Chapter 16
Escape From Everfree
Trixie Lulamoon leaped off one of the lifeboats looking around her to see seeing the giant ships above her. She watched as the creatures of the Everfree continued to try and claw their way through the shield as the soldiers shot their lasers at the creatures. Trixie looked ahead and smiled as her royal guards ran towards the village for the attack.
"Find the traitors! They’re here somewhere. And I want the targets dead!" Trixie ordered walking forward. One zebra hiding in the brush charged out of his cover holding a spear, making aim for Trixie. Trixie turned with a bored expression as the zebra screamed a battle cry. She smirked snapping her fingers. Suddenly a root sprouted out of the ground and grabbed the zebra's leg causing him to fall into the dirt. He reached for his spear. Trixie kicked the old object away. The zebra growled looking up at her. He snarled a few words in Zebrican. Trixie was unimpressed.
"Really? Is this all you can do?" She asked. She pulled out her pistol and pointed it at his face. The zebra screamed out as Trixie pulled the trigger, killing him. She sighed sticking her pistol in her belt. "Was there ever any doubt?" She purred as she walked forward into the village.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Vinyl ran through the forest foliage in a sprint hearing Rainbow and Octavia behind her following her. Vinyl dodged a tree and then yelped loudly before being tackled to the floor. She gasped looking up to see the wooden grin of a timber wolf on top of her.
“Vinyl!” Octavia cried seeing this. Rainbow turned looking around her until she found a tick branch laying on the floor. Rainbow grabbed the branch and ran over before the timber wolf made an attack and swung the branch upside the wolf's head knocking it several feet away. Vinyl panted rolling away watching the wolf stand back up, shaking his head, growling at the three mares. Octavia pulled Vinyl back up to her feet as Rainbow stood in front of them holding the branch like a club. The wolf crouched and prowled forward growling, his yellow eyes glowed brightly causing the three to back away. Suddenly there was a red laser beam that hit the wolf in the head disintegrated the head causing the enchantment wood to crumble to the ground.
“Who-?” Rainbow questioned before a familiar gray mare landed by them.
“Great shot Derps!” Vinyl called running ahead. Rainbow blinked staring at the cross-eyed Pegasus then to the dead wolf as Octavia smiled and ran after Vinyl. Derpy blushed scratching the back of her head. Rainbow smiled tossing the branch away.
“You've improved.” Rainbow said before running off. Derpy giggled with excitement before flying after the others.
Vinyl stopped seeing a large mound made of rock. Vinyl looked around her hearing the roars and cries of creatures with sounds of cannon fire. Seeing that nothing was going to jump her again she reached for a boulder and pushed it aside with difficulty.
“Here,” Octavia called out running over to help as the two mares pushed the boulder to the side to reveal a small opening into a cave. Vinyl turned out Octavia with a blush.
“Thanks.”
Octavia smiled in return turning to see Rainbow and Derpy running over. “Let’s move it before we get caught.” Rainbow urged looking around her. Vinyl nodded squeezing through the small opening then entered a large chamber with ledges leading down into the zebra underground. Vinyl leaped down on one ledge then another until she leaped one last time landing in a squat in the tunnels. She turned seeing Octavia land in a squat next to her while Rainbow and Derpy used their wings to float to the tunnel level. Rainbow landed on the ground and turned to the younger mares.
“I’m going to the medical caverns to see if any zebras need my help. I’ll meet you at the far east entrance.” Rainbow said quickly before running ahead to the medical caverns. Vinyl helped Octavia up as Derpy landed on the ground and started running ahead. Vinyl pushed Octavia forward then began running behind her.
Octavia and Vinyl reached the medical caverns as the zebras were helping the wounded deeper into the tunnels to hide from the invaders, and the healers were busy packing their supplies as fast as possible. Vinyl leaped over some zebras heading for her room to find it empty already. Then she groaned remembering that her things were still on the ship. She turned noticing Applejack carrying weapons.
“Need help?” Vinyl asked. Applejack stopped and nodded handing her a pistol.
“We need all the fire power we need. The animals are going nuts because of the ships.”
“Why do you think the animals are acting wild?” Vinyl asked as Applejack handed her several chargers to stuff in her pockets.
“Maybe it’s because of the power cores in the ships. Those giant ones hold a ton of energy and magical energy. From what I learned from Fluttershy, these animals are very sensitive to magical power, too much of it in one place and the animals want to attack it and get rid of it.”
Vinyl blinked bewildered by that. “So these animals don’t like too much magic?”
Applejack shrugged. “Perhaps Everfree has a calming power to it while those ships carry bad magic. You know like that bad energy versus good energy that sort of stuff.” Vinyl nodded. Suddenly there was a deep boom as the ground shook, pebbles fell from the ceiling from the explosion. Applejack swallowed hard.
“Come on. We've got to move before them Royals cause a cave in.” Vinyl nodded and followed Applejack through a tunnel passing Octavia as she ran to the tunnel with rooms. She ran for Luna's room and stopped to see Raindrops helping the elder princess up to her feet. Raindrops gasped seeing Octavia then sighed in relief realizing it was Octavia and not an enemy.
"We came in here not long ago when Scoots started screaming that the royal guards are here?" Raindrops said with worry seeing Octavia’s look.
"They’re here." Octavia said seeing Raindrops’ spooked expression. Luna was confused.
"And why should we be afraid?" She asked. Raindrops chuckled weakly.
"Uh about that," She started. Octavia ran a corner of the room to find Twilight's bags and opened one and sighed in relief to find the Crystal Heart still in the bag. Luna gasped in awe seeing the heart.
Octavia hugged the crystal heart before placing it back into the bag. She turned to Luna with worry. "I'm sorry we haven't talked in a while, but right now the royal guard wants me dead."
"For what?" Luna asked curiously. Octavia grabbed the satchel and putting it over her head letting it hang against her shoulder making sure everything was secured inside. She grabbed the second satchel and groaned with the weight as she heaved it over on the other shoulder.
"Here," A voice said causing Octavia to jump seeing Derpy running into the room taking the second satchel.
"Are you sure Derpy?" Octavia asked with concern. Derpy nodded.
"We got to go now, captain’s orders." she said hurriedly and started outside. Octavia sighed turning to Luna.
"Since I was born, Princess, the royalty wanted me dead."
"Why?" Luna asked.
"Because she's half Earth pony, half Unicorn." Raindrops answered with a groan holding up Luna.
"What’s wrong with that?" Luna asked. "Ponies interbreed all the time."
Octavia sighed trying to think fast. "I am a princess, yes, but in the last ten, twenty years it's against the law to be a hybrid, a mixed pony. And everypony in Canterlot, all the nobility of the galaxy, wants me dead because I was born a hybrid and I could change the laws against my kind." She said. Luna blinked looking away.
"My sister would never agree to such horrible acts against our fellow ponies and fellow subjects."
Octavia gave her a sad look and bowed her head. "I afraid things have changed while you were gone Luna. So much so that Queen Celestia is now looked at as a tyrant for her ruling of this galaxy now."
Luna was silent as she stared at the wall in shock or anger, it was hard for Octavia to tell. She sighed patting her arm. "But right now Luna, we have to run away from those that want to stop us."
'Stop us of what?" She asked in whisper.
"From changing the galaxy." Raindrops stated firmly with a smile. "We have four of the Elements of Harmony now, reunited."
Octavia winced at that. Raindrops blinked hearing the wince. "What? We do have four of them, right?" Octavia sighed shaking her head with a shrug.
"I don’t know, Raindrops. Let’s go." Octavia lead the two out of the room running for the secret passage that will take them to the surface.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Rainbow ran into her room where she was staying and went to the old wooden trunk by the wall. She opened it to find her guard coat and her weapons. She growled realizing that she didn’t have any more charges. She stuffed the pistol into its holster then took the machete she kept from training. She stood up and wrapped her belt around her waist and clipping it on. She pulled on her dusty red coat and stopped to stare at her sleeves. She rubbed her fingers over the red stained cloth feeling nauseating just by looking at it. The red cloth reminded her of the blood she had shed. She shook her head hard then glared at her jacket.
“Once we get comfortable somewhere, I’m getting a new makeover.” She growled as she noticed her long locks of rainbow hair twirling the green and blue hairs between her fingers. “Starting with this hair.” She said with a smirk. She reached to her belt to pull out a knife from its sheath and began hacking her long rainbow hair short again. Once she was happy with that she turned to her tail and cut it short as well. If she’s going to be fighting the Order and the guards she better not give them an easy point to grab and pull. She stowed the knife away and grabbed her machete then ran out of the room.
As soon as she stepped out she noticed Octavia and Raindrops helping Princess Luna down the hall. Rainbow ran over to catch up with them.
"Hey, got everything?" Rainbow asked. Octavia nodded patting her bag. "Good, let's go everypony!"
The four ponies started running as fast as they could through the tunnels. Fluttershy stood from the entry way of her room watching Rainbow Dash running for the passage. She bit her lip thinking hard. She can go with them, she can! But she can’t. Fluttershy growled clenching her hands into fists turning away ready to go help her tribe escape. She belongs there with the zebras, she was never loved back in the Equestrian Galaxy, why should she go back there? She turned a corner and gasped seeing Zecora looking at her with a quirked brow. Fluttershy felt flustered seeing her master giving her the look.
"Master I was," Fluttershy started.
"Leaving." Zecora interrupted.
"What?" Fluttershy asked in shock. Zecora sighed handing Fluttershy a large hide satchel and a pack. Fluttershy took the items staring at her master with tears.
"Master Zecora, I can’t! I'm not meant to be out there."
Zecora smiled taking Fluttershy’s chin to steer her face towards hers.
"I have meditated for a long while and the answers I was given gave me a moment of bile." Zecroa stuck out her tongue shaking her head. She turned back to Fluttershy with a serious scowl. "You must return to where you have been before, or the galaxy will be nothing but death and gore!"
Fluttershy bowed her head feeling tears. "But I can't... I don’t' want to, I mean,"
"Shh, my little pupil," Zecora whispered with a smile and hugged Fluttershy tightly. The pegasus hugged her in return sniffling. "Duty and destiny is what you shall fulfill." She said pointing out to the caverns. Fluttershy nodded and soon pulled on her satchel and her backpack.
"All the remedies and plants you will require. In case pain needs attention of most dire." Fluttershy nodded bowing.
"I promise to use you lessons with a good heart, Master Zecora." Zecora smiled stepping back.
"We shall miss you Fluttershy, we shall see you when we die."
Fluttershy nodded then backed away slowly. "I'll never forget you, all of you." Zecora smiled and bowed her head. Fluttershy sniffed then turned and started running for the secret passage, crying. Zecora sighed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Fulfill your destiny, Protector of Kindness. Protect us from this darkness."
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
On the surface, Applejack, Derpy, and Vinyl were waiting by the secret tunnel entrance leading to the caverns. Vinyl kept an eye on the tree line across the clearing, Derpy was up in the tree watching for animals or pegasi guards, and Applejack stood by the entrance with her musket ready for any guards that might run up the entrance. Applejack turned looking back down the secret entrance hearing sounds of shuffling feet. She pointed her rifle into the hole hearing a curse from a familiar friend. Applejack turned slightly to get a better look and noticed Rainbow staring at the barrel of the musket.
"Rainbow?" Applejack asked. Rainbow looked up seeing Applejack’s face.
"Shit AJ, don’t do that!" Rainbow scolded. Applejack lowered the musket and reached down to Rainbow. Rainbow took her hand and was pulled out of the hole.
"Sorry, y'all were taking so long I thought you were the guards." Applejack said with worry. Rainbow knelt back to the hole and helped Octavia out of the passage. Octavia turned around to help Rainbow pull out Luna with Raindrops at the end. While Raindrops was being pulled out, she turned looking back behind her into the passage hearing something coming towards her.
“What’s wrong?” Vinyl asked. Derpy left her tree perch landing on the ground and turning to the passage.
"I hear someone." Raindrops whispered pulling out her bowie knife ready. Rainbow pushed Octavia aside reaching for her machete. Octavia grabbed Luna’s arm and helped her stand up to move away from the hole and from the possible fight. Raindrops stood with the two royals to be their shield.
Applejack, Vinyl, Derpy, and Rainbow stood at the edge of the hole holding out their weapons ready to fire. Rainbow blinked feeling a familiar presence.
"Stand down!" She yelled out suspiring everypony even the intruder in the tunnel.
"Why?" Vinyl asked. Rainbow leaped down into the hole and heard a yelp of shock. Rainbow blinked a few times to get used to the darkness again and gasped to see that the intruder was Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy? What are you doing here? Are you being chased?" Rainbow growled pulling out her machete again ready to attack.
"No," Fluttershy said, grabbing Rainbow's arms. "No, everything’s fine. Master Zecora made sure no one will follow us."
"Us?" Rainbow asked with confusion. Fluttershy sighed looking up in her eyes.
"I'm coming, too."
"What?" Rainbow hissed in shock. "No, no, no, no, I told you already you’re better off here." She said carefully placing her hands on Fluttershy’s shoulders squeezing them tenderly. "It’s dangerous out there."
"It's dangerous here too, you know." Fluttershy snapped turning away tears pouring again. Rainbow watched her for a moment with worry wondering what must be going on.
"Hey? What's going on down...Oh boy," Rainbow and Fluttershy jumped and turned to see that it was Raindrops peeking into the hole.
Rainbow snarled at her. Raindrops yelped leaping back.
"No, you cannot come with us Fluttershy, I'm serious." Rainbow hissed feeling hopeless. She can’t risk getting Fluttershy into danger, not again. Fluttershy shook her head.
"Zecroa told me that I must. If I can't go with you then the galaxy will suffer more than it once did. As I was following you, I finally understood what she meant." She whispered sadly.
Rainbow blinked a few times watching her. "Yeah?" She whispered.
Fluttershy sighed. "It was just like what Twilight said... We have to reunite the Elements again so we can finally bring back harmony in the galaxy. And I was selfish thinking that I could stay here. You need the Element of Kindness and I'm the only pony that can be that element." She paused looking back at Rainbow biting her lip. "You need me more than ever." She whispered.
Rainbow sighed rubbing her face. "Go," She whispered stepping to the side holding out her hand towards the exit. "You go first." She said smiling sadly at her. Fluttershy nodded and started climbing up the rocks. She reached up then felt someone garb her hand and help her out of the hole. Raindrops was smiling pulling her out of the hole and helped her up her feet.
"Shy? What are you doing here?" Applejack asked in shock seeing her friend. Fluttershy sighed fixing the satchel strap on her shoulder as Raindrops helped Rainbow out of the hole.
"You still need Kindness correct?" Fluttershy asked. Applejack smiled at her as Fluttershy starts to smile. "You also need a medic and I’m the best one you have."
Applejack laughed hugging Fluttershy. "It's good to see you back to yer old self, ‘Shy."
Fluttershy smiled hugging her old friend back. "It’s good to be back with friends."
"Hate to be the dick here." Vinyl hissed breaking up the moment. "But we have to get to the rendezvous point before we're caught by the guards or some hungry beast. Hurry up!"
Everypony nodded and grab their belongings as fast as they could. Vinyl lead the way running through the clearing to the thick trees toward the ravine. Octavia with help from Raindrops helped Luna trot through the brush and grass. Rainbow pushed Fluttershy, Derpy and Applejack in front of her, taking the tail end to keep a watch from behind the line.
They continued to sneak through the forest when Vinyl hissed, stopping and backing up bumping into Fluttershy. Fluttershy covered her mouth peeking through the foliage and gasped. Applejack peeked over just in time to see the royal guards killing a line of zebras in an execution line. Applejack grabbed Fluttershy covering her mouth. The poor pegasus started to fight against her tears coursing down her cheeks after witnessing that.
Rainbow walked over looking at Octavia. "What's wrong?" She hissed. Octavia gulped hearing more gunshots. Rainbow turned to see Applejack trying to keep Fluttershy from fighting back whispering into her ear trying to calm her down. Rainbow gulped trotting in a crouch, she reached Applejack and patted her shoulder standing in front of Fluttershy. Rainbow ordered Applejack with her hand to lower on her knees. Applejack nodded getting on the ground Fluttershy limply fell on her knees breathing hard through her nose whimpering behind Applejack’s hand.
"Hey, hey," Rainbow whispered stroking Fluttershy’s face. "Don’t think about it. We're in war ‘Shy, we are in war right now. You have to be strong." Fluttershy closed her eyes shaking her head whimpering some more. Rainbow took Fluttershy’s face and steered her towards her eyes. "Open your eyes ‘Shy. This is the real deal. We need you, we need you more now than ever before. And I need you to focus." Fluttershy sniffed opening her eyes.
"We'll give them hell for this ‘Shy, I promise you." Rainbow whispered stroking her hair. Fluttershy nodded swallowing. She grabbed Applejack's hand and slowly lowered it down so she can breathe in through her mouth then let it out slowly calming down. She smiled and nodded. Rainbow smiled kissing her on her forehead holding her close.
"Let's go," She whispered. Fluttershy nodded patting Rainbow's arm before lowering on her hands and knees, peeking over the bushes to see the royals laughing and spitting on the corpses.
"Yes, let’s go." Fluttershy whispered strangely calm as she slowly stood up into a crouched position and moved forward past Vinyl. Vinyl turn to see the AJ and Rainbow looking at one another. Applejack was smiling while Rainbow blushed. Shaking her head Rainbow pushed Applejack forward. Octavia looked to Rainbow with worry. Rainbow smirked at her patting her on the shoulder waving her to go forward. Octavia nodded then she and Raindrops quickly crawled forward with Luna between them. Rainbow turned to Vinyl and nodded for her to first. Vinyl sighed blowing her banes aside with a quick nod and started crawling forward as pops were heard again.
Fluttershy looked over the bushes seeing no guards or creatures in sight. She stood up and started to sneak through the trees. The others followed closely behind her. Fluttershy turned past a large tree and yelped rather loudly seeing Blossomforth sliding to a stop in front of her. Fluttershy covered her mouth after her yell blushing hard recognizing the pegasus.
"Where have you guys been?" Blossomforth hissed. Applejack caught up and gave Fluttershy a look as she blushes. Applejack sighed pushing the brim of her hat higher over her head.
"The royals are killing all the zebras they can find. Easy prey."
Blossomforth cursed rubbing her forehead. Octavia, Raindrops, and Luna arrived with Rainbow and Vinyl behind them. Raindrops sighed with relief seeing Blossom again.
"Thank Luna, you're alright." She whispered. Blossom smirked at her student.
"You thought they found me?"
Raindrops blushed. "Well I uh...All those guards. They’re everywhere sergeant."
Blossom nodded. "I know. Luckily the wildlife have been taking up their time than looking for us." She turned to the others. "Twilight and the doc along with the kids are busy getting the ship to the rendezvous. We just need to keep running. Sweetie Belle volunteered to be at the spot waiting for us. Also she’s easy to spot in the air when Twilight brings in the lifeboat. Follow me and keep low and quiet.” The group all nodded and followed Blossomforth through the jungle.
"Not so fast!" A voice called out causing everypony to turn to look behind them to see a familiar blue unicorn in a frazzled and dirty uniform. Standing with her are ten royal guards in the same state of disarray. Trixie smirked seeing everypony staring at her in shock. Trixie blinked recognizing Blossom and Raindrops still dressed in their golden armor of the royal guard.
"Well, well, well. I never expected to see you here, Sergeant Blossomforth and Corporal Raindrops. What a scandal?"
Blossom grabbed Raindrops' sleeve pulling her with her. Luna and Octavia followed her. Octavia looked to Raindrops then to Luna. Raindrops nodded getting a better grip on Luna letting Octavia go to stand by Rainbow Dash for a fight.
"We’ll catch up." Applejack said acidly pointing the musket at the guards. Blossom nodded helping Raindrops with Luna.
"Who is that?" Luna asked.
"The bad guys." Raindrops answered starting to trot with Blossom deeper into the jungle. "Sergeant." She whispered.
"What is it?" Blossom said pushing away a branch.
"They saw us."
"I know."
"What will happen to-"
"Just shut up and keep running!"
Raindrops blinked at the bark. She nodded. "Yes ma'am."
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Trixie chuckled shaking her head seeing the fugitives but her eyes widened with shock to see Fluttershy standing with them.
"You? I remember you. You're the pegasus that... I could've sworn you killed yourself!"
Fluttershy turned away clenching her fists. Rainbow stood in front of her taking her hand. Fluttershy looked down at Rainbow’s hand holding hers tightly. Fluttershy could see the true hatred in Rainbow’s eyes as she snarled at the unicorn captain. Trixie chuckled.
"Oh don’t think I've forgotten about you, Rainbow Dash. You were a great piece of work. One of the best of us."
Rainbow pointed at her. "I'm nothing like you Trixie! Nor your other Order-lings!" She spat.
"That’s right!" Applejack said with a snarl pulling back the hammer of her musket hearing the light whine. "She’s back now without your fancy magics messing with her noggin."
Octavia blinked looking down at her hand feeling her palm tingling. She blinked again and felt something though her arm causing her hand to glow. She gasped holding up her hand, fuelled by her power she can feel magic pooling in her hand. A small orb of purple light appeared as her other hand clasped her guardian feeling the magic course through her body. This revelation caused her to smile as she turned to the guards to see them stare at her with shock and some with horror.
"Don’t try anything else Captain, I'll counter it." Octavia threatened with a confidant smile. Vinyl and Derpy both gasped in shock seeing this. Even the royal guard gasped turning to Trixie to see her equally shocked.
"How? You can't use magic! You’re an earth pony!" Trixie yelled out. The elements turned to Octavia with surprise. Not shock but surprise. Rainbow even began to smile seeing Octavia beaming with confidence with her new ability.
Octavia smirked. "I'm more unicorn, remember?"
Vinyl laughed. "And guess what, Royal snobs. You have two unicorns to deal with." Vinyl stood by Octavia smiling at her and Octavia smiled back. "I might not be a great magician like most unicorns my age, but I can use some forms to fight with." Vinyl stated and held out both of her hands and her magical aura came forth. She strained a touch and sighed leaning on her knees in exhaustion. Octavia grabbed her to keep her standing. Trixie and the guards laughed.
"You think you can defeat me?" Trixie taunted. "You three rejects, a retarded Pegasus, a sick unicorn, and a hybrid princess? This will be fun."
Vinyl snarled. "You watch your tongue bitch!" She screamed out pointing at her. Octavia held her as Vinyl tried to run for her.
"No Vinyl! You're still weak, your magic proves that!"
"You really think I'm going to stand back and let that bitch talk about Derpy like that?!" Octavia held her still looking into her eyes.
"Listen to me. We'll get them." Octavia said quickly and sternly trying to do what Rainbow did with Fluttershy. "They’ll get theirs, I promise. She’ll be demoted and executed for her crimes." Vinyl glared at her. Octavia glared back. Vinyl blinked a few times then sighed.
"Come on Derpy." Vinyl snarled and started running with Derpy behind her. Octavia stood with Rainbow, Applejack and Fluttershy. Trixie sighed.
"You know, I get bored easily. Men, kill them all!" She ordered. All ten soldiers run into a charge. Pegasi in the air while the unicorns run on the ground. Rainbow pushed Octavia to the side.
"Fluttershy, get Octavia out of here!" She ordered.
"What?" Octavia asked. "No way, I can fight! Let me help!"
"No, you stay out of this!" Rainbow ordered reaching into her belt to grab her machete. Applejack started firing off lasers at the pegasi and cursed when they were protected by a unicorn’s shield.
Fluttershy thought to argue as well but understood Rainbow's plea. She grabbed Octavia’s shoulder pulling her back.
"Let’s go." Fluttershy ordered.
"But Rainbow!" Octavia called out as she was pulled away.
"We’re right behind you!" Applejack called out firing again catching a unicorn in the throat killing her. Octavia sighed then started running with Fluttershy behind her. Rainbow nodded to Applejack as she pulled out a machete too, hanging her musket sling around her ready to fight.
"Like old times?" Rainbow asked.
"Like old times." Applejack answered. "Charge!"
The two friends charge forward screaming into the battle.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
At the ravine near the rendezvous, Sweetie Belle paced back and forth and gasped hearing the bushes rustle. She ran to hide behind a tree then peeked out.
“Who’s there?” She whimpered shaking.
"Sweetie Belle!" Came the reply that made her sigh in relief hearing Blossom's voice. Blossom came over panting with a glare on her face. Sweetie’s smile faded.
"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
"Guards saw us!" Raindrops panted. "They saw us man." She groaned.
"Shut up Raindrops!" Blossomforth snapped. She turned back to Sweetie Belle. "Where’s the ship?"
"Coming." Sweetie Belle answered.
"Blossom!" The four ponies looked up to see Twilight guiding the life boat towards them. The boat stopped ten feet above them. Spike threw a rope ladder over the side. Blossom sighed and smiled a touch seeing the unicorn.
"Come on, hurry!" Twilight called out pointing behind her. Spike nodded switching places with her to keep the boat steady. Blossom and Raindrops helped Luna up the ladder then the two mares started climbing up.
"Where's Octavia?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"We had trouble." Blossom answered climbing up and into the boat.
"What trouble?" Twilight asked worriedly. Blossom gave her a look. Twilight gasped looking around to make sure there were no guards or animals coming their way.
"Hey!" The group looked down see Derpy jump out of the bushes waving her hands in the air. Vinyl came running behind her. "Wait up!" Derpy called as she started climbing up. Vinyl stayed on the ground with Sweetie Belle looking back into the forest.
"I have to go back to the ship!" Twilight called out. "We can't carry anymore ponies!" She called as Derpy sat in beside Raindrops with Luna. Vinyl nodded wrapping her arm around Sweetie Belle. "We'll wait here, just hurry up!" Twilight saluted and switched places with Spike again and started the engine.
"We'll be back as soon as possible. Sweetie Belle, remember where to go when trouble comes?" Sweetie Belle nodded and saluted.
"You got it, Twilight!" Twilight nodded then pulled the rudder and the boat veered hard to the right and blasted away. Vinyl sighed looking into the bushes.
"Vinyl?" Vinyl looked down at Sweetie Belle.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"Where's Octavia?"
Vinyl blinked a couple of times and sighed. "Hopefully kicking some ass." She answered smiling before the two were suddenly shoved to the floor in a pony pile. Vinyl groaned pushing off a body then gasped seeing her face. "Octavia!"
Octavia groaned rubbing her face. "What are you doing here, Vinyl? I thought I told you to get away." Octavia said standing up helping Vinyl stand up. Fluttershy groaned spitting blood out of her mouth from a busted lip from the crash. She gasped and helped Sweetie Belle up.
"The answer to your question is this, "Vinyl said coughing and spitting out dirt from her mouth. “Twilight had to take the boat back to the ship to unload the others. She’ll be back to pick us up.” Vinyl answered. She then remembered something. "Aren't you supposed to be kicking some royal ass?" Vinyl asked smirking. Octavia glared at her. Vinyl's smile faded seeing her glare.
"Rainbow Dash told me to leave." Fluttershy stood up placing her hand on Octavia’s shoulder.
"She’ll be fine. Rainbow and Applejack work well together in these situations." She said with calm resolve but her eyes conveyed her worry.
"But I can fight now!" Octavia argued. "She doesn’t need to fight alone."
Fluttershy sighed thinking before pulling Octavia into a hug. "She knows you can fight but right now what's more important is getting you to safety." She soothed patting Octavia's back.
"What’s important is getting all of you to safety." Octavia countered pulling away from the hug and pointing behind her to the trees. "We have four of you together and we have to keep it that way."
Fluttershy was ready to make a retort when she stiffened feeling something wrong. She grabbed Octavia pulling her behind her glaring at the forest. Vinyl reached into her belt to pull out the pistol pointing it towards the trees.
"Sweetie Belle go hide." Vinyl ordered, Sweetie Belle whimpered and hid behind a dead tree, peeking out to watch.
The sound grew louder and louder. Vinyl gasped hearing a loud snap pulling the trigger. Octavia yelped out ducking hearing the pop. There was another scream from the forest. Applejack leaped out ready to swing her machete and gasped.
"It's you!" Applejack and the girls all yelled out at once.
"What’s going on?" Vinyl asked.
"Where's Rainbow?" Octavia and Fluttershy both exclaimed.
To answer their questions, Rainbow leaped over a log with some scratches and blood around her arms and neck as she bolted past them.
"Run for it!" She yelled out.
Vinyl nodded staring to run. "Kid, let's go!" She screamed out. Sweetie Belle ran out of her hiding spot following the others.
"Wait I have to lead!" Sweetie Belle screamed out running after Vinyl. The others followed behind them.
Trixie leaped thorough the bush breathing hard looking round the tiny clearing. Her mane in a frazzled mess from the forest chase and her patience wearing dangerously thin. She growled seeing Rainbow's tail disappear into the forest.
"Get them!" Trixie cried out as three unicorns, the last of her group from the fight, chase after them with Trixie behind them.
Sweetie Belle pushed through the foliage towards another clearing to the cliff edge to the ravine. Sweetie Belle stopped and sighed, looking down into the ravine then up at the sky. Vinyl was looking around before she turns forward and screamed out, sliding about to go over the edge. Sweetie Belle grabbed Vinyl's shirt tail pulling back hard until Vinyl regained her balance.
"Whoa!" Vinyl yelped out hearing her voice echoing down the ravine. "Stop!" She screamed out turning around in time to see Octavia and Fluttershy leaping out of the forest. They stopped when Vinyl held out her arms to tell them to stop. Then Rainbow and Applejack stopped with gasps.
"We got to move!" Applejack yelled out turning around pointing her musket at the forest. Rainbow panted holding her side groaning.
"Rainbow?" Fluttershy called out worriedly running over to her helping her stand upright.
"I'm fine, just a punch, nothing bad!" Rainbow winced. Fluttershy placed her hand over Rainbow’s side over her ribs. Rainbow hissed a curse squeezing her eyes shut.
"Rainbow, you're injured very badly." Rainbow coughed. The cough caused her to yell out almost falling back over knees.
"We got no time left!" Applejack called out. Vinyl ran up to stand with Applejack. Octavia blinked then looked down at Rainbow's machete. She ran over to grab the jungle sword and stood by Applejack's side ready for whomever comes through those bushes.
"We'll hold them off as long as we can." Octavia said turning to see Vinyl looking at her with worry. Vinyl sighed and nodded turning back to the forest.
Sweetie Belle was watching the sky and gasped pointing up. "I see them!" She cried pointing up. Everypony looked up to see the Fancy Flute floating up into the reaches of the sky and the life boat gliding towards them. Fluttershy pulled Rainbow Dash closer to the ledge waving her hand in the air.
"Hurry please." She begged in a whisper. She felt dead weight then gasped looking down to see that Rainbow was unconscious. "Rainbow? Rainbow you have to wake up." She felt wetness when she tried to get a better grip on Rainbow’s clothes. She looked down at her hand and started to panic, Rainbow was bleeding.
"Applejack! Rainbow’s down!" She cried out putting Rainbow on the ground to check her wounds. Octavia and Vinyl turned.
"Keep your eyes forward!" Applejack ordered still watching the forest for any movement. Octavia bit her lip seeing Rainbow being checked by Fluttershy as she reached into her satchel and pulled out a tube of some type of liquid. She lifted up her blood stained shirt. Octavia gasped to see the laser wound in Rainbow's side. Vinyl cursed seeing this too.
"Fuck me." She hissed lowering her firearm staring at it then back at their wounded friend. "Shit!" She cursed turning away pressing her fingers into her forehead.
"Keep your eyes forward!" Applejack yelled again. Vinyl pointed her pistol at the forest, blaming herself for Rainbow’s pain. Octavia figured it out too and groaned. She didn’t blame Vinyl for what had happened, it was an accident. A misfire and Rainbow got hit.
Twilight along with Daring this time settled the craft by the ledge.
"What happened?" Twilight asked as Fluttershy took Rainbow from under her arms to lift her towards Daring.
"Rainbow got hit. She needs aid now!" Fluttershy answered urgently. Daring carefully pulled Rainbow into the boat. Fluttershy jumped in with Sweetie Belle.
"Octavia, you’re next!" Applejack ordered. Octavia backed away then turned and started running. She leaped into the boat immediately sitting by Rainbow's side.
"Captain, you're next."
Vinyl blinked then looked at Applejack for a moment. "No, you go first." Vinyl said. Applejack blinked then turned to her with a quirked brow.
"Go, Scratch." She ordered before a bolt of blue energy zipped past them hitting the side of the boat scaring Sweetie Belle feeling the burns from the plasma hitting her arm.
"Vinyl Now!" Applejack screamed out pushing her back then fired her musket. Vinyl didn't object this time. She hightailed it to the boat leaping in as plasma flew past her. She looked up watching the bright blue globs fly past them, what kind of weapons makes that type of shot? She wondered. Daring grabbed Sweetie Belle to cover her from any more burns. Applejack fired a few more shots.
"Applejack, come on!" Fluttershy cried out. Applejack messed with her musket then dropped it to the ground and started running towards the boat.
"What did you-?" Octavia asked just as the royal guards leapt through the bushes screaming battle cries.
"Get down!" Applejack screamed out, grabbing Octavia to pull her down as the globs that were fired by Applejack exploded in a burst of plasma and electricity, severely wounding and killing the guards.
"Go Twi!" Vinyl screamed out. Twilight nodded pressing a few buttons then the engine started.
Trixie leaped out of the bushes coughing from the ozone and smoke in the air. She saw the small boat move towards the ship in the distance. She pulled out her laser pistol and started firing wild shots at the boat.
“Lasers!” Sweetie Belle cried as everyone ducked as the shots flew over them. Twilight yelled out holding her side before falling forward. Sweetie Belle screamed in shock. Vinyl reached over to the controls and steered the boat towards the Fancy Flute. Trixie yelled out when the boat was out of her range.
"I'll find you traitors and you will all pay!" She screamed out growling. She threw the used charger into the ravine then sighed. "I'll make sure of it." She turned away and went back through the forest.
It's time for plan B.