In the early morning back at Rainbow's mansion, Strike was already awake, looking through his old saddle bag, going through his memories of the past. In the left side, he kept his most valuable, yet haunting memories. And in the right saddle bag, he kept something he never wanted to look upon again. Or at least, he thought he didn't.
He sat on Rainbow's couch, pulling out his things one by one and lying them down on the glass table in front of him. He put them together in lines. First was his knife, then his old pistol, followed by his picture of him and Remedy. He smiled at it for a long time, resisting the urge to stop staring into her beautiful eyes. Every time he'd gaze upon those wonderful yellow eyes, he seemed to drift off into a seventh heaven, his mind lost in thoughts that he thought left his mind years ago when they first started dating.
The other half of his saddlebag that remained closed, he wanted to wait until Rainbow got back from her weather patrol job. And even though she wasn't going to take long, mostly due to her being a speed demon, he already was starting to miss her. He just hoped she'd be fine when she was at work, and Strike knew about all of that, seeing as he had a small job doing it with his father so long ago when he was just a colt helping him in the weather factory. Strike got up, focusing on a small picture, hanging on the puffy wall to the right of the couch. He got up, slowly trotting towards it and saw who it was. It was Rainbow Dash, as a 9-year-old filly. (or at least he thought so from her looks). Her mane was scruffed up and beautifully shiny, her eyes shimmered like gems and the only difference of now was that on her flank, her cutie mark wasn't there. Strike thought she looked beautiful.
He walked away, now going for and out the balcony door of the mansion, looking over the massive balcony on the side of the house, watching the gorgeous day go by. The sky only had a few clouds in it today, letting most of the sun come out with its inviting heat and just close enough to see, Strike saw what he identified as a small weather team patrol, checking the skies clouds for tomorrows weather pattern. He didn't see one spec of rainbow with cyan, however. Should she be up there? Is she in a different squad? Where was she? For some random reason, he thought that something was up, and he couldn't help but not escape the thought. It haunted him for a while, sending him into a very minor worry mode. Could it be....?
No, Strike! Of course she's alright. She's tough, she can handle herself. Stop worrying about her, she'll be fine.
I know, but I don't like this one bit. At the least, I want nothing more for her other than to be safe
She WILL be safe, Strike! You worry too much...
No, I don't. Those murderers I've met threatened that they would come back! Don't you think I have a right to be upset about her?
Yes, you do. But you are overreacting to it. Calm down, will ya?
How can I calm down? The only thing I want to see is my sister right now. I just want to make sure she is safe.
She IS safe, Strike. Stop doubting yourself.
But she's not. I can feel it going through my body, something telling me she is in danger.
''Strike! Strike! Are you up there?!'' A familiar, feminine voice called from a distance, catching his attention.
He went onto the porch of the mansion, looking down to see a sad, yet worried looking Twilight.
''Twilight? What are-''
''Just get down here! Hurry!''
Twilight cut him off, catching him a little off guard at her attitude (and frustration). Without saying anything else, Strike jumped from the porch, diving down and flailing his wings just before he was a few feet above ground and landed next to Twilight, now face to face with her. He gave her a confused look, but her look said that something was wrong and whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
''Twilight, what's wrong?''
''I-I-It's about Rainbow, Strike! S-She's nowhere to be found! She's missing!''
Strike froze, not knowing what he could say to what his ears had just heard. Missing? Rainbow? Rainbow is missing? How so? When?
''Wait...WHAT?! What do you mean Rainbow is ''missing''?''
''She was meant to be on patrol with the weather team, but the team said she didn't arrive to lead them with the weather plans a-a-a-and....and...''
Strike put his hoof to her shoulder, stopping her from talking at his touch.
''Twilight...when did this happen,exactly? When did Dashie go missing?''
''Just before she took off to do her job! Some of her team said they saw a few stallions catch her and take her off!''
''Stallions...any specific details?''
''N-No...just that they looked really tough and very mad.''
''Shit...'' Strike muttered under his breath. ''Twilight...I-I...I gotta go...''
And in an instant, Strike blasted into the sky, not giving her a chance to respond and dashing back into Dash's house. He quickly glided over to the table that held his belongings on it and grabbed his sheathed knife, strapping it around his body and under his wing. He knew what he had to do, but he had to do it before it was too late. For Rainbow's sake.
He flew out of the mansion, back to the ground where Twilight was still standing and Strike could clearly see a few tears dripping out of her eyes, as much as she could see them trickling down his own face.
''Twilight, I think you should tell the others. Now. Don't follow me, I'm gonna get her back.''
And then Strike flew off into the sky, to the one place he knew they would take her, and Strike could already feel himself inside burning intensely with guilt. This was his fault, the fault that caused his parents the same pain he can now feel, but maybe, and just maybe things must stay the way they are. If he didn't come back to Ponyville, maybe this wouldn't of happened. This was his own fault, and he'd be damned if something happened to his younger sister.
Rainbow awoke in a small room that was dimly lit and smelled of old sacks and blood. She tried to move, but found out moments later that she was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, a small bowl-shaped light hanging above her head by a chain. The room was very empty, however. There was no windows or decoration other than the light above her head and a rotten wooden door at the far left side of the room. Her head ached and her limbs hurt from the tight ropes restraining them down to the chair.
''H-Hello?'' She called, her voice echoing around the room. ''Can anypony hear me?''
Just then, a series of clicks were heard at the door and it swung open, a slightly familiar, older stallion walking in followed by another stallion. The first one, she could only make out his color but not any specific details, and the other one, she had never met.
''Well, well, well. Look who's awake.'' A very familiar voice said, coming closer into view, causing Dash to gasp.
''You!''
''Ha! Who were you expecting? Your lousy brother? Well, don't worry, he'll more than likely be here soon enough to ''save'' you.''
''W-What do you want with me?! What do you have against my brother?!''
The other stallion came closer looking at her with his deathly stare. His eyes were red and his mane was black, same as his coat.
''Its not what we have against him, my dear, but more what we are gonna do to him.'' He snarled in an almost demonic voice.
''So you just kidnapped me to lure him here? Why couldn't you just get him?''
''Enough with the questions! Gah! When Striker gets here, the fun can begin! But for now, lights out!''
The stallion with the red eyes brought up the bat with a smirk and laughed evilly as he brought it down on Dash's head, sounding a loud, dull thud throughout the room, knocking Rainbow out of consciousness and into darkness.