• Published 22nd Jan 2013
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Re:Harmony - starcross7



A thousand years ago, the three pony tribes failed to form a unified nation, and war doomed the unicorns to near-extinction. Twilight and Applejack now seek the Elements in the hopes of ending the long conflict between pegasi and earth ponies.

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81 - The Dare

Chapter 81 - The Dare

The Hidden Empire revealed. Even under siege, it remained beyond beautiful as the legends foretold. From her vantage point through the portholes on board the cold and industrial Nemesis, the forces of Gaea crowded around the magical barrier like pests. The initial invasion had stalled. The battle had entered into a stalemate, and the ruins of the grounded landship Excelsus served as the main base in Gaea's bid to dominate the Frozen North.

Coco heard dark and terrible rumors of a specialist well-versed in magic and witchcraft taking residence and command within the hull of Excelsus. She heard that this specialist was in possession of a cursed artifact that was said to devour ponies and their souls. There was even a rumor that this specialist was a unicorn.

"Agent Coco."

Coco, the only soldier, or rather, the only agent deep in this darkened supply deck snapped into attention. Her fashionable horseshoes clacked noisily when her hooves came together, and her silk dress massaged her furred body instead of chaffing it unlike a standard uniform. This was more of a reflex after years of service in the Nemesis while serving and slaving under her loathsome command in the Manehattan Auxiliary Air Fleet.

"At ease," said Read Admiral Prim Hemline who held a cup of coffee in her right hoof. "You're a special agent, not a regular soldier."

Hemline's line of rings in her uniform's sleeves jingled as she sipped her coffee. She judgmentally swished the taste in her mouth before swallowing it. Coco saw no disgust or excitement on the Rear Admiral's face. Coffee was coffee, and hardly any pony drank it for the taste.

"The Admiral says that these Seaddle coffee beans was not to her liking," said Hemline despite taking another sip. "Still, the information you have provided us has proven to be very valuable. The Admiral has decided to send you back and maintain observation of our target."

"Rear Admiral," said Coco, "you know I cannot return empty-hoofed."

"You are correct. Fortunately, Dr. Caballeron made his usual visit not too long ago, and our Admiral has generously decided to impart with you the gift he gave to her."

At Hemline's nod, two burly stallions from Dr. Caballeron's entourage emerged from the shadows of a doorway and wheeled in a heavy steel trunk. One of them made a few quick presses on the buttons of the electronic lock that opened the trunk, revealing four rolls of the most luxurious lavender silk ever made. Some ponies might call its shifting texture bewitching. To Coco, it was pure beauty.

"That is an awfully big 'reward' for your services," said Hemline. "Are you planning on making something out of it?"

"It's not for me," said Coco, "but I do appreciate it. Give my thanks to Dr. Caballeron and the Admiral for me."

"You know I can't do that."

"I know."

Hemline left without saying goodbye, and the burly stallions loaded the silk onto a small trailer cart hitched onto Coco's Aeroscooter. Not even they left a parting goodbye or even a leering and perverted glance at the cream-colored earth pony in the cold launch bay. Such was her fate as a secret agent: expendable. Non-existent. Nopony would weep for her demise should she ever get caught in enemy hooves.

The launch bay doors opened without any warning or acknowledgement. After modifying her silk dress to expose her Nature's Call, Coco revved up Aeroscooter and shot off into the blistering breeze of the Northern sky. After several minutes of passing through Gaean airspace, she flipped the switch to activate the experimental Changeling Cloaking Shell. Even now, she could not get used to its smell.

The day turned into night in a matter of hours, and while nopony from Pegasopolis attacked her, she almost wished one could so that she wouldn't feel so small and alone in this expansive sky. At least her destination was near, and she slowed to an air-halt before a cluster of unusually bright white clouds. She turned off the Changeling Cloaking Shell, and then pressed the tiny button on her communicator earpiece.

"Coco Pommel hailing the Spitfire," she spoke. "Requesting landing. I have made the trade."


"No 'cute' groupies on this corner," Applejack droned.

"Male or female?" asked Rainbow Dash as her lips smacked on another bite of Pinkie Pie's cake. Crumbs populated her cheeks with some emigrating onto the brim of Applejack's hat. The blue pegasus floated right behind her with a mix of indifference and wanting. In one of her hooves only two slices of cake remained.

"Female," replied Applejack with rolling eyes.

How did it come to this? And why on earth did she agree to be the Captain's bodyguard? Rainbow Dash should be relishing the attention she perceived she deserved, but there shouldn't be any reason to avoid being seen by Rarity, Fluttershy, or Pinkie Pie. Maybe Pinkie Pie was an exception, but as potentially destructive as the pink wonder was, she was never malicious. At least, that's what Applejack felt.

"It's a good thing that I pegged you as being the most 'normal' the group of cute mares I recruited," said Rainbow Dash.

"Normal as in boring?" retorted Applejack as she peered left and right on the next crossway.

"I think you're cute in your own way. Your friends are cute too, but they sure are clingy towards me. One wants to dress me up and file my hooves. The pink one wants to blow up my room for some reason and then hug my charred body. The one who loves animals a lot I have to take my time with. She's like a delicate flower that I have plan my moves on very carefully and very smoothly."

"Then explain to me why you are avoidin' them?"

"Hey, I have a lot of love and awesomeness to give, but I can't give it all at once. This pegasus here needs to recharge her swag once in a while. Ah, I'm out of cake. AJ, do you have any more under your hat?"

"My hat don't work that way."

"Shoot, and I'm still hungry. I haven't had a good breakfast ever since Pinkie blew it up. Hmm, I think I know where to get more food. Go down this way."

"Yes, ma'am," sighed Applejack.

After one turn and one long trot, they closed in to the foals' quarters where Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were said to be rooming in with Scootaloo. Applejack continued her role as a pony shield and checked the room for any possible fan-groupies who might have booby-trapped the door in an effort to blow up and hug the captain. The metal door slid open without incident, and Rainbow Dash trotted in without regard to privacy as if she owned the place.

Then again, she was the Captain. Thankfully, there were no fillies or colts to disturb as Rainbow Dash climbed up on one of the bunk beds. She leaned over, beckoning Applejack to get into bed with her. The pegasus's magenta eyes were inviting, but Applejack would rather decline this invitation to save her own sanctity.

"I ain't gonna bite," Dash grinned. "Get up here and protect the Captain."

Only when Rainbow Dash shuffled to the back of the bunk bed did Applejack climb up. As Twilight had said, she needed to remain on her good side, but she was still cautious she might leap up and pounce her in this cramped bed fit for a filly. Hopefully it would hold their combined weight just by them sitting, but the bunk bed started to creak uncomfortably when Rainbow Dash started munching on oat bars she found in a chest placed on a high shelf.

Applejack could not believe she was stealing a filly's lunch, and judging from the heroic pictures and posters of Rainbow Dash along the wall, it was one of her fans. Yet she kept quiet and began drumming up thoughts in her head on how to secretly replenish the chest's food supply and getting the blue pegasus to cooperate.

"Of course," said Rainbow Dash with a full mouth with crumbs spilling over the sheets, "I was right to disguise myself in hindsight. Didn't realize you and your friends were organized enough to get me to go to Pegasopolis."

"Ain't gonna lie about that," said Applejack. "Do you wrap yourself up like a mummy and spy on ponies?"

"I'm not a voyeur if that's what you're talking about, but let me remind you that I am the Captain of this ship. Everything I say goes, but everything I don't say doesn't go."

Talking wasn't getting anywhere here. Even in this cramped top bunk space, Applejack drew forth the Sword of Truth from its golden necklace form and poised the blade's sharp edge inches from Rainbow Dash's neck. True to her apparent reputation, the blue captain remained unfazed, and she continued chewing on the stolen lunch while staring back at Applejack with indifference.

"You're not gonna do it," said Rainbow Dash. "I know you can't bring yourself to hurt an awesome pirate like myself."

"I wouldn't," said Applejack, who then reverted her magical katana back to its necklace form.

"But I have said that you have to prove your loyalty to me if you want me to take you to Pegasopolis, and I have just an idea: a race."

"A race?"

"A race. A race-race. A simple race in the Ghastly Gorge."

"That's almost a full day's trip over there."

"Yep. You in?"

Applejack wasn't, and she gave her answer right when she leapt off the top bunk and exited the foals' quarters. She felt the shadow of Rainbow Dash hovering right behind her, but it was getting difficult to ignore her when her lips smacked at each bite on her oat bar and the crumbs spilling onto the floor.

"Oh, I get it," said Rainbow Dash. "You're a chicken, aren't you?"

"I ain't no coward," replied Applejack. "I just don't have time to play your silly games."

"Look, AJ. I'm giving you a chance for you to earn my loyalty and the right to ram the Spitfire into Pegasopolis's impenetrable Black Cloud. This kind of honor doesn't come around very often."

"We ain't waitin' on any honor or a show-off pegasus captain. We'll find our own way into Pegasopolis."

A sudden burst of wind made the metallic hallways feel like a wind tunnel. One could admire the force of Rainbow Dash's wind power when all she did was fly a few feet ahead and land in front to obstruct Applejack's path. In addition, the Captain's piercing magenta eyes made it clear that she no longer want to hear Applejack's excuses.

"Lemme repeat myself to you," said Rainbow Dash. "I want you to challenge me in a race."

"Well, partner," said Applejack. "Even you don't have the guts to hurt me as well."

"Not directly. Those raised under the banner of Pegasopolis are taught to exploit anypony's weakness when it shows itself, and I already know your weakness."

What weakness? The harsh life Applejack lived under afforded little to no weakness. Fears, maybe, but hardly weaknesses.

But she couldn't have known. Rainbow Dash couldn't have figured out Applejack's shameful secret. The orange pony tightened her lips and stared blankly ahead so she wouldn't confirm the proud Captain's reasoning. All she needed to do was walk past Rainbow Dash and hope that she didn't appear.

Yet, she did. Down the hall, Twilight, dressed in an oil-stained work suit, blissfully trotted towards them with several books in her saddlebags, backpack, and one magically levitated in front of her face. Still she appeared pure and adorable, the perfect combination of book-smarts and a hard work ethic worthy of an Apple. Applejack knew that purity would soon become defiled when Rainbow Dash turned around and crouched down ready for her predatory pounce. The orange pony wanted to scream out to her most admired friend, even at the risk of revealing herself, but Rainbow Dash was too fast. After a quick hop and a skip, the blue pegasus nestled herself past the floating tome and came face to face with the unicorn. She greeted the unicorn with a sultry "hey" before thrusting her lips onto hers. It appeared passionate, with lips smacking and tongues wrestling sloppily. Yet it became clear that only one pony enjoyed it, and the other pony levitated her book to smack the other out from her face. Twilight gagged, coughed, and spat before she turned her furious scowl back towards the blue pegasus.

"Ugh, what was that for?" demanded Twilight.

"Just trying to see if you liked it," Rainbow Dash grinned.

"Well, I don't! Satisfied?"

"Plenty."

The unicorn groaned loudly, and the anger within her made it difficult to magically levitate the book she was reading before she finally gave up and galloped off. That anger paled to that swelling within Applejack, who exploded after the smug pegasus who stole Twilight's purity. If only Rainbow Dash hadn't stepped aside, Applejack would have beaten her to pulp. If only that loose outer hatch wasn't in front of her, then Applejack wouldn't be outside falling to her doom.

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