Mulia Mild stuck her head out, glanced left and right, then finally shuffled into the street. She motioned with her hoof, and soon three other figures were scurrying out after her. The tell-tale signs of a panicked stampede marred the already ruined alleyways looming beneath the surface of the floating city. Aside from a few rats and other vermin, the streets were completely vacant.
"Something scared everyone away," Gustave stammered, blinking nervously.
"Jee, I wonder who did that," Donut Joe wheezed. "Rainbow, are you certain this is the best way to go about this?"
"We can't stay here forever," Rainbow muttered, emerging from the side of the nightclub. "We've shaken the hornet's nest. For all we know, a whole gang of nasty creeps will be rushing in with three times the horsepower to beat our skulls in."
"You know, for the 'Blue Jay,' you're really yellow," Donut Joe said.
"Oh hush." Rainbow spun around. "Coast's clear, Stu. Come on out."
SMASSSSSSSSH! The side of the building collapsed as the "Red Rook" stormed through on steaming limbs. STOMP STOMP STOMP!
Mulia winced, looking every which way. "Must you bring that thing?! Really?!"
"Well, I c-couldn't just leave it inside!" Stu exclaimed above the noise of his clattering limbs. "Those creeps might turn it into a super weapon! Besides, I've already lost my wings! Why give up this too?!"
"We've all lost something, Stu," Rainbow droned.
"Yeah!" Donut Joe's bare brow furrowed. "Join the friggin' club!"
"But I don't get it!" Stu twirled around, thudding. "What kind of ponies would steal away what makes us all unique and special?" As he gestured, he accidentally knocked over an aluminum shed, sending dust and sparks flying everywhere. THUD!
Mulia sighed. "The same kind of ponies who would rather see non-ponies reduced to history's ashes." She turned and blanched at Rainbow Dash. "They were going to gut me full of knives! I look terrible in knives! They don't match my skin!"
"Well, I still have my amazing wings and plumage!" Gustave Le Grande said.
"Yeah," Donut Joe muttered. "Just not your wits."
"Hornless toad—!"
"Enough!" Rainbow Dash snarled. "Everypony, knock it off!" She frowned, staring at the group. "Look, we found each other, and—believe it or not—that's a super good thing! We pierced through to this dream and then we ended up separated in a dangling city full of super creep ponies but—guess what?! We found each other against all odds! You wanna know why?! Because pieces of Applejack's subconscious lent us all a hoof, otherwise Stu would be drowning in his own steam and Mulia and Mr. Pelican over there would living pincushions. And don't get me started on Donut Joe tasting the filth off a barroom floor!"
Donut Joe hung his head. "...would be fine with just a touch of glaze—"
"NO! It wouldn't be fine! And, what's more, we owe it all to Applejack for being in one piece! Now it's time that we saved her and got her out of here!"
"But how can we do that?!" Mulia exclaimed. "This dream world is obviously hostile to us now! Serenity Shindig—or the Queen—or whoever has her locked away someplace!"
"I want to save Applejack as much as you, Rainbow Dash," Stu said. "But you've seen how risky this place is! Somehow we've gotta come up with a way to infiltrate Serenity's headquarters, grab this 'Cider Princess,' and make it out of the dream before Philanthropy consumes all of us!"
"I know," Rainbow muttered. "The Coronation is the day after tomorrow."
"What happens then?" Gustave asked.
Rainbow gulped. "I don't know. But, where Applejack is concerned, it can't be good."
"Well, we ain't doing much by just standing out here and gabbing about it!" Donut Joe grumbled. "We've got the Blue Jay and the Red Rook with us!"
"Er... yeah?" Stu arched an eyebrow. "And?"
"So, ain't you guys got a hideout or something where we can lay low and plan for flank kicking?"
"Joe, dude, we all just got here!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I'm no more the real Blue Jay than you are Prince Blueblood!"
Donut blinked. "Who?"
"I agree with the donut maker!" Gustave exclaimed. "A roost of our own would be magnifique!"
FLASH! Epcot materialized behind the griffon, nuzzling his feathers. "Heeheee! Well, I think I may have seen a place along my way here!"
"For real, Epcot?" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Mmmmhmmm!" Epcot nuzzled the griffon. "Hehe! Donald ain't got nothing on you, fluffikins!"
"Ehhh... who is the crazy horse lady with the glittering hair?"
"Just roll with it," Rainbow Dash muttered. "Dreams ain't gonna make themselves come true."