No Heroes: Beyond the Everfree

by PaulAsaran

19 – The Plan

Fine watched quietly as his leg prodded the still body of Bright Eyes.

“You know,” Rex said thoughtfully, “It always interested me just how easy it is to kill you creatures. You don’t even have proper scales to defend yourselves with.”

And what purpose did the elder’s death serve?

Rex rolled his eyes and stepped over the corpse. “Does it even need a purpose? Maybe it was just fun.”

Maybe it was, Fine acknowledged, but I don’t think you did that just to do it. You don’t become a ‘god’ by random murder.

Rex smiled as he stepped into the shadows of the entrance hall. “Listen to you, trying to sound all logical. You can’t hide your emotions from me, Fine. I know the death of that thestral hurts you inside.”

Not as much as you might think. Fine recognized the cold truth behind that statement. Fluttershy’s words repeated in his head, leaving a deep pang in... whatever served as a heart in his current condition. It was true, wasn’t it? He didn’t value life, not like he should. The elder’s fall should have rattled him far, far more than it did. Instead, he was too busy thinking about the potential implications.

He really was a monster, wasn’t he?

“You’re not a very good liar, kid.” Rex turned into a door hidden within the shadows. He traversed dark, cramped hallways with ease, only pausing when he found rubble blocking his path. “I can almost taste your pain.”

Fine did his best to think of nothing.

“Oh, clamming up now?” Rex chuckled and shook his head. “How pathetic. There’s nothing you can hide from me, Verity Fine. I read you like a book.”

Fine would have smirked, were he able. Who is Catrina?

Rex stumbled to a halt, his breath hitching. His query came out as a fierce hiss. “How do you know that name?”

Your side of the skull’s not as well-sealed as you think. Fine dove a little deeper, looking to satiate his own curiosity. He encountered something very different from what he anticipated. She was your mistress?

Something akin to pressure pushed back, and Fine found himself unable to see Rex’s memories anymore. It didn’t matter, he had enough; brown fur, feline features, royal red robes, fiery orange mane. I’ve never seen a creature quite like her. What was she?

Rex answered through gritted teeth. “Do not ever speak of her again.”

Fine discovered that he could still laugh in his mind. Or you’ll what? Go on, how do you intend to threaten—

His leg swung sideways in a flash, smacking the corner of the wall hard. Pain lanced up to his shoulder. Fine shook it, as if this would deaden the pain. Ow.

“That’s what I can threaten you with,” Rex snarled. “You like it?”

No, no he didn’t. But at the same time, Fine had just learned something very important. Pushing the idea aside for later, he asked, Okay, so you can hurt us. That’s not going to stop me from asking questions. You’re hurting yourself too, after all.

His lips curled into a wicked grin. “I didn’t feel a thing. As if I would allow myself to feel your pain. Your body obeys my every whim, including what I feel from it.” He resumed his trot, turning down a flight of stairs.

Only a lot of training with Luna kept Fine from pursuing his thoughts. He knew things now, and he wanted to keep them to himself.

Rex chuckled. “That’s funny. As if you could keep anything from me.”

So, Catrina was a witch of some sort?

“I told you not to talk about her!”

Well, I’m not listening. Catrina… nope doesn’t ring any bells. You must be pretty old if even I’ve never heard of you guys.

Rex raised a shaking hoof. “You shut up, or I’ll…”

Yes?

A few seconds of quiet. Rex smiled. “I’ll kill your mare.”

Funny, Fine could scoff in his head too. His condition was far more versatile than he expected. And what is that supposed to do for you?

Rex blinked. “What do you mean? Did you not understand? I said I’d kill Fluttershy.”

And I admit, that would hurt. It would hurt a lot. I’d probably hate you for it. But in the end, I’d still be here, and I’d still be asking the questions. Doesn’t do you much good, does it?

“Or maybe I’d just like to see you in pain,” Rex growled. “There are plenty of pretty mares out there for me to bang.”

But only one me, and I don’t think you’re all that eager to get rid of this body. Besides, Fine added as an afterthought, who am I going to tell?

Rex was as still as stone for some time, his eyes narrowed and his breathing measured. Fine waited patiently, in no hurry. At last, the spirit spoke. “You’re smarter than the average mortal. Still annoying, but perhaps it is worth it. It is a shame your princess didn’t value you more.”

He resumed his walk, expression sour. “Very well. Yes, Catrina was my master, and I worshipped the ground she walked on. Much like you worship the ground your precious Fluttershy walks on. She was a Felid, a race that is apparently extinct in modern times, if your limited brain's memory is anything to go by. A shame, really; they made for great sorcerers, as Catrina proved.”

Fine filled in the silence. So what happened to her?

Rex’s scowl deepened. “The lesser creatures, creatures such as yourself, rebelled. They caught her by surprise, and she died.”

Fine considered this for a while, and Rex made no attempt to elaborate. Still, he gathered he knew a lot more about his controller’s motivations now. Do you really think you can bring her back?

His lips curled into a teeth-baring snarl. “How do you know that?”

An educated guess. Which was true this time.

Rex snorted and raked his claws against the smooth stone, leaving a deep gouge. “Death is but a veil, as my continued survival proves. I will find a way to pierce it in time.”

How much time have you had?

“Not enough.” They approached a flickering light shining through a side door. Rex smirked as he stepped through.

It was odd, not being able to sense his feelings physically. Fine knew he should be angry, or worried, perhaps furious. He was, but lacking any means of expressing those emotions deadened the effect somewhat, so that he felt more numb than anything.

Fluttershy lay with her back to them. Her room was little more than bare stone, with no furnishing of any kind save a torch lit in the corner. A shackle was attached to her hind leg just above the knee and to the wall by a long chain. Despite her situation, she held her head high and refused to acknowledge their arrival.

Rex gave a flourish of a bow. “A pleasure to see you again, my beauty.” When Fluttershy failed to so much as glance at him, he chuckled. “Giving me the cold shoulder. See, Fine? She’s of a stronger mind than you think.”

Fine greatly lamented the ability to audibly groan, it would have sounded far more apropos. You might want to switch tactics, genius.

The spirit chuckled and slowly walked about his captive. Fluttershy refused to look at him, her gaze straight and her expression firm. When Rex attempted to stand directly in her line of sight, she closed her eyes. He reached forward, gently touching her chin with a long claw, but retracted it quickly. “I can see why my host adores you. There’s more passion in you than it appears at first.” He leaned a little closer and whispered, “I could use that.”

Still, she offered no answer, though she did tense up a little.

Rex continued his circling. “I don’t like keeping you chained like this, but I can’t let my little canary fly away. That’s your pet name for her, right, Fine?”

Yes, because that was so hard to figure out.

He ignored Fine’s sarcasm, stopping when he was at Fluttershy’s side. “You think you can resist me, do you?” His smile broadened and he began petting her mane. One stroke. Two. Three.

He grabbed the back of her head. Not hard, just enough that she couldn’t get away. He pulled her head back so she was looking at the ceiling. She continued to hold her tongue, but there was the quietest of gasps and her lip began to tremble. Fine nearly snapped at his possessor, but held back and simmered.

“I could just take you right now,” Rex whispered in her ear. “It wouldn’t be hard. Throw you against the wall and have my way with you.” His free claw rubbed against her smooth neck, and Fluttershy whimpered. “I haven’t felt a female of any kind in so long, I’d forgotten what it was like. I could even permit Fine to feel it at times. Would you like that, Fine?”

Fine said nothing. He merely allowed his boiling anger to be known.

Rex grinned. “He’d love it. Have you any idea how many sultry dreams he’s had? Ravaging your body?” He pressed his muzzle to her mane and took a deep breath. “It would be a wonderful thing, letting him indulge.”

Tears were streaming down Fluttershy’s cheeks. Fine wished he could take control of his lips, just for a moment, to reassure her. The inability to do so drove his mind to a deeper menace.

When this is over, I hope I get the chance to see you die, Rex.

Rex’s smile turned sultry. He patted Fluttershy’s cheek. “All good things to those who wait.”

He released her and stepped back. Fluttershy didn’t move away, even as she sniffled and fought back tears. Fine couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride for her… and horror. Rex walked to a nearby wall, turned back to her and sat.

“I killed the leader of the Coven. The thestrals will be disorganized and weak. I’ve given them until sunrise tomorrow to bow. Those who do not will die. It’s going to be a rather fun inauguration, but until then? It’s just us, my dear. I thought we could spend this time… getting know one another. That sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

She didn’t answer, and Fine was too busy reigning in his anger to speak up.

After a few seconds, Rex scratched his chest. “Very well, let me go first. Name’s Rex. Lord Rex to my inferiors, which is everyone. I’m a godlike being with powers beyond mortal imagining, ruler of all thestrals, tyrannical despot, and collector of fine rugs. I’d show you my collection, but it appears they weren’t immune to a few thousand years of age and rot. I knew those damned merchants from Glyphelda were robbing me blind. Granted, I still had them skinned and cooked, but it’s the thought that counts, y’know? Merchants are supposed to be honest.”

At last, Fine had recovered enough to mutter a dry, I don’t think that’s gonna win her over, Rex.

Rex laughed, tapping the side of his head as he did. “No, you’re probably right. After all, the whole murder and blood thing didn’t work on her for you, now did it?”

At last, Fluttershy reacted. She turned her hard gaze upon Rex, her eyes dry but her cheeks still moist. “So Fine is alive.”

“She speaks!” Rex pressed his claws together and leaned forward. “Yes, he lives. He can see, feel and hear everything we say and do. Does that please you?”

She looked directly into his eyes. “Have faith in our friends, Fine. They’ll find a way.”

Pride filled Fine’s mind, or at least something akin to it. It still came out distressingly dull. Even so, he tried to take as much pleasure in her confidence as he could.

“Will they?” Rex leaned back, rubbing his hooves together as he thought. “You know, I aim to slaughter everything not bowing to me tomorrow. I strongly suspect your remaining three pony friends will be among that number.” He turned his head away and scratched at his chin. “However, I could be convinced to let them live. I could even have them as chosen guests. They can avoid the work groups, the construction crews, avoid the army where they’ll likely be sacrificed in one of the worthless conflicts I like to cook up on occasion for kicks.”

Fluttershy turned her gaze back to the wall. “I’m not giving you anything.”

“Oh, you’re going to want to think about that.” Rex’s voice dropped low. “Creatures placed in the work and construction crews usually don’t last more than a month or two. Soldiers have an even shorter life expectancy. Or I could just kill them outright. Well, not your Pegasus friend. She’s strong, at least physically. She’d make for a good breeder.”

Although she flinched, Fluttershy would not respond. Even so, Fine knew Rex could see her trembling lip.

He leaned forward once more. “On the other claw, if you were to accept your place at my side, why, they could lead long, full lives. Rainbow is a fast, strong mare. She could take on a bodyguard’s role. Heck, I might even let her join in on our more… ‘active’ nights. I bet Fine would enjoy that.”

You’re a sick puppy, Rex.

Rex only grinned, but it faded quickly. “The stallion is trickier. I suppose I could place him into some kind of managerial role. Hope he likes dealing with whiners.

“Then there’s the pink one.” Now he scowled. “Useless. Stupid. Annoying. Loud. I keep thinking I should have killed her the moment I first laid eyes on her.”

Fluttershy whimpered and turned her head away. Rex’s expression softened. “Then again, she does know how to cook. Perhaps if she can be taught to calm down and cook meat, I could keep her around. If you cooperated, that is.”

Still, she refused to reply. Fine couldn’t resist wondering if she was thinking about it. The idea probably should have worried him more than it did.

Rex stood and stepped close to her. With a lone talon tucked under her chin, he forced her to look him in the face. Her hard eyes were enough to ease any concerns Fine might have had.

The demon frowned. “I will have you, one way or another. The only reason I haven’t taken you now is because I want to show you my merciful side. But make no mistake, little canary; this is happening, and you will enjoy it.”

And then Fluttershy did something so uncharacteristic of her, Fine felt the shock even through his dulled senses; she spit in his face. Rex jerked back, eyes going wide. She continued to glare at him, lips firmly sealed.

Then Rex smiled and wiped the saliva from his cheek. He examined the liquid with a smirk. “You see that, Fine? We haven’t even had our first date and she’s already trying to swap bodily fluids. So endearing.”

You’re not half as amusing as you think you are, you know that?

He flicked the spit away lazily before turning for the door. “It’s alright, you don’t have to decide now. I’ll give you some time. Time, to see the futility of hope. Time, to recognize that nobody is going to save you. I think… five days will suffice.” He blew her a kiss before stepping out. “Good day, my little canary.”

You know she’s never going to agree, right?

“Of course she will,” Rex whispered, not losing his smug smile. “I’ve seen into your memories of her. She’s one of the noble ones. She’ll give in, for the sake of her friends.”

Fine had nothing to say to this. Deep down, he suspected the bastard might be right.

---

The stone ovens of Tidal’s community kitchen radiated heat far beyond anything Pinkie was accustomed to cooking with. Even so, she’d long figured out the way it functioned. Bread might not be cake, but it was still something to bake, and baking helped her relax. She eyed the small red temperature gauge and adjusted the oven’s vents until it settled where she wanted, then noted the time in her head. That done, she moved on to some yeast.

The thestral cooks watched her work in quiet fascination. Bread was an uncommon thing for them, and she used methods they were not accustomed to. The few extra ingredients she’d added to her pouch when this trip started were beginning to show their usefulness at last. How had she known she’d need them?

She had no idea, and that disturbed her.

Pinkamina wanted to appear calm. Perhaps she pulled it off. The thestrals watching her work didn’t seem worried. Even so, she pulled and tore and punched the yeast with a viscous desire. Her thoughts kept going back to Fine Crime and that… that thing in his head. Oh, how she longed to hurt it.

But hurting it wasn’t an option. To hurt it, she’d have to hurt Fine. Besides, she didn’t hurt things anymore. It wasn’t in her. Or rather, it was, but she’d learned long ago how to ignore that side of her.

Everypony had something to do. Rainbow was out inspecting the ring of fire with Polar. Nye was at the temple, ‘negotiating’. Sera was busy trying to rally the fearful thestrals who were still considering surrender, and Fang was with the warriors trying to plan some form of defense. That left Pinkie alone and wondering what her role should be. At first, she’d decided to do the only thing she considered herself good for in these circumstances: support and supply.

Yet, as the hours wore on, her thoughts shifted to a new role: scheming.

Pinkamina and Fine Crime. On the outside, they seemed as different as night and day. On the inside, she knew they shared far more in common than anypony else realized. Fine was a schemer, a thinker, a planner. When he really got into the act, he could predict a pony’s behavior and reactions better than the ponies themselves. He used that skill to weave complicated, masterful plans for whatever his goal was.

Pinkie and Fine had some other things in common. Maybe more than Pinkie knew. Pinkie Sense was a sort of precognition, wasn’t it? Maybe Fine’s unique talents were something like that. Maybe, if she could tap into the same mindset, she could conjure a solution out of this mess.

After a lot of thinking – and the removal of a warm, crinkly loaf from one of the ovens – Pinkie had an epiphany. What did Fine still have that she lacked? Something he didn’t like to share with ponies, just as she tried to keep Pinkamina hidden away. That something was violence.

He once told her how he sometimes longed to hurt others. It was a small thing, practically subconscious. The easiest means of releasing the pressure was his plotting for the Archons. No matter how good his intentions, when he planned missions he did it with the sad certainty that somepony was going to get hurt. It seemed like such an offhoof method of venting, and yet it appeared to work well for him.

Baking was Pinkie’s venting. Such a different method, so completely alien to his. It wasn’t without its roots. The very thought of it sent shivers down her spine.

Perhaps she could tap into that. Perhaps it would be enough. Normally she’d have never even considered letting that urge build up within her, but these weren’t normal circumstances. Somepony had to come up with a plan. Fluttershy and Fine were both unavailable to do so. Rainbow worked best on reflexes and reaction, not schemes, and Nye wasn’t much different.

That left her.

And so, her mind filled with anxiety, Pinkamina allowed herself to think, and channeled the anger and menace she hid deep within herself for so long. Hours passed. Baking. Shelving. Serving. Mixing. Kneading. Thinking. She approached the situation from so many angles, wondering at each one, obsessed with finding a solution. Facts were laid out in her mind’s eye, but she couldn’t quite get the pieces together to form a solution.

Information. She needed more information.

Still, she kept at it. There was nothing else for her to do.

“Pinkie?”

She almost dropped the loaf she’d been pulling from the oven. Turning about, hoof flying, she nearly struck the speaker in the face with the still-hot cooking stone, but managed to pull back at the last second. Nye jumped back on reflex, but wouldn’t have been fast enough on his own.

Pinkie sucked in a sharp breath and carefully slid the bread onto a clay platter. “Word to the wise, Nye: never surprise a mare with burning hot cooking utensils.” Then she realized who she was talking to and thrust her face into his. “Nye, you’re back! And—” Her neck stretched out as she examined him from multiple angles, including under his barrel and legs, causing him to blush and cross his hind legs. “—whole. Thank Celestia, I thought for sure that meanie would turn you into a kabob.”

A pained light shone in his eyes and his lips worked. “Not… me. I wanted to gather everypony, share what I learned. Could you grab Fang and head to the meeting hall? I already sent somepony to get Rainbow and Polar, and was just about to go get Sera.”

“Okie dokie lokie!” She was off in a flash, headed for the training grounds. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope.

Nye had more information.

Maybe it would be all she needed.

---

Pinkie and Fang were the last to reach the meeting hall. They stepped into the large, circular room to find Sera and Polar trying not to watch as Rainbow nuzzled and rubbed up against Nye in a manner normally reserved for the bedroom.

Pinkie burst into giggles. “Wow, Rainbow! And here I thought you were gonna rip him a new one for walking into danger again.”

She pulled away from the furiously blushing stallion with a grin. “Are you kidding? Well, yeah, maybe I should, but I can’t help it. He only reminded me why I love him so much.”

Fang stomped, the sound loud enough to catch everypony’s attention. “Well, cut it out so we can get to business! And where’s Elder Bright Eyes? Shouldn’t he be here for this?”

A pained expression came over Nye and Sera in tandem. Pinkie felt her heart sink, and after a moment Rainbow’s ears folded back as she realized the situation.

Fang merely glared at Nye and her aunt. “What? Come on, what’s going on?”

Sera winced, head bowing as she looked to her niece. “Fang… Bright Eyes didn’t survive. Rex killed him in cold blood.”

Fang’s jaw dropped. She looked to Nye, who averted his gaze. After a few seconds she began to wobble. “B-but… That means there’s only two elders left.”

“And your father won’t be able to get to us.” Sera sighed and nodded. “Until he does, I am the only acting member of the Coven.”

Gradually, Fang steadied herself. She raised her hooves in the Royal Supplication. “May he traverse the stars with the Mother of All Night forever and beyond. I’ll support you in any way I can, Auntie.”

Sera smiled, but it was a frail thing. “I appreciate that, Fang. We will have to save the mourning for later, though.”

“And on that note, Nye?” Polar turned to the stallion. “What have you found?”

Nye took a deep breath, then raised his head high. For once, there was no fear or anxiety in him. He looked to those gathered with a solemn air. “My talk with Rex was a short one, but informative. He’s giving us all until sunrise tomorrow to surrender. He says that anyone not bowing in front of his temple at that time will be killed.”

Fang gave a derisive sniff. “He must know that we won’t all succumb that easily.”

“He does,” Nye confirmed, tone harsh. “And I think he aims to do exactly what he says.”

“Then we don’t have much time.” Rainbow flapped her wings a few times in agitation. “Dang it, we just don’t have any room to maneuver in this situation!”

Polar heaved a heavy sigh. “Please tell us you found something else out, something we can use against him.”

Nye grimaced. “I don’t know if it will be useful enough to let us form a plan, but I picked up on a few other things. For one, I’m pretty sure that Rex is a dragon spirit.”

Every pony and thestral shared incredulous looks. “What do you mean, a dragon spirit?” Fang asked.

“And how do you know?” Rainbow added.

Nye shuddered. “He mentioned eating meat. Me, to be specific.”

“That doesn’t mean much,” Sera said.

“Yeah, griffons eat meat,” Rainbow reminded him.

Nye waved the arguments aside. “He mentioned scales in a way that suggests he used to have them.”

Polar’s brow furrowed. “Okay, that does narrow things down a bit.”

“And he apparently likes the taste of rubies.”

“Yep, that’s a dragon, alright.” Rainbow sat and rubbed her forehead with both hooves. “Great. That explains the arrogance. And the wings and hoofclaws. Wait—” She turned to her coltfriend with a frown. “If he was a dragon, how can he use so much magic? I mean, it’s obvious he gave Fine’s body a serious boost, which means he has to be adding to Fine’s strength somehow.”

Nye raised his legs high in a shrug. “I have no idea.”

Pinkie took a step forward, her voice matching her hard expression. “What about Fluttershy? And Fine? Is there any clue he’s still in there?”

At this, Nye’s smile grew into a smirk. “Oh, yes, Fine’s definitely still in there. In fact, Rex wants to make Fluttershy his bride as a means of placating him.”

Rainbow’s head snapped up. “Wait, what?”

Pinkie felt an icy claw snatch her heart and give it a tight squeeze. “B-but… But Fluttershy doesn’t like him!”

“Doesn’t matter,” Fang growled. “I don’t think Rex is one to give a hydra’s dungheap what anypony else wants.”

Sera nodded grimly. “Agreed. He’ll force her into it, and probably himself upon her. If half the legends we have are true then it wouldn’t be the first time.”

In spite of her dark expression, Rainbow said, “At least she’s safe for now. We can work on a way to save her before it comes to that. What about Fine?”

Polar nodded frantically. “Yeah, what about him? Rex is in his body, maybe he’s in a position to help us?”

“Like what?” Fang asked with a roll of her eyes. “You think he’s going to overwhelm Rex’s mind and regain control? Fat chance.”

“Actually, Fine is already helping us.” Nye pressed his hooves together, expression thoughtful. “In his own way, at least. Rex claims that he can read through Fine’s mind. He knew who we all were and could identify us by name, but his information is off.”

“Off?” Rainbow asked. “How so?”

“Well, just for example, he considers me to be worthless.” Nye gained a lopsided smile and blushed. “Not to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty sure Fine doesn’t see me that way. Would Rex say that if he knew about, say, how I fought the gargoyles?”

The rest of the conversation faded away as Pinkie latched onto this new information. Her heart began to pound and her eyes grew wild. Fine was feeding Rex misinformation. Or perhaps, only certain bits of the truth. Taking in what she knew of Fine, and what Fine knew of them, she began putting pieces together. What would Fine leave out? What information would be the most beneficial to keep secret?

Step by step, move by move, Pinkie began to see how things might go. Fine was giving them a few aces. They need only act upon them. A little vice in her head, so long ignored, insisted those actions be violent.

“Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow flinched and spun to face her. “Whoa, Pinkie, I’m right here! No need to shout.”

Pinkie stepped close, giving her most firm expression. “Can you get through the ring of fire?”

“The ring of… Maybe?”

Nye peered at Pinkie. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve got an idea?”

“I might, but it depends on if Rainbow can get past the ring of fire.” Pinkie didn’t take her eyes off Rainbow. “Can you?”

“It’s not that simple.” Rainbow sighed and pushed Pinkie back. “It’s pretty thick, and Polar wasn’t kidding about the heat. In this wild weather, I might be able to fly over the flames, but no pegasus or thestral can fly high enough to escape the heat. The only way through would be to hold your breath all the way across to keep your lungs from burning up.”

She looked to the floor, kicking at the stonework dejectedly. “Even I’m not that good, Pinkie. Proper breathing technique is critical for high-speed flight, and you’d have to move fast to keep your feathers from melting in that heat. I can’t hold my breath and fly fast enough, not in wild weather.”

“I don’t think anypony could,” Fang added with a scowl.

Polar rubbed his chin. “There might be a way. You ever tried an assisted launch?”

Nye’s eyes crossed as he took this concept in. “Like what, a slingshot?”

Rainbow’s eyes lit up. “Hey, yeah! You’re talking about an aerial launch, right? I heard of ponies doing that. It’s not practical in normal weather, but in wild weather a few stunt groups have done it.”

“So what is it?” Pinkie asked.

“Not a slingshot,” Polar replied with a dry look at Nye. “You basically get three or more thestrals flying in a circle, using the vacuum of one another’s wake to build up speed. Once you get fast enough, the ‘assisted flier’ leaves the circle, flying way faster than she could on her own.”

A grinning Rainbow jumped in his face, wings outstretched. “You’ve done that before?”

“Uh… no.” Polar backed away with a blush. “But I know the theory and watched others do it. I think if I could get a few good fliers then it’s certainly doable.”

Sera raised her hoof. “But wait, what good does this do us? Even if Rainbow can get back to Equestria at top speed, it would take even longer for your princesses to muster up some kind of response.”

Pinkie smirked. “We’re not calling on the princesses.”

Rainbow blinked, her wings slumping. “We’re not?”

“Oh!” Nye dug into his mane and pulled out a pouch. “Of course. Pinkie, you’re a genius!” He hoofed over the pouch, and Pinkie could feel the hard, thin material within. At the curious looks of the others, Nye said, “On the way back, I took the liberty of going to the alpha’s corpse and removing a few more pieces of skin.”

Rainbow gasped and turned to Pinkie. “Discord!”

Sera’s frown shifted to a grin. “Of course. Discord is the one who defeated Rex the first time, he could certainly do it again.”

“And with his abilities, I bet he can get here from Canterlot in seconds.” Nye rubbed his hooves together with a gleeful smile. “Rex won’t know what hit him.”

Fang stepped forward, catching everypony’s attention. “That’s all well and good, but it took you guys almost three weeks to get here, and we don’t have that kind of time.”

“It shouldn’t take that long if it’s just me.” Rainbow hesitated as she thought on the subject. “But then again, it’s not like I can fly nonstop to Canterlot. Moving at top speed, we’re looking at a week of travel minimum, assuming I only stop at night.”

Pinkie frowned, then abruptly raised a lightbulb in one hoof. She pulled on a drawstring with her teeth, making the light come on with a ping. “What if you could go nonstop? How long would that take?”

Furrowing her brow, Rainbow took a moment to run the calculations in her head. “Four days? Maybe three. But even I don’t have that kind of stamina, Pinkie.”

“Oh, don’t you?” Pinkie reached into her mane and pulled out a bottle filled with a blue liquid.

“Hey!” Nye pointed, jaw loose. “That’s… But I… How’d you get that?”

She opened her mouth to respond, paused, then took a close look at the potion. “I dunno.” Then she beamed and thrust it in Rainbow’s face. “Doesn’t matter!”

Rainbow took the bottle in her hooves and studied it, then her face brightened. “Zecora’s stamina potion! She said it could keep me going for days. With this, I might just be able to go nonstop.”

Nye, with exaggerated seriousness, set a hoof to her shoulder and said, “And it’s okay to drink this one.”

A fire bloomed across her cheeks and she averted her eyes from them all. “Don’t push it, pal.”

“This is great and all,” Fang said, “but that’s still three days we don’t have. What are we supposed to do in the meantime?”

They all shared uncertain looks. Things were quiet for so long, Pinkie started to feel anxious. Shouldn’t at least one of them have an idea?

Hesitantly, Nye raised his hoof. “Well… We could always surrender.” He raised his other hoof to silence the arguments before anypony could get more than a word or two in. “Hear me out! Let’s say Rainbow gets to Canterlot and the antidote works. Does it really matter that we’ve surrendered if Discord’s going to show up and kick Rex’s flank anyway?”

As much as Pinkie didn’t want to, she had to admit that “He’s got a point.”

Fang snarled and flicked her mane. “There’s no way I’m surrendering to that thing.”

“It wouldn’t work anyway,” Sera said, expression grim. “Rex didn’t rule over the thestrals for centuries by being stupid. If every thestral within the ring of fire surrenders, he’ll know something’s up. He may start torturing us just to see if we’ll confess to something.”

Polar rubbed his mane back, eyes on the ceiling. “But if we openly rebel, he’ll slaughter us. He’s got nothing against killing everypony in the tribe. Why worry about losing all of us when there are dozens of tribes he can take over? We’d just be the example.”

Rainbow threw up her hooves with a cry. “So you can’t attack and you can’t surrender either! What else is left?”

Pinkie’s expression hardened. “We do both and stall for time.” They all shot her curious looks, to which she explained, “Get some thestrals to surrender willingly. I’m sure there’s more than a few who are planning on it anyway.”

Polar and Fang both scowled, but Sera bowed her head. “Despite my best efforts, it’s true. A lot of them are too afraid of Rex to raise a hoof against him.”

“So we can use that,” Pinkie insisted. “Let them surrender. Those who want to fight can hide in the jungles. That’s about as ‘normal’ as it gets, right?”

The others considered this proposal with furrowed brows and thoughtful expressions. “I think she’s on to something,” Fang said at last. “It does make sense for some to fight and some to surrender. When Rainbow isn’t found, Rex would probably think she’s part of the rebels. He might even send the surrendering thestrals to do the fighting, as a test of loyalty, which buys us time.”

Sera nodded. “A pony would have to surrender. If Rex really thinks you’re both so ‘worthless,’ he’ll probably expect one of you to be cowardly as well.”

“I can do that,” Nye said with ease. “I’ve had experience being a mole.”

“No,” Pinkie declared firmly. “It has to be me.”

Rainbow spun to her. “What? Pinkie, no!”

Sera placed a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “I know you and Fine are close, but I think—”

“It has to be me.” Pinkie leveled Rainbow with a firm stare. “Think about it. Nye’s already spoken to him. That means Nye has shown some backbone. Plus the two of you are engaged.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Rex probably doesn’t even know that.”

Nye cringed and kicked at the floor. “He does. He mentioned it.”

“Aww, nuts.” Rainbow facehoofed.

Pinkie pressed a hoof to Rainbow’s chest. “You’re the warrior among us, Rainbow, and I bet you Rex knows that too. Even if he does think Nye’s a coward, do you think he’d believe that you let him surrender while you’re out fighting? It doesn’t make sense.”

Nye chewed his lip, worry etched in his features. “But… Pinkie. I don’t want you in there. Rex is unhinged. He might kill you for looking at him the wrong way. And trust me on this, he doesn’t like you.”

“But it’ll still be safer for me than it will be for you,” she insisted.

Polar walked around Sera to stand beside Pinkie. He looked to the others. “She’s right, she’s the best option. Pinkie can figure out where Fluttershy’s being kept and plan for a means of escape while the rebels keep Rex busy.”

Rainbow gave Pinkie an odd look, but she ignored it in favor of gathering momentum. “As long as you guys can keep him focused on trying to find you, he’ll have no idea that Rainbow’s gone. Even if he does manage to catch all the rebels, he’ll still be stuck searching for Rainbow because he won’t know she’s not here in the first place.”

They were mulling it over, but she could tell that the thestrals were convinced. Rainbow continued to stare at Pinkie, and it started making her nervous. Nye, on the other hoof, had gone pale.

Sera patted his shoulder. “Hey, you alright?”

“Y-yeah.” Nye swallowed audibly and rubbed his mane back. “It’s just that I’m, uh, not much of a fighter, and this time I don’t have a super strength potion to back me up.”

“I think I speak for everypony when I say that you’ve fought enough as it is.” Polar gave him a comforting smile. “You can just lay low. Maybe show your face every now and then to get Rex rattled, but other than that? Leave it to us.”

Nye shuffled in place, but finally nodded. “Alright, but I still don’t like Pinkie going up there alone.”

Pinkie wished she could feel touched by his worry, but all she felt at the moment was anger. Even so, she walked over to give him a tight hug. “Thanks, Nye, but I won’t be alone. I’ll have the thestrals with me.”

“Surrendering thestrals,” he pointed out, though he returned the hug. “That doesn’t ease my mind much, Pinkie.”

Fang looked to the only pony who had yet to speak. “Rainbow?”

Rainbow hadn’t stopped staring at Pinkie, her gaze hawkish. “Yeah, I’m in.”

“Then we have work to do.” Sera turned for the door. “Fang, Polar, you’re with me. We need to find whatever thestrals we can who won’t surrender. You two scour the town for volunteers while I talk to some of the more influential citizens.”

Nye followed them. “We better start gathering supplies. We’re going to need stashes, and lots of them.” He paused at the door, looking back at the two remaining mares. “You coming?”

“In a moment, Nye,” Rainbow said. “I need to ask Pinkie something.”

Pinkie’s gut twisted, but she made no attempt to escape. She merely sat and waited, her eyes on her hooves. After a few seconds, Nye walked out, leaving them alone.

Rainbow wasted no time. “Are you okay?”

“What makes you think I’m not?” The question sounded weak even to her ears.

After a pause, Rainbow approached. She sat by Pinkie and wrapped a wing around her. “You’re not yourself. I’ve known you for years, Pinkie. Discord, Sombra, Nightmare Moon, even Chrysalis didn’t phase you. But this?” She nuzzled Pinkie’s neck. “You’re too serious. So I’m asking; are you okay?”

Pinkie considered lying. Adding her personal problems onto Rainbow didn’t seem right somehow. She tried to think of a way out of this situation, but the more she considered it the worse things seemed. Her heart was hitting her throat and she didn’t even know why. Even if she did lie, it wouldn’t be convincing.

So she took a deep, shuddering breath and answered. “No. No I’m not.”

It took Rainbow a moment to respond. “I don’t understand. Why is this worse than anything we’ve faced before?”

Pinkie gritted her teeth, but the words came out anyway. “Because this is my fault!”

Rainbow blinked once. And again. Then she smiled. “No way. How did you come to that crazy conclusion?”

“Because I should have seen what was happening!” Pinkie wanted to shut up, but it seemed that the words would no longer be contained. Her vision blurred and her eyes began to sting. “I was with Fine so much these past few months. I knew he liked Fluttershy, and I didn’t say anything!”

“But we all knew,” Rainbow said, brow furrowed in confusion. “If you’re guilty, so am I. And Nye. Heck, everypony in Ponyville, for that matter. I bet even Princess Luna knew.”

“It’s not the same!” Pinkie rubbed her eyes with trembling hooves. “I could have stepped in, but I was too b-busy feeling sorry for myself. If I’d just paid more attention to Fluttershy, I’d have known and then… th-then I could have made my move and… and…”

“Made your move?” Rainbow’s shoulders sagged, her muzzle scrunching up in thought. “Make your move at what? That doesn’t make any sense.” Then her eyebrows shot up. “Wait, when you say ‘make your move’, you don’t mean…”

Pinkie froze. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. She couldn’t look at Rainbow, didn’t dare. Her mind scrambled frantically for some kind of distraction or redirection, but all that ran through it was something along the lines of Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohnoohno—

“Pinkie, are you—” Rainbow worked her jaw, face caught between shock, sympathy and confusion. “I mean, in— Er, I mean, you and Fine—”

Pinkie whipped around and shook Rainbow by the shoulders, her eyes wide and panicked. “Don’t tell anypony! Please, please, please don’t tell anypony!”

Rainbow caught her hooves, stopping the shaking. “Him? I mean seriously, out of all the possible ponies, him?”

“Please don’t tell him!” Pinkie dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead against Rainbow’s chest as the tears ran unchecked. “Please, Rainbow!”

“Hey, it’s okay.” Rainbow wrapped her in a hug, and Pinkie found her face buried in chest fluff. “It’s alright, Pinkie. Calm down, okay?”

She tried to heed her friend’s words, but finally confessing had unleashed something inside Pinkie that she didn’t understand. She felt small and ugly and stupid and lost all at once and had no idea how to combat any of it. So she just clutched at Rainbow and sobbed like a newborn filly.

Rainbow stopped trying to comfort her with words after a while. Pinkie barely understood them anyway. Instead, she cradled the pony close and petted her mane. Sometimes she would hum one of Pinkie’s favorite songs, but mostly she was quiet while Pinkie let the emotions drain like floodwaters out of a pipe.

Pinkie didn’t understand what was wrong with her. All she knew was that she wanted to crawl into some deep, dark hole in the jungle and never come out. Or maybe be put in one of those big cakes mares were supposed to jump out of, and have that cake put in a box, and have that box sealed in a vault buried fifty feet underground beneath the rockiest rock farm that ever produced rocks, like an obsidian farm. Then she could just stay in the darkness and feel miserable and alone and never have to see Fine’s stupid handsome face with his distracting splotches and the bits of red coming out of his roots and the way he looked when he got all cocky and… and…

As her crying subsided, so did her thoughts. They dulled into a whispering mumble in the back of her mind, and gradually she became aware of her surroundings. Rainbow still held her close. With a sniff, Pinkie shifted so her cheek was against Rainbow’s chest.

The movement caught Rainbow’s attention. “Better?”

“No,” Pinkie whispered miserably. “Just calmer.”

Rainbow sighed and kept petting her mane. “How long?”

“Since the Crystal Caverns.”

A long pause. “No offense, Pinkie, but you’re really weird.”

Pinkie couldn’t help but giggle, although it came out weak. “I know, it doesn’t make sense. B-but things happened down there. Fine and I… we connected. I know he feels it too, I j-just… What if he feels it in a different way?” She tightened her hold on her friend and squeezed her eyes closed. “I’m scared.”

“Because he might reject you?”

She nodded. “It’s not just that, b-but yeah, that’s part of it. I’ve… I’ve never had a crush before.”

Rainbow shifted. “Really? Like, never ever?”

“Never ever ever.” Pinkie trembled at the very idea. “I couldn’t. For the longest time, when I looked at ponies… They… All I ever saw…” …was corpses.

“Pinkie?”

Deep breath. Long exhale. Pinkie at last unwrapped herself from her friend and sat back. She looked into Rainbow’s concerned gaze and felt a pang of guilt. “Sorry, Rainbow. I just… I can’t be the usual Pinkie Pie right now. Not until I know he’s… I mean, they’re…” Her cheeks burned and she studied the floor.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Rainbow tucked her muzzle under Pinkie’s chin, tilting it up so she could look her in the eye again. “I know how you feel… somewhat. Nowadays, I tend to prioritize Nye before everypony else. It just shows how much you care.” She tilted her head to one side, worry returning to her face. “So… When all this is over, you’re going to tell Fine, right?”

Pinkie opened her mouth to respond, but had to think on her answer first. “I don’t know,” she confessed at last. “Fine’s going to be hurting after this. A lot.” She rubbed her leg anxiously. “Would it be right to? I-if I did, would I just be taking advantage of his pain? Even if he said yes, would it be legitimate or would I just be a—” She cringed, closing her eyes tightly. “—a substitute?”

Rainbow’s ears folded back. “Ouch. Yeah, I see what you mean. But even so, you can’t keep this kind of thing a secret forever.”

“I know,” Pinkie muttered with a pout. “And I’m still scared of what he’ll say. Is…” She gave Rainbow a hopeful look. “Is that normal?”

“Well, yeah.” Rainbow blushed and averted her gaze, running her hoof through her mane as her tail flicked. “Pretty sure it is. I mean, I never asked anypony out before, it was always the other way around, but given how they all behaved when they did… Yeah, Pinkie, I think that’s normal.”

That helped. A little. Pinkie heaved a deep sigh and nodded. “I just need to find the right time. The right time, when I’m brave enough, and when I know Fine won’t say yes just because… because he’s hurting.”

Rainbow gave her a weak smile and patted her shoulder. “Alright, whatever you think is best. I won’t breathe a word, Pinkie Promise. But don’t wait too long, huh? I don’t think it’s good for you.”

Pinkie nodded. She tried to smile back, and actually managed it this time. She did feel a little better.

Maybe confiding in Rainbow was just what she needed.

Comments

[Absolution]

PINKIE!
HE LEFT DETAILS OUT ABOUT YOUUUUUU!!!!

And she finally spilled the beans to Dash about what's going on...
So,the plan is set, my only question is will Discord co-operate if immediately freed?

And we found out (kinda) what Rex is doing in Fine's head, and how because they're sharing their mind, information can traverse both ways... Unless Rex is actively blocking Fine out...
So, enough of a distraction and more details can come out... Since Fine seems to be able to read the information without being noticed...

was in the middle of writing something, then had a brain-wave about what good might come from Pinkie surrendering herself...
But then I remembered the rating of this story, and it won't get to that point where this will happen...
So, that's an idea that won't come to fruition... although it might get Fine to snap out of it for a moment or three...

[SIGAWESOME]

Perhaps she could tap into that.

Dwarven "Warbread" from Discworld suddenly comes to mind...

With this, I might just be able to go nonstop.
<...>
And it’s okay to drink this one.