looking at her worriedly. Rainbow shook her head at the thought that plagued her mind. What if the Princess was falling in love at the worst possible time? "Found it!" Spike called out pointing. Applejack ran to the dragon and smiled patting him on his head. "Good eye, dragon." "Uh, it's Spike." "Right Spike, good job." She turned and waved to Derpy at the wheel. "Hey, take her down." Derpy nodded as she steered the ship in the direction Applejack pointed. Everypony looked over the rail to see the dock. It was a single dock made out of very old rotting wood timbers and looked less than maintained. Raindrops, with a large line of rope, leapt over the rail and used her wings to keep herself floated as she tiptoed on the weak dock and to the largest tree on land. She started tying the large rope around the tree. Once she put a tight knot around the large tree she waved them over. Derpy saluted and let out a sigh as the ship bobbed up and down on the thrusters like an actual boat in the water. Applejack sighed seeing Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom come up to her with two large packs of food supplies and canteens of water. "We got it all ready, Sis!" Apple Bloom said with a smile. Applejack took the bags. "Great, now go on and help Twilight get the lifeboat out here." "Aye-aye!" The fillies both exclaimed turning to see Twilight already running down the first hatch to the mess deck. They followed her down to help. Applejack sighed pulling up her long sleeves as she tossed the first sack up to Raindrops in the air. Raindrops caught the sack in her arms then she flew back to solid land and placed the sack down and returned to help grab the second one. Rainbow stiffened feeling the ship shake slightly and the sound of the life boat flying from under the ship and flew over them, then hovered over the ground as Raindrops tossed the bag up to Twilight's hands. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle leapt out of the life boat and carefully walked back to the ship. Rainbow watched as Scootaloo walked over with laser muskets and a bag filled with pistols and chargers. Rainbow watched as Scootaloo reached Daring and Applejack as they grabbed the muskets and the pistols. Daring took the bag and placed the strap on her shoulder. Rainbow walked over as Applejack was reaching for the musket in Scootaloo's hand. Rainbow grabbed the musket and took it away. "I'm going." She stated flatly checking the sights on the musket. "What?" Daring asked. "I'm going with you." Twilight walked over seeing the looks on their faces. "Rainbow, I believe it's best for you-" Daring began but Rainbow gave her a glare that shut her up. "I'm going with the Princess." She said firmly pulling off the bright blue charger to check the ammo charges to find it had twenty shots left. She stuck the charger into the port and thumped it, hearing the click. She pulled back the small lever on the bottom to hear the high whine of the musket and charger charging together. "Where she goes I must be there to protect her." "I don’t need a body guard." Octavia said in defense. "Like it or not," Rainbow snapped. "I'm going with you and keeping an eye on you. AJ was already pushing it far enough bringing you here in the Outer Rim but it's a step too far if I end up hearing that you got eaten by a monster." Octavia stiffened turning away. "Besides, your father will haunt me forever if I don’t go with you." Octavia turned to Applejack to see her with a pained and worried expression as her eyes made a double take to the forest with a gulp. "Uh sure, why not? I can use a second shooter while the soldiers are protecting the ship." Applejack grabbed the last of the muskets and headed down the gangplank and carefully stepped on the dock and walked quickly to the life craft tossing her things up to Raindrops to get in the boat. "Come on, let's get the Captain in here. We have a long ride to get to the village before nightfall." Octavia turned to Daring to see her walking over. Twilight came up suddenly holding on to Daring's satchel. "Here are your things, journals, books on the Zebra culture and-" Daring chuckled patting Twilight on the shoulder. "Thank you, Twilight. Remember, stay here. When we make good ties with the natives we'll be back and bring the rest of you there." Twilight nodded biting her lip with worry as she stepped back letting Octavia and Daring leave the ship. Rainbow followed the two down the gangplank to the lifeboat. Applejack and Raindrops helped Daring and Octavia get Vinyl's stretcher into the boat. Rainbow watched as Daring used her large wings to leap up into the boat then reached down for Octavia's hand. Octavia reached up to grab her hand. She let out a yelp of surprise when Rainbow's hands went under her arms and lifted her up to the boat with Daring's help. Rainbow then leaped up and climbed in, then sat down in the boat as Applejack started pushing buttons to start the engine. She reached up getting the solar sail up. Everypony turned to see Twilight waving at them. Raindrops stood by the unicorn saluting to them. Applejack made a two finger salute as pushed the craft forward leaving the ship behind as they rode into the forest. Rainbow turned to see Octavia sitting by Vinyl keeping her hand on top of Vinyl's chest to hold her in place as they flew fast over the forest. "How long will it take us?" Rainbow asked looking around keeping her eyes peeled for trouble. Applejack gulped looking around. "Probably a two hour ride in the weather we are in. But Everfree weather is unpredictable. Just as the monsters within." Rainbow tightened her grip on the musket as she kept a close eye on the trees. "So, how many times have you been to this village?" Rainbow asked with suspicion. Applejack gulped scratching her neck as she turned a bend causing everypony to hold on. "For the last five - six years? Once a year type of thing. I stopped seeing her when Nightmare Moon was staying in the galaxy closer to the Outer Space Stations. So I had no reason to take a life boat to visit her. "Sounds like you two are close." Daring inquired adding her voice. Applejack smiled. "We go way back..." Applejack's voice fell as see turned away, keeping an eye on the tree line. Daring raised her eyebrow at that. She turned to Rainbow and thought up another conversation. "Captain Dash?" "What?" Rainbow asked keeping her vigil of the trees. "If you don’t mind me asking... but you seemed really close to the Prince. Are those rumors about you two true?" "What rumors exactly Professor?" Rainbow asked a little defensively. Daring shrugged. "I don’t know being as through you two were in the rebellion war together and you saving him many times." Octavia turned slightly to see Rainbow glared at the trees. "The rebellion wasn't a happy time Professor. You know that considering you were a soldier before." Daring blinked then blushed. "I was but I got out because of an injury I took in the Discordian war. So I was able to sort of get away from the rebellion as it were." Rainbow smirked. "Good thing you did doc. I don't doubt you would have been killed for disloyalty back then." Daring blinked then turned away, closing her eyes for just a second to see the pegasi and unicorns before her yelling and screaming. Then she felt the bite of the whip on her back. Daring shook her head hard blinking open her eyes. “So would you, the way I heard it." Octavia blinked wondering what Daring was doing. Was she interrogating Rainbow Dash? She looked up to see the talk between the two pegasi. Rainbow remained silent bowing her head. "Let’s just say there were some things I ignored for a couple of years before I was reminded who I was turning into. I left as soon as I could." "What changed that mind of yours?" Daring asked carefully. Rainbow sighed heavily swallowing hard. Her eye looked glassy. "I lost so many ponies I cared about that I doubt nopony would care if another left their ranks." She said harshly turning away. "Can we stop talking about my past and keep looking, I can't be distracted." Octavia turned away holding the Luna's Tear in her hand and gulped remembering that image of a younger Rainbow Dash crying in a dark corner of her room. Crying like a poor filly after witnessing somepony's death before her eyes. Of course she did lose that one pegasus and a whole squad she considered her family during the rebellion. After an hour of silence Octavia turned to see smoke. She turned to the adults to see them too busy watching over the sides into the forest. "Uh, excuse me but where would the village be?" "Why'd you ask that?" Applejack asked. Octavia gulped and pointed forward. All three mares turned to see the smoke. Applejack cursed quickly pressing several buttons, speeding up the craft. She sued the levers to lower the ship as she pressed more buttons to slow it down. Rainbow and Daring watched the incoming smoke strings in the sky. "The village?" Daring asked worriedly. Applejack nodded maneuvering the life craft to the ground in a clearing. Applejack pressed a few buttons then the solar sail folded in and slid into the box behind the controls. Applejack found a rope and tied it around a bench then leapt out of the craft. She squatted in landing from the ten foot drop. She found a strong tree and wrapped the rope around the trunk twice then tied a touch knot to keep the boat from being taken. She walked over to the craft as Rainbow and Daring took a musket and looked over at the source of the smoke. Octavia sniffed the air and coughed. "What is that smell?" She exclaimed covering her nose from the stench. Rainbow's feathers shivered feeling the shiver down her spine. "Bodies," She whispered. "By the smell, I say there is a lot of them." Daring nodded with a worried frown. "Applejack?" She asked. Applejack gulped looking toward the source of the smoke and smell. "Get the Captain down, we walk the rest of the way." Octavia watched as Daring and Rainbow took the ends of the stretcher lifting Vinyl up and over with their wings and laid her down on the forest floor. Rainbow looked up and motioned Octavia to come down with their weapons. Octavia grabbed the muskets and tossed them down one by one as Rainbow caught them and passed them to Applejack and Daring then wrapped the leather strap around her body. Octavia grabbed the last musket and then pack of pistols and chargers. She leapt over and landed in a squat on the ground, groaning from the pain in the muscles around her ankles. Rainbow grabbed her under her arm and pulled her up as she winces. Daring gulped. "What are we getting into, Applejack?" She asked sternly checking her weapons as she reached inside the bag to pull out a pistol with a fresh charger. Applejack gulped looking into the trees sniffing the air. Applejack pushed off the safety as all ears heard the whining of the charger charging. "Hopefully nothing but the remains of a battle.” She said seriously taking charge. She turned to Rainbow pointing at her. “RD, I want you on our back. Keep an eye and ear for anything behind us. Doc and Princess, you two carry the Captain. I'll be on point leading you guys to the village." Rainbow nodded as she pressed the safety of the musket off. Daring gulped stuffing the pistols in the waist band of her pants as she turned to Octavia as she pulled the bag over her head and arm like a sling. "Octavia, you take the head I got the feet." Daring ordered as she knelt down to reach the grips. Octavia nodded as she kneel down and took the grips from behind her. "Alright, one, two, three, lift." Daring and Octavia both stood up lifting Vinyl up. "You got her?" Daring asked. "Yes, you?" "Yes." Daring turned to Applejack. "We’re ready." Applejack nodded as she slung her musket over her head and shoulder then pulled out her pistol from her pants and started forward. "Keep silent, alright, no talking unless you hear or see something understand?" She ordered. The two civilians nodded while Rainbow kept an eye on the forest around her with the musket in her hands. "Just like White Wood, AJ?" Rainbow asked smiling. Applejack snorted, shaking her head. "This is way different than White Wood, RD. This place has worse monsters than snowmen." Rainbow shuddered. "You just had to remind me about them." She muttered to herself as she continued forward in silence. As the four continued their trek through the thick forest, the stench of rotting, burning corpses were getting stronger causing Octavia to gag and cough. "How much longer?" She whispered loudly coughing. "Not far now." Applejack answered silently over her shoulder. Applejack stopped by a large tree with strange carvings on the trunk. Applejack rubbed her fingers over the carvings then started looking around. She flicked back the hammer of her pistol and pulled back the slider, hearing the charger charging. "What's wrong?" Rainbow asked trotting over to Applejack seeing her getting ready for a fight. "There should be guards here." Applejack answered with a glare, looking around. "There are always guards around here or standing here." Daring walked over to look the carvings. "Incredible, this is the western tribes, right?" Applejack ignored her looking around. "Later Professor." Rainbow answered looking around. Octavia gulped looking around, it felt like hundreds of eyes were watching her. "Follow me and stay close. RD, I want you right by the stretcher got it?" Rainbow nodded as she charged her musket, walking close by Octavia as Applejack lead them through the thick brush. Octavia yelped being wacked by a small branch. Applejack peeked through and turned back to the others coming over. "We're at the entrance. Stay close." The group nodded as Applejack pushed through the bushes and walked into a large clear dirt path. Octavia gasped to see what laid before her. Daring and Rainbow Dash both gasped in shock seeing the giant village before them. The huge village was comprised of large wooden structures with rounded roofs made of wood or branches with large thick leaves. But what marred the beauty of the village were the dead bodies of striped ponies. Stallions, mares, and foals laying in heaps either burnt or rotting with flies flying over their bloated bodies. Rainbow covered her mouth her pupils shrank to pinpricks. Daring was staring at the carnage with shock. Octavia gasped turning away biting her lip. Applejack on the other hoof, dropped her pistol shaking. Applejack's mouth was agape as her eyes stung from the tears forming. Rainbow Dash gulped and shook her head from the shock as she walked over to Applejack. "AJ?" She whispered. Applejack continued to stare at the burnt husks of several homes. She turned to the left and cursed running to a dead zebra mare. The three watched as Applejack pulled the body to where the dead mare was on her back. Applejack placed her fingers under the mare’s jaw and searched for a pulse, but felt nothing and groaned, covering her eyes with her hand. Daring cleared her throat and Octavia saw what she wanted. The two carefully placed Vinyl on the ground. Octavia sat down by Vinyl's side as Daring looked around at the dead tribe ponies. Rainbow walked over to Applejack and placed her hand on her shoulder again. "Was that the healer?" Applejack shook her head. "No, she was a trainee the last time I saw her. She was training to be a healer from..." Applejack gasped turning toward the village standing up. "Ladies!" Everypony but Applejack turned to Daring to see her pointing at a dead body. "I believe I know who done this." Octavia and Rainbow ran over to the body Daring was pointing at. The body was a unicorn mare dressed in raggedy clothes. Daring knelt down to pull a bit of cloth away from the unicorn's chest to reveal a tattoo over the unicorn's collar bone. Rainbow snarled seeing the all too familiar mark. "Unicorn Royal Guard." She spat. Daring nodded. "There are a few of them. There could be more nearby." Daring stated worriedly looking at the other dead guards nearby. Rainbow turned to see Applejack still staring at the burnt buildings "AJ! What's up?" Rainbow called out. Applejack gulped and for the first time in a while Rainbow could see tears running down Applejack’s face. She trotted over as Applejack was breathing hard clenching her jaw. "Where's our healer?" Rainbow asked carefully. "Is she among the dead?" "I hope not." She whispered. "She's too important to be dead now." Rainbow suddenly blinked, stiffening, backing away from her. Applejack blinked turning to Rainbow Dash with dread. She turned and trotted into the village. Rainbow gasped, closing her eyes, as a memory flashed behind her eye lids. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ 25 Years Ago: The fourth year in Second Discordian War The explosion shook the foxhole, Rarity felt the impact of the explosion falling onto the ground. She laid still knocked out from the impact of the hard ground. "Where the hell is Fluttershy!" Rainbow screamed out grabbing Rarity’s uniform, pulling her body into the hole. Once safely in the foxhole, Rainbow started firing lasers with her pistol. She ducked as several lasers hit the dirt mound around the fox hole. She turned to see Pinkie Pie sitting Rarity up against the dirt wall. Rarity groaned as Pinkie probed her, checking for broken bones. She did find a nasty bruise on Rarity’s forehead. "Her horn's loose!" Pinkie yelled out when another explosion rattled the ground again. Rainbow shook hard looking around. "Where are AJ and Twi?" "I don’t know, they went out on patrol and haven’t come back yet. "Shit!" Rainbow snarled ducking again. Suddenly something hard and metal hit her head and bounced into her lap. Rainbow and Pinkie stared at the grenade. "Throw it!" Pinkie screamed holding on to Rarity. Rainbow jumped grabbing the grenade and threw it in the air just when it exploded, sending shrapnel everywhere. "Get moving!" A voice called out. Rainbow looked up and smiled to see Applejack looking down at them. "Get moving! Get moving!" She ordered pointing away. "Roger!" Pinkie yelled out pulling Rarity over her shoulder and started to climb out of the foxhole. "AJ, Rarity's hit hard and her horn's loose." Pinkie yelled out again as she felt a laser buzz past her ear causing her to yelp and duck. Applejack paled at that. "Great! Twi's missing and Rarity's incapable of doing magic!" "Where's Fluttershy?" Rainbow yelled over the whine of a laser ball flying past them. The group gasped seeing one soldier running toward them screaming a battle cry. Applejack didn't answer the question as she turned then stabbed the enemy soldier with her bayonet. She ran forward grabbing Pinkie’s sleeve to get her to follow her. Rainbow was right behind them. "AJ where is Fluttershy?!" Applejack leaped into a foxhole filled with dead soldiers. Rainbow and Pinkie jumped in as another explosion shook the earth along with screams from the soldiers caught in the explosion. The three mares panted hard from the run, Pinkie carefully flipped Rarity off her back to the ground sitting her up as she started ripping her uniform for a quick fix. "Is Fluttershy gone?" Pinkie asked with fear. Applejack gulped. "I hope not." She said with worry turning away looking over the lip of the foxhole. "She's too important to be dead now." ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ The vision faded away, Rainbow gasped as she turned and started running after the Earth pony. "Wait a second!" She yells out running. Octavia and Daring noticed and quickly grabbed Vinyl and started after them. Applejack stopped panting at an intersection of the roads looking around seeing more dead Zebras everywhere, worrying. Rainbow stopped by her grabbing her sleeve pulling her close glaring into her eyes. "You better be fooling me." She snarled. Applejack stared into Rainbow's burning eye. Applejack was scared and shaking. "Who is the healer? Who is she really?" Applejack gulped turning away, her ears flat on her head. Rainbow's glare lessened as she backed away, fear etched all over her face. Applejack looked back at her biting her lip. Rainbow didn't need the verbal answer, she shook her head looking around. "Please Luna no!" She whispered looking around. "She was here? She was here and you didn't tell me!" Rainbow snarled. Daring and Octavia just reached the two to see what was happening. Applejack bowed her head. "She promised me never to tell anypony RD, she made me Pinkie Promise," "You could have told me or even Twilight that she was still alive!" Rainbow screamed out, tears pouring from her eyes. "We all thought that she was dead! Suicide!" Octavia looked between the two mares trying to figure out who they were talking about. "You didn't think that I knew that? I told her that everypony will know, but she made me promise Rainbow Dash. I can't turn my back to the only friend I had left in the galaxy!" Rainbow turned away then growled pulling out her pistol, grabbing Applejack’s shirt, and held her pressing the pistol under Applejack's chin. "You knew how important she was to me! Tell me everything you son of a bitch!" She whispered harshly. Octavia and Daring immediately lowered Vinyl to the ground. "Captain stop it!" Octavia screamed out grabbing Rainbow's arm, trying to pull her away. Applejack smiled sadly. "It was hard keeping it a secret from you though. She made me make sure not to let you know about her." Rainbow snarled pushing the barrel harder against Applejack's neck, applying pressure to the trigger. "Stop it!" Everypony turned and gasped to see a yellow pegasus dressed in tribal clothing, her pink mane was cut short with a black and blue headband around her head. She had several different necklaces made of string and twine with strange beads and stones. Her turquoise eyes were filled with sadness and fear. In one hand she was holding a wicked knife that caused Octavia to shiver. Behind the yellow pegasus were tall, lean, strong zebras with spears and knives and dressed like warriors. Stallions with tribal pants or shorts made of hide while the mares dressed like the pegasus, hide shirts and pants with their bare feet. Rainbow gasped as Applejack blinked an waved. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow whispered releasing Applejack. Octavia gasped staring at the tall pegasus with shock and wonder. "The Element of Kindness, Fluttershy?" Octavia said out loud without thinking. Fluttershy gulped stepping back. Rainbow stepped forward only to yelp seeing one of the mares stepping forward thrusting her spear forward. Rainbow jumped back to stand by Octavia. Fluttershy sighed showing anger as she stepped up to the zebra. "Why are you here?" She asked angrily which shocked both Octavia and Rainbow. Applejack cleared her throat. "It's the matter of emergency." She said pulling off her Stetson hat, rubbing her head. "Recently I had a falling out with the pirates and a unicorn was hurt badly. We gave her magic and it helped heal her but she got an infection, not only that but a deadly disease." Fluttershy looked to the mare and started to speak softly to her. The zebra blinked then turned to Applejack and her party. She walked forward to stop at Rainbow and Octavia. She pointed at them. Rainbow blinked looking at Octavia and pulled her behind her to block her from any possible attacks. Octavia pulled away from her. Fluttershy leaned in as the zebra whispered to her. Fluttershy blinked and turned to stare at Octavia then nodded. "My friend here has told me that you have power, earth pony?" Octavia blinked. "Y-yes, in a way." Fluttershy blinked then turned to Rainbow Dash to see her staring at her in shock. Fluttershy gulped biting her lip then turned to Applejack. Octavia quickly stepped up. "Please are you the healer Applejack told us about?" "Maybe," Fluttershy answered bluntly. "Well whomever it is please, my friend, she's dying from dark foul magic that was used against her when she was a filly. She's suffering from it now and we can't do anything to help her not even Twilight Sparkle can heal her." Fluttershy blinked surprise dawned on her face. "Twilight? Twilight Sparkle? How did you know of-" "I am Princess Octavia, I hold the Luna's Tear... uh, I mean the Crystal Guardian." Fluttershy's ears perked at that. Octavia smiled. "You know of the Crystal Guardians?" Fluttershy nodded. "Yes I had dreams about them. You have one of them?" Octavia smiled. "Yes. The Crystal Guardians told me about the Elements of Harmony. I knew Twilight since I boarded my friend's ship." Octavia said indicating Vinyl. Fluttershy turned to the zebra and spoke to her silently. The zebra nodded and lowered her spear and struck it on the ground and pointed away. The warriors nodded and left the area to start tending to the dead. Fluttershy called out in the zebra language for two young warriors. She pointed at Vinyl then at some other direction. The two stallions nodded and ran over to lift up Vinyl and carry her away. "Where are you taking her?" Octavia asked quickly watching Vinyl disappear behind several structures. "Not to worry." Fluttershy said. "They're taking her to our infirmary." Octavia sighed. Fluttershy walked over to place her hand on Octavia's shoulder. "Don’t worry young one. I'll do what I can for her." She turned to Applejack, Daring and Rainbow Dash. She sighed turning away. "Are there more of you?" She asked coldly with a cold glare. Applejack jumped. "Well yes, but they are guarding the ship with another sick friend. She's important but right now I know you need to focus on Captain Vinyl." Fluttershy thought for a moment then turned away. "What if I don’t want to treat her? I have so many others that need my utmost care." Rainbow’s mouth dropped open. Applejack cleared her throat. "What happened here, Fluttershy?" Fluttershy glared at a dead pegasus dressed in burnt uniform and walk away. "The royal guard are expanding their borders. It's hard to keep peace when they recognize me." Applejack motioned the others to follow as she walks with Fluttershy. "The royal guard is out of control Fluttershy-" "And what am I supposed to do?" She asked stopping to glare at her old friend. "You want me to leave?" "Well uh-" "No, I cannot leave here, Applejack. These zebras need me. Zecora is getting old and the whole tribe believes me to be the next healer and shaman here. If you want me to kill ponies again I have to decline." Applejack turned away. Octavia ran up. "Please, Fluttershy." She begged. Fluttershy stopped to stare at the princess. "I know you might have some feelings against royalty and to other ponies that chased you like a dog, but please can you at least help our friend and maybe...we can help you in return." Fluttershy blinked staring at her for a moment. "What makes you think I want something in return? I never ask for anything for what I do." Octavia gulped. "I am a Princess, the sixth in line to the throne. If I make it to Canterlot unscathed I can help ponies like you and Applejack. It's my destiny to bring back my people and help ponies that need it." Fluttershy gave her a quizzical look. "A Princess, hmm?" Something about her tone didn’t encourage the young princess. "Yes she is." Rainbow said with a light threat in her voice as she stood by Octavia with a warning glare at Fluttershy. "And when she gets to Canterlot she will change the laws for good." Fluttershy looked at Rainbow the hardest as Rainbow’s glare lessened as she turned away with a blush. Fluttershy turned to Daring to see her standing silent. "And you?" Daring jumped and turned to her and bowed slightly. "Forgive me, my name is Daring Do, a professor of archaeology and lost civilizations from Luna University in Canterlot." Fluttershy gave her a long hard look. Daring cleared her throat. "Twilight has told me much about you, Sergeant Fluttershy." Fluttershy stiffened at that and turned away thinking. She sighed heavily and groaned. She turned to Daring and pointed a finger at her. "Don’t you ever call me by that title again!" She turned to Octavia and Rainbow Dash with a glare. "I'll check on your friend. But if I learn that you lied," She snapped pointing at Octavia with a glare. Rainbow held out her arm to block an attack on the princess. "I won’t hesitate to lace her food or drink with something nasty." Rainbow blinked at the true defined threat. Fluttershy never used threats, only twice she did but that was an act to some interrogations back in the war. But in the shy pegasus' eyes, she was really serious. Fluttershy turned as the elder zebra walked up with her spear leveled with a glare. "Zecora here will take you all to separate hollows and each of you will be guarded by a warrior." Zecora let out a whistle and four zebra warriors came out of nowhere with knives and staffs. Rainbow shook her head. "I have to disagree." "Oh?" Fluttershy asked interested and yet angered at the same time. "I have my oath to my prince to protect his daughter. And I will be her sole protector." Fluttershy made a grin shaking her head. "Of course you would protect the slime bags that tried to kill us." Rainbow bit her lip turning to the zebra shaman with a glare. "I don’t need you." Octavia said backing away. "I can protect myself." "Not when there was a threat against your life." Rainbow snapped quickly glaring at Fluttershy. Fluttershy snorted turning away. "Too bad, if I keep you royals and guardians together, who knows what you all will do to me, a traitor to the Canterlot galaxy." Applejack stiffened feeling the staff to her back. "Fluttershy this isn't what you think," "Really?" Fluttershy asked glaring daggers at the earth pony. "Then what should I think. That I'm safe from the likes of them!" She spat pointing to Rainbow and Octavia. "I guess that fight we had a few days ago proves that I'm never going to escape the death and suffering of you ponies!" She turned to Zecora and nodded saying a few words harshly then turned away. Zecora nodded and separated Rainbow and Octavia into the arms of two warriors. Daring held up her hands as a knife was pointed to her face. Applejack raised up her hands as well as the warrior behind her took her pistols. Octavia was held fast by Zecora and the young warrior. "Wait a minute, will you help Vinyl?!" She begged. Fluttershy smiled turning away. "I help all that needs it. And seeing your friend… I will help her." Octavia gulped seeing the smile on her face. "Maybe a touch. As long as you don’t do anything you will regret." "What?" Octavia asked with shock. This healer was threatening Vinyl's life. "Take them away." Fluttershy ordered and nodded to Zecora. Zecora nodded with a smirk on her face as she called out an order in the zebra tongue. Octavia was pushed into her warrior guard and was forced to walk forward. Rainbow snarled and tried to fight back, but it was too little to go against her guard. She marched forward with a snarl at the zebras. Daring walked forward with her hands behind her head mumbling quick lessons on how to speak their language. Applejack was pushed forward with her hands behind her head with worry plaguing her mind. "What have I done?" She whispered.