“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight bolted up, her fur damp with sweat, her body trembling and her mouth dry. The horrid smell of blood somehow followed her from her nightmare, lingering in her mind. In a frenzied panic Twilight frantically felt around the soft bed for her lover.
“Rainbow Dash!” Her terror grew and the haze of sleep ebbed from her mind and still Rainbow Dash was nowhere in sight. No, no! This can't be happening, where could she have… Did Crucible betray us?! Her heart raced as she fell weakly off the bed, her muscles sore and exhausted, images of the worst possible things flew through her mind. Suddenly, the door swung open, a bright light shining in, blinding Twilight who jumped back, startled by the sudden noise and light. A shadowy figure stood at the door.
“Shut up, you're going to get us all killed if you keep screaming like that.”
“W-where’s Rainbow Dash?” Twilight said weakly, shielding her eyes from the light, allowing them to adjust.
“Twilight! Twi are you alright!?” The sound of hooves beat rapidly up the stairs as Dash's voice called out in a forcefully stifled but frantic tone.
“Dashie!” Twilight uncovered her eyes, the light stinging them, still she could make out the bright rainbow mane of her lover as she came to a grinding halt beside Crucible at the door.
“Me and you accomplice have finished getting your provisions ready, it's sunrise, it's time for you to leave.” Crucible said indignantly as she turned away from the door, leaving to two mares alone. Rainbow Dash padded over to the window at the far end of the room opening the curtain and letting the soft natural light of the early morning flow in. Twilight turned to the window, staring at the horizon.
“It's sunrise...” Rainbow Dash sighed.
“Sunrise...” Twilight repeated faintly, a mix of somber dejection and fear. 'We'll be on the run again... from now on.'
********************************************
Twilight and Rainbow Dash walked side by side down the stairs, tails entwined, Crucible was already downstairs getting their provisions packed up so they could be on their way in mere minutes. Twilight Yearned for the comfortable, warm embrace of sleep once more, but she knew they couldn't linger here much longer, not only were they putting themselves more at risk but also the mare who gave them shelter. Twilight thought about her friends and family, a grim and forlorn look dulled her tired eyes. The entire Apple family in Ponyville, arrested just for knowing someone who helped us, Crucible is taking an unimaginable risk by helping us, she has her daughter to think about. She's given up on her son? Things are really, really bad aren't they? Celestia is turning Equestria inside out looking for us, What will she do to us? What will she do to Dashie? W-we need to get out of here, we need to run as far away as possible, I can't let anyone get hurt, I won't let it happen.
Suddenly, she felt a warm grip tighten around her tail and her lovers warm, soft side press against hers. Twilight could feel Dash's steady heartbeat through her downy fur, looking, their eyes met. Rainbow's eyes were nothing like Twilight's, they were filled with a renewed sense of purpose and strength, Twilight saw eyes ready to challenge the world and win. Twilight wondered what Crucible could have said to her to inspire this change in demeanor. Whatever happened, Twilight felt empowered by that look, she felt secure. Pain ebbed, giving way for a moment of clarity and peace for Twilight, a delicate and soft smile lightened up her face and she too leaned against her lover. We aren't just running away, we're moving forward.
The couple made their way into the kitchen, Cobalt Crucible paced back and forth, tending to something on the stove and then bouncing between the pantry and two very well stuffed backpacks, her eyes would drift up as she stood in front of the bags, seemingly running down a mental checklist in her mind. It was warm in the kitchen and the delicious aroma of food made Twilight's stomach grumble uncontrollably. Crucible was jerked from her thoughts by the sound of Twilight's empty belly.
“S-sorry, we-” Twilight spoke quickly as embarrassment swept over her, but she stopped as Crucible let out a half hearted giggle.
“You're aren't staying for breakfast, and you better make what little I'm giving you last, because you'll be on your own from here out.” Her expression turned from a half hearted smile to a steely, cold look directed at Twilight. “Time to grow up.”
Twilight opened her mouth, protest on her lips, but she retracted, closing her lips and looking to the floor. She's right… I need to grow up, I can't be the weak link for us, I have to stay strong for Dashie. If we are going to make it out of this safely I need… I need to-
“It'll be alright Twi, I know you're strong, without you, we would have been caught already.” Dash smiled at her, but Twilight was less than convinced, she knew what Crucible meant, and she was right.
“Even the strongest shield is useless if it's held by a weak arm. You need to steel yourself Twilight Sparkle, the way you are, I doubt you would even make it out of town.”
“Hey, lay off her!” Rainbow Dash growled, stepping between Twilight and Crucible, as she had done time and time again.
“It's okay Rainbow, she's right.” Twilight brushed her cheek against Dash's as she stepped beside her. She's right, it's always Rainbow Dash protecting me. She saved me from prison, from the royal guard and even my own brother. I just cowered behind her. I can't let this happen anymore, I have to be strong for her, I told her she could lean on me, how could she if all I do is crumble?
“Whatever.” Crucible shrugged, turning away from them. Her horn lit up and the two bags on the table were engulfed in a gray aura. “You can't stay here any longer, I need to get my daughter out of here, you two are just a huge liability.”
“Where will you go?” Dash asked, the clear concern and caring in her voice was unmistakably genuine, something about it threw Twilight off as she once again wondered what transpired between the two of them while she slept. Further to Twilight's surprise, she could see a faint smile on the steely mare's face.
“I don't think that it's any of your business, but I've got ways, like I said, my network is nothing to Scoff at either. I've got someone willing to help me out, someone with almost as much reason to hate Celestia as I do.”
“I hope you and your daughter make out out...” Rainbow Dash's concern for the metallurgist was deep and sincere. Suddenly a weight fell onto Twilight and Rainbow Dash as the bags were dropped on their back, the straps fastened themselves around their back, chest and shoulders.
“I don't think it's me you should be worried about.” Crucible turned away from them, and trotted over to the counter on the far end of the kitchen, her horn began to glow with magic, enveloping a rectangular leather pouch with a buttoned down opening on one end. She came back towards Dash and Twilight a new, bright anger burning in her normally cool gray eyes.
“I wanted you to have this.” The button came undone, revealing hilt, expertly bound in tough leather, the end of the hilt was ornate, polished steel with swirls of blue cobalt. The hilt was pulled out of the sleeve with magic, revealing a razor sharp blade, a dagger and printed on the blade, in blue cobalt, in the same font as Twilight had seen hanging on the walls, was a single world: 'Cobalt'
“A- a knife...” Rainbow Dash spoke, it wasn't questioning, be reaffirming, as though the reality of what it was was still reaching her.
“A dagger, one I've been working on specially since my son got taken. I don't have high hopes for you two, so in the off chance you have this when you come face to face with Celestia, I want you to do me a favor…” Her voice was grim and bitter. Twilight knew, deep down, they both knew what she meant, still, she couldn't believe it, Twilight almost refused to believe it, she didn't want to hear what would come next, but the words slipped past her lips.
“W-what?” Twilight said fearfully, her eyes wide. Rainbow Dash stepped slightly in front of her, trying in vain to protect her from the spoken words that were to come as Cobalt Crucible grinned darkly.
“Plunge it into her heart.” The icy chill of hatred in her voice stunned the couple silent for seconds that seemed to last minutes.
“It won't come to that…” Rainbow Dash confidently stepped forward, silently accepting the dagger. I refuse to let Twilight have the burden, I swear I won't let it come to that. The dagger slid back into it's casing and fastened itself onto the shoulder strap of Dash's backpack, right within grabbing distance of her mouth.
“If you say so.” Crucible said dismissingly. “I have nothing else for you, you need to be on your way now. Never try to get in contact with me again after you leave that door.” Crucible turned away from them, her head turned, looking to to where her daughter's room was, where the only family she had left, slept peacefully in her crib, unaware of the horrors of the outside world. Twilight saw in her eyes, at that moment, the same strength and resolve in her eyes that she saw in Rainbow Dash. The will, the conviction, the strength to take on nations for the ones they loved. At that moment, Twilight felt a deep pity towards Crucible, she empathized with the mare who had lost almost everything, her way of life, her friends, her family, her loved ones. Twilight felt tears welling up in her eyes, no sobbing, no chocking no wailing, just tears, they began to flow softly down her cheeks.
“Come on Twilight.” Rainbow Dash said softly, the compassion in her voice comforting Twilight, easing the crushing feeling in her heart. Dash rubbed her cheek against her lovers, in the same way Twilight had done for her. “We need to go.”
“R-right.” Twilight wiped the tears off her face and turned towards the door in the gallery. Reluctantly, she took her first steps with Rainbow Dash close behind. Suddenly, Dash came to a stop, she turned her head back towards Crucible with a complex, but sad look in her eyes.
“You know, I think the shield is stronger than the pike...” She said simply. Twilight could feel the depth and magnitude in the words she spoke, even though she did not understand the meaning, she saw a deep connection and understanding when Crucible's eyes met Dash's.
“Prove it then.”
“We will, and you will too.” Dash smiled, then turned back towards Twilight.
BANG, BANG, BANG! A powerful knocking rang out from the front door. All heads whipped around to face it, their collective heart skipping a beat. Twilight's mouth went dry and her eyes became wide with terror. She couldn't move her legs, she was paralyzed in fear. Her heart began to race and her mind even more so. No, no! They can't have found us already!
“Shop's closed, come back in an hour!” Crucible yelled, her voice annoyed and agitated. She was a good actor but Twilight could see the fear in her eyes. Suddenly, a metallic gray aura surrounded Twilight and Rainbow Dash, quickly pulling them to the back of the kitchen without making a sound.
“This is Celestia's Royal Guard! I Order you to open this door now or we'll break it down!”
“No...” Twilight whispered, her breathing became shallow and irregular as she stared at the door. “Big brother...”
Rainbow Dash looked from the door to Crucible then back to Twilight, she began to panic as her mind raced to find a way out. 'This isn't good. Twilight lost it the last time she saw Shining Armor, we need to get out of here!'
“I'm coming!” Crucible called out, taking her time as she trotted to the drawer with her keys.
“Twi!” Rainbow Dash whispered again frantically, as she looked back to her lover, she saw her horn ignite with a lavender glow. Twilight's face was contorted into an enraged scowl, her eyes clouded with bitter tears. All the pain and terror had turned to fury and rage as she imagined her brother behind that door, every fiber of her being consumed with an unstoppable impetus. I won't let you take her!
“W-what happened?” In the blink of an eyes, the rustic kitchen had given way to grass and the scent of fresh air replaced the smell of warm food. Rainbow Dash blinked, her eyes adjusting to the change in lighting. Suddenly a hood pressed hard against her lips, glancing to her side, she could see Twilight crouching beside her.
“Stay quiet, something went wrong.” She whispered softly, the terrifying look in her face from earlier had eased into simply one of determination. Looking to her other side, she could see they were nearly pressed against the side of a building, the color and design of which sent a cold chill down Dash's spine, they had only managed to teleport just outside of Crucible's home. Twilight's horn again began to glow. Twilight brought her hoof up to her lips, gesturing to Dash to stay quiet as she cast the invisibility spell that demanded their silence. The spell enveloped them, rendering them undetectable by sight. Still, terror filled Dash's heart as she heard a harsh and commanding voice fly into a rage.
“We know you are harboring the fugitives! Where are they!?” Shining Armor growled. Slowly and cautiously, Rainbow Dash and Twilight poked their heads out from behind the frail safety of the wall that hid them. It was worse than they had imagined, Twilight struggled to suppress a gasp. There were dozens of heavily armed guards, unicorns, pegasus, and earth ponies made up the ranks of the battalion that stood paroling the town, at least a dozen of which were right at the door with Shining Armor. Twilight knew it was dumb luck that they had gotten out and were now successfully hidden.
“I told you, I haven't seen your deviant sister or her freak friend, if I had, I would have killed them myself, I had a daughter to protect!” Crucible's disgust and resentment was almost palpable.
“I'm not letting those abominations anywhere near my-” A sharp blow to the side of her face echoed out as the captain of the guard slammed his powerful hoof down against her. The sound echoed through the town, Rainbow Dash could see blood begin to trickle out of her mouth down to her chin. Dash's blood boiled and rage filled her chest. She was trembling, every instinct she had told her to attack, but she knew she had to protect Twilight, no matter what.
“You think you're pretty clever don't you? Just like your late husband, but your contact let us in on what you were doing. Why would you be planning on running away if you did nothing wrong?”
L-late? Did he say late? Twilight thought to herself in disbelief. No, that can't be true, they wouldn't do something like that, they couldn't! Her body was trembling now worse than ever, images of her nightmares came flooding back to her. Her body felt hot and waves of nausea brought her to her knees, her breath quivered as she used every last bit of her strength to keep silent.
“Arrest her, and take the child.” He commanded coldly. Suddenly, Crucible shot up, flinging several guards off of her with ease. Blood still dripping from her swollen lip, her eyes burned with rage as her horn began to glow brightly. As soon as her spell began to charge, a sharp and piercing whistle emanated from the horns of the unicorns in the battalion, her magic fizzled out as Crucible dropped to the ground again in pain.
“Aahh!” Twilight cried out as she clutched her head, falling to the ground in anguish as the whistle rung through her head, reverberating though her agonizingly.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash cried out, kneeling down to tend to her marefriend. Tenderly she took Twilight into her hooves just as a dark shadow fell over them. Twilight looked up, her body weak from pain. Her jaw clenched in anger as she pathetically coughed out the only word that her pain addled mind could repeat over and over again.
“No...”