Drill Through The Heavens!!

by Zaki

Search and Rescue?

“Please be gentle…” Fluttershy whimpered, covering her eyes as Dash leaned forward. “You need to be-“

“Hush, Shy. I promise I’ll be gentle this time.” Dash smirked as she reached out and touched her intended target. A low sound of acknowledgment came from Fluttershy and Dash increased her pressure slightly, trying to get more of a reaction out of her friend. Fluttershy shifted, uncovering an eye and speaking barely above a whisper. “Um… Dash? Please stop…”

“Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” Dash reaffirmed, continuing her motions.

“Dash, please stop.” Fluttershy’s voice had risen in pitch, slightly frantic. She was biting her bottom lip as she watched Dash draw every closer to her target. “Dash-“

“I got this.”

“Dash, stop!”

With a resounding crash, Hurricane tipped forward and the face of the mech slammed into the plateau. The ground shook with a massive shockwave and stone fragments went flying everywhere, the stone shattering from the impact. Fluttershy and Applejack winced at the fallen mech, leaning back slightly from their perch as a string of curses came from their headsets.

“I told you to be gentle…” Fluttershy muttered, peering into the screen that Twilight had installed into Typhoon, allowing the two of them to speak from their mechs. The darkness obscured the inside of the cockpit, save for a dim green that was visible behind the outline of a pony. For a few moments, there wasn’t a response. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah… Feels like I cracked a few ribs though.” With a pained grimace, Dash pulled on the controls and managed to get her Shade back on its feet. Manipulating the controls, the pegasus managed to get turned around and eased into a slow walk towards the cliff where Fluttershy and Applejack were sitting, the yellow pegasus resting in Typhoon. Applejack was scanning the horizon with her scope for any distant Shades that might be near.

The trio had taken Hurricane and Typhoon a couple miles out from the village so that Dash could have ample room to practice. So far, her skill at piloting had not resurfaced as evidenced by the numerous craters around the plateau. They had been at it for nearly an hour but no marked improvement had been noticed by either of the observing ponies. As Dash came to a stop, Fluttershy watched the video feed of her friend shut off and the top of the mech pop open.

“Why is this so much harder than it was yesterday?” Dash demanded as she climbed of her mech. She dropped to the ground with a grunt, her wings flaring to catch her momentum at the last second. Applejack’s headset buzzed and she answered it quietly as Dash trotted towards them. The yellow pegasus at her side glanced at her before turning her attention to Dash.

“I don’t know…” Fluttershy replied, pushing her goggles back up before they could slide further down her face. “You managed it yesterday just fine so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to now. Maybe you should just keep practicing…?”

“Forget it.” Dash kicked a rock near her right hoof off the ridge and watched it tumble down the cliffs. “There will be time for practice later.”

“That’s true…” Fluttershy glanced down at the screen in front of her. The screen was pulsing gently in the center and she had been wondering why it wasn’t glowing as fiercely as it had been the day before. She tentatively pushed at the screen and was rewarded momentarily with a gentle increase in light. The sound of Applejack clearing her throat drew her attention back to the two ponies she was with. The earth pony had picked up her rifle and slung it on her shoulder, apparently ready to head out.

“Well, that was Twi. Turns out there have been sightings of what appears to be a scouting party a few miles north.” Applejack said, adjusting the brim of her stetson. “We don’t know if it’s our missing group or a Shade scouting party but either way, we can’t let this one slip on by. You two coming?”

“You bet!” Dash replied, cutting across Fluttershy’s response. The smaller mare slumped down a bit and murmured her consent as well, inserting the drill core and turning it. She pulled her goggles down over her eyes and spared a glance over her shoulder. Applejack had climbed in the back of Typhoon as Fluttershy powered up the machine, settling into the improvised seat. Dash clambered up into her own mech and the eyes of Hurricane flashed green briefly before picking up Typhoon and setting it into the frame the Twilight had attached to the mech’s shoulder.

With the added height, Fluttershy took a deep breath and fought the urge to look down. Applejack had clipped on her headset and was directing Dash in the correct direction. This left the pegasus little to occupy herself apart from simply wait for them to arrive which would take a bit of time. She looked at the small drill hanging around her neck and raised it to eye level, examining in it full view for the first time without overwhelming darkness obscuring the features of the object. The metal was a golden sheen and the inlay of the grooves a darker variant of the same metal. As she peered closer, Fluttershy noticed there was a smaller green core that was glowing very gently on the inside, nearly invisible in the bright sun.

“Are you ok?” Applejack’s voice cut through her thoughts and Fluttershy couldn’t help but jump in response, the earth pony’s presence having been forgotten during the examination. She squeaked and dropped the drill back around her neck, pulling her jacket a bit closer.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about how different it is up here compared to the village.” She watched the slow passing of various rock formations, her side distracting her a bit.

“It does take some getting used to, I agree.” Applejack replied, tilting her hat over her face. “Still… at least y’all had the good fortune of finding us so its not too bad.”

“I know but still…” Fluttershy sighed and looked up at the clouds, wondering what it would be like to fly through those fluffy white objects. While she wasn’t as keen on flying as Dash was, the mare did enjoy flying a bit although it had generally frowned upon in the village due to the low light conditions. They didn’t want ponies crashing into each other or worse, the support columns that held up the chamber where the village was. Most pegasi had agreed that it was better to be safe than sorry and had elected to simply refrain from flying. Maybe when her wings were healed, she would start flying and see what it was like to soar without limits or rules.

Pulling her thoughts back to the present, Fluttershy became aware that Applejack was talking again. She shook her head and turned her attention to the earth pony, wincing a bit at the glare from the sun. “I’m sorry?”

“I asked how long you’ve known Dash.” Applejack watched her behind her orange glasses, her expression curious. “You two are awfully close for being total opposites.”

“Oh um, well we met-“ Fluttershy’s response was cut off as Hurricane came to a lurching stop. The holographic screen popped up and Dash’s face came up, looking triumphant.

“We’re here. I’m going to guess that they are down in that valley?”

Her two passengers followed where Hurricane was pointing, their gaze tracing the invisible line down into the oasis that clung to the fairly large body of water that was nestled in between the chasm. The grass that grew there was well above a pony’s head and it was impossible to see if there was anypony down there at all.

“Yeah, this is the place.” Applejack replied as Dash lowered them down to the ground and exited her own mech, dropping down next to them, her mane rippling from the motion. “We’re going to have to be careful and I don’t think we can’t bring the mechs down there. I have to go because I know who we’re looking for but we also need to leave someone up here to watch the mechs and keep an eye for us as well. So… who is going to stay up here?”

The two pegasus ponies shared a look at each other. Fluttershy clambered back up into Typhoon without a word before Dash could say anything. After looking at the two of them, Applejack walked over to her and looked up at her. “Are you sure you want to stay up here by yourself?”

“I don’t really want to stay up here but somebody needs to… Dash is probably more useful down there than me and if you need help, I’m a better pilot than Dash is. So it makes sense for me to stay up here.” Angel popped his head out of her mane and looked around a minute before disappearing as quickly.

“If you’re sure…” The earth pony dug into her bag and pulled out a pair of binoculars and handed them to Fluttershy before she returned to where Dash was waiting, her sword resting across her back and glasses upon her face. “Are you coming?”

“Lead the way, AJ.” Dash grinned and began following Applejack down the cliffside, rocks becoming dislodged in the process. Fluttershy watched their descent before turning her attention to the valley. She raised the binoculars to her eyes and peered down at the valley, trying to see if there was anything down there she could see. The sounds of the departing pair had slowly faded, a mere echo of falling rocks reaching her ears. The screen in her chirped for a moment and she glanced at it as Dash’s voice came through, speaking to Applejack.

“So who or what are we looking for?” She asked, dropping the last few feet into the dirt. The pegasus spared a glance around the immediate vicinity, her ears listening for anything out of the ordinary. Applejack dropped with a grunt, her hat almost being dislodged in the process. After fixing it, the earth pony led her towards the river.

“We’re looking for four ponies or any evidence of a scouting party. We’ll split up to cover more ground. You can take the river or the grass, whichever you choose.” Applejack tapped her headset and it blinked for a moment before it linked up to the others.

“I’ll take the grass then. I’ll circle around and see if I spot anything.”

“Try not to make a lot of noise in case there are scouts out here.” Applejack warned as she started down the riverbed. “I would like to avoid a fight if possible.”

The two of them parted, one headed into the grass and the other along the body of water. They never noticed the pair of eyes that watched them from the shadows, the owner hefting her cleaver and brushing her mane out of her face. Then in a blur of movement, she was gone.

Dash pushed through the reeds, the bugs trapped in the foliage buzzing around her head. She flicked her ears in annoyance and pushed aside a curtain of grass, ending in a small clearing a few dozen feet wide. Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and felt her sides ache in protest. The strap for the sword was cutting into her shoulder so she pulled it off with a grimace and began fiddling with the buckle in an attempt to make it more comfortable.

As she adjusted, a soft sound came from the grass around her. Her ear perked up and she paused, tensing slightly as she waited to see if the noise continued. There was nothing. Shaking her head, Dash looked back down at her sword. As soon as her eyes left the grass wall surrounding her, a form tore through the barrier and a flash of metal came descending towards her.

Reacting by reflex, Dash seized her sword and managed to get it between herself and her attacker. The sun being directly overhead prevented her from seeing the appearance of her enemy but the silhouette cast by her shadow was enough for her to move her head out of the way of the cleaver. Pulling her hooves under her, she lashed out with all her strength and managing to throw them off. She rolled to her feet, her sword already replaced on her back during the motion.

“Not bad…” A chuckle came from behind her. Dash spun, trying to locate the voice. Her eyes flicked around the empty clearing and as she reached to use her headset, she became aware that it had been cut cleanly in half.

Great… She thought to herself, readying herself for a fight.

“Can’t have you calling for help, can we?” The voice came from another part of the grass and Dash took a stance in the middle of the clearing, turning her head to try and watch all around her. The way the voice spoke seemed somewhat familiar but with a dark perverse amusement dripping from every word.

“Why don’t you show yourself?” Dash replied, her anger at being taken by surprise overcoming any sense of caution she had. “Or are you too much of a coward to face me?”

She didn’t receive an answer, at least not in words. The sound of something slashing through the air caused her to turn her head to find the source, barely managing to avoid the cruel weapon. The blade still managed to knock her glasses away, the crimson glass bouncing away in the mud. Dash jumped away, her injured wings propelling her farther from her enemy. She wiped blood away from her eye and glared at her enemy.

“Its been a while, hmm?” The earth pony asked, tilting her head to the left with a mad smile. The cleaver in locked firmly between her teeth was stained dark red, save for the edge which dripped with a bit of Dash’s blood. Instead of wearing a simple vest like she had before, the pony was wearing a sort of crude poncho, pieced together with a bunch of unfamiliar materials.

“P-pinkie Pie?!” Dash shifted a bit, moving her right wing up slightly to allow her sword to tilt downwards where she could easily draw it from her left shoulder. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be in the village?!”

“I would have if somepony hadn’t promised to take me with them and had forgotten.” Pinkie spat, her normally bouncy mane lank and flat against her head. All her kind-hearted joy was gone and had been replaced with cold fury. The earth pony had begun circle right towards her, her tail flicking slowly.

“What happened to you?” Dash asked, mimicking the motion to keep distance between them. “Its only been a day.”

“To you it only seems like a day, but for the rest of us its been a couple months. That, along with a boring trip out here is more than enough to make somepony very angry.” Pinkie Pie replied, glancing behind her for a moment. She had the weirdest feeling that there were others watching her or at least imagining her motions. Shaking her head, she returned her attention to Dash.

“And now, I’m going to turn you into a cupcake!”

“…what’s a cupcake?”

“I don’t know.” With that statement, Pinkie Pie crossed the difference between them and slashed at Dash, an evil grin forming on her lips.

The pegasus reacted: turning her shoulder as she drew her blade, Pinkie’s weapon rebounding off the steel. Continuing with her motion, Dash lashed out with her back hooves and managed to knock her aside long enough for her blade to clear the sheath. With a toss of her head, she switched the blade so it extended out to her just before Pinkie came at her again, swinging wildly with the cleaver and a maniacal laugh escaping her.

As Dash dodged and parried her vicious strikes, the pegasus briefly reflected how odd it was that she was holding the cleaver in her hoof rather than her mouth. Her brief lapse in concentration earned her a deep cut across her shoulder and she yelped out in pain, ducking Pinkie’s follow up strike and getting under her guard. Knowing she didn’t have the time to bring her blade across for a strike, Dash did the only thing that could work.

Dropping her sword, she pulled her head back and slammed her forehead against Pinkie’s head. The earth pony staggered back with a growl, a hoof pressed into her head. Dash blinked and shook her head, trying to regain her balance. With a kick, she launched her sword back up into her mouth and swung it in a low arc, mud flinging off.

“Playing dirty, then?” Pinkie hissed. “Fine then, I guess-“

Pinkie suddenly froze and leapt to the side, her tail twitching uncontrollably. At the same time, a gunshot echoed loudly and a path was torn from the shooter all the way to the clearing as the bullet shredded its way towards its target.

“S-sorry!” Fluttershy apologized into her headset to Applejack. “I didn’t think-“

“Its fine!” Applejack cut across her, shouldering her rifle as she sprinted towards the grass and the sound of clashing metal, slipping in the mud as she ran.. “I just needed a way to get to them. Now keep an eye out!!”

“G-got it!”

Dash ran at Pinkie, using the motion of her run to swing her sword in a wide arc. Pinkie jumped over Dash and turned to face her, the blade harmlessly slashing the plants apart. With an exasperated groan, Dash flapped her hurting wings to get away from her strike.

“Pinkie, stop It already!” Dash snapped, her words muffled around the handle of the blade. “You’re up here now and you can come with us! Its not safe out here by yourself.”

“Do you think that I’ll just-“ Pinkie’s words were cut off as a rock slammed into the top of her head and she collapsed. The rock was wrapped in a teal aura and it was tossed aside. Dash was about to speak when Applejack skidded to a stop next to her, panting and her rifle at the ready.

“Did you do that?” She asked, her sides heaving.

“N-no. I think somepony else helped me.” Dash replied, replacing her sword in her sheath.

“And you would be quite right.” A new voice spoke up, the grass parting with the same aura from before. “I’m glad I was able to save you from the belligerent ruffian.”

“Well, well, if It isn’t Queen Prim herself.” Applejack replied, shouldering her weapon and grinning as a white unicorn climbed out of the grass with a bit of effort.

Dash frowned. “Who is this?”

“Oh, just one of the ponies we’re looking for. I’m surprised to find her in this kind of place, she generally tends to avoid dirt whenever possible.”

“The name is Rarity, dear. We’ve had this discussion before: just because I don’t particularly enjoy being dirty doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself in a fight.” The unicorn flicked her mane to the side and greeted the two with a warm smile. “Its good to see that somepony finally came looking for us.”

“Hey, about my sister, is she alright?“ Applejack asked, her expression worried.

Rarity remained quiet for a moment. “Your sister and the others have-“

With a massive sound, the grass behind them was torn apart and Typhoon came into view. The top unsealed and they got a momentary glimpse of Fluttershy in shock before three blurs leapt out of the cockpit.

“BLACK CAPE CRUSADER SCOUTING PARTY GO!!”

Author's Note:

Hey, guys I'm totally not dead. Well, I almost did. Things have been stupidly stressful lately and I haven't had time to write in a while. But now I'm back!

Character building for a project simply titled Eden has been happening a lot in the past few months and occupied most of my time. I apologize for the long wait and hope this will suffice for the time being.

Comments

[Rainbow87dash]

Sweet

[Zaki]

2561198 Updates are great, huh?

[Rainbow87dash]

2563483 duh!

[Zaki]

6038208 I apologize for the absurdly long wait. But the update shall arrive this weekend.