//------------------------------//
// It's Fun to Be Free 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	Stu Leaves' head nodded and nodded.  His ears drooped and his lips pursed with thin breaths wafting off the edge of unconsciousness.  He dangled from the chains fastened to the jail cell's walls.

Just then, a pair of hooves reached up and grasped his restraints, unlatching the fetters.  He slumped forward with a groan—only to be caught in strong blue forelimbs.  Weakly, he fluttered his eyes open.  A faint smile crossed his muzzle.  "Rainbow..."

"Easy there, ya dork," Rainbow muttered, helping the stallion down into a sitting position.  "Looks like they were extra cruel to you."

"Yeah, well..."  Stu grimaced.  "...I wasn't exactly easy on any of Shindig's constructs."

"Still, it's no excuse," Rainbow said, checking Stu's limbs.  "You seem no worse for wear."

"Easier said than done."  He shuddered, glancing aside.  "Hmmm... huh?"

He saw Donut Joe, Mulia Mild, and Gustave le Grande, all freed from their chains and stretching their limbs.

"How... when...?"  Stu craned his neck to look past Rainbow's shoulder.

Right outside the open prison cell, the floor was littered with unconscious guards.

Stu blinked.  "How in Goddess' name did you manage all of that?"

Rainbow smiled bashfully.  "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly do it all on my lonesome."  She turned to look.

"Uuuguuuu..." Epcot teetered dizzily.  She leaned against a wall with a goofy smile.  "Now I know how Captain Eo feels like after putting put out a fire!"

"Were you followed here?" Gustave asked.  "We're pretty deep in Shindig's hovel."

"All I've left was a pile of bucked bodies," Rainbow said.

"So... they can totally trace you to here?!" Donut Joe remarked, eyebrow arched.

Rainbow blinked.  "... ... ...oops."

"Let's not worry about anything until it's actually a problem," Mulia Mild stated.  She trotted out to the edge of the cell and peered out into the nearby hallway.  "We should be getting out of here.  And soon."

"Yeah, well, you guys can get out," Rainbow said.  "Now that I'm this far deep—"

"You're going after Applejack, aren't you?" Stu asked.

Rainbow nodded, smirking.  "You bet."

"And how do you plan to get her—and the rest of us—out of here?"

Rainbow's smirk left.

Stu sighed, head rolling back.  "Rainbowwwww... please tell me you thought ahead for once."

"H-hey!  Come on!"  Rainbow shrugged.  "Gimme a break!  I'm super good at flying in one direction."

"Uhm..." Donut Joe blinked.  "Am I the only pony confused about what's going on, exactly?"

Rainbow glared his way.  "Go back a chapter."  She looked at Stu.  "I'm not the only one who plots only two steps ahead."

"Yes, well..."  Stu stumbled to stand up, and Rainbow helped him.  "Ggrnngh... I... I-I guess it was pretty crazy of me to have just tossed you into the ravine like that."

"Heh... no kidding."

"I sure am sorry, Rainbow," Stu sighed, then smirked.  "But... hey... it worked, didn't it?"

"Darn tootin'."  Rainbow winked back.  "And now I'm going to get Applejack back."

"Wait..."  Mulia blinked.  "Just you?"

"We've had enough of this masquerade!" Gustave barked.

"And I'll get you guys out!  I promise!" Rainbow grumbled.  "But either we get out of here as a group or we don't—"

"Do not confuse our anger for cowardice!" Gustave said, lifting a talon.  "None of us want to spend one more minute in this garbage pile!  And none of us should wish that on your fair friend Applejack!"

"Yeah... let's spring this pretty chicken of yours out of this coop!" Donut Joe exclaimed.  "Anything to stick it to this Shindig moron!"

"I second that!" Mulia uttered, then blinked.  "Erm... or third it!"

Rainbow blinked at them.  Then smiled. "Well, how do you like that?  Very well then, buckos, let's try and figure out a way to make this work."  She looked Epcot's way.  "You hear that, girl?"

"Well, six to a vehicle is sort of pushing it... but hey!"  Epcot grinned.  "Let's get this world in motion!"