//------------------------------// // Ch. 5 The Demon inside the Airship // Story: Twilight's Bizarre Adventure: Star Dust Crusaders // by Za Waruldo //------------------------------// Pinkie was approaching the front gate when one of the guards stopped her. “Halt, who goes there?” “I go by many names; Pinkamena Diane Pie, Element of Laughter, Party Planner Extraordinary, Stand User, and Extreme Party Pony, but you can call me Pinkie.” The guards stared at each other both confused over whether to take the mare seriously. “Could you please let me through Dusty may have a slight concussion.” “The Princess must be awoken at once. Please guide Miss Pie to the infirmary while I inform the Princess.” The guard quickly ran off while the other led Pinkie with Lighting on her back to the palace infirmary. When Pinkie was let into the infirmary a nurse quickly took Lighting and placed her on a bed. She started to examine her, pulling back an eyelid to examine her pupil. The Nurse stopped the examination and turned to Pinkie before she began to explain the injuries. “She definitely has a concussion it appears to only be minor though so she should be back up in about an hour. A single strike to the back of the head. We usually see this kind of injury with a buck to the head what hit her anyway?” “One really bouncy ball.” Pinkie responded honestly. The nurse eyed her for a minute before continuing. “Well be careful when playing with it. If that ball had been going much faster she might have a fractured or broken skull.” Pinkie noticed some of Lightning’s mane slightly move so she walked up next to the bed. She slowly poked her head over the edge next to Lightning head and stared at her mane. ‘Hey Lightning are you awake, are you faking it?” Pinkie started to wave her hoof in front of Lighting’s face trying to get a response when her mane moved as if something was hiding in it. Pinkie brought her hoof to her head before pulling back her mane and reeling back at the sight. Knocking over a chair when she did the chair clattered against the floor. “Hey be careful your friend is still unconscious and needs her rest” The nurse turned back around to read over her clipboard. Pinkie got back up and started to walk to the door when princess Celestia walked through bumping into Pinkie as she tried to leave. “Pinkie you brought an injured pony into the infirmary is everything alight?” Celestia saw pinkie get back on her hooves before quickly glancing back at Lightning. “Princess we should really, really, really, get Twilight and Ripple here before we do anything.” Pinkie was nervously looking around the room. “Like really, really soon.” Pinkie saw Lightning stir and start to sit up. In response Pinkie quickly ran up to her pulling a frying pan from her mane before hitting Lightning over the head with it knocking her out again. “Like before I have to do that again.” “Pinkie I demand an explanation for your actions.” Celestia eyed the mare as she placed the frying pan back into her mane. Pinkie took a large breath she began. “It started when this mysterious mare stopped me in the middle of the street and called me the Element of Laughter. Then I recognized her as Lighting Dust that one pony that almost got us killed then she said she was going to finish me and my friends off and how I couldn’t stop her. I responded by saying ‘This’” Pinkie’s Stand appeared with its hoof held out and fired off a pink ball that started to ricochet around the infirmary. The nurse dived under her desk for cover once her clipboard got knocked out of her hoof. Followed by the ball bouncing out through the doorway and through the castle halls. “And she dodged it at first and started coming at me when the ball bounced back and hit her in the head. So I took her here to get checked out then I noticed her mane moving and I checked it out more closely. And I remembered what Twilight told me happened to Rarity and how she was evil for a few days because of it and how she and Ripple helped remove it so now we need them to do it again.” “Pinkie what is this thing you’re talking about?” Pinkie pulled back mane to show Celestia the flesh bud dug into her head. “This.” Celestia took a step back in surprise before she called a guard from outside the door. “Guard, go retrieve Twilight and Ripple from their quarters. Tell them their needed for an operation.” “Right away you’re Highness” the guard ran out the door and through the halls. Pinkie continued to sit next to Lightning while her Stand floated next to her. “Pinkie would you please call your stand back I fear that your ball may hurt some of the staff.” “But if I do that Performers won’t be here to protect me, besides what are the odds someone will be trying to get into this room?” A shout was heard outside in the hall. “It’s coming back around, take cover the infirmary is only a few more doors down keep going.” Ripple and Twilight burst through the door before slamming it behind them. “What the hay was that and why is there a roving death ball bouncing in the halls.” Ripple looked at Pinkie whose Stand disappeared as she started whistling. “Princess the guard said something about an operation what’s going on?” “Pinkie Pie had an encounter with one of Dio’s minions and defeated her before bringing her back here for treatment. She has something digging into her head.” Celestia turned her head to the unconscious Lightning. “So what do you say Twilight you ready for a repeat performance?” Ripple walked up next to Lightning’s bed and placed his hooves on either side of her head. “Do you really have to let it try to crawl into you?” Twilight was starting to get sick just remembering the tendril working its way underneath Ripple’s skin. “If it doesn’t attack me it could go after you or harm the host while trying to protect itself, besides I trust you to pull this off.” Twilight walked up next to the bed side and started to levitate the flesh bud out of Lightning. The bud’s tendril went straight for Ripple as it started to dig under his skin. Celestia and Pinkie both watched in horror to what was happening in front of them as one pony took the buds assault while the other removed it. When Twilight removed it completely she held it down for Ripple as he took a deep breath before striking the bud disintegrating it into ash. Ripple and Twilight both looked at Lighting waiting for her to wake up, but she remained unconscious. “We removed the parasite why isn’t she waking?” Twilight stated worried that she may have failed to remove the bud precisely enough to prevent damage. “She did have a concussion before, maybe it’s some lasting effect. Too bad to I was hoping to narrow down where Dio could be.” Ripple said in disappointment knowing their search would encompass an entire country unless they learned more. “I’ll get Luna she may still be able to go into her dreams and gather the information you need if we’re lucky.” Celestia left the infirmary and made her way to the throne room. Celestia and Luna entered the infirmary followed by Rainbow Dash. Rainbow had a pained look when she saw Lightning Dust in her current state. “Rainbow would help Luna, having somepony familiar with Lightning might get her to open up easier while in her dreams.” “Fret not Rainbow, for no harm shall come to thee while under my protective watch.” Luna’s horn began to glow while she waited for Rainbow’s reply. “I’ll do it. Nopony should ever have to go through what Dio does to his allies. And I won’t let him win because of some old grudge of mine.” Rainbow walked up and placed her hoof on Luna’s side before a blinding white light came from her horn. When Rainbow could see again she was in a pitch black space with no light only what felt like stone beneath her hooves. “Luna are you in here?” The darkness gave no reply, but a small light appeared in the distance. Rainbow approached the light which appeared no closer after hours of walking towards it until she came to a door. The door had intricate carvings placed on it with letters and symbols she had never seen. Rainbow pushed the door open to find a single light source shinning down onto Lightning who was lying in the center of a room with many injuries lining her body and a broken wing. “Lightning are you OK, we need to get you out of here it’s not safe.” Rainbow hurried to her side and tried to pull her onto her back only for Lightning to struggle and fall to the floor. “There is nowhere safe Dash he’s too fast; he’s faster than me and stronger. I thought I could do some good and be the hero for once, only to have him completely beat and humiliate me before I could even touch him. You can’t win this one just go.” Lighting’s head fell to her side as she stared into the darkness around them. “I’m not going to leave you here your coming with me even if I have to drag you out of here.” Rainbow took Lighting’s tail in her mouth and started to drag her to the door, only for it to close as she approaching it. “Where to you think you are going?” A new voice filled the room coming from the darkness. A golden coated earth pony steeped into the light and for some reason even with the light shining upon him, his face was covered in a veil of darkens hiding any features. “Rainbow you need to leave now I can hold him off for a second use that time to leave and never comeback.” Lightning had trouble but she managed to stand up and unsteadily started to approach Dio as if her legs would give out at any moment. Dio raised his front hoof before he vanished and appeared suddenly appeared in front of Lightning who fell to the ground as if she was just hit. Dio turned his attention to Rainbow as she stood her ground looking staring down the pony. When Dio began to approach Rainbow the darkness that composed the ceiling shattered like glass letting light fill the room. “You shall bring no harm to our subject and friend.” Luna descended from what used to be darkness. She pointed her horn at Dio and a beam hit him causing Dio to fall before looking back up at the princess. “You are a nightmare and nothing more, this is my realm and you shall leave this pony now.” Dio separated into a black smoke before vanishing into nothing leaving Lightning, Rainbow, and the lunar princess alone in the room. “Lighting the princess came, your safe now Dio can’t get you here.” The wounds covering Lightning began to fade and her wing was no longer broken as she looked hopefully at the princess. “Fear not Lightning Dust for as long as We are here no harm shall befall you.” Luna was nearly ecstatic to have a pony look at her with hope filled eyes instead of those filled with fear. “Thank you Dash and you to princess. Where are we exactly?” Lighting was now looking at the area around her which seemed to defy reason as a ceiling composed of darkness shattered like glass and a light continued to pour in from it. “Lighting we’re in your head, your currently unconscious in the Canterlot Castles infirmary. The Princess and I came to get some answers from you before we left for Saddle Arabia tomorrow.” Lighting looked at the both of them in confusion before speaking. “Why are you going there? Dio’s in Neighgypt. That’s where he got me.” “We thought the element of Generosity told thee that Dio was in Saddle Arabia.” “That is what Rarity said, Lighting are you sure he’s there?” Rainbow questioned. “Yeah, I was looking into some missing pony reports while I was staying in Cairo. I was on a journey for self-discovery after what happened. A lot of mares went missing recently and I started to track down the culprit when I found him he was just waiting for me in that mansion of his. I thought I could take him he was just an Earth pony if worse came to worse I could just fly away. It never came to that though, I wasn’t lying when I said he was fast, he managed to hit me before I knew what was happening to me and then he said that I had potential while I laid on the floor struggling to stand. His mane started to twist forming these flesh like buds before one was jabbed into my head. After placed that thing on my head it's all kind of a blur.” “Lighting I hate to do this but I have to leave and tell the others, they need to know this.” Rainbow looked conflicted leaving Lighting alone in her own head before Luna stepped up. “Do not fret Rainbow I will watch over Lightning while she recovers and keep the nightmares at bay. Go and inform the others I will be out shortly.” Luna’s horn began to glow again before a blinding light enveloped Rainbow. Rainbow was back in the infirmary with the others stood around her and the Luna waiting for her and the princess to wake from the spell, when Rainbows eyes opened. “She’s up” Ripple was the first to take notice as the others crowed around waiting to be filled in on what happened during the excursion. Rainbow began to tell everypony what had happened in Lighting’s dream and what Lighting had told her before she left. About how Dio had set up shop in Cairo and was taking the locals in the night to be fed upon. The sun is should be rising in a few minutes I’ll be off now. Make sure you’re ready to depart the air ship should arrive within the hour.” Celestia left the room leaving the others to their own thoughts. “So we’re actually doing this, going to a foreign country to stop a vampire whose trying to rule the world.” Twilight and the others left the infirmary and headed down the hall to their rooms to gather their belongings. “Come on Twilight we do this kind of thing every other day it won’t be that hard.” Rainbow was full of excitement for the coming adventure. “Except nopony has ever tried to kill us before; Discord was in it for laughs and didn’t seriously harm anypony, Chrysalis wanted us incapacitated for her hive and to witness Canterlot’s destruction, and Sombra would have wanted us as slaves not dead. We have never fought anypony who would kill us without a second thought, somepony who has no care for others and only wants to bring harm.” Twilight was starting to panic as she began to think over what she was about to do. “Don’t worry Twilight we’re her to keep you safe and so is Performers.” Pinkie jumped next to her trying to cheer her up as her Stand started to juggle four pink bouncy balls in its hooves. “And I wouldn’t let anything happen to my granddaughter what kind of grandparent would I be?” Ripple added. Everypony in the hall turned to him and Twilight. “Twilight is there any other family members you haven’t told us about, do you have a king for an uncle or perhaps some other ridicules title.” Rainbow said waiting for Twilight to respond. “Wait you didn’t tell them about me who else didn’t you tell them about?” Ripple asked “She didn’t even tell us about her brother until his wedding we had no idea she even had a brother until then.” Pinkie added. Ripple pumped his hoof in triumph. “It actually is genetic this family can’t relay important information relating about family members to others without getting sidetracked or forgetting about it. First your Grandmother, then your mom and now you.” “I do not have a problem I have always been very punctual with my assignments.” Twilight huffed. “Relax Twilight we’re just having some fun, no need to get do worked up. Feeling better now?” Rainbow looked at Twilight who was no longer stressing over the future of their journey and was more relaxed. “Thanks I really needed that now let’s get Rarity and get this trip started we have 49 days to get to Dio and 5 of them will be us flying there.” Twilight opened her door and started to pack her saddlebag while the others went to their rooms and packed all they had. Twilight and the others saw the ship docked in the Canterlot skydocks the ship appeared to be a passenger ship that was outfitted for luxury and room one noble would have for long journeys over Equestria. Twilight was used to riding in a hot air balloon but airships took that premise and took it to a whole other level. Entire ships underneath a balloon used for long distant travel. When they boarded they were greeted by four royal guards and the crew of the ship. The captain was an old Pegasus stallion by the looks of it and wore a set of old flight goggles over his head. His coat lacked any sheen and one of his wings appeared to have been clipped making it shorter than the other. “Welcome on board to the ‘Sunny Skies’ I’m your captain Sky Line, and while you’re on my ship I will try to make this trip as comfortable as possible.” The captain as he stepped away and let the guards approaches the mares. “Princess Twilight we’re your protection detail for your trip we will protect you and your friends while visiting any foreign country. I am Sergeant Swift Spear and this is my squad.” The unicorn sergeant had a light grey coat with a short dark green. Rarity just stared at his mane with some disgust flashing across her eyes when the guard spoke again. “Is she alright, she looks sick and the ship hasn’t even started moving yet?” Twilight grabbed Rarity and pulled her away from the captain and turned her head away from his. “Oh, she just gets like this when she sees a green mane it brings back unpleasant memories.” “Oh, then I’ll just wear my helmet then.” Swift Spear placed his golden helmet on his head before turning to his squad. “Alright let’s make sure this trip stays uneventful you know your posts get to it.” The guards quickly dispersed down the boats halls. While Swift stayed by Twilight. “Twi I’m going to see the Captain, I so want to know how to fly this thing.” Rainbow flew off to find the steering wheel for the ship. “Well we have a few days why don’t we enjoy ourselves while we’re her” Rarity said as three of the crew trudged behind her carrying all her luggage. “I’m going to get some sleep didn’t get much last night so I’m clocking out.” Ripple opened a cabin door and threw his saddle bag in before he walked in behind it and closed the door. The sound of a pony falling onto the bed could easily be heard from the hall. “I’m going to go make some ‘thanks for taking us half way around the world’ cupcakes for everypony, bye Twi” Pinkie ran towards what Twilight could only assume would be the kitchen. “So, your Captain Armor’s younger sister what’s that like?” Swift asked. “Yeah I’m going to bed, would you go guard the others while I rest?” “Of course Princess I won’t let you down.” Swift looked down the halls searching for any of the elements until he decided to wonder until he found one. Twilight sat her saddle bag down before pulling out her book and placing it on the nightstand. “I’ll figure you out eventually” she said before drifting off to sleep. Rainbow was wondering the halls in search of the captain’s deck. She came across a bronze coated mare. Her mane was a light brown and was wearing a maneclip to keep her mane out of her face. She had wench in her mouth working on an opened panel. Rainbow watched as she worked on the pipes tightening the bolts before setting down the wench and closing the panel. “Okay now that’s done I can relax for a bit before.” The mare turned around to see Rainbow just looking at her work. The mare took a breath before talking to Rainbow. “Oh my gosh you are ‘The Rainbow Dash’ fastest flyer and Hero to all of Equestria and you’re on my ship, well not my ship I just fix it up but still. Can I have your auto graph I am your biggest fan.” The mare was jumping with excitement around rainbow. “Sure thing, anything for a fan.” The mare produced a pencil and photo of Rainbow for her to sign. “So who should I make this out to?” “Just make it out to Break Through. You are actually the reason I became a flight engineer I may not have been born with wings but that won’t stop me from reaching the sky.” She said with pride in her voice. “Glad to hear I inspired somepony to reach for the skies, also do you know how to reach the captains wheel I really want to know how to pilot this thing.” “Sure just go up those stairs take a left then go straight until you reach the washroom then take a right and it should be marked. Alternatively you could go out through this window and fly to the front of the ship and you should be able to see it from there, just knock on the window and the Captain should let you in.” Break Through said as she opened one of the windows for Rainbow. “Thanks a lot, see you later.” Rainbow flew through the window and circled the front of the ship until she found the captain at the helm working the wheel. Rainbow started to knock on the glass next to the captain who turned his head in surprise at the sight of one of his passengers flying out of the ship. He scrambled to open the window; once he did Rainbow flew in and landed on the floor. “You will not believe how hard it was to find this room.” She joked as the captain closed the window to keep the warm air from escaping the ship. “Miss Dash please refrain from doing that ever again, you nearly gave my old heart an attack I fear it wouldn’t recover from.” Sky Line placed a hoof over his chest to emphasis the point. “Besides just have one of the crew take you here they have very little to do on this trip especially since one of you friends has taken over the kitchen out two cooks have literally nothing to do now.” “Sure no problem. Is it okay if I ask what happened to your wing?” Rainbow was intrigued by the injury the Stallion had. “This old thing lost it years ago to a griffon. I used to be part of the guard and arrived to see a griffon about to kill this family he broke into their home thinking they were gone. He had a filly held hostage and he wanted to make sure I couldn’t follow him so he told me to cut off my wing and if I did he would let them go. I used my spear and sliced off a good portion and he dropped the filly in surprise to my actions.” His left wing flinched in memory of the event. “I threw my spear when he let go and caught him in his chest he died on the spot. Unfortunately the doctors couldn’t reattach my wing tip so I left the guard and became a pilot anything to be in the skies again you know how it is.” Sky Line finished his story and saw Rainbow nearly in tears at the thought of a Pegasus cutting off his own wing and never being able to fly again. “What was it like to kill another living being, what happened?” Sky Line was slightly concerned by the choice of words Rainbow had chosen to question him with. He figured the best he could do is answer honesty to the Mare. “I don’t regret my actions Rainbow I fought to protect Equestria from things like that and I didn’t strike out of fear or anger I attacked him to protect that filly and her family. That death shall always be weighed on my soul and I cannot take it back. Over time the pain will fade and you’ll remember the moment in memory only, sometimes having nightmares about it. But I had to make the decision that if I didn’t kill him he could have killed somepony else that day or maybe sometime in the future.” Sky line finished as he turned back to the wheel and started to pull a lever. “Thanks a lot Sky Line. I’m going back to my room.” “If you ever need to talk you know where I’ll be, we have 5 more days after tonight.” “I’ll keep that in mind, goodnight.” Rainbow left and went to her bedroom for the night. Everypony on board was woken up by the sound of a siren going off through the halls of the ship. Twilight was the first to stick her head out of her room when the others slowly popped theirs out to see the commotion. What they saw was a set of guard armor lying on the floor without the guard inside of it. Swift Spear was standing over the armor looking down the hall when he called out “Did anypony see what happened here?” Nopony answered when they heard a mare scream from down the hall every pony rushed around the corner to find it empty except for a single maneclip on the floor. Pinkie was the first to act. “Oh no Rarity what happened to you.” “I’m right behind you darling, that mane clip isn’t one of mine.” “Oh, no.” Rainbow said realizing who the clip belonged to. “This was Break Through’s she’s one of the flight engineer.” “We need to gather the crew and find out what’s happening on this flight.” Swift quickly said as he led the others to the captain’s wheel. When they opened the door they found the Captain gone with only his hat sat in front of the wheel which was locked in place. “No this can’t be happening, not here not now.” Swift Spear said as he looked into the cabin. “What is it Spear?” Ripple asked “The Transport Killer he’s an unknown pony who only kills his targets on moving vehicles. The Victims are found dead underneath trains, coaches or over the landscape if done on an airship. The one thing they all have in common is that the victims always have their clothes and accessories left in the vehicle. If he’s on this ship then we’re all dead.” Ripple brought his hoof up to the Sergeant and slapped him. “We are not dying on this ship we are going to stick together and find this killer before he finds us. We break up into groups and scour the ship Rarity go with Twilight, Pinkie with Swift Spear, I’ll go with Rainbow. Try to gather up the crew and bring them to the common room be careful though the killer could be any of them.” Ripple looked over everypony to see them pair up before departing with Rainbow. “Come on Swifty it’s not that bad we can just look for some crew and then go back to the common room and wait for the others.” “Not that bad we are in an enclosed airship with no way out with a murder who is possibly an assassin after us how is this not bad?” “Well we still have each other at least.” Pinkie said as the sound of falling pots echoed from the kitchen scaring Swift into the fetal position. “Let’s go see what made that sound.” Pinkie tried to encourage Swift who was still curled up on the floor. “How about let’s not and live to talk about how we didn’t check up on the kitchen. Swift refused to move as Pinkie opened the door to reveal some mice running around the kitchen counters. “See Swifty just some mice trying to get some food that’s not scary at all” Pinkie turned around to find Swift Spear gone and in his place was his armor lying on the floor. Pinkie walked the hall looking for any pony when suddenly she felt something brush up against her leg and she began to fall through the floor as if it were air. She reached for the railing only for her hoof to pass through it. “Performers.” Pinkies Stand quickly grabbed onto the railing and her pulling her up out of the ship. When she tried lowering her hoof onto the floor it was once again solid. She took off into a sprint in search of the others. Rainbow and Ripple had finished exploring the ship only finding hats and armor with no crew. “Where could he be there’s nowhere to hid here unless he’s already attacked the others. Somepony should have found him.” Rainbow was thinking of every place the user could possibly hide when it hit her. “That’s because the user isn’t in the ship he’s on top of it using his stand to get us from a distance.” Ripple put a hoof on the ladder. “Rainbow I’ll go up the access latch he’ll be expecting somepony to go looking for him once I do I’ll need you to fly up behind him and take him out before he can call his Stand back to protect himself.” Ripple started to climb the ladder as Rainbow ran through the halls trying to find a window. Once she did she jumped from the ship and started to turn around to towards the ship when she heard Ripple. “Rainbow do it now!” Once Rainbow made it to the top of the ship she saw Ripple’s fedora fly off the hull and she saw the Stand standing on the hull. It had the shape of a pony but was made of scrap with sheets riveted in place and had key holes lining its body it even had key holes where its eyes should be. On the top of its head was a edged key that jutted out like a horn. But what worried Rainbow the most was the pony being crushed under its hoof. Break Through was pinned to the ship with one hoof as the Stand stared at Rainbow. “Don’t worry I’ll get you out of there just stay calm.” Rainbow said frantically looking for the user so she could end this nightmare. “Rainbow” Break Through said while the hoof pressured her head. “He told his Stand that if you break your wing it should let me go.” Rainbow thought about what was happening and couldn’t find any way of both of them making it out of this. Either she broke her wing and died to the stand or she let it crush Break Through allowing her to escape. “Rainbow, don’t do it I’m not worth it you can go warn the others. Don’t sacrifice yourself for me I’m a nopony.” “I shouldn’t even have to think about this I am Rainbow Dash the most loyal pony in Equestria and I will not let you die for me" Break Through was crying now as she watched Rainbow make her choice. Rainbow unfurled her wings she brought one down next to her head as she placed the wing in her mouth and bit down. The sound of the bone snapping was heard over the gusting wind on the ship. The Stand removed its hoof from Break Through and let her get up. Rainbow looked up to see Break Through next to the Stand Laughing in hysteria while she looked at Rainbow. “I can’t believe you actually broke your own wing. How crazy do you have to be to actually break your own appendage.” “I haven’t laughed that hard in ages, wow I really needed that thanks. Also have you meet Doors” she pointed to her Stand as it melted into the boat before it began moving towards her the key on its head exposed on the hull of the ship. Rainbow could see it approach her like a shark in the ocean. “Don’t worry he’s pretty weak all he can really do is make ponies intangible for a few seconds. I usually let the transport do the work. Ponies getting caught up under the train, getting run over by their own stage coach, even falling to their death.” She began listing off the ways her victims had died at her hooves. “I was hoping you would put up a fight maybe even stop me like a true hero would, but I guess you aren’t a real hero.” Her stand grabbed Rainbow by the neck and lifted her into the air while she continued. “Just so you know I am really sorry about this. I really am one of your biggest fans you have no idea how hard this is, but Dio is offering me so many bits for this job it makes the Canterlot treasury look like a piggy bank.” She looked Rainbow in the eyes Rainbow could see that she was conflicted about killing her idol, but that quickly subsided with the thought of the payoff. “Goodbye Rainbow.” Doors dropped Rainbow who fell through the ship as if it wasn’t there before she went into free fall. Rainbow wanted to save her friends, to protect them from what was coming their way, to fly through the skies again. All this went through her head as she descended looking up at the blue sky. “I can’t give up now, they counted on me to protect them and watch their backs, I am the Element of Loyalty and I will not abandon them by dying here.” Rainbow stopped feeling the wind kicking up against her as she fell she quickly looked around to see her hoof was now in an angel blue colored suit. It covered her entire body and even formed a sealed helmet with glass face visor for Rainbow. It seemed to shimmer like steel and fitted her perfectly. Rainbow turned her head to find that her wings were now covered in the steel also each feather was coated and looked sharp to the touch. As she admired her now metallic wings she noticed a pack was paced between her two wings it appeared to be a funnel of some kind. Rainbow had trouble flapping her wings instead the suit restricted her movement to slight tilts and angles. “Come on get me airborne if I die you’re going with me.” The suit seemed to respond as Rainbow heard what could only be described as a dragon roaring flames behind her. Rainbow could feel her self accelerating and started to tilt her wings up trying to generate some lift. When she tilted her wings she shot towards the sky at breakneck speeds acceding higher until she was coming up on the ship. When Rainbow reached ship she saw Break Through sitting on the ship with her Stand nowhere in sight likely prowling the ship. Rainbow tackled her off the ship holding onto her so she couldn’t fall. “Oh, you’re still alive well looks like I’m dead. Better get it over with.” She looked down to see the ocean below them. “I’m not going to kill you just give up and stop this.” Rainbow said hopping to get through. “Sorry can’t do that, I’m a wanted mare Rainbow if I get caught I’m going to jail for the rest of my life can’t have that.” She stated as if it were a fact. “Besides if you don’t kill me I’ll make the entire ship intangible killing everypony aboard.” “No you can’t, just stop, stop killing, there’s been far too many deaths today I don’t want you to be another.” Rainbow pleaded trying to convince her. “I’ll give you to the count of five if I’m not dead by then Doors will take out the entire ship from beneath them killing everypony you know.” Rainbow looked at her in disbelief did she want to die that badly. “One” Rainbows mind was rushing to figure a way out of this maybe fly her far enough away so her stand couldn’t function, but what if it had an even greater distance of operation. “Two” Rainbow could knock her out a swift ht to the head, the possibility of her stand still operating on a last order was a possibility. “Three” ‘The only way to truly stop a Stand is to kill the user’ Ripples words echoed in her head. “Four” Rainbow hovered in place letting her pack carry her and Break Through’s weight as she lifted both of her wings which could now be maneuvered once she started hovering. “Fi-“ She couldn’t finish counting as both of Rainbows wings easily slid through her and out the other side. Break Through looked into Rainbows eyes,and saw her crying over her death. “Don’t cry you idiot. I’m the bad guy here, your supposed to hate me and be happy once I’m dead.” Blood started to spill from her mouth as she tried breathing with what was now a likely punctured lung. “Nopony should cry over my death, nopony should even remember me” She started to cough at her last word. “I’m crying because nopony else will then.” Rainbow said as Break slowly grew colder. “Let me give you some advice then as your biggest fan, consider it a parting gift. The others coming after you won’t be as nice as me so you have to protect them like the hero you are, keep your friends safe. And don’t ever go numb to the sensation of taking a life like I did; don’t lose your way Dash.” She went limp in Rainbow's grip the life she had was gone and all that was left was a body. Rainbow pulled out her wings now covered in blood and let the body fall back to the earth. When she flew back to the ship she heard a pony shouting. Dash flew under the ship to find Ripple hanging on to the underside with his Stand piercing the hull trying to hold on. “Somepony I’m under the ship come and get me!” He yelled over again and again hopping to get someponies attention. Rainbow flew up next to him. “Hey Ripple how’s it hanging?” “Really appropriate Dash I’m about to fall to my death and your making jokes” Ripple didn’t even look at her until Rainbow picked him up and started carrying him back to the top of the ship. “Dash air at your service” she joked as she set him back down. “Dash you awakened you Stand finally.” Ripple said in excitement while looking over the suit. “Yeah I just needed a push to call it out.” Dash’s Stand vanished leaving her with a still broken wing. “We should really patch that up let’s get you inside. What happened to the Stand User?” Ripple asked as he helped Dash down the ladder. “Taken care of.” Dash said with a saddened tone. “Dash, do you want to talk about what happened up there?” “No, I just need some time to think about a few things and I’ll be fine. Now let’s find a first aid station I could really use something for this pain.” “Don’t worry Dash once your bone is set I can accelerate the healing with my Hamon you should only be grounded for a day at most.” Ripple assured her. Ripple dressed Dash’s wound before finding the others. Pinkie informed them about Swift Spear and how the entire crew appeared to vanish. Twilight and Rarity reported similar findings around the ship. “Without a pilot how will we reach Neighgypt?” Twilight asked worried over their current plans “Well I can pilot this ship just fine I’ve flown an older airship once before I can do it again. Nopony worry the controls seem similar enough.” Ripple walked into the pilot’s cabin and took the wheel ready to fly the ship to their destination.