Without prompting from Twilight, Clover stayed right beside the unicorn as she ran back through the city and down into the stadium. With Luna's words of encouragement still ringing her ears, she headed right for the medical tents and only slowed to a walk upon entering the very one that housed her injured friend. Fluttershy still lay with her eyes closed, her body looking smaller than usual and somehow more fragile. Big Macintosh lifted his head and opened tired eyes when he heard Twilight and Clover approaching and looked at the unicorn with an unreadable expression.
“I'm going to try again,” she announced quietly, gaze fixed on Fluttershy.
“You sure?” the red stallion asked.
But she nodded in determination. “I don't know if anything will happen but I have to try again. I'm the only one who can do anything...if I can do anything at all.”
“You can,” Clover promised. He smiled in encouragement when she looked at him. “Luna has faith in you. And so do I.”
She took a deep breath and turned back toward the pegasus on the ground. “Here goes nothing.” Twilight lowered her head as her horn took on a soft pink glow. Her eyes squeezed shut and, just as before, the glow around her horn intensified and brightened until it engulfed the whole inside of the tent. Beams of light shot up like spotlights through the smoke holes above them and spilled out of the open door flaps drawing the attention of others inside the stadium. Clover and Big Mac had to look away and shield their eyes. With a final intense pulse of light Twilight felt her legs give out. She tottered to the side as the light faded, but Clover was right there to keep her on her hooves.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I'm okay,” she answered, drained. She looked down at Fluttershy with a wrinkled brow. “I don't know if I did anything.”
Big Macintosh looked down at the pegasus and was still for a moment. Soon, however, he lifted his head and smiled the smile of a proud big brother. “She's stopped shakin'. I'd say that's somethin'.”
“That's something,” Twilight repeated breathlessly. Sadly, she looked at Big Mac. “Appleloosa's been destroyed.”
“What?”
Clover nodded. “We saw Luna. She said all the survivors will be coming here. That here is where we will make our final stand.”
Big Mac looked between them. “Did she tell you against what, exactly?”
“No,” said Twilight, “and she still hasn't found Princess Celestia. She said we need to make preparations.”
“Rainbow Dash will be the one to talk to about that,” offered Clover. “She should be eating about now which you should be doing as well, Twilight. You need to restore what you've expelled.”
She nodded. “I'll find somepony who's already eaten to come relieve you, Big Mac.”
“I'm all right,” he promised, looking down at Fluttershy. “Think I'd like to stay here for now, make sure she's gonna be okay.”
Twilight nodded once more, knowing he was trying to make up for what happened to Cheerilee, even if it wasn't his fault. “I'll have some food brought over to you then.”
He gave her a half smile. “Thank you.” Twilight turned and headed out, Clover doing the same. “Hold up a minute,” called Big Mac. He stayed right where he was but watched the gray stallion turn back around. “How long we known each other, Clover?”
“Um...six years or so now?”
“Six years is a long time to be friends with a pony. Let's you get inside their head some an' know what they're thinkin' sometimes without them havin' to say a single word.”
Clover arched a brow. “Okay...?”
“I saw the way you watched her when you brought us in. Seen the way you were with her just now. Twilight's like a little sister to me.”
The gray stallion nodded slowly. “So this is the whole 'hurt her and I'll break your face' speech?”
“More or less.”
“Got it.”
“Good.” The corners of Big Mac's mouth twitched into a very small smile, then he laid his head back down and closed his eyes, dismissing Clover.
When dinner was over and everything had been cleared away, Twilight filled her friends in on what was going on and Rainbow Dash immediately went into action. She had someone bring her a map of Fillydelphia and another of the city and its surrounding areas. These she spread out on one of the cleared off tables and studied with a furrowed brow.
“How soon can we expect the survivors?” she asked Twilight. But the unicorn only shrugged.
“I don't know. Luna wasn't exactly forthcoming with a lot of hard facts. Just that they're coming and we have to prepare for the fight of our lives.”
“She didn't say how many?”
“No.”
The pegasus stared down at the city map, concentration in her eyes. “We're going to need to rearrange how the stadium is set up, make it more like a township. Applejack, I want you to get everypony in on packing up and grouping tents together. Residential can go along the back west wall of the stadium. I want medical and supply tents against the south western corner close to the exit over there for emergencies. We'll keep the food tents and kitchen stuff here. They way ponies pitched tents here is all over the place. Make sure they understand we need to group a lot closer together now and singles may need to bunk up.”
“Got it.”
As the earth pony trotted away, Rainbow Dash looked at Rarity. “We're going to need more tents and lots of them. Make a list of everything you'll need and we'll send out scavengers to gather supplies.”
Rarity nodded tensely. “I'm going to need help.”
“You'll get it. I'm sure there are able bodied ponies who already know how to sew or will be willing to learn.” Rarity nodded once more and left to go make her list, turning Dash's attention to Pinkie Pie. “I want you and Clover to take some of the stronger stallions and get some food storage units, ones that can keep things cold. We're okay going out when we need to now but once this thing hits the fans we're going to need to be able to buckle down and be truly self-sustainable here. You two are the chef and the baker so you'll know what you need as far as supplies goes better than anypony else.”
Clover and Pinkie looked at each other. “Sounds like a plan,” said the stallion before hurrying off with Pinkie Pie.
“What about me?” asked Twilight.
Dash wet her lips and looked at her friend with a grave expression. “You're going to gather as many unicorns as you can and teach them a basic shielding spell.”
“It's not really basic, Dash. It's actually quite compli-”
“You know what I mean,” Dash interrupted. “A lot of these unicorns don't know a whole heck of a lot beyond levitation and really simple magic tricks. Nopony can teach them but you. I know Rarity knows it and a few others but they're all going to be too busy to help. I need you to do this, Twilight.”
“I can do it,” she assured, but there was sadness in her eyes. “Rainbow Dash, I'm really sorry about Cloud Kicker.”
Dash turned her eyes back to the map, her jaw working as she clenched her teeth. “It's not your fault.”
“I know it's not, but I still offer my sympathies. I know you two were close and you leading all of this without her here as your second-”
“It's fine,” Dash insisted. “Cloud Kicker was one of the toughest ponies I know. She had to have been pretty beaten up if they were able to take her over.”
“I just want to say that I think the way you're taking charge here...I wouldn't be able to do it.”
She hesitated a moment but eventually Dash looked at Twilight. “I think you would.”
Twilight laughed mirthlessly. “No, I'd be too busy making lists about the lists that need to be made before any action was taken. A situation like this needs a pony at the helm who is commanding and can think on her hooves. That's you, Dash.” Twilight looked away from her friend and out into the stadium. Already Applejack was getting ponies packing and moving tents, Rarity had taken it upon herself to find a pony from Fillydelphia to give her the list of required items, and Pinkie and Clover were heading out with a group of tough looking stallions. “It's so strange,” Twilight said quietly. “We've all known each other for awhile now and we've always been adults. But I don't think I ever really felt that way until now.”
Rainbow nodded slowly, watching her friends now as well. “It hasn't even been two weeks but I feel like I've aged ten years.”
“I think we all do.”
“Excuse me, Commander?”
The two were pulled from their moment of reverie as a baby blue pegasus approached. Her tri-colored mane of white, silver and light blue fell across her face as she approached and she blew it back with a slightly exasperated huff. Rainbow Dash cocked a brow. “Yes?”
The pegasus turned orange eyes to her and gave a small smile. “I heard a couple of my friends talking about going out for supplies for your unicorn friend-”
“Rarity.”
“Yes, Rarity. And some went with Clover and...?”
“Pinkie Pie,” Twilight supplied.
“Right. Well I was thinking it might be helpful if I took some ponies, once they're moved, and we went to the outer areas of the city to the gardens and, well, homes of other ponies. I know there are a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables closer to the harbor.”
Dash rubbed her chin. “Not a bad idea since Clover and Pinkie will probably stick pretty close. What's your name?”
“Scribes, ma'am.”
“Scribes, are you from Filly?”
“Born and raised, ma'am.”
“All right then, Scribes. Take as many as you need to and go, but be back as soon as you can.”
“Understood.” The pegasus saluted before turning and hurrying away. It made Twilight bite down on a grin.
“Permission to be dismissed, Commander.”
Dash gave her a sarcastic smile. “Permission granted. Go train my unicorns.”
Now Twilight saluted, trying to be serious. “Yes, ma'am!”
Big Macintosh awoke sometime after he'd finished his delivered supper. He wasn't sure exactly what pulled him from slumber but when he opened his eyes he found Fluttershy on her stomach, propping herself rather unsteadily on her forelegs so she could get her head inside the bowl of water that had been brought. She was drinking greedily and Big Mac lifted his head, “Easy, darlin',” he said quietly. “Easy now. Don't want to go makin' yourself sick.”
She lifted her head out of the bowl, muzzle dripping, and collapsed back onto the blanket. Her chest heaved as though the simple act had taken everything out of her. But she managed a very weak, “Cold.”
Big Mac's ears twitched, wondering if he'd actually heard her. “You cold?” When she nodded he got to his hooves. “Don't you move.” He was careful to step around her, his muscles thankful for the chance to work again. Walking out into the stadium he looked around and saw that everypony was busy doing one thing or another. It was quite the change from the almost casual air that had been in the stadium earlier. Applejack rushed by, then pulled up short and doubled back to talk to her brother.
“What's goin' on, AJ?”
“We're movin' tents. Got survivors comin' in from Appleloosa an' Celestia knows where else.”
The stallion glanced inside the dark tent at his back. “She can't be moved. She's too weak.”
Applejack frowned. “Can't you carry her.?”
“I don't want to hurt her. She needs at least tonight. Twilight's done somethin' in helpin' her but she just needs one more night.”
“All right,” Applejack conceded. “We'll get everypony else moved an' in the mornin' we'll see about this tent.”
“Thanks. Now where can I find a blanket?”
“Next tent over. Is it getting' too cold in there? Need the fires relit?”
But Big Mac shook his head. “I think it's okay for now. Fluttershy's just cold.”
Applejack's eyes widened. “She's awake?”
“In a manner of speakin'.”
“That's good!”
“Eeeyup. Go on an' get back to work. I'mma get me a blanket an' go back in with her.”
“All right. Hey, big brother. Mind if I ask you somethin'?”
“Long as it's quick.”
“I know you think of Dash, Twi an' them as little sisters but I always got the feelin' that didn't quite extend to Fluttershy.” He just blinked, expression carefully unreadable. It made Applejack tilt her head. “There's all this talk of startin' over, ponies thinkin' about what comes when this is all said an' done, families an' such. Do you...would you pick Fluttershy?”
He sighed heavily and looked out past his sister. “Hadn't really thought about it.”
“Well I just wanted to say if you did, I mean if you wanted to, I'd be okay with it.” He slowly returned his eyes to Applejack's and she offered a small smile. “She couldn't do much better than you.”
“An' what about you? Where do you fall in this whole business of startin' over?”
Color rushed to her cheeks and she adjusted her hat. “No idea but I best be gettin' back to work. Talk to you later!”
Chuckling to himself, Big Macintosh went next door and found a blanket among the rest of the medical supplies. He tossed it onto his back and, once back in the other tent, he pulled the door flaps closed to keep out some of the cooler air and some of the noise as well. Fluttershy was in the exact same spot and in the exact same position he'd left her in. Her eyes were closed, her brow drawn, and she didn't even look up when he approached. Once more he walked around so her back was to him but instead of laying down he lowered himself in a sort of bow to slide his yoke over his head. Once free of the heavy thing he walked back around to the front side of Fluttershy and took the blanket from his back. With a mighty fling of his head it unfolded and fell to drape over Fluttershy's body. He was gentle with his hooves and muzzle as he tucked the edges in around her body, then lay back down, this time at her front. One foreleg was pulled up close to his body, the other one stuck out much like the way a cat sometimes sleeps.
Still Fluttershy did not open her eyes. But she did move when he was settled and rested her head on his extended foreleg. He watched her silently, studying the line between her drawn brows. “Does it hurt?” Tears leaked out from under her closed eyes and she nodded. Big Mac draped his other foreleg over her, closer to her neck to cradle her head against his chest without putting pressure on her injury. He touched his muzzle to her forehead and kissed her. “What can I do?” he whispered against her pelt.
“Just stay.”
Her request was weak and tremulous, and Big Mac nodded as he curled himself around her. “I'm not goin' anywhere,” he promised thickly. “I'll be right here until you tell me you don't want me around anymore.” Even with the noise all around them they both managed to find comfort there together and fell asleep. Though sleep did not last long for either of them.
When Big Mac awoke this time the outside world of the stadium had quieted considerably. A glance upward at the smoke vents showed him the lights had been dimmed and he assumed it was finally late enough for everyone to finally turn in. “It's so quiet.”
He looked at the pegasus in his careful embrace, surprised both by her whisper and the fact that she was awake and her eyes were open. But what came as more of a shock was her face. Fluttershy's big turquoise eyes only served in highlighting just how much weight she had lost from her days of being so injured and unable to eat. Bones stood out where softness once had been and even now he was realizing just how coarse her coat was. But she was awake and looking up at him. “I'm sorry if I woke you,” she apologized.
“You didn't,” he promised, pulling the blanket up a little more to keep her warm. “You okay?”
“Nurse Tenderheart brought me some medicine a little while ago. It's better.”
How in the world had he slept through that? He lifted his head to glance at the water bowl and found it only slightly less full than before. Fluttershy managed to get a drink without disturbing him, too. That must have been some deep sleep he'd found. “You were dreaming,” said Fluttershy softly. “And you were smiling. It must have been a nice dream.”
“I honestly don't remember.” And it was the truth. One minute he'd closed his eyes and the next he was opening them. Now they were fixed on Fluttershy's face. “Do you need anythin'? Can I get you somethin'? More water? Somethin' to eat?”
“No.” She turned her face downward, snuggling back up against his chest with her nose buried under her blanket. Again her only request was, “Just stay.”
He kissed her forehead as he had hours ago and whispered, “Always.”
It was three days before any more news reached Fillydelphia. The pegasai had taken to forming groups and running scouting missions to look for any approaching survivors or any enemies that might be heading their way. For three days is was eerily quiet, as though the harbinger ponies were gathering on their own, planning just as those in Fillydelphia were. All of the corn stalks within the city walls had been stripped and brought for the corn cannon but there had been no need to fire it for days. It was unsettling to say the least.
Rainbow Dash stood on top of the outer wall, magenta eyes staring suspiciously out over the flatlands and to the forest beyond. Raindrops was there to her left her with a cast on her leg, and the Fillydelphia native Scribes stood to Dash's left, both of them promoted to lieutenants in charge of certain groups of ponies. The sun was sinking low in the sky, fingers of fiery red and orange reaching out from the horizon like an ominous angry god above them. Dash flicked her tail.
“I don't like it.”
Scribes and Raindrops glanced at each other over Rainbow's back. “What can we do?” the yellow pegasus asked.
“Nothing. That's why I don't like it.” Dash looked at Scribes. “How far did you fly out last time?”
“We did the usual five mile circuit.”
“And there was no one?”
“No, ma'am. No ponies, no animals... not even any evidence of anyone being close recently.”
Dash swore under her breath. “They must be preparing, too. They've gotten smarter, first forming together to work in teams and groups and now they're strategizing. Fabulous.” Merry May, the third promoted pegasus, flew up from below to join the others on the wall and Dash looked at her. “Report.”
“Nothing yet, Commander.”
“Are we even sure that thing works? I mean, I know Epona built the cannon and all but...”
“It works,” Scribes assured. “It was the mayor's radio and it was in perfect condition when we found it. If there's a signal to be found out there I think Epona would have found it by now.” With a slight frown, Scribes looked at Dash. “It's had to have been an hour by now. We should fly out again. Maybe if both my team and Raindrops' team go we can spread out more but cover the same amount of area. That way we'll have a more accurate census.”
“All right,” Dash agreed. “Assemble your troops and go. At this point I want a report back if and as soon as you see anything. Even if it's the enemy. If they're on the move we need to know because, eventually, the remaining survivors are going to show up and it's going to take a group effort to get them inside safely.” Both pegasai nodded firmly and headed back into town to prepare to leave. Merry May, however, sat down beside Dash.
“Rarity finished the last tent this morning and everyone is helping get them up now. We've got six big cooling units below the stadium filled with food and water and four on the field itself with enough food to last us a few of days.”
Dash scowled and shook her head. “Do you think they're going to try and starve us out?”
“Man, I really hope not. I'm itching for a good fight.”
Down below them was a whole group of unicorns, the first line of defense in case of an attack. They way they all paced and sighed it was clear that they wanted to do more than just wait around, too. But Rainbow was afraid they'd be longing for these uneventful days soon enough. Some of them would never see another once the battle began.
“Dash, can I ask you something? Friend to friend?”
“Of course.”
“When this is all over, what happens to us? Do we stay here? Do we go back to Ponyville and rebuild? Do we build a new Cloudsdale?”
The rainbow-maned pegasus shook her head. “I don't know. Honestly I'm trying not to think that far ahead. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time.”
A flock of pegasai rushed past them, blowing their manes in the wake of their fluttering wings as they headed out and away from Fillydelphia. Merry May watched them go with a sigh. “I guess that's the smart thing to do. I keep trying to picture what life will be like after this. Sometimes I think Princess Celestia will show up at the last minute, defeat this big baddie we're waiting to see and set everything back to normal.”
Rainbow Dash looked sideways at her friend, curious. “And other times?”
Answering, Merry May grimaced. “Other times I wonder if I'll even make it through to see what life will be like.”
She should have chided Merry May, maybe even encouraged her. But the truth was that Dash struggled with the same back and forth between hope and doubt. Not just for herself but for the entire community they'd become. For her friends especially, and those she hoped and prayed were still alive like Soarin and Spitfire.
“Dash?” Merry May's voice pulled Rainbow from her thoughts. “What if Princess Celestia is dead?”
“Don't go there,” Dash warned. “I'm serious, Merry May. You have to believe she's okay and that we'll come out of this thing or else... what's the point in fighting?”
“Sorry. I know I'm the one who's usually oddball and unpredictable. But I get scared.”
“So do I. But I think the fear is good. It'll keep us focused when the time comes.”
It was no more than fifteen minutes when the cloud of pegasus ponies came back into view on the horizon. The sun was all but set for the day with the moon high and bright above them. But something made Rainbow Dash stand with her ears erect. Something didn't feel right. Her voice was clear and confident when she commanded, “To your stations,” to the unicorns below. Almost as one they were on their hooves facing forward, ears flattened and snarls on their lips. Merry May flew to the cannon and donned the goggles left there by Epona. She kept her eyes on Dash, waiting for a signal to turn it on.
As the pegasai drew closer Rainbow also heard the unmistakable sound of hooves below, heavy and great in number. Her eyes widened as her thoughts raced. The harbingers were chasing her pegasai! But what was making the noise? The spirits were formless and therefore soundless while apart from a body to inhabit.
“Open the gates!” called Scribes. “Quickly!”
Dash could see the dust moving below, being kicked up by the unseen hooves as the large invisible group tore across the open plane. Then, as if simply blinking had changed her vision, what had been invisible was now plain to be seen. Ponies innumerable thundered toward the outer gates of Fillydelphia, Luna at their head. Dash gasped and yelled, “Open the gates!”
The pegasus ponies, now nearly double the number of those that had gone out before, soared over the wall in a powerful gush of wind. The outer gates opened just in time for the newcomers to run through, then on through the second wall. But Luna stayed to the side and let everyone pass her before turning back. She stood between the gates of the outer wall, nostrils flared and head down.
“Luna!” Dash called. “What are you doing?”
Her horn glowed brightly as though gathering a powerful charge. It then went forth from her like a blast, a wave of light that highlighted everything it came in contact with. Dash watched it ripple outward and nearly tumbled from the wall when she saw, only momentarily, the formless shapes that were harbinger spirits that nearly had the city surrounded. Luna turned and trotted inside and the gates closed quickly behind her.
“They will not yet enter,” she panted as Dash landed on the ground before her. “They are not attacking anyone now but I still felt it prudent to arrive under a spell of invisibility.”
“Why aren't they attacking?” Dash asked quickly, trying not to panic.
“Because,” said Luna gravely. “They are awaiting their final command.” She looked wearily at the pegasus. “This is the last of us, every single one. We are the only ponies left in all of Equestria.”
The weight of Luna's words were heavy on the pegasus. How could it be possible? “Luna, I...”
“There is no time,” the alicorn interrupted. “Rainbow Dash, you must gather your friends. It is time I told you who you really are, and for what purpose my sister has been guiding you.”