//------------------------------// // Rainbow's Mission // Story: There is a Season // by ArdanBlade //------------------------------// Chapter 10 Rainbow's Mission "Get up." "Huh..? Where am I?" Rainbow Dash yawned. She became alert when she realized that not only was she blindfolded, but bound as well. She promptly began thrashing about. "Lemme go! You can't do this to me!" "Silence! You will do as you are told." Sgt. Ramrod's unmistakable voice snapped. "Wait, don't I know this filly from somewhere?" Another voice asked, one Rainbow Dash knew all too well. "Oh yeah! You're the one who saved my pie that one time!" "Soarin!? Soarin of the Wonderbolts!?" Rainbow wanted to jump out of her skin with excitement! Even being restrained against her will wasn't enough of a distraction to get her to ignore one of the Wonderbolts! "Hey, you gotta help me! They think I'm a spy!" "Uh… well, you could be a changeling. We are supposed to check you out, just to be safe." Soarin replied, a little unease in his voice. Rainbow Dash blushed. Being checked out by the Wonderbolts! She could almost squeal! Her excitement was cut short as she felt herself being hoisted onto somepony's back, and carried from her prison. The sound of steam shunting through the air told the pegasus that she had just left a train, probably the same one she'd been taken onto the night before. The bustle and sound of masculine voices all around spoke of a lot of activity. Wherever she was, there were a lot of ponies about. "Ouch! Hey watch it!" Rainbow snarled at the pony carrying her when she felt her backside hit something. "My apologies." Sgt. Ramrod replied, his voice not even hinting at actual sympathy. "So uh, how've you been since the big wedding?" Soarin asked inquisitively. "I mean, as long as you're not a changeling or anything like that." "Oh, you know, just being my awesome self!" Rainbow tried to sound disinterested, which she failed miserably. "I did race in the Neightona 500 last month!" "Lucky! I wanted to go, but with the whole changeling invasion, we've been pretty busy watching for trouble, so they wouldn't let me get away for it." Soarin complained. "How did you place!?" "I didn't do too bad, though I would have won if that bucking Winging Wind hadn't hit me in the forty-ninth lap!" Rainbow answered excitedly. "I still managed to pull off a good twelfth place!" "Nice! They really should get more serious about the regulations for intentional collisions. I'm sure you remember what happened last year at the- oh, good afternoon sir!" Soarin's attention suddenly went to somepony else. Sensing something was about to happen, Rainbow readied herself for the worst. "Let her down, Sergeant." A calm, level stallion's voice came. "Yes sir!" Sgt. Ramrod answered sharply, and with surprising gentleness, lowered the captive pegasus to the grass. Rainbow Dash felt the blindfold and bonds being removed, and was forced to squint her eyes against the harsh glare of the sun as it peeked over the cloth. As she blinked away the spots in her eyes, Rainbow felt a horn flowing with magic touch her. She flinched, not sure what this meant, but it was quickly removed. "Sergeant, this pony is not a changeling. Why have you brought her here?" "Sir! This pegasus was captured while observing an officer discuss military intelligence. She was concealed, and appeared to be attempting to listen in on the conversation in a most suspicious manner. I feared she may be working for the enemy, and might attempt to subvert our defenses." Sgt. Ramrod snapped out his report with clean efficiency. "I see, and what do you have to say about all of this, Rainbow Dash?" The authoritative pony asked her. Having finally cleared her eyes, Rainbow looked up at the pony addressing her. It was Twilight Sparkle's brother! Not even thinking about what she was saying, Rainbow blurted out her part of the story. "I wasn't spying on them! I was keeping an eye on that Thundercloud! He was the one spying on Twilight!" "What!?" Shining Armor's eyes suddenly blazed! "He was spying on my sister!?" "Sir, with all due respect, I believe an explanation is in order." Sgt. Ramrod stated. "It better be good." Shining Armor's voice left no doubt as to the consequences if he wasn't satisfied. "Twilight Sparkle has been classified as a Tier One priority, and as such, Lieutenant Thundercloud has personally seen to her protection and well being. I believe this has caused the misunderstanding." Sgt. Ramrod explained. "Huh, likely story!" Rainbow retorted, still upset about being dragged off. "I see. Very well, return to your duties, Sergeant." Shining Armor commanded, his voice calm again. Rainbow Dash was about to leave as well when the Captain stopped her. "Rainbow Dash wait. I still want to speak to you." Halting herself nervously, the rainbow maned pony looked back at him. "Look I can explain-" Holding up a hoof for silence, Shining Armor waited until she settled down. "Listen, I know you're a loyal friend of my sister, and if you really believe you saw him spying, then you're telling the truth. Sgt. Ramrod is just doing his job, and I gave the order to interrogate suspicious ponies. I owe you an apology." "Oh." Rainbow Dash blushed from embarrassment. "Sorry for jumping to conclusions." "It's alright." Shining Armor glanced around, then leaned closer to her. "I need something from you too. If you'll follow me, I'll explain everything." Rainbow followed behind Shining Armor, her mind beginning to race. What could he want from her? It sounded important, whatever it was. * * * "Look, no means no! We can't let any strangers into Ponyville at this time." The insistent Guard pony had just about enough with this striped stranger! The curious, ponylike animal had been trying to convince him in her little rhyme talk that she needed to get into Ponyville. "Your course of action is most unwise! I can not wait while time flies!" Zecora stomped her hoof, then hurried off. The Guards had been unwilling to let her pass, despite her desperate explanation of Boldheart's need. As a thought sprang into her mind, she changed directions. "If into Ponyville I can not get, another course I must set." It wasn't long before her roundabout course led her into a vast apple orchard. Looking about, she finally saw what she was looking for. "My dear friend Apple Bloom! I need some help, and very soon!" "Zecora!" Apple Bloom exclaimed happily. "What're you doin' here in Sweet Apple Acres?" "Help from Twilight Sparkle, I need to ask. But I fear the Guard ponies will not let me pass." The zebra replied. "Her magic power is what I need. Please bring her to my home with all due speed." "Sure! Is somethin' wrong with yer house?" Apple Bloom asked. "A Guard pony is under a spell. I will need her help, if he is to be well." Zecora explained. "I'll get her right away!" Apple Bloom answered, racing off through the orchard towards Ponyville as fast as her little legs could carry her. Zecora smiled with relief. At least now the poor Guard pony would get the help he needed. * * * "Pinkie, there's nopony here." Twilight's voice was flat and irritated. Pinkie Pie had been very excited to show her this gelding, but so far nopony had shown up at all. "Oh she's here! She's just too shy to come out right now, so you can't see her!" Pinkie Pie explained matter-of-factly. "Right..." Twilight sighed. "Well I've been waiting for nearly half an hour, and this friend of yours has yet to show herself. If she's not coming, I'm not going to waste anymore time waiting for her." Pinkie Pie suddenly leaned over, her right ear perked up. "What was that Zephyr? Oh, okay!" She turned back to Twilight. "She says she's scared of you. I can't imagine why! After all, I don't think you're that scary! Unless maybe she sees something different than I see, but that would be weird! Heeheeheehahaha!" Twilight put a hoof on her face. Pinkie Pie was making up imaginary ponies and talking to them! Why wasn't she surprised to find this out? She turned to go back inside the library. "I don't have time for this." "Wait! Twilight!" Pinkie moaned. "You said you'd help her!" "Pinkie, I can't help an imaginary pony! Just pretend that she's better!" Twilight hollered back, closing the door behind her. Pinkie Pie's ears drooped irritably. "Well that was a big waste of time! C'mon Zephyr! Let's go see if Fluttershy can help you! At least she won't be a big mean meanie pants about it!" The little pale filly appeared next to Pinkie Pie as she headed for Fluttershy's home on the outskirts of Ponyville. "I'm sorry, but she seems so unhappy." "Don't you worry about it! Twilight can be a grumpity grump if she wants!" Pinkie explained with a giggle. * * * Rainbow Dash followed Shining Armor through the bustle of the Royal Guard encampment, her eyes roving about this way and that at the sights. Large stallions and athletic mares went here and there, their armor glowing in the afternoon sun. The camp seemed to be a place of constant activity, with exercise drills going on next to busy work stations, and patrols sweeping wide about looking for possible threats. Even the Wonderbolts were flying maneuvers in their blue lightning marked flight suits! Rainbow was so taken in she almost crashed into Shining Armor as he stopped at the command tent, a large olive drab thing that sat in the heart of the organized chaos. "Are you coming?" Shining asked the distracted pegasus, his eyes still glancing about. "Oh, sure!" Rainbow Dash replied. She followed him into the cavernous interior, where a table sat covered in maps, many with little pins sticking into various spots. Correspondences from all across Equestria sat strewn about the surface, reporting readiness, activity, and possible enemy sightings. The whole layout quite a bit much for the pegasus to take in. "Sooo, what's up?" She asked, looking over to the Guard Captain, trying to hide her sudden apprehension. "Rainbow Dash…" Shining Armor began, but seemed to be struggling to find the right words. "…I need you to spy for me." "Wait, what!?" Rainbow stared at him as if he'd just told her he was a donkey. "Didn't I just get dragged all the way up here for spying!?" "Yes, and it was a mistake." He explained slowly. "I'm not asking you to do this lightly. I'm concerned people really are going after my sister, and I believe you about Thundercloud. Even though Sgt. Ramrod is a good soldier, he can be blind to the faults of those in charge of him. I think there's more going on in Ponyville than any of us are being told, and I need to have someone I can trust to be my eyes." Rainbow Dash's mind was racing! "Me, a spy!? That would be awesome!" "So you'll do it?" Shining Armor's voice betrayed his anxiety and hope. "Buck yeah I'll do it!" Rainbow Dash replied excitedly. Shining Armor breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried the strong willed pegasus might have refused his request. "Thanks, you have no idea how much that means to me." He half-laughed. "Why all the worry, though? I mean, it's not like somepony's going after us…" Seeing Shining Armor look away, Rainbow Dash stopped. "Wait… is somepony after us?" "We don't have any proof yet, but something has been amiss for quite a while now. Even the changeling activity seems random. We're sure they're up to something, and maybe it is just a feeling, but I'm sure they're going after Twilight. What you told me only makes me more certain." Shining Armor looked back to Rainbow Dash, worry filling his expression. "I won't risk losing her." Feeling a sense of pride swelling in her breast, Rainbow Dash flew upright, throwing a jaunty salute. "You can count on me, sir! I won't letcha down!" Straightening up, Shining Armor returned her salute. "Very well. As Captain of the Royal Guard of Equestria, and in the name of Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, I, Shining Armor, hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant, and commander of the First Eyes of the Guard." "You are hereby given the right to recruit spies in your service, until such a time that Equestria is safe and secure. All of our futures may ride on you someday. Do your duty for ponykind everywhere." Rainbow Dash nearly shot through the roof of the tent, only holding herself back to keep from showing a lack of discipline. Reaching into a drawer on the table, Shining Armor produced a pair of Lieutenant's bars. "These were mine when I was first promoted." He said proudly, holding up the two golden bars. "Now they're yours." Taking the rank markers, Rainbow once again repressed her excitement. "Thank you sir." * * * The mountain of Misery had long been a place of rumor and dread for ponykind. Legend said that once dragons had lived there, using the mighty mountain as a fortress from which to spy out their prey. Yet for longer than even Equestria had stood, not a single one of the great beasts had been seen claiming it's skies or dwelling upon it's rocky heights. Little did ponykind know the sins of their forefathers had tainted this land with magics never meant to be used. Spells were crafted into the very stones, meant to drive away the mighty predators who roamed the skies, spells that when left unchecked, had only grown. One such spell, perhaps older than all others, took the form of a humble rock outcropping. Great slabs of granite, pockmarked with smaller stones, were piled in a mound upon the mountainside, just like countless others. This one was more than it seemed however. Deep within a simple mind, a hunger awoke. The desire to ingest food. Food was made up of tiny crystalline formations that rarely grew large enough to sate the mind's hunger. When they did group up, it meant something collected them! The mind sought deeper, as ancient reflections mirrored off a great, crystalized amber surface. In it's memories, great armored lizards, covered in spines, with wings that spread across the the skies as they flew, belching mighty blasts of fire upon it! The mind didn't care, for fire did not unmake stone. A predatory rumble sounded deep within the rock formation. The hunger was growing! Dragons were the keepers of gems, dragons were it's enemy! It would seek the gems, it would feed it's hunger! No beast, not of sky or earth, of might or magic, would stand in it's way! The earth began to rumble as the stones started to shift and move. Like some elemental colossus, the great slabs of granite formed into a vast, humanoid shape, it's face replaced by a great amber gem, larger than a large wagon! The Walking Stone had awoken, and it was hungry! For long moments, the eighty-foot colossus stood, towering over it's mountain stronghold. The gem forming it's featureless face shifted slowly right, then left, glowing softly as it turned. As it finally came to face the east, the gem began to glow brighter, it's hungry magic feeling the call of gems! With all of the steady power of a landslide, the enormous being began to walk, it's footsteps thundering, shaking the ground with each massive footfall. The earth trembled, the trees shivered, and all moved before the god of the mountain. The Walking Stone was coming! * * * Twilight Sparkle followed Apple Bloom into the dark confines of the Everfree Forest, her eyes roving about the damage done by the flames. "I hope Zecora's home wasn't threatened by the fire." "Ah don't think so, Twilight, or else she woulda said somethin' about it." Apple Bloom replied, not even slightly bothered by the eerie forest. The path had grown quite familiar to her, since nopony visited Zecora quite as often as she did. "You're probably right," Twilight laughed nervously, "it doesn't look like the fire has reached this far back into the woods. So did Zecora happen to mention anything about who we're going to help?" "Nope, she jus' said to come an' get you as soon as ah could." Apple Bloom answered proudly. "Well I hope she didn't need me to bring anything." Twilight continued to glance about. "I'd hate to think we came out here for nothing." "Don't worry Twilight! Ah'm sure Zecora'd have told me if ya needed one o' your books." Neither one of them saw the shadow that seemed to detach itself from the trees around them. The creature wasn't invisible, but seemed to fade naturally into the background. Moving slowly after the fillies, the dark, strangely mottled pony trailed them, confident in it's ability to remain unseen. Deeper and deeper the pony walked, weaving it's way after Twilight and Apple Bloom along the dimly lit path through the wild mixture of plants and trees. Much like his master, the Dream Taker, he was a gelding, robbed of his magic, kept captive, and made to suffer a lonely eternity trapped within stone by cruel unicorns. He had almost given into despair, letting himself fade from all existence, when the old grey pony had freed him from his prison. The mysterious old one promised him not only freedom, but something far more tempting, something he could not hope to refuse. Vengeance. He would be the hidden hand of the Dream Taker, slaying unicorns and their allies, making them suffer for all he had endured! Executing this lavender pony would be sweeter than honey! "So this is Twilight Sparkle." The odd pony whispered to himself. "Killing her will hardly prove a challenge." Stealing a moment to reach back, the pony drew a long, slender blade from his side. Shimmering dully in the muted light of the forest, the deadly killer's blade slid soundlessly from it's resting sheath. He watched for his opportunity, patiently waiting as Apple Bloom opened the door to Zecora's home. As the two ponies stepped into the hollowed tree, the assassin saw his opportunity. With the skill and guile of a predator, the he began closing with the unsuspecting fillies, his blade hovering closer and closer to Twilight's back… Drawing in his breath, the assassin lunged.