Chapter 5 - ...Life Pushes You A Little Harder
Griffon Confederacy – Orbital Command – Control Room Two
Blunt Beak walked over to his station and sat down. His feathers were thoroughly ruffled and looked like he hadn’t slept in ages, a fact that couldn’t be closer to the truth.
Two days ago he had found a terrifying note that was left on his dresser. His wife and daughter had been taken, and that he would receive instructions the following day. It also read that if he contacted the authorities he would find their heads hanging from his front porch.
Terrified and unsure why somegriffon would take his family, he wasn’t rich, wasn’t important, he just monitored satellite trajectories. So he just did as the note said.
The following day he got his instructions in the form of a small box on his doorstep. Inside was the promise anklet he had given his wife on their wedding day, and it was covered in dried blood. Under it was a simple note with trajectory changes for one of the larger communication satellite at a scheduled time.
Sitting at his station, he entered in the commands, set it on a timer, and tried to execute it, but was stopped by an alarm that sent shivers down his spine.
Two days ago...
Things had been great this evening. It had been quiet, and with the exception of the dance at the new school, nothing of note was going on in Ponyville.
And that was how Guard Sergeant Scootaloo liked it.
It was the primary motivation she had for requesting her current assignment. She was close to her friends and she liked being where she grew up.
Walking along the main street through the hamlet town on night patrol, Scootaloo turned to her partner, a green recruit fresh from the academy in Canterlot. “I’m sorry, I missed what you said.”
“I asked what made you become a guard.” Verdant Green stated. The dark green coated unicorn stallion stood a head taller than Scootaloo.
Scootaloo just smiled, she never got tired of telling that story. “It’s actually kinda silly, really. I was a late comer, so-to-speak. I didn’t get my Cutie-Mark till I was in middle school.” She explained, glancing down at her flank which sported a purple shield wrapped in ivory wings. “Long after my friends had theirs.”
“I heard about the little group you and your friends started, my niece is in the Appaloosa chapter of the Cutie-Mark Crusaders,” Verdant said with a smile that just dripped pride.
“They opened one up there? Cool.” Scootaloo responded enthusiastically. “Anyways, one day in middle school, two of my classmates had an epic falling out,” She continued, leaving out Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s names. “And by epic, I mean epic, they were kicking the crap out of each other,” Scootaloo explained, brushing with the tip of her wing the soft pink scar on her cheek that she got from Diamond’s tiara when she headbutted her. “I jumped into the fight to break them up, got this scar from it, and I managed to calm them both down. The guard the school called in to deal with the situation said that I handled it pretty well. Flash forward to now, and here I am.”
“What happened to them?”
“Who?”
“You’re classmates.”
“Oh, one of the families left town, moved to Canterlot, the other owns the local grocery chain.”
“Wait, owns? That’s the largest chain of grocery stores in Equestria! She must be...”
“Filthy Rich?” Scootaloo said, inwardly smiling at the little in-joke.
“Scootaloo!” somepony cried out, causing both guards to turn towards its source.
“Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo replied. “What’s wrong?” She asked, looking past her at the filly who had run up with her friend but couldn’t place her name.
“Zoe’s gone missing,” Apple Bloom reported, sounding out of breath.
“Whoa, whoa, take a deep breath and tell me what happened,” Scootaloo said in a firm but calming tone.
“Sapphire came up to me and said she hadn’t seen her friend in a few hours,” Apple Bloom started again, turning to the blue unicorn beside her when she mentioned her name.
“You’re Sapphire, Zoe’s friend?” Verdant asked, jotting everything down on a notepad held aloft in neon green magic, he got a nod from the worried filly.
“Tell them what you overheard, Sapphire.” Apple Bloom told her.
“Before I told Ms. Blossom, I overheard a few colts talking about a party at Rocky’s parent’s place,” Sapphire explained, her voice shaky, close to cracking. “The way they talked, it sounded like Rocky was up to no good, they said he took her to his place, then I ran to tell Ms Blossom.” Sapphire finished, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Where does this Rocky live?” Verdant asked, getting a nod of approval from his superior at how he was handling the situation.
“The Charge estate,” Scootaloo interjected with a unamused tone before Sapphire or Apple Bloom could respond. “Ok, we’ll look into this, in the meantime, Apple Bloom, make sure Sapphire gets home, then head over to the Guard office and wait there until we get back.”
The two guards waited a few moments as the two mares walked away and were just out of earshot.
“Why do I get the feeling that you know what’s going on?” Verdant asked.
“The Charge family’s reputation precedes them,” Scootaloo answered before using the tip of her wing to activate the communication crystal embedded in her armour’s chest plate. “Squad One to Squad Two and Four, proceed to the Charge Estate forthwith. Squad One out.”
”Four, copy,”
”Two, copy,”
“Ok, let's get going, double time,” Scootaloo ordered just as she started galloping down the street, her partner following close behind.
It took several minutes to get to the estate that was on the more affluent side of Ponyville. The sprawling property seemed huge from the front gate, but Scootaloo knew that, while wealthy, they weren’t that rich.
Meeting up with the other squads, two earth-ponies, a unicorn and a pegasus, all six of them proceeded up to the front door of the estate. Taking the lead, Scootaloo loudly banged on the door with her hoof, not caring that she was leaving marks in the expensive looking wood.
”Who is it at this time of night?” A voice asked from behind the door.
“Ponyville Town Guard, open in the name of Princess Sparkle!” Scootaloo commanded.
”What do you want?” The voice asked.
“He’s stalling, Two, Four, circle the building, detain any pony you find, keep an eye out for Zoe Scott,” Scootaloo said, issuing orders to her guards in a hushed tone. “I will not ask again, open up or I’ll buck the door down!”
“What is the meaning of this?” Brutal Charge, a Pegasus stallion with a grey coat who was the same height as Scootaloo demanded after opening the door only to be brushed out of the way by Scootaloo’s wing as she walked right past him like she owned the place. “You can’t just barge in here!” He continued to protest.
“Under Public Safety Statute #12, the guard is empowered to search any premises in the search of a missing pony.” Verdant quoted verbatim. Scootaloo was impressed with her newbie, but she knew they were stretching that statute a little thin. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, she would be deep trouble.
“Yes, there is a missing pony, last seen with your son heading towards this residence,” Scootaloo explained in a commanding tone, looking around the spacious entrance, having not met his gaze yet. “On top of that, we’ve received tips that your son is holding an after party of sorts.” She continued. “Considering that the missing pony is a minor, by Tartarus, I hope this party doesn’t involve alcohol.” She finished, levelling an icy gaze at Brutal.
”Sergeant, we’ve broken up a party in the pool house out back, eight ponies detained.”
“Copy that, have you located the missing pony?” Scootaloo inquired while using her wing to activate her comms crystal, keeping her gaze levelled at Brutal.
”You better get back here, Sergeant.”
“On my way,” Scootaloo answered then turned to Verdant. “Detain him.” She ordered then headed towards the back of the house.
Walking out the back door and around the figure-eight shaped pool, she found a sorry scene. Eight high school aged ponies, a few of them crying, one of them was being assisted by a guard as she wretched into a bush, all of them reeked of booze.
“Report,”
“Eight ponies detained, I’ve taken their names, three of them are minors-” One of the earth-pony guards reported, but Scootaloo raised a hoof and interrupted him then activated her comms crystal.
“Verdant, arrest Brutal Charge, supplying alcohol to minors.” She ordered.
”Copy that, Brutal Charge, you are bound by law...” Verdant responded, but the newbie didn’t deactivate his comms crystal fast enough. Just hearing those words, though, put a smile on Scootaloos face.
“You enjoyed that,” The other guard pointed out.
“You’re damn right I did.” She responded. “Have you found Zoe?”
“No, ma’am, and no sign of Rocky either.”
“Buck,” Scootaloo exclaimed, then turned towards the ex-party ponies. “Where’s Zoe Scott and Rocky Charge?” She demanded from them, but they all remained silent.
“Sergeant!” The unicorn guard called out from the bushes behind the pool house. “We’ve found them!”
Racing behind the pool house, Scootaloo quickly came upon what she was looking for. Laying on the ground unconscious was Rocky Charge, the hair around his muzzle was singed away, and a few feet away was Zoe lying on her side surrounded by a fuchsia shield through which she could her muffled whimpers.
“Call in for healers and back up to get those ponies to their parents,” Scootaloo ordered before getting down on the ground to talk to Zoe. “Zoe, it’s Scootaloo. Are you okay?” She asked.
Zoe opened her eyes briefly, her blue and green pupils were glossy. Scootaloo had seen this before, she was drugged. Then in an instant, the shield came down and Scootaloo took Zoe in her wings and forelegs. The smaller unicorn began crying in her embrace, so Scootaloo held her tighter.
“I hate doing this,” Sweetie Belle muttered under her breath.
“If you want, I can get Dr Horse...” Nurse Tenderheart offered.
“No, I’ve been her Doctor since she was a foal.” Sweetie Belle said after taking a deep breath. “Come on, Scootaloo,” She said to one of her oldest friends. Walking down the short hall, Sweetie Belle opened the door with her magic. Laying on a bed was Zoe wearing a hospital gown. “Hi Zoe,” Sweetie Belle said with the best forced smile she could muster.
“Hi,” Zoe responded, her voice barely above a whisper.
“How are you feeling?” Sweetie asked.
“Much better. My head still hurts but I’m not as groggy.”
“That’s great,” Sweetie said, as she took her stethoscope and placed it on her chest, listened, then did the same on her back. Putting a pressure cuff on Zoe’s foreleg, Sweetie took her blood pressure, smiled at the results and jotted it down on Zoe’s chart. “Ok, Scootaloo is here to ask you some questions. They’re difficult to answer and it's very important you tell her everything you can remember.” Sweetie explained, getting a nod from her patient.
“Zoe, what happened at the dance?” Scootaloo asked.
“That’s still a bit hazy. I remember getting to the school and dancing a few times with Rocky.” Zoe began to explain. “He got me a drink, and he said that a few of them were going to his house. I don’t know why but I went with him.” She continued. “After we got to his house, he offered me another drink, but I couldn’t hold it up with my magic and dropped it on the ground.”
The three ponies all turned to the door as Nurse Redheart walked in and gave a clipboard to Sweetie Belle.
“This accurate?” She asked.
“Lab staff ran it twice,” the nurse answered.
“Thank you, Redheart,” Sweetie Belle said with a nod as the nurse left the room. “I’m afraid this just confirms what we already suspected. Your drink was most likely spiked with a drug at the dance.” She explained, handing the clipboard to Scootaloo who looked over it with a concerned expression on her face.
“I’ll add this to the list of charges,” Scootaloo said, “What do you remember happened next?”
“Next thing I know, he’s bringing me behind the pool house.”
“Did he touch you?” Scootaloo asked.
“He never got the chance,” Zoe answered. “I panicked and somehow got a shield up, I don’t remember anything after that until you showed up.”
“Zoe!” Fluttershy cried out as she entered the room. “Oh, baby, are you okay?”
“I’m a little groggy, but Dr Belle says I’m going to be ok,” Zoe said, giving her mother a tight hug as she wrapped her wings around her daughter.
“What happened?” James asked Scootaloo while giving his daughter a reassuring smile.
“Can we step outside?” Scootaloo asked, getting a nod from James after he knelt in to kiss his daughter on the top of the head.
“I’ll be right back, munchkin,” James promised then followed Scootaloo out of the room.
“Mr Scott, your daughter was drugged at the dance by her date, Rocky Charge, was brought to a private party off school grounds at the Charge estate,” Scootaloo explained, a little shocked but not surprised as anger flashed in James’ eyes. “We were alerted to this and broke up the party and arrested the ponies responsible. Dr Belle assures me that Zoe is ok.”
“Was she..?” James began to ask before looking back towards the door to his daughter’s room.
“No,” She answered. “Her initial examination when she was admitted confirmed that, and her statement corroborated that.” Scootaloo continued.
Before James could respond to what he had been told, the loud clack of hooves coming down the hall drew his and Scootaloo’s attention.
“Jim-bo, I came as soon as I heard!” Rainbow Dash said with a relieved smile on her face. “Guard Sergeant Scootaloo, what happened?” She asked with a commanding tone.
James watched as Scootaloo explained the situation to Rainbow Dash, who stood there nodding.
“Thank you, Sergeant, you’re dismissed,” Rainbow told her with a smile.
“Yes, Commander,” Scootaloo responded with a smart salute which Rainbow returned and then walked down the hall.
“You enjoyed that a little too much,” James said, forcing some levity into his voice.
“Being an officer in the Equestrian Military has some perks,” Rainbow explained.
“That it does,” James said. “I’m just happy she’s ok.” He continued. “Listen, what do you know about the Charges?” He asked.
Rainbow Dash looked uncertain for a moment before taking in a deep breath. “Brutal charge is a chemist, I went to high school with him before I moved to Ponyville.” She explained before looking away from James. “Let’s just say, like father like son,” Rainbow said finally with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“Did he?” James asked, but thought better of it, “Say no more.” he said before pulling her into a short hug. “Let’s go see Zoe and Fluttershy, they’ll happy to see you,” James said as he opened the door to his daughter's room.
“Hey, kiddo!” Rainbow said with a warm smile.
After an hour at the hospital, Rainbow Dash accompanied the Scott family home. She smiled at the adorable site of James carrying his sleeping daughter on his back.
“I told you he’d be a good Dad,” Rainbow Dash said quietly to her closest childhood friend.
“I know how to pick them, I guess,” Fluttershy said with an ear to ear smile.
“That you do, that you do,”
Walking over the small bridge that led to their home, Zoe began to stir.
“We’re home already?” She asked.
“Yeah, want me to carry you to your room?” James asked.
“No, I’ll be ok,” Zoe answered as she climbed down off his back.
“Ok, but go right to bed,” Fluttershy told her.
“I will, mom,”
“I’ll tuck her in,” Rainbow Dash told Zoe’s parents as she followed her into the house and up to Zoe’s room.
“What is it?” Zoe asked, getting up onto her bed.
“I just wanted to talk with you,” Rainbow explained, pulling her blankets over Zoe with her wings. Sitting down next to her, she just stared at the wall in front of her. “Scootaloo told me what happened.”
“Oh,” Zoe responded.
“Are you okay?” Rainbow asked.
“Dr Belle says I’m fine,”
“That’s not what I meant, Zoe. Are you okay?” Rainbow asked again.
“I don’t know,” Zoe said after a thinking about it.
“That’s normal, I guess. I was the same way.”
“What?”
“I went to school with Rocky’s father,” Rainbow admitted. “He... He did the same to me.” She continued, letting her shoulders relax as if a weight had been taken off her.
“Didn’t the guard arrest him?”
“No, couldn’t prove anything. I waited to long to report it.” Rainbow answered, meeting Zoe’s gaze. “I just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone in this. You did nothing wrong. Rocky and his father are at fault here, not you. Don’t be afraid of them, and don’t blame yourself, no matter what anypony says.” she continued, taking in a deep breath. “Don’t let what that bucking bastard did rule over your life. Do what you want to do, don’t let anything stop you.”
“I will.”
“Good,” Rainbow responded with a smile breaking through her tears. “If you ever need anypony to talk too, I’m here for you.”
In response, Zoe grabbed Rainbow in her magic and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Ok, kiddo, time for bed,” Rainbow said, tucking her back in. Walking towards the door, she looked back and smiled. “Good night,” She said as she shut off the light and exited the room.
Fluttershy was waiting for her in the hall.
“You never told me,” She told her.
“I know,” Rainbow admitted. “I should have. I was scared at the time.”
“I understand,” Fluttershy told her with a smile.
“Let's go downstairs, I have some news to tell you guys.” Rainbow Dash told her friend, changing the subject.
Fluttershy followed her friend down the stairs after cracking open her daughter's room to have a peek. Sitting down next to her husband, she cuddled up to him.
“What’s the news?” James asked.
“I just got my new assignment,” Rainbow said with a wicked smile. “You’re looking a the new Station Commander. How awesome is that?”
“Whoa,” James said with some excitement. “First to step on the moon, now you’re the first Female station commander. You don’t do anything small, do you?”
“Well, duh. Anything worth doing is hard.” Rainbow responded.
“Congratulations, Dashie,” Fluttershy said, hardly able to contain her smile, letting out a small ‘squee’.
“Congrats, Lieutenant Commander.”
“Oh, how's this for another first, they finished her.”
“Really?” James said with a smile.
“Finished what?” Fluttershy asked.
“The new transport shuttle, totally designed and built on Equus,” James explained. “They said it wouldn’t be ready for months.”
“Apparently not, I’m flying it up there the day after tomorrow.”
“How’s Big Mac taking the news?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh, he’s excited, couldn’t ask for a better hubby.” Rainbow Dash said with pride. “I’m a little worried for Apple Fritter, she’s so young, she’ll miss her mom.” She admitted, worry flashing over her face as she thought about her little filly. “You know, you could have told me Military life would have times like this.”
“If she’s anything like her mom, she’ll be just fine,” James reassured her. “Macintosh will take care of her, you don’t have to worry.”
Present Day...
“Commander on deck!” A minotaur bull shouted, calling all those who gathered in the landing bay to attention.
Stepping off the shuttle’s aft gangway, she looked out over the station’s crew, a mixture of ponies from every tribe, griffons, minotaurs, even a solitary zebra. Her crew. She thought. “At ease,”
“Welcome aboard ma’am.” The minotaur greeted. “I’m Lieutenant Hunrak Swiftwalker, your second in command.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Rainbow Dash said, then turned to her crew. “Thank you all. I’m looking forward to serving with all of you. Now, back to work!” she ordered, calling the gathering to a close.
“Should we get started on your tour, ma’am?” Hunrak asked.
“Lead the way, L-T.”
“Down this cross-over bridge is the station’s arboretum, it gives the crew and visitors a relaxing area to rest and one hell of a vista of Equus,” Hunrak explained.
Up until now, despite the station being almost ten years old, Rainbow had not had the chance to visit. Something had always come up, so she took in the view through the bridge’s viewports.
A brief glint of light caught her eye, but it was gone in an instant, disappearing against the backdrop of stars.
Until something large sped towards the station at unfathomable speed.
It all happened too quickly. The wall of the bridge gave way as if something had struck it. The rush of air pulling them towards the breach was too much. Both Hunrak and Rainbow grabbed onto whatever they could.
“Hold on!” Rainbow screamed, but she watched in horror as Hunrak’s grip gave out and he tumbled out the breach into the vacuum of space. Fear filled her mind as her own grip started to give. This is it... She thought right before she couldn’t hold on anymore. Closing her eyes, she accepted her fate.
Before she went through the breach, a loud bang sounded out as the emergency doors shut just as Rainbow Dash slammed into it.
Then all she knew was darkness.
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Good story. I hope you are not planning to kill Rainbow in this story that would suck.
7237953
Go read my story Seventh Sense, that should answer your question.
7239016 Well damn, Should I start the wake then. Honestly, I am surprised that Twilight couldn't just teleport up their and save her.