Iron Sprocket stands up wiping the sweat off his brow, he glances down at his handy work, the train engine shines brightly in the afternoon sun. Wiping the grease off his hooves he turns his head as he hears hoof steps approaching, smiling he waves at the elements of generosity and loyalty who are chatting as they walk towards him, He walks over meeting them half way.
"Good afternoon ladies what can I do for ya?" Iron Sprocket inquires tipping his conductors hat at them, Rarity smile's at the gesture.
"Hello there darling." Rarity says, while Rainbow Dash shakes Iron Sprocket's hoof. "We need to charter a trip to the crystal empire."
"Well alright when ya need to get going." Iron Sprocket asks smiling brightly.
"Right now if possible." Rarity states. "If that's not a problem."
"Of course it ain't a problem right Sprocky?" Rainbow asks a wide grin on her face, Rarity scowls at Rainbow Dash.
"Now, now my dear there's no reason to be rude, Iron Sprocket could be busy." Rarity turns back to Iron Sprocket. "We don't want to be a bother."
"Oh it's no bother. Driving you guys around is my job for now." Iron Sprocket laughs off Rarity's concern and gestures too the train. "Come on I just finished cleaning the engine she's ready to depart." Iron Sprocket leads the two element's onto the train.
"Thank you very much darling." Rarity says sitting down in a window booth in the dining car, Iron Sprocket smiles.
"No problem transporting ponies is what I do." He turns toward the engine car, and calls over his shoulder. "If you need anything you'll know where I'll be."
"Thanks Sprocky ." Rainbow Dash calls out as Iron Sprocket leaves the room with a wave.
"So my dear what do you think about this whole mess?" Rarity asks stirring some sugar into her tea, Rainbow Dash sits down across from Rarity.
"I don't know, I mean our worst villains from our past are joining forces." Rainbow Dash shakes her head. "And too think we trusted Discord again."
"Actually my dear I don't think Discord betrayed us this time." Rarity says after taking a sip of her tea, Rainbow Dash raises an eyebrow at Rarity.
"You serious Rare I mean it seems pretty obvious to me." Rainbow Dash says scratching her neck with her right hoof. Rarity shakes her head.
"Yes I agree with you the dots connect easily." Rarity says her hoof on her chin and her eyes closed, deep in thought. "Too easily."
"Except..." Rarity opens her eyes and looks at the rainbow maned Pegasus sitting across from her, Rainbow is scratching the back of her head.
"Except?" Rarity inquires raising her eyebrow.
"Well you see, I think I saw something that kinda pokes a hole in this whole thing." Rainbow Dash says, a blush appearing on her cheeks. Sensing some gossip coming up Rarity inches as close she can and leans across the table toward Rainbow Dash.
"And what was that my dear?" Rarity says her eyes sparkling at Rainbow Dash.
"I don't know if I should-" Rainbow Dash stops talking when she sees Rarity's eyes looking at her pleadingly, Rainbow Dash sighs. "Okay, okay you know I can't say no to that face."
"Yes my dear I know." Rarity smiles at her.
"Okay so earlier when I went to get Fluttershy she was still in bed."
"Really? Fluttershy usually gets up so much earlier then that."
"Yeah but the weirdest thing is that when I first opened the door to her room, she wasn't, well I mean she wasn't.... alone." Rainbow Dash says cringing slightly, Rarity's eyes widen at this.
"What do you mean?" Rarity asks intrigued.
"For a split second I thought I saw... Discord... in bed... with Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash says obviously very uncomfortable. Rarity covers her mouth trying to stop herself from squealing, it doesn't work.
"I KNEW IT!!!" Rarity squeals at the top of her lungs, forcing Rainbow Dash to cover her ears, Rarity continues happily giggling like a school filly. Rainbow just looks over at her.
"What's gotten into you?" Rainbow Dash asks raising her eyebrow at Rarity. Rarity coughs stopping her giggling.
"Sorry my dear, I just love being right when it comes to romance." Rarity says sighing peacefully "A beauty and a beast how romantic."
"Do you think this means Discord didn't betray us." Rainbow asks rubbing the back of her neck. Suddenly the air get's cold causing Rainbow Dash to shiver, she looks over at Rarity whose happy face has turned to a dark almost terrifying stare.
"If he actually has betrayed us after giving Fluttershy such a lovely gift and cuddling with her in bed." Rarity's voice drips so much poison, that Rainbow Dash covers her mouth and nose thinking it might be airborne. "Then he better pray to Celestia that he gets turned back to stone because if he breaks Fluttershy's heart I will personally see him suffer pain that makes eternity in stone look like an all expense paid trip on a luxury cruise to Hoofalulu!"
"Uh..." Rainbow Dash utters taking one hoof away from her face to speak, but she can't find the words. Rainbow Dash just stares at her eyes wide as Rarity's eyes seem to be burning a whole through her very soul. Suddenly Rarity blinks and her eyes return to normal she rubs the back of her head and laughs nervously.
"Sorry Dear I think I forgot something in my cabin." Rarity quickly stands up and runs to the door that leads to the sleeping cars, she opens it up and quickly Dashes inside. The door swings shut with a thud. Rainbow Dash just stares at where her friend had gone, she shakes her head and chuckles. Rarity really takes romance seriously. Rainbow Dash looks out the window and sighs. But I guess that's one of the reasons she's so cu-. Aloud thud coming from the next car grabs Rainbow Dash's attention, she stands up and walks her way over to the door, but just before she reaches it, the door opens and Rarity walks through closing the door behind her.
"Rarity you okay? I heard a crash." Rainbow Dash looks worried at her friend. Rarity looks her in the eye and smiles.
"Oh I'm fine don't worry darling." Rainbow Dash's eye twitches." I just dropped one of my suitcases." Rainbow Dash look's at her skeptically but then smiles and flaps into the air and starts flying toward the engine room.
"Hey Rare." Rainbow Dash calls over her shoulder , Rarity who is quite a few feet behind Rainbow Dash walking slower then her brightly colored companion, looks up at her.
"Yes Darling?" Rarity asks smiling brightly, Rainbow Dash doesn't look back but keeps flying.
"You know what's something weird I've noticed about you?" Rainbow Dash asks stopping a few feet away from the engine door. Rarity stops walking as well, only about half way across the room.
"What's that darling?" Rarity asks a quizzical smile across her face. Rainbow Dash lands on the engine door bracing herself against it, Rarity raises an eyebrow at her. Rainbow Dash makes eye contact for the first time since Rarity reentered the dining car, Rarity gasps a the look of anger and hatred burning in Rainbow Dash's eyes.
"RARITY NEVER CALLS ME DARLING!" Rainbow screams as she launches herself off the engine room door, causing it to dent inward, as she fly's across the room at blinding speed. Rarity can't even gasp as Rainbow Dash slams into her chest with her fore hooves, carrying her across the room Rainbow Dash and Rarity break through the door to the sleeping car, Rainbow Dash flaps to a stop sending both Rarity and the door flying across the room. As Rainbow Dash lands she see's Rarity and the door slam into three figures down the hallway, the bag they were carrying sits in the middle of the hallway thrashing wildly. Rainbow Dash fly's over to the bag glancing over at Rarity, who bursts into green flames changing back into a changeling, the changeling is laying on top of the now dented door, which is crushing three other changelings. Rainbow Dash opens the bag and smiles brightly at the pale white unicorn smiling back at her. The real Rarity jumps out of the bag and throws her hooves around Rainbow Dash's neck.
"Oh thank you my dear." Rainbow Dash returns the hug a gentle smile on her face. " Thank you."
"Hey guys what's taking you so-" Rainbow Dash look over at the voices and sees three more changelings walking through the door to the next car. "long" Rainbow Dash's face turns angry as she sets Rarity down to the side and ready's herself to pounce, the changelings all run back down the hall panicking, Rainbow Dash grins over at Rarity, Rarity giggles at her.
"Go ahead my dear." Just as Rarity finishes that sentence, Rainbow Dash bolts through the doorway, the door slams behind her rainbow trail. Rarity just shakes her head while smiling and walks back into the dining car. She stops moving as she hears the sound on metal bending, and hoof steps above her. Rarity looks up just in time to see the ceiling rip apart as a large red hand reaches in and grabs her around the waist, she struggles with the hand as it pulls her up through the ceiling, but the fingers wiggle her around in their grip pinning her fore hooves to her side, when Rarity makes it through the hole in the ceiling she is gazing into the piercing eyes of Tirek.
"Hello Weakling." Tirek sneers, Rarity's eyes widen at the sight of the centaur.
"Wh-what?" Rarity stammers out horrified. What's Tirek doing here with- oh my god he's working with Chrysalis too?! But how!?
"Surprised to see me are you?" Tirek gloats a smug grin on his face. "Yes I'm back and there's nothing you pathetic ponies can do to stop me, especially when I drain one of you six fools."
"We stopped you before we'll do it again!" Rarity shouts, her horn charging with magic, Tirek just yawns. Rarity shoots a blast of magic at Tirek but he blocks it with his hand and when she stops shooting Tirek is holding a small purple ball of glowing magic.
"Pathetic." Tirek huffs at her, He leans his head back to pop in the ball of magic, he stops when he hears a beep. Looking up he searches for the source when he hears it again he sees a flash of red in his hand. Tirek opens his fist to look at the ball of magic he is holding, it flashes red and makes a beeping sound, and then does it again, and again, again, again, Tirek raises the ball to his face, as it rapidly switches between purple and red, beeping unstop. "What's going-" Tirek is interrupted by the ball of magic in his hand exploding into a giant fireball , that engulfs his upper body the explosion causes him to drop Rarity she falls to the roof of the train and starts scrambling away, but is stopped by something grabbing hold of her left hind leg.
"You little bitch!" Tirek growls between his teeth, he lifts Rarity up to his eye level. "Just stealing your magic is too good for you."
"What do you m-" Rarity is interrupted by Tirek sinking his claws into her back leg, she screams in pain, a wet feeling begins pouring down her leg down toward her chest, as tears begin forming in her eyes, Crack, Rarity cries out again as she feels the bones in her leg snap.
"Yes scream you pathetic worm scre-" Tirek is cut off by a blue hoof slamming into the side of his face, His head jerks to the side as he drops Rarity once more, but before she sits the ground Rainbow Dash swoops down and catches her placing her gently on the ground.
"Rainbow... your here." Rarity exclaims weakly, tears of joy joining her tears of pain. Rainbow Dash's eyes are full of tears and they begin streaming down her face as she looks down at Rarity's bloody broken leg.
"I'm so sorry Rarity!" Rainbow Dash cries. "I shouldn't have left you alone."
"It's okay my dear your here now." Rarity uses her hoof to wipe Rainbow Dash's eyes.
"Yes very touching now you can die together!" Rainbow looks up to see Tirek running at them, Rainbow Dash fly's up and dashes at Tirek his fist and her hoof collide, they waver for a second but Tirek's superior strength sends Rainbow Dash flying backward to the front of the train, where do to her loss of altitude causes her to land on the front windshield.
"What the heck!?" Iron Sprocket exclaims upon seeing the element of loyalty slam into the front of his train. He reaches for the brake but stops when he hears a familiar voice.
"Don't you dare stop this train!" Rainbow Dash yells through the glass lifting herself up onto her legs. All Iron Sprocket can do is look at her in surprise as she begins to crawl back up toward the top of the train, he turns to go out the engine room door but remembers he can't do to the door being dented inward. Back on top of the train Rainbow Dash peers over the top and can see Tirek reaching for Rarity again, Rainbow Dash glares at him before flapping into the air and flying at top speed back at Tirek. Tirek looks up just before Rainbow Dash slams into the center of his chest sending him flying backwards, he would've flown all the way off the back of the train if he hadn't grabbed onto the railing at the back of the train. Tirek pulls himself up slightly so he can see the top of the train the elements have disappeared, he grinds his teeth as he begins fighting against the wind to drag himself back up on top of the train.
Meanwhile Rainbow Dash lays Rarity down on the bed in one of the sleeping cabins, upon setting her down all the way Rainbow Dash begins putting her Wonder Bolt survival training to good use and looks for something to clean, dress, and set Rarity's leg. Rarity winces in pain as the train rumbles across the tracks. Rainbow Dash returns to Rarity's side with a first aid kit, quickly Rainbow Dash cleans the wound as fast as she can and gets it all bandaged in almost no time at all, quick but not painless, indicated by Rarity's cries of pain the whole time. Once she's all done Rainbow Dash sits on a chair facing Rarity's bed, and sighs heavily. Rarity gently takes Rainbow Dash's hoof in her own and smiles at her, Rainbow returns with a weak smile back.
"What do we do now?" Rainbow Dash asks hanging her head. "I can't beat him alone."
"Your not alone my dear." Rainbow Dash looks up at Rarity who has sat up in bed, Rainbow Dash's eyes are wide.
"Oh no, your too hurt to fight him." Rainbow Dash exclaims lightly pushing Rarity back down on the bed by her shoulders.
"At Tirek's current strength it'll take the power of at least two elements of harmony too defeat him now." Rarity groans out in pain.
"So we're screwed huh?" Rainbow Dash jokes hanging her head once more, chuckling a little.
"Not quite my dear." Rainbow Dash looks up at Rarity.
"Rare I already said-" Rainbow Dash begins.
"Just come here a moment." Rarity says waving Rainbow Dash over, when Rainbow Dash leans closer to Rarity, she grabs the sides of the Pegasus's head. Rainbow Dash looks at her with a raised eyebrow, but her eyes shoot open when Rarity suddenly sits up and kisses Rainbow Dash on the lips. Her surprise doesn't last long as her eyes become half lidded and she wraps her hooves around Rarity pulling her into a tender embrace, Deeping the kiss between the two. Rainbow Dash feels Rarity's horn touch her forehead, she feels magic surging through Rarity's horn but she doesn't care, what she does care about is the fact that Rarity has loosened her grip on Rainbow Dash's face and her kisses have slowed down, but most alarming it feels like Rarity is going limp in Rainbow Dash's arms. Rainbow Dash pulls away from Rarity and looks at her face, he eyes have dark lines under them making her look extremely tired and her skin seems to have some how gotten paler. Rainbow Dash looks at her in horror, be her gaze wonders to her own hoof holding Rarity's head the tops of her hooves are glowing purple.
"What did you do?" Rainbow Dash exclaims in amazement as she feel power coursing through her body, Rarity giggles dryly.
"Remember when Twilight said the princesses all transferred their powers to her?" Rainbow Dash nods. "Well I just transferred all my power to you my dear."
"What? How did you do that?" Rainbow Dash asks bewildered.
"After Twilight told us what the princesses did I looked into how to do the spell myself." Rarity giggles. "I'm not exactly the best fighter we have so I thought the best way for me to help when we don't shoot giant rainbows at people, would be to boost your abilities. So you can do the fighting for me." Rarity laughs with a smile, Rainbow Dash looks at Rarity with a tender gaze.
"I love you Rarity." Rainbow Dash says tears forming in her eyes, Rarity returns her tearful gaze
"I love you too Rainbow Dash." Rarity's eyes narrow and a smirk appears on her face " Now go kick that guys ass." Rainbow Dash get's a huge grin on her face.
"Yes ma'am!" Rainbow Dash shouts launching herself through the ceiling.
Tirek turns at the sound of metal bursting open, as he turns his head Rainbow Dash slams into his chest, causing him to bend over and clutch his gut, she then swings her hoof down driving his head into the top of the train, spinning in the air she kicks him, sending him across the train his face grinding on the roof, the whole way. Tirek stops just short of the engine car, he rips his head out of the roof and launches a barrage of fire ball's in the direction of his opponent, instead of simply dodging it Rainbow Dash charges forward and the purple glow on her hooves intensifies as she punches through each fireball, as she does the fireball poof into smoke. before punching the last fireball Rainbow Dash ducks down avoiding a swipe from Tirek's claws as it passes through his own fire ball. She slides across the ground and then pushes off the roof with her wings and flips through the air kicking Tirek under the chin lifting him into the air, she then moves too fast for the eye to see kicking him back down to the ground, as he falls Rainbow Dash seems to vanish once more. Tirek opens his eyes as he falls, he sees past the rear of the train and his eyes widen as he sees a rainbow dot moving at him insanely fast, as the blur reaches the rear of the train a rainbow seems to explode out from it and it seems to sudden move twice as fast. Tirek feels a impact on his front, and then several more blows hit him across his entire body, then one final drop kick is delivered directly to the center of his chest sending him flying at the speed of sound flying past the engine of the train several miles away.
Iron Sprocket stares in amazement at the creature that fly's down the train track's ahead of him, he jumps back in surprise as Rainbow Dash smashes her hoof through the windshield of the train.
"Hey is there any way to make this thing explode?!" Rainbow Dash shouts at him, Iron Sprocket just stares at the rainbow Pegasus with glowing purple hooves that's yelling at him. "Train! Explode! NOW!"
"Oh, um, if I throw all the coal into the engine at once and then clog the exhaust vent and overload the electronics the train would explode upon impact with any sturdy object." Iron Sprocket says quickly, Rainbow Dash tilts her head and raises an eyebrow.
"How do you?" Rainbow Dash asks pointing a hoof at him, he blushes and looks away.
"Let's just say I had a really bad first day on the job." Rainbow Dash shakes her head.
"Not important just do it, that guy-" Rainbow Dash points down the train tracks. "-Is getting blow'd up."
"Ok I'll do it you and miss Rarity get out of here."
"What about you?" Rainbow Dash asks pointing at him.
"I'll teleport." He gestures to his flank. "Transporting ponies is my specialty." Rainbow Dash gives him a slight laugh and fly's back to Rarity, while Iron Sprocket get's to sabotaging his own train.
Down The Train Tracks
Tirek stands up out of the dirt and looks down the tracks at the on coming train that seems to be moving even faster. He stomps his hooves into the dirt rooting himself to the spot he places his hands in the air. Think they've stopped me! I'll kill them both them! The train slams into the palms of his hands his hooves slid backward, but the metal of the engine begins to bend as the wheels squeal with effort, a sinister grin appears on his face, but it suddenly turns to a frown as electricity sparks through the machine and fire begins to erupt into flame, suddenly an explosion incinerates everything in a fifty foot radius. Tirek lays on the ground unconscious charred black. Suddenly a buzzing noise fills the air as Tirek's squad of twenty changelings land on the ground around him, one of them tilts his head into the air, after a second he nods and they all grab hold of Tirek and fly off with him in their hooves.
Miles Away In The Sky
Rainbow Dash holds a still weakened Rarity in her fore hooves princess style, they both gaze off into the distance at the castle of the crystal empire in the distance. Rainbow Dash looks down at Rarity who returns her gaze, Rarity smiles gently and then nuzzles her face into Rainbow Dash's neck, Rainbow Dash smiles and holds Rarity tighter as she fly's off into the sunset toward the castle. Down on the ground Iron Sprocket looks at the two of them fly of with a smile on his face, before walking off in the same direction.