Chapter 3: airborne
Rainbow Dash had avoided being healed all the way. She ended up pushing herself too far and her ribs gave out again. She also had Fluttershy heal only to reconnect her ribs so no serious damage can occur. Rainbow needed to take a break from fighting or she might damage her ribs for a fourth time. When Fluttershy finished the healing of the people of Riversdale, she was extremely low on magic aura. Magic aura is how clerics, mages, and shamans are about to use magic. Use too much and it could be fatal.
Rainbow Dash was packing up, but I was Fluttershy that didn't pack light. Plus Rainbow Dash made Vinyl carry Fluttershy's things and Vinyl cursed at Rainbow Dash under her breath because of that. Luckily they didn't have it go over a mountain again since Rosewater Portbay was eastwards to Riversdale. Rainbow Dash didn't even get to carry her out things, cause Fluttershy wouldn't also it. Ever since the three of them left Riversdale, Rainbow Dash was thinking about something. Fluttershy noticed that and tried to start a conversation.
"Um... What are you thinking about?" Fluttershy asked in a low whisper, but Rainbow Dash didn't seem it hear.
"Uh... Rainbow Dash? Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked a little loud, this time Rainbow Dash noticed Fluttershy.
"What's up Fluttershy? You need something?" Rainbow Dash asked not realizing the worried look at first.
"Are thinking about Suzy?" Fluttershy asked still trying to keep up with Rainbow Dash's walking pace. Rainbow Dash realized Fluttershy was having trouble walking next to her, so Rainbow slowed her pace down.
"How do you know about Suzy?" Rainbow Dash said then glared at Vinyl who was panting, because of all of Fluttershy's bags. Vinyl stopped for a moment realizing that the other two had stopped walking and took a breather.
"It wasn't me. You talk in your sleep." Vinyl said finally able to breath. Rainbow looked at Fluttershy to see her friend was nodding. Rainbow Dash never talked in her sleep before. Well not that anybody told her until now.
"Have I always talked in my sleep?" Rainbow Dash asked raising both her eye brows. Fluttershy shook her head and replied, " No, you haven't. I've never seen you talk in your sleep when we share a bed." Rainbow Dash started to laugh and she put her hands in her jacket.
"I remember that. You always slipped into my bed when you had a nightmare." Rainbow Dash said swinging her arm around Fluttershy and pulled her close, "You were so cute back then." Rainbow Dash felt a pain go up her body and realized that she had pressed Fluttershy against her still injured ribcage. Except Rainbow didn't care about the pain at the moment, all she wanted to to was to squeeze Fluttershy in her arms.
"I'm sorry I was gone for so long. You must have been through a lot." Rainbow Dash said calmly as if she expected Fluttershy to let out tears and she did.
"It was just horrible. There was people dying and I couldn't save them. The girls all split up and I was left to handle myself."Fluttershy wailed in Rainbow Dash's arms. Rainbow was like a older sister to Fluttershy, except for the part that they aren't related by blood. Rainbow believed that she has to make up for the horror she went through. Fluttershy continued to cry letting Rainbow Dash hold onto her. Rainbow Dash didn't care that her ribcage hurt, cause she decided to squeeze Fluttershy tighter. Finally Rainbow Dash released from the embrace and kissed Fluttershy on the forehead. Which was easy to do since Fluttershy is a whole foot smaller the Rainbow Dash.
"I'm here now and I'll never leave. I'll protect you." Rainbow Dash said in a soothing tone. The rest of the time they walked in silence until dark.
It was in the middle of the night and Fluttershy couldn't sleep. She watched Rainbow Dash mutter in her sleep. Rainbow was saying 'must protect Fluttershy' over and over again. Fluttershy assumed it involves Rainbow Dash worrying that makes her talk in her sleep.She turned to look at Vinyl who was snoring in what looked to be an uncomfortable position. Vinyl then stretched, rolled over onto her stomach, and scratched her butt. Since all they have to sleep on is thin sleeping mats and no blankets of any sort, Fluttershy could see Vinyl's butt. She then quickly and gently pulled up Vinyl's pants. Luckily she didn't wake up Vinyl.Fluttershy then snuggled up to Rainbow Dash and finally got some sleep.
Fluttershy woke up to see Rainbow Dash gently shaking her. Apparently Rainbow Dash and Vinyl had already packed up.
"If your still tired I can carry you. We have to leave now or we'll miss AJ." Rainbow Dash said softly. Fluttershy held her arms out which told Rainbow that she wanted to be carried. Fluttershy didn't want to be carried because she was tired, she just felt like riding in Rainbow Dash's arms like old times. She slept until Rainbow gently shook her awake when they finally made it to Rosewater Portbay. Fluttershy realized that she had Rainbow Dash carry her all the way with a hurt rib. Knowing that Rainbow won't admit to the pain Fluttershy said nothing.
"Well is that AJ's airship?" Rainbow Dash asked pointing to the only airship that's docked.
"We made it on time. It's the Calamity." Fluttershy said running to see her friend Applejack. Rainbow Dash looked at Vinyl who was taking a breather. Vinyl nods and mouthed an inaudible 'go ahead'. Rainbow Dash nods and runs after Fluttershy. The two of them make it on the airship. It was a beautify make airship, made by a kind of wood Rainbow hadn't seen.
"What kind of wood is this?" Rainbow Dash said wondering. As if she got an wanted a reply, Rainbow Dash got her answer.
"The wood came from the hotsu tree. Near the west side of Wendasu." A female voice said behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow turned around to see a foreign looking woman. Her hair was black and white stripped and she was wearing multiple earrings.
"Well if it isn't Zacora. I thought that you ran the black market in Ponyville?" Rainbow Dash said raising a eye brow.
"That I still do, but at this moment. A traveling black market is what I do." Zacora said smiling.
"Zacora! Your needed in the supply room." Someone else yelled in a female voice. This time it was a teenage girl with red hair and a bright red bow in her hair. She wore a light blue jacket with a yellow shirt and dark blue jeans.
"You look familiar." Rainbow Dash said looking the girl up and down.
"Well I hope so. It's been a while Rainbow, ya remember ya old friend Applebloom, right?" Applebloom said smiling at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash finally realized who she was talking to, she then glanced at Zacora who nodded at Applebloom and went to a secret door at the front of the airship. Vinyl finally made it on the airship and set Fluttershy's bags on the deck so she can stretch her aching back.
"Ya wanna have a tour of the ol' Calamity?" Applebloom asked spreading her arms to symbolize the whole airship. The girls decided to take Applebloom up on the offer and the four of them walked to the door a the back of the airship.
"The Captain's chambers is up there, underneath the steering wheel. Every other room is behind this door, except for the supply room of course." Applebloom said pointing to the secret door on the deck at the front of the airship. They then entered through the door they were near and went down two flights of stairs. They were now standing in front of a metal door with a small round window in the center.
"We'll start here. This is the engine room and technically it only opens from the inside." Applebloom said and knocked on the metal door. Then the heard a male voice yelled coming and the door opened. He looked to be about fifteen years ago and was skronny. He wore a tank top that was too big for his and very baggy pants. He was bare foot and was covered In soot.
"Hey, Pip! Who's there?" A female voice asked. The voice can from what looked like a very complex work of pipes, which a pair of legs stuck out of.
"Applebloom's brought Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash for a visit. Plus someone I don't even know." Pipsqueak replied.
"What!?" The voice yelled and then there came a large bang, "Fuck that hurt!" The girl slid out from underneath the pipes and sat up. She had a band strapped around her chest and legless pants. Like Pipsqueak, she was as well covered in soot. She rubbed her forehead and then stood up.
"Ya okay Sweetie Bell?" Applebloom asked. Sweetie Bell stretched her back and walked over to Applebloom.
"I'm fine, but I see you weren't kidding. It's been a while Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy. Who are you?" Sweetie Bell said.
"The names Vinyl Scratch, I'm Rainbow's bodyguard ordered by Luna." Vinyl said crossing her arms. Sweetie nods and turns around signaling the others two follow her. Sweetie Bell explains the the pipework, but Rainbow Dash didn't even get what she was saying.
"That pretty much sums up the pipework." Sweetie Bell said and suddenly a pipe burst," Damn! Pip, we have a leak." Pipsqueak ran to a metal wheel and started to turn it counter clockwise, while Sweetie Bell ran quickly grabbing her wrench. She quickly climbed up the pipes to get to the upper and inner pipework. Soon the pipework was fixed and Sweetie Bell jumped down to the ground.
"When we get to Lainber, we can get replacement parts." Sweetie Bell said looking at Pipsqueak.
"But there's a pipework shop here. Why do you want to buy in Lainber?" Rainbow Dash said.
"You weren't paying attention, were you?" Sweetie Bell asked crossing her arms.
"No, not really. It was hard to understand." Rainbow Dash said scratching the back of her head. Sweetie Bell sighed and shook her head.
"How typical of you. The steam pipes are but a third of the engine. The pipes leak all the time, it doesn't mean that they break easily." Sweetie Bell said as simply as she could. Luckily Rainbow Dash understood what Sweetie Bell was saying. Finally they said bye for now and went up a flight of stairs too continue the tour.
"Tha's where we eat and behind the door is the kitchen. Give me a moment. BIG MAC!" Applebloom said And instantly a head popped out of the door.
"Eeyup?" Big Mac said smiling.
"Tha's the chef. He makes ya food. Is lunch ready?" Applebloom said.
"Nope!" Big Mac said poking his head back inside and closing the door.
"There is the bunks." Applebloom said pointing to the other side of the room. There seemed to only be one person on bed side of the room. He was sleeping on the round window seal. He has short black hair and a scraggly hair style. He wore a black t-shirt, dark brown baggy pants, black sneakers, and a necklace with a shark tooth on it.
"Who's he?" Fluttershy asked pointing to the man.
"Who Nightshade? He flies the ship at night and sleeps during the day. He ain't mute, but he doesn't talk to anyone." Applebloom said. Applebloom signaled everyone to follow her and walked toward the deck. Fluttershy waited looking at Nightshade. Rainbow Dash placed a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder and they left to catch up with the others. Once they made it to the deck Applebloom continued the tour.
"Over there is the secret door and that's where we stash our illegal goods. I don't need to show you that room, but I'm definitely going to show you the Captain's quarters. She'd be glad to see you." Applebloom said.
"APPLEBLOOM!" A manly female voice yelled. It sounded like it came from above them. There leaning over the railing was a woman with size-F boobs.
"Sunblazer said that you were showing weird people the airship." The woman said angrily.
"Except that ya know these people, Applejack." Applebloom said looking straight up at Applejack. The next couple moments were in silence and then Applejack jumped over the railing and landed on the deck. Instantly when Applejack saw Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash a smile grew on her face.
"Well can me a sidewinder on a cold winter day, I haven't seen the two of ya in forever." Applejack said instantly hugging them both at the same time and didn't seem to want to let go, " It's good to see ya sugercubes. I've missed ya both so much."
"I didn't know that rivals could miss each other." Rainbow Dash said trying to breath. Normally It wasn't hard to breathe when Applejack gives a bear hug, but back then Applejack was only a C-cup. Applejack did one more squeeze and then let go.
"Just because we are rivals, don't mean we ain't pals. Besides, you haven't seemed to grow out of that C-cup." Applejack said smiling.
"Well at least I'm not killing my friends with over sized boobs." Rainbow Dash said smirking. The two started sparking an angry look at each other, which made Fluttershy get nervous. Vinyl put her hand on Fluttershy's shoulder gaining her attention.
"Does this happen all the time?" Vinyl asked and instantly Applejack noticed Vinyl.
"Okay, ya I know I don't know. Who are ya?" Applejack asked Vinyl.
"Luna hire me to bodyguard Rainbow Dash." Vinyl replied. Applejack apparently was satisfied with the answer. She decided to have Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash a bed in her Quarters, which made Fluttershy perk up in glee and Rainbow Dash raise a eye brow. Vinyl shrugged and went to the sleeping bunks to take a long deserved nap. Applebloom left to finish her job before they had to leave. That left Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash to head to the Captain's quarters. There Rainbow explained the situation which Applejack kept silent, listening to every detail.
"It sounds like a counted attack in progress." Applejack said with a straight look," so that's what I was waiting for. Finally a plan to defeat that sorry bastard. Rarity's is Lanine, which is where my delivery must head to. I visit Rare when I drop off goods is Lanine." With the talking over and done with, it was time to head to the destination. Applejack have joined the group.
It was a bright night flying in the sky. Rainbow Dash stood at the edge of the railing at the front of the airship. She wasn't the only one who experienced death of someone. Fluttershy couldn't heal everyone and Applejack named her airship off her dead friend Calamity. She believed that she should be glad she wasn't the only one, but why was she so depresses.
"You okay Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked walking toward Rainbow Dash and stood next to her near the railing. She was smiling, but couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.
"I saw a lot death the four years I've been gone. I thought the death will be over when I got back, but I was wrong." Rainbow Dash replied not looking at Fluttershy, but at the long night sky. It was cold out, but soothing.
"I'm sorry. This quest is the least of what you wanted. Just more death and war, right?" Fluttershy said And started to shed tears, "Why am I crying? Your the one who's depressed." Rainbow looked at Fluttershy and placed her hand on her shoulder. Rainbow then turned Fluttershy to face her and Rainbow kissed her on the lips. That caught Fluttershy by surprise and was even more shock when Rainbow started moving her tongue in Fluttershy's mouth. Fluttershy pushed Rainbow away, then she covered her mouth with her hand while her face was bright red.
"W-why d-did you d-do that?" Fluttershy asked embarrassed. Rainbow laughed and ruffled Fluttershy's hair.
"Just think of it as a sisterly kiss." Rainbow Dash said feeling better.
"I don't think sister's kiss with the tongue." Fluttershy said upset and still blushing.
"Oh come on. It's okay to sleep together and bath together, but not kiss?" Rainbow Dash lifted an eyebrow.
"Maybe a kiss on the cheek or forehead will be fine, but not a kiss on the lips." Fluttershy replied not looking at Rainbow.
"Your to cute, kiddo." Rainbow Dash said smiling ruffling Fluttershy's hair again.
"I'm only a year younger than you." Fluttershy shot back pouting. Rainbow poked Fluttershy's forehead and smiled.
"Your also an inch shorted. Come on, I need some sleep." Rainbow said and Fluttershy knew that she'd lost the argument. They then climbed the first set of stairs and noticed Nightshade was flying then airship in the cold night with no warm coat on. Fluttershy walked over and placed her white clerics rob on him. He looked at her with a surprised look on his face. He then took it off and handed it to her shaking his head. Fluttershy pushed it back and said, "You'll freeze if you don't have something warm on." Nightshade sighed and put the clerics rob on. Fluttershy smiled and walked with Rainbow up one more set of stairs to the Captain's quarters. Once Nightshade had concluded that he was alone, he then smiled.