> On Knife's Edge
>  by Mr. SexSymbol
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was simply wonderful day; the sun was out and not a cloud was to be spotted in the bright blue sky... a perfect day to do the impossible once again. The spring near the forest was a great place to start… Rainbow Dash smirked, slowly unfolding her wings. Then she remembered something she had forgotten, going back inside her home, checking the locks on her door before flying out the balcony. She shut the large glass window and locked it, putting the key in its hiding spot inside the dirt of a hanging plant. 

“Great!” She exclaimed. She stepped back and did a back flip, turning in mid air and opened her cyan-colored wings, feeling the cool air rush against her body. The pegasus grinned; she hadn’t felt this good in a long time! She spiraled down to the freshwater spring, the afternoon sun made the crystal clear waters sparkle as if there were crushed diamonds floating along the surface of the small lake.

Dash landed, flapping her wings to steady herself. Alright! She thought to herself. First part of my brand new routine, I’m gonna fly up high in the sky. The next part, hoping that this spring is deep enough, I’ll do a Sonic Rainboom right over it! With the water going all over and the sun being out like this would make an awesome display! The Wonderbolts would take me in if I can perfect this!

“You can do it, Dashie!” An energy filled voice yelled out from behind. Rainbow shouted in surprise and jumped up, catching herself in mid air by flapping her wings. Pinkie Pie was down below, sitting and looking up at her with a pleased expression. 

“Did I getcha? Did I, Did I?” She asked, turning her head to the side with a bigger smile. Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I’m kind of busy today, Pinkie…” Pinkie raised her hooves and shook her own head. “I was going to ask if we could do some pranks today but then I have a totally different reason now that I had another Pinkie Sense!” She said. 

Dash raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Today is like, the best day ever.” Pinkie stared at the lake. “I think we should get out of here… That lake looks weird!” Dash looked over her shoulder. “Hmmm… Nah. We've been here before, remember when you started following me when you wanted to do pranks last time? Besides, a lot of ponies come here for water. Nothing to be afraid of. ” She concluded and jumped up into the air before Pinkie could say another word.

Pinkie gazed up at Dash, feeling very uncomfortable about this place… Her ear suddenly flopped.
Rainbow Dash flapped her wings as hard as she could, gaining more height with every breath she took. Soon the air got cold. She shivered, looking down at the lake far down below, a pink dot moving around. Pinkie squinted, searching for Rainbow Dash, her eyes fluttering. “Huh?” She said, frowning. Her knees twitched.

Something was about to happen! Pinkie tried to remember what this meant… Ear flop, eye flutter and knee twitch… But there were no doors around. What was going on?

Dash took in a deep breath and tucked her wings in, falling face forward with her hooves in front of her, shaping herself like a spear. The lake was racing closer as the sonic cone formed around her, Dash squinted. Just a little more... She thought. 

Down below, Pinkie heard something in the water move, and she neared the lakeshore. Deep in the water, something glowed… Pinkie gasped. Something definitely was not right here at all. Before she could yell at Dash to stop, the cyan pegasus broke the sound-color barrier, creating the Sonic Rainboom and diving into the lake. The glowing object in the lake shone even brighter and the aftermath of the Sonic Rainboom stopped in its tracks and then retracted, being sucked into the lake. A loud whistling sound came out of nowhere, forcing Pinkie to clamp her hooves over her ears, gritting her teeth as the sound still penetrated. The air picked up around her as the lake opened up like giant mouth, a whirlpool forming. The remains of the Sonic Rainboom went inside the whirlpool and then the force of the suction picked up, branches and leaves were flying into the hole. Pinkie felt herself being lifted up and she realized that she was being sucked in too!
“No no no!!!” She screamed, digging her hooves into the dirt as she tried to resist. 

There was a snap in front of her and she saw a log coming her way. Pinkie ducked but her poofy tail got caught. She screamed one final time as she was drawn into the whirlpool. The water turned bright white and Pinkie passed out, the world around falling apart as if she were falling…

The whirlpool slowed and eventually came to a stop… The spring became still again, as if nothing had happened. The mysterious glowing object darkened and cracked…

Then there was silence.

Pinkie didn’t know how long she was out… Her eyes were open and yet she could not see anything. Around her, she felt wet. Was she still underwater? She tried to move, struggling to twitch. Nothing; fear overcame her, she was going to drown! That high pitched shriek came again and Pinkie felt even more afraid. If she could block her ears to this maddening sound then how would she swim up to breathe? Despite all the pain and the hopelessness, not a tear came from her shut eyes…

All of a sudden the sound stopped and Pinkie felt herself being tugged. The whistling turned into a loud whooshing sound and she was being pulled at a faster rate. This wasn’t an ordinary current… No. She wasn’t wet anymore. 

“Pinkie! Wake up!” 

Dash’s voice? She was okay… But how was she speaking underwater? Pinkie opened her eyes, groaning. She winced at the sudden brightness. “Oh!” With her hooves, she rubbed her closed eyes. “What… Where are we?” She asked, sitting up.

Dash looked around herself for the first time since waking up. “I… I don’t know…”
Pinkie opened her eyes again, squinting under the almost blinding sunlight. What she saw was made her open her mouth in disbelief. Sand. As far as the eye could see, sand… sand… and more sand. Pinkie got up on all fours and looked around. Miles and miles of emptiness. 

“A desert…” She breathed out. Pinkie sat down on the hot sand, feeling lost and confused. “Oh Dashie! How did this happen? What’re going to do? I mean, this is perfect for a beach party but there’s no ocean… Nopony around!” 

Rainbow Dash jumped up, flapping her wings to stay afloat a few feet in the air. “Hang on! I’ll just fly up real high and have a look around. Just stay here.” Pinkie sighed and prodded the sand with her hoof. 
Dash was alone in the sky, looking aimlessly around… It was almost too much for her. What had happened? How did they get here? She shut her eyes, trying to remember what had gone wrong. 

I was trying a new trick… Over the lake spring… thing. I… I saw something… She snapped her eyes open, remembering everything. There was a glowing object when she did the Rainboom over the lake. Dash saw something bright expanding and was being sucked into the light… next thing she knew… she was lying face down in sand.

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Now’s not the time… I gotta find a town or something!”
She could see nothing be the endless stretch of the desert in all directions… Nothing but-
“Huh?” There, off to the far East. There was… a dot... a very small dot. Like a little hill.
That had to be something! Dash beamed and dived back down, the hot air blasting against her face. 

She landed next to Pinkie, coughing and panting. “Wow… It’s so hard to breath up there…” She muttered. Pinkie looked up at Dash. “Did you see anything?”
Dash nodded, extending her wings. “Yeah! Come on! All we gotta do is follow the sun rise!” Pinkie got up, looking up. “You… are you sure?” 
“Yeah,” Dash said, “what’s wrong?” 
“Maybe we should sleep for the night. The sun is already setting.”

“What?” True to Pinkie’s word, the sun was setting in the west. Rainbow Dash shook her head again in disbelief. “What the... the sun was at its highest just a few minutes ago!”
Pinkie just shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what’s going on either.” 
The two exchanged worried looks. Where were they?


*   *   *


The night came soon after and Dash was lying on her back while Pinkie was sleeping peacefully curled up beside her. She was alone with her thoughts. In a situation like this I don’t know how she could sleep so easily… what am I going to do? I don’t remember a desert on any map of Equestria. Oh, if only that egghead Twilight was here. She’d know exactly what to do. Fluttershy would be scared out of her wits… Dash smirked. Applejack… I don’t know what she’d do. Rarity… Rainbow Dash laughed a little bit, softly so she would wake up Pinkie. She would complain all the time about no water or food. Sand getting in her mane… The cyan pegasus sighed… Without a clue in the world on how to get home, she felt close to tears. Dash missed her friends and no doubt Pinkie did too. The earth pony probably wasn’t even showing how she really felt to keep Dash from feeling bad. Dash sat up, leaning on her forehooves. She smiled at Pinkie and laid back down, shutting her eyes. “Everything’s going to be better. I promise. First thing in the morning we’ll get to that town, if it’s a town, and find a way home!” She whispered.

Pinkie mumbled and stirred before becoming still again.


The pair was not alone in the night. A robed figure watched at them from a distance, glaring at Rainbow Dash with a mix of curiosity and bitter emotions. A white hoof emerged from under the robe and dug into the sand. The figured stayed in that pose, waiting for morning to come. If this was who this being thought the Pegasus who lay several yards in front of her was… Then this was her only chance to make things right.

Patiently, the robed figured awaited sunrise in this warped twisted desert. 


They awoke at an hour past dawn. Pinkie Pie was the first to notice the mysterious being covered in a brown tattered robe. The pink earth pony walked up to the figure. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie!” She said to it. No response. Pinkie frowned. “Are you okay? Do you need help?” She pressed, walking around the pony. She knew it was a pony. She could see the purple tail poking out from under the robe. Pinkie Pie was confused at first but then she gasped. “Oh I know! You’re here to invite me and Dashie to a party~!” The hooded head glanced up at the mention of Dash’s name. 

“Wake her.” A soft voice came from under the hood. Pinkie frowned. 

“Well okay, don’t pay attention to me. Dashie, wakey wakey!” She called out. Rainbow Dash raised a hoof. “Give me a moment…” She kept still, snoozing. A cloud of magic wrapped around Dash and lifted her up by the tail. She yelped in surprise and Pinkie ran up and grabbed her, pulling her back to the ground. 

The figure said nothing else but continued to stare at Dash. “Hey! What was that for you punk!? You want me to mess you up?” Rainbow Dash threatened, upside down on the sand after Pinkie had helped her. “Your name is Rainbow Dash… Correct?" The robed figure said. 

Dash got up on all fours and went up to the robed pony, jabbing her hoof on the stranger. “Yeah and what’s it to you?” She was blasted back by a wall of magic and Pinkie ducked as Dash was sent flying. “Hey! Don’t be a meanie!” She yelled. 

Rainbow Dash growled and opened her wings. “Now you’ve asked for it!” She shouted, flying towards the attacker. Another magical attack her way, this time the robed figure morphed the sand into giant spheres, throwing them at her. Dash laughed and avoided one and landed on top of the other, hopping off it and dashed towards the magic user, folding her wings. The robed pony jumped back as Dash turned in mid air for a kick. The Pegasus opened her wings again and caught on to the wind made by the kick, spinning her to the robed figure’s side. Another kick was made and with a loud smack, knocked over the robed pony. Rainbow Dash smirked victoriously and moved over to the defeated pony. Her teeth closed on the hood of the robed pony. “Get off me!” 

Dash yelped as she was pushed off again with another wall of magic. Pinkie gasped, she was unsure what to do the entire fight but she ran back and caught Dash on her back. “Oof!” The earth pony fell, the impact pushing her down. Dash groaned, her head pounding from the magic. The hooded figure stood in over them now, a horn exposed. Pinkie looked up and noticed the glowing magic that was swirling around the white horn.

"Empress, you’re going to die here for the sins you wrought. Not even I would’ve thought you would’ve been foolish enough to be out in the open without your bodyguards… you will die now!"

Pinkie’s eyes went wide at the threat. “No!” She screamed and jumped up, knocking Dash off of her just as the unicorn fired a beam. 

Dash rolled over on the sands and scrambled as Pinkie screamed in pain. “Pinkie!” She shouted, extending her hoof towards her friend. “Dashie! Help me!!!” She screamed as she shook uncontrollably in mid air, coated in a purple light. She shrunk and then with a loud sickening pop… she was gone…

Dash blinked. “Wh-what…” 
The hooded figure stepped back. “Oh no…” 

Rainbow Dash stood up and tackled the pony, sending her hooves down on his or her face. “You’re going to pay!” She screamed, slamming her hooves down again and again, harder as she cried to Pinkie’s death. The hooded pony cried out in pain and blood came up, splattering across Dash’s cheek. “You killed my friend! You killed her!” She cried out. The hooded unicorn’s horn flash and teleported away from her. Dash fell on the sand and turned, looking the beaten unicorn. She stood over where Pinkie was and dug into the sands. Something glinted where the unicorn had moved. The hooded pony looked in Dash’s direction again. “Forgive me.” She said. 

Rainbow Dash ran over to attack again but before she could throw another hoof punch, the mysterious unicorn teleported again. Rainbow Dash flew up, looking around angrily for the killer. The attacker had fled…

She huffed, and landed back down. Never before had she felt so hurt and angered… Pinkie was dead because she wasn’t there to take the shot meant for her… “Oh Pinkie…” She sobbed, hanging her head, her tears falling into the sand…

“Oh Dashie… Don’t cry!” Rainbow Dash looked up and around. “Pinkie!?”

Something in the sand wiggled and a tiny Pinkie Pie popped her head out of the ground. 
“Dashie! I’m safe!” Rainbow Dash’s face contorted into the biggest smile she ever had. 

“Pinkie! You’re alive!” She shouted as she grabbed her friend and gave her a hu-“ Aggh!” Dash dropped Pinkie and grabbed her bleeding hoof. “What… What just...” She whimpered. 

Pinkie fell back on the sand, wiggling her legs as she tried to get back up. “Ungh… Hey! I can’t get up! Help!” Dash looked from her cut to Pinkie and froze. 
“Pinkie… Take a look at yourself…” 

“Huh?” Pinkie looked down at herself and yelped. Where her tail used to be at, a long curvy pink knife was there. Pinkie Pie flipped herself on all fours and wiggled herself. The blade didn’t move. “What’s wrong with me!?” She yelled. Dash cringed. For somepony so tiny she was still loud. “I bet that jerk of a unicorn did it.” She huffed, prodding the ground with a hoof aggressively. “Oh don’t worry Dash… Now I can make cupcakes a lot easier!” 

"Pinkie be serious! This isn't funny! We're in the middle of nowhere, we just got attacked by some wacko and all you care about is how easy you can make cupcakes now?" Dash scolded. Pinkie looked over herself again and hung her head. 
"You're right... I don't like this at all." Her lip started to tremble.

Dash noticed this and quickly chose her next words to comfort Pinkie.

“Uh... don't cry! L-Let’s just go to the town I saw. Climb on. I don't know how you survived or why you turned into a knife but if we're lucky and that dot over there is a town then we'll just find another unicorn to turn you back to normal.” Pinkie jumped on Dash’s hoof and trotted up. 

“I’m sorry I hurt you Dashie…”Pinkie said humbly, being careful not to cut her again. Dash smiled, keeping her injured hoof off the ground. 

“It’s okay. I forgive you.” The cyan colored pegasus took a running start and opened her wings to fly. With a hop, Rainbow Dash flew up into the hot sky. “I’m sure if I fly nonstop we’ll make it before sundown!” She told her passenger. Pinkie dug into Dash’s mane, panting. “It’s so hot up here…Are you sure you can fly all the way there on your own?” Pinkie asked worriedly.

Dash grinned. “Of course! Who's the fastest pony to ever fly out of Cloudsdale?"

Pinkie kept quiet for a moment, putting a hoof thoughtfully on her chin. "Is it you?" 
"That's right! Now hang on tight!" She shouted and flapped her wings at a faster pace. The sonic cone began to build up and Pinkie bit down on Dash's rainbow colored mane as hard as she could. 

With a loud explosion, Rainbow Dash broke the sound barrier and light spectrum as she sped towards what they both hoped to be their salvation in this wasteland.


> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Whoa..." Pinkie Pie said breathlessly, hanging on to Dashie's multicolored mane. They had made it to the 'dot' by the time night fell again, Dash was panting and was barely able to keep flapping her wings. She kept them open as they caught a warm air draft, gliding towards the strange giant object before them. It was a large circular metal ring, the walls seemed to stretch up high in the sky, taller than the windmills back home and taller than Canterlot Castle's highest tower. Dash gulped, seemingly uneasy about this strange thing before them. As they neared, they noticed that the walls were made of heaps of scrap metal, either bolted in place or welded. 

"I don't think we're in Equestria anymore Pinkie." Dash shouted over the wind. The rainbow maned pegasus looked down into the giant metal ring as she passed over it. "Hey!" Pinkie gasped. "I see ponies! And buildings! Water! Food! We're gonna live!" She pointed down to each different thing she had called out. Rainbow Dash grunted in pain and shook her head lightly. "Careful! You're pulling on my mane!" 

"Sorry..." Dash ignored Pinkie, circling around in the air, looking for an empty spot to land where there wasn't anypony around. She didn't want to cause a problem, not after that random stranger that had attacked them hours ago. This was a strange place, she didn't feel as safe as she used to be in Ponyville. Suddenly Dash noticed an old well far off away from the central part of the cluttered town and dived down. It was dark, mostly because of the large wall that loomed over it and that the well was behind a big metal shack. There was a wooden house several yards away from the shack. Dash realized that she was about to invade someone else's property. She thought about flying off somewhere else instead but the pain coming from her sore wings disagreed. Dash would have to stay here for the night.

"Why did you come over here?" Pinkie asked as she jumped of Dashie's head, landing on the ground and shaking herself to get her wind blown mane back to being poofy as cotton candy. Dash sat on her haunches and then fell down on her backside. 

"I need to rest. I don't have any bits or any kind of money they have here." She coughed. "My wings are sore... we can find somepony to help us in the morning." Pinkie climbed on her stomach, leaning her rear up to keep her new blade body part from cutting Dash accidentally. She didn't want to hurt her, not like last time. 

"Okay!" She said and laid down on the pegasus's chest, gently and slowly moving her tail blade down until the flat side rested against the blue short hairs on Dash's chest. Rainbow Dash shuddered. "You're really c-c-cold Pinkie..." Pinkie lifted her head up from where she had rested on her hooves. "Huh?"

She got up, rubbing her forehooves and sides. "I don't feel cold..." She muttered. 

Dash raised an eyebrow and picked up Pinkie, lifting her up to the moonlight. 

"Whoa!" Pinkie started squirming, giggling. "You're... Hee hee! You're tickling me!" Dash opened her mouth in amazement. "Pinkie! You're completely made out of metal!" 

"Well, duuuh! I got turned into a knife, remember?" She said, rolling upside down in Dash's hoof and staring at her, a big grin on her face. 

"Yeah... but... I only expected part of you, your tail... thing, to be made of metal..." Dash explained. She frowned and got up, crawling over and reaching up to the stone well, tapping Pinkie's head over it. "Hey! What're you doing now!?"

The sound of metal on stone made a loud clinking sound. Dash chuckled. "Did you feel that?" 

"No. I'm a metal pony." Dash slammed Pinkie against the well again. Pinkie yelped. "Hey! Stop it! Just because I can't feel it doesn't mean I'm fine with you doing it."

"Alright alright. I'll stop." Dash snickered. "I just wanted to see what really happened to you."
Pinkie crossed her hooves and glared at Dash with an annoyed expression on her face. "Bashing my head against a well is your way of trying to find out why I'm like this?" 

"Don't you think it's strange that you survived a magic spell aimed to kill?" Dash mentioned, trying to avoid the earlier mishap. Pinkie started to tap her hoof, pondering. She looked up, skyward as she thought deeply. After a while, she raised her hooves in a shrug. "I don't know."

Dash got up and slowly made her way to the metal shack with Pinkie following close behind. The shack was made of out those wavy aluminum trays, all welded together into one solid wall. "Something tells me that this isn't stable." Dash muttered worriedly, tapping the door with her hoof. The entire makeshift hut rattled and swayed. Rainbow Dash backed away, half expecting it to come down. To her luck, the shack became still. 

"You want to sleep in here?" Pinkie asked, concern was evident in her voice. The pegasus looked downward, once again reminded by how small and probably defenseless the earth pony was now. Dash extended a hoof, the one that had the cut back when she had tried to pick up Pinkie while she was unaware she had transformed into a knife. It was no longer bleeding but the wound was still there. Pinkie looked at the cut for a moment and then at Dash, regret in her small little eyes. 

"It's okay. I'm fine down here." She said. Dash knew she felt guilty for hurting her and decided not to remind her of it anymore. It was only an accident... if only Pinkie could see it that way. 

With a heavy sigh, Dash opened the door then cringed as the door squealed as it slowly swung open. She quickly went inside, leaving the door open just long enough for Pinkie to hop inside before silently closing it. Dash llooked around for a window, hoping that nopony had seen her enter or heard the door open. She found one, near a door high above, letting in little moonlight from the outside world. Knowing she would regret it, Dash flew up to it, grinding her teeth as her wings screamed in pain. The glass fogged up from her ragged gasps and to her frustration, it was too dark outside to see anypony or anything.

Suddenly her sore wings gave and Rainbow Dash flopped on the ground. "I'm too tired Pinkie." She said weakly, her eyelids slowly closing. Pinkie crawled up to the exhausted pegasus and wondered what she could do to help. Dash's wings were still splayed out, crooked and erected oddly. They were still tense and Pinkie realized that the muscles must still be flexing themselves after moving for so long at a constant pace. She climbed up on Dashie's back and started to rub her hooves against the poor painful looking appendages. 

The pegasus twitched and she let out a pained cry that shattered the silent night. 
"Sorry!" Pinkie cried out and put less pressure in her massage. 

They were silent after that; the only thing that broke the silence was Dash's breathing as Pinkie tended to her wings.
Slowly but surely, the wing muscles relaxed and the pegasus attentively folded them. 

Pinkie fell back, her hooves had gone numb from the effort. Now with Dash finally sleeping peacefully and free of pain from her aching wings, Pinkie was alone with her thoughts. She couldn't sleep... not after what they had gone through.

Leaving Rainbow Dash to sleep on the dirty floor of the shack, which seemed to be unused due to the layers of dust on all of the farming equipment scattered around the small shed; Pinkie started her search for a mirror or shard of glass... anything to have a closer look at herself. The little knife found a group of barrels cluttered around a corner. Pinkie looked down at her hooves, glinting from the moon's ethereal-like light. 

"What am I?" She whispered to herself; lowering her arms.

The little knife pony dug her hooves into the weak wood, her hard steel hooves made it easy to penetrate it. She climbed up, her blade wiggling to the left and right. With a small grunt, Pinkie pulled herself up to the top of the barrel and turned to look at her surroundings.

She wasn't home... that's for sure. As far as she knew, they also weren't in Equestria. Pinkie remembered Dashie saying deserts did not exist in Equestria. A cold empty feeling entered the little pink pony's heart and she huddled up in a ball... or at least attempted to. The blade that was made out of her tail was stiff and would obviously not curl up like her old tail used to; without the comfy bushy pink tale, Pinkie would have to rest her head on the solid wood that she rested on. I wanna go home. I miss throwing parties, I miss Gummy, I miss everypony... I don't want to be a knife! Knives hurt ponies... I don't want to hurt anypony.

Pinkie froze, recalling that she was the one who put that nasty cut on Rainbow Dash's hoof. I hurt Dashie. I'm not a good pony...  I didn't mean to hurt her. It... it was an accident! I hope Dashie knows I didn't... Oh,

A small tear escaped her closed eyelids, dripping down her snout and fell off, splashing on the dead wood. I hate being a knife.

Pinkie wanted to sleep next to Dashie but her guilt won over, keeping her up on the barrel; she shut her eyes hoping for sleep to come and whisk her away to dreamland to sweep her away from her troubles.


*   *   *


Far off from where Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie took shelter in an abandoned farm, miles from the protected city in the middle of the desert, towering high above on the edge of the land stood an ancient castle. Built along the craggy cliff along the continents edge, facing towards the endless sea. The castle had been carved from the stone by the salted winds by the hooves of a goddess. Inside, the throne room was large and empty, decorative pillars filling up the space and giving the noble territory an aging feel with a touch of simplicity. 

The Empress laid across a stone lovebed, carved by the fluttering gales she produced from her powerful wings. Her gleaming white body was strewn lazily as the queen of this land dozed. Her mane was of many colors and flowed gently as the morning breeze. The Empress's evening nap would not be disturbed. Not for the likes of any-

"MY QUEEN!"

The white pegasus's eyes snapped open, anger was evident in them. "For what purpose does anypony have to disturb us?" She cried, lifting her divine body and sat up on the lovebed. The pegasus guard stumbled in and bowed before her, doing all that he could to avoid her searing gaze.

"Answer me!" She snapped, the gentle swaying of her mane flickered into flames, heating the air around her rapidly. The guard whimpered and brought himself to the floor. "It's the zebra! My queen, forgive m-m-my intrusion but the zebra who see's the p-p-past, present, and f-f-future bids and audience with you!" 

The Empress calmed herself with a patient sigh and her fiery mane settled back into a gentle swaying light. "She may enter after we rest. As you-"

"But she must see you now! It's urgent!" 

The queen snapped again, the flames returned with twice the scorching ferocity and she leaned forward towards the frightened guard. "YOU DARE INTERRUPT US?" She roared. The guard pegasus wailed as the flames enveloped him and burned his body. She pulled back and let the guard topple, the air hissing with cooked flesh. A pungent burnt odor filled her space and with a beat of her mighty wings, The Empress fanned the smell away.

"That was not necessary, my Empress."

The large doors before the Empress opened, the two guards exchanging nervous glances at each other as they realized that their fellow guard had been roasted alive. The tyrant queen huffed and stepped off her seat. The granite door gritted against the floor as it closed, a boom echoing in the gigantic throne room. 

"What is your business... Zecora?" The Empress queried, angling her head downward slightly. 
The zebra enchantress said nothing as her hooves clopped against the tiled floor, the sound of her steps echoing like a clock, ticking closer to the message and warning she had discovered.

She stopped before the large pegasus before her looked up into her red eyes. "Empress. You have defeated Celestia and the Elements of Harmony many years past. You have raised an army mightier than any king or queen who once rule this land of sand."

The Empress let a slow triumphant smile grow on her face as Zecora listed each and everyone of her victories. It was hard work taking control of this pitiful dry land. Now that she ruled it, life was easy... for her.

"And yet I have foreseen something that will change this world." 

"Excuse us?" 

Zecora did not flinch when the queen leaned in, the smile replaced with a disapproving frown. "You, my Empress, will die by your own hoof."

"Preposterous! Why would we end our lives at the prime of our rule? Ease off the herbal fumes, my seer, for they are getting into your brain."

"It is not a warning to be taken lightly, my queen! The living blade will end you! Take precaution against knives... Do not travel alone! Your era will end soon if you do not protect yourself better."

The Empress turned her head to the side, staring at the zebra with suspicion. "There is something else you are not telling us... spit it out."

Zecora returned the gaze, hesitating before she spoke again. "I saw nothing else. My Empress... My queen."

The white pegasus turned away from the zebra seer and stepped forward, her eyes looking out into space. "We see... very clearly now. In that case, be on your way."

"My Empress."

"Get out of our sight." She snapped. Zecora dipped her head and began to leave. The echoing sounds of her hooves sounded again for a few moments before they became silent. The doors did not open.

"Yes?" The Empress inquired, not averting her gaze from the moon. 
"There... there is one thing I must say."

"Speak."

"What will you do now that you have Celestia and her rebellion in hiding."

The Empress laughed then, filling the throne room with her voice. "Oh. We shall find them and everything that they love... everything they cherish... we will rob it form them and watch them suffer before we give them their deaths."

Evil filled her laughter as she envisioned it. Soon, soon it would happen and her rule would be eternal.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning light sneaked into the tincan of a shed that Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie took shelter in for the night. The rays of sunlight warmed Dash's closed eyelids, the pegasus pony stirred, whipping her seven colored tail about. With a yawn she got up and stretched herself, leaning down while rearing her flank up. Her spine popped several times, the feeling releasing some discomfort after sleeping on the hard floor, and she let out pleasured sigh. Rainbow Dash blinked several times, trying to get her awake. 

A soft little snore reached her ears and Dash peeked over the top of a barrel where Pinkie Pie slept. She laid on her stomach, resting her head on her forehooves. The tiny pony looked so contempt in her dreams that Dash decided to let her sleep a bit longer. They had an entire day ahead of them. 

I should be considering what we should do first... this farm might be abandoned since no one has found us yet. If I remember anything about farmers from what Applejack taught me it's that they wake up much earlier than most ponies. It's safe to bet on the house being empty and if that's the case, Pinkie and I won't have to sleep in this cramped shed anymore.

Dash paused for a moment, realizing that she never actually took figured out where they were ever since they had been stuck in this strange world.

I know that we aren't in Equestria... She put a hoof to her chin, pondering when suddenly she head a soft little moan. Pinkie Pie sat up and rubbed her little eyes, sleepily stumbling around atop the barrel. 

"Morning." Dash simply said. Pinkie didn't respond and leaned against the edge of the old barrel, her forehooves dangling over it and her eyes drooped with the night's spell still in effect. "What... what time is it?" Pinkie whispered, her voice was so minuscule that Rainbow Dash could barely even hear her. Once again she felt sorry for the trouble she had put Pinkie Pie in.
"I'm... I'm sorry? I didn't hear you."

"I said what time is it!?" Pinkie shouted, this time to Dash her voice sounded like it had been when she was normal.

"Oh... I, uh, I don't know. There's no clock in here." She explained. Feeling restless, she trotted over and lowered her head, biting Pinkie's mane and lifting her up. "Come on, we can't stay here." Dash added through her teeth. Moving up to the thin metal door, she pushed her head against it and opened it. With the same cringing squeal, it swung fast and banged against the wall. Dash peeked out, checking to see if anypony had heard her. Hopefully there would be no pony around. It was still early in the morning, if she was lucky she could go out and find something to eat in town. She remembered with a sense of bitterness that she had no money on her nor did she even know the currency in this world... Would I be forced to steal? Dash thought to herself, heading towards the hopefully abandoned farmhouse. There hasn't been much crime in Ponyville lately and I've never stolen anything before. The only trouble I've ever gotten into was when I crashed into Twilight's library and had to pay for the broken window. If it came down to it... Will I do it?

"You okay, Dashie?" 

Dash blinked. Although she hadn't noticed, she had been standing there staring into space while lost in her thoughts. "Yeah..." She trotted up to the home and put a hoof against the wooden board. Dash visibly twitched when her cut brushed against the rough texture of the door. The wound throbbed and numbed over, much to Dash's discomfort. Pinkie mumbled something that was too quiet to hear her and looked guilty. 

Rainbow Dash sighed, wanting to say something to keep Pinkie happy but knew that earth pony would still feel terrible over the accident. They entered the home and closed the door behind them. It was a... simple home. Dash had entered the kitchen area, from what she guessed from the counter in the middle of the room and the sink built into it. There was a refrigerator but was void of food. The cupboards had clean dishware and the silverware hanging neatly on the wall beside the stove, as if the home owner wanted to show off his collection of eating utensils. Pinkie climbed down Dash's left hoof and crawled around on the floor, looking around for anything useful. 

"I guess I was wrong. We can't stay here Pinkie." Dash called out, putting down an empty jar that must have been used to hold jam. 

"Why not?" She asked, digging around in the cupboards. Her blade-like tail kept scraping against the pots and pans. Dash hoped she wouldn't make any scratches on them for the sake of the ponies who lived here. 
"Look... we don't belong here and I just don't want to cause any trouble for us. We should get out of here and find a way to get back to Equestria." She explained quickly. Pinkie popped her head out from the cupboard, wearing a measuring cup on her head. "I think we should find something to hold me. Something I can ride on so you don't have to get hurt carrying me again." 

Dash looked down at her numb hoof and back at Pinkie with a forgiving expression on her face. "Pinkie... you know that you're my friend. I know that you didn't mean to hurt me back there and you should't feel bad about it. It was an accident. That's all."

Pinkie Pie lowered her head. "... Still. Can we go find a knife holder?"
"You mean a sheath?" Dash corrected. Pinkie nodded. 

"Hmm..." Dash put a hoof to her chin, thinking where she would even find one. "This is a farm... or what looks like one. I don't see any crops or anything out there."

"Maybe they just planted the seeds?" 

"Maybe. Let's search the house. We're only taking what we need though." 

"Wait... We're stealing?" Pinkie gasped and glared at the pegasus angrily. "Dashie, stealing is wrong!" 

Rainbow Dash lowered her head this time, her eyes closed. "I know, I know! I hate stealing too but what else can we do?" Pinkie slid out of the cupboard and took off the measuring cup on her head. "Dashie..."

"Look we're just going to get the sheath and go. That's it." She opened her wings, groaning slightly. The pain from flying an entire day had not gone away despite Pinkie's soothing massage from last night. Flapping them a few times, she tried to get used to the feeling but abandoned the idea of flying around the house altogether. Dash left the kitchen and entered the living room of the house. 

What she saw brought a cold empty feeling in her heart.

"Aw hay.... Fluttershy would probably go nuts if she saw this..." Dash whispered. Pinkie whimpered in disgust.
The living room was made completely out of animal parts. The rug was made of bearskin, the head and paws still intact. Heads of woodland creatures were mounted on all four walls. Stuffed birds were in any place one would put anything on, be it lamps on table tops, the small things used to hold books up or whatever Twilight called them and there was even a coat hanger made out of deer antlers. 

As sickening as it was to them, Dash wondered how there were bodies of the animals if they were in a desert... Was there a forest nearby? How else could anypony get this kind of display in a desert? 
Another thought came into her mind and she smiled. "We're lucky."

"What do you mean?" Pinkie asked, looking up at her. 
"They must be hunters, which means they got to have a knife around here somewhere for... cutting up animals." She made a face, feeling queasy at the thought of a pony gutting a rabbit. "A knife with a job like that would need a safe place to keep it from getting dirty and sharp! There should be a sheath somewhere in this house!"

A quick search in the lovely room of death proved to be fruitless and the two went upstairs, searching every drawer and shelf until finally...

"Dashie! Look! I found something!" Pinkie Pie cried out from under a desk, her little pink wavy blade wiggling in delight. 

"Quickly, pull it out and show what you got then." Dash replied, running over and hunching down to see. Pinkie struggled out from under the desk, tugging on what looked like a tattered old piece of paper wrapped around a long object. The paper got stuck for a moment and Pinkie pulled back hard. The sound of tearing paper filled the room and she fell back with a shriek.

Dash giggled for a moment and helped the little knife back up. "Be more careful Pinkie." She said between bursts of small laughter. Pinkie's face flushed. "Yeah... thanks."

Dash put her hoof on the paper and slid it out, uncovering the object in the process. Pinkie made a fan-girlish squeal the moment she saw the sheath and hobbled over to cuddle the leather object. Dash bit her lip to keep herself from laughing again. 

"Pinkie. What... what're doing?" She said, smirking. Pinkie giggled and pushed her tail inside the sheath, sighing in relief. "I don't know. But I feel so happy!" She squealed again, pushing her hooves against her cheeks. 

Dash rolled her eyes. "Must be a knife thing." 
The pegasus returned her attention to the to paper that was wrapped around the empty sheath and she began to question why somepony would even hide the knife holder and this...

Her eyes narrowed as she noticed some writing on the other side of the scrap. Hang on a second...
Dash turned over the scrap of paper and with a jolt she instantly recognized the coat of arms of Canterlot. 
This was the symbol of Equestria... Two alicorns standing on their backlegs facing the other, one bright as the daylight and other as dark as the night. Swirly patterns wrapped around them both to symbolize magic and six symbols were between the alicorns.

One of those symbols was in the shape of a lightning bolt. The Element of Loyalty. 

"No way..." Dash breathed out in disbelief. She started to shake, almost on the verge in tears of joy. 
This little piece of paper provided a clue. Somepony out here knows of Equestria... Why else would they have the symbol of it here? Dash snapped, remembering what had gotten her attention in the first place and began to the note.

My brother, they said they were going to meet again today. The rebels have seized a safehouse this Thursday at midnight in the Drunken Dragon tavern. Go inside and speak to the bartender, you must ask of him for the Punch Special. It is not a real drink so don't get too excited, I know how you like to drink... In any case, that is the secret code that will tip him off that you are part of the resistance. He will lead you down the basement where he stores the liquor there just as he did for me many nights before. Please brother, do not make a foal of yourself. This is serious. We must be rid of this tyrant Empress and save our mother. I shall be waiting by the hunters near the fireplace. Do not worry about the long hours of the meeting and being hungry. Food and drink will be provided. Just make sure no one follows you.

- With warm regards all the way from Doaria,
Wilhelm


Rainbow Dash lowered the note, an idea spurring in her mind. These ponies must have something to do with Equestria. If I can just get to them and talk to them, Pinkie and I will be homeward bound! She then hopped up and down excitedly, whooping in joy.

"I've never seen you get so jittery before," Pinkie commented, watching Dash. The pegasus grabbed the sheath and looked around for a belt that she had seen a little while ago. Searching in one of the drawers, Dash bit onto a thin light brown belt and jerked her head back, swinging it out. The other end flew up and over her and smacked against her flank. Rainbow Dash jumped up and screamed. Her face burned in embarrassment as Pinkie giggled. 

"Sh-shut it!" She seethed through her teeth. Pinkie obeyed by chuckled as softly as she could so Dash would not hear. Rainbow Dash set down Pinkie and turned her over, looking for a loop of some sort to slide the belt in. To her delight there was and she combined the belt with the sheath. 

"There!" She cried out proudly, tossing the belt up in the air and jumping. Flapping her wings to keep afloat, Dash extended on foreleg up in the air and let the belt fall on her. It landed on her head, going past and resting on her neck. She lowered her hoof and bit down on the end that stuck out from the buckle, making it tighter. Satisfied, she landed and looked down at Pinkie who looked back up at from where she was. 

"For a cheaply made strap, it fits well." Dash commented. "I can pull you out whenever I need you and I don' have to hold you anymore." Pinkie nodded approvingly. She was resting against Dashie's chest, right over her heart. The knife wiggled in her sheath, feeling warm. "So what was on that note you found?" She asked.

"I don't think we're the only ones from Equestria, Pinkie. Check this out." Dash explained, running over to the small scrap of paper and lifted it up for Pinkie to see. After studying the stamped image for a moment she gasped. "Hey! That's the symbol for my element!" 

"Yeah! Mines too."

"Twilight's, Applejack's, Fluttershy's and Rarity's symbols are on it two!"

"And the alicorns?"

"Ummm...."

Dash put a hoof to her face. "The princesses, Pinkie."

"Ohhh! Right, I knew that!" The knife countered with a sheepish grin. 

"Anyway I think we should head over to this 'Drunken Dragon' bar."

"Haha! That reminds me the time Spike fell in the punch that one night!" Pinkie giggled again.

Dash sighed, annoyed. "Pinkie, this really isn't a laughing matter..." 
"You're right... sorry." 

Rainbow Dash turned to leave the room and opened her mouth to speak again. "I guess this is it then. Let's give it a shot. Because this is our only lead home, these ponies."

"Dashie... one problem."

"What's that?"

"Just... what day is it today?" 

Dash paused for a moment to think. "It's... Wednesday, right?" Pinkie pointed up at the confused pegasus. "That's right but what about here? The note said the meeting is going to be on Thursday... if we're in a different country we could be in a different time zone."

"That only works on time, Pinkie. Not days." 

"Well..."

"Whatever, let's just find the pub." Rainbow Dash ended the conversation and opened the window. The daylight was shadowed by the giant wall outside. It confused Dash why anypony would want to live under constant darkness. Feeling too lazy to clean up the mess she and Pinkie had made, the cyan pegasus flew out and turned in mid air towards the central part of the town. If she was lucky and right, this Drunken Dragon might be a well known bar near the center of the town. All she had to do was find it before the midnight.

That is if she wasn't off by a day.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The afternoon sun shined brightly over the cluttered trashy town, baking the dry soil and left a scaly surface of cracks. Rainbow Dash sat along the edge of a crudely built bell tower made of scrap metal and dead drying wood. She tried to stay under the shade to keep herself from getting hot as she searched for a fellow pegasus. It was very odd, she noticed, that not a single pegasus was to be seen flying in the sky. At first she thought it was because of the unbearable hot air high above, where even she had trouble breathing in, that kept them from being in the air where they belonged. 

She examined the town again, looking over it all. In the middle of the central part of it was a wide dirt road, shops and other buildings lined the street. Ponies were trotting along and across it, going along their daily business. Every home was built out of wood, dead and as dry as the desert surrounding the town. Metal roofing plated the top of each and every home, attracting sun and possibly kept the heat outside instead of inside... 

Her attention turned again to the ponies moving along far below. They had not noticed her yet and minded their own selves.

Another strange thing that Rainbow Dash had picked up since she had first flown around the town. Some earth ponies were wearing freaky white robes trimmed with gold. The sleeves were long and they stood on their back legs, walking awkwardly. What's with everypony? She thought, shaking her head disapprovingly. The only normal ponies were the unicorns and the farmer-ish looking earth ponies, nothing of them had changed. The cyan pegasus peeked from where she hid in the cool shades under a bell, the only place she could find refugee in the hot sky, even so she hung her tongue out as she panted like a dog in the heat.

"I can't take this anymore!" She vented, leaping off the bell tower and opened her wings to glide down. "We walk!"

Unexpectedly she was blasted up higher into the air, forgetting that when the air was heated it would rise. Basic knowledge for a weatherpony... The stinging heat of embarrassment left a red mark across Dash's cheeks as she quickly folded her wings. 

She dove towards the dusty sun-bleached earth and opened her wings at the last few feet above the ground to prevent herself from splattering across it. A small cloud of dust welled up, blocking her view momentarily and bringing up a cough from her. The ponies around her stopped what they were doing and looked at their newcomer, curious to see who had fallen from the sky. 

Rainbow Dash coughed again, shaking herself and fanned the dust off with her wings. When it all settled down she looked at everyone with a confident smirk. I think I should make myself known here. Maybe somepony will help me out.

"Attention everypony! I, Rainbow Dash the greatest flier in Equestria, am in need of your help." She paused, waiting for the townsponies to react. She was met with cold hard stares and an utter, uneasy silence. Pinkie worriedly looked up at Dashie without moving her head, just her eyes. The entire street had gone quiet the moment Rainbow Dash had revealed herself to them. Everypony looked at her with pure anger in their eyes, despite that she had done nothing wrong. The hate in their eyes and empty wordless air began to unnerve Rainbow, her eyes darted around as she searched for a friendly face.

"I... I... uh..." She began again, her voice becoming dry and cracked. "I need your help..." Dash turned her head to look at an old pony wrapping a protective leg around her grandchild. "Please..." She begged. 

They kept silent, not a word... not even the wind was blowing. Rainbow Dash stepped back, suddenly putting everything together... 

"No... N-no!" She gasped. The townsponies stepped forward, picking up weapons or readying what they already were holding. Pinkie Pie tugged on Dashie's belt, glancing fearfully at the hostile crowd. Dash reached to grab Pinkie but one old looking colt noticed and swiped at her with a pick ax. 

"Run!" Pinkie screamed, panicking now. At this point she was too scared to even 'giggle at the ghosties' like she always did when something frightened her. Dash took the advice very well, turning and kicking the colt who had attacked her. The old colt leaped back in surprise, giving Dash the gap to escape. She pushed through, running as the crowd tried to sneak in kicks and tossed rocks at her as she fled. They had missed but one rock had mad it's mark, flying high and fast, striking Dash's right wing. It broke with a sickening crunch and she screamed in pain, stopping just to look at it. It was twisted from the impact and rendered her chances to escape into next to impossible. Rainbow Dash was not exactly quick on her hooves.

Tears came to her eyes, never before had she been treated like this... Ponyville had always been a peaceful place. Dash had never been subjected to horrors like this. Despite the overwhelming pain, she continued to run far and fast. The crowd gave chase, attracting attention and bringing more into their numbers.

Rainbow Dash's heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings and she turned into a corner, ducking under a pile of crates behind a weathered building. She covered her mouth as the mob ran by, shouting and yelling. 

"Find the pegasus!"

"How did she even get past the barrier!?"

"Get the bounty hunters on her trail!"

"Report this incident to the General in Doaria!"

Rainbow Dash huddled tighter, tears streaming down her face as she resisted her urge to scream in pain in fear. She trembled violently and Pinkie simply watched, the horror fixated in her eyes as she realized there was nothing she could do... Dash shut her eyes and waited for the mob to rush past before she even dared to stick her head out from her hiding place. She looked to the left, a cloud of dust had formed where the hostiles had gone off. Glancing to her right she saw nopony else on the dusty road. Pinkie Pie tugged on the belt tied around Rainbow's chest. Dash winced in pain, the belt had rubbed against her throbbing broken wing. Pinkie whimpered guiltily.

"No... I'm fine... Ah!" She took a step forward and accidentally, by reflex, attempted to open both her wings. The pain was too much to continue searching for the Drunken Dragon, not to mention staying out in the open with an angry mob out on the prowl. Rainbow Dash was confused... what had she done to get them so angry? Why did they hate pegasi so much?

A grim idea slowly crept in the back of her mind and she trembled. Was it possible that pegasi are on the edge of extinction? What had they done, as a race, to anger the others to the point where they must be killed on sight? So many questions swam around her head and little answers arose to solve them. However now was not the time to ponder such things.

I got to find medical attention... uugh...  

"Hey!" A young voice boomed in the distance. Pinkie shrieked. "Run Dashie!"
Rainbow turned to run but before she could go as far as a yard, a cloud of magic encased itself around her, trapping her.

"Nooo!!!" She screamed, struggling with all she had, bucking her legs around in mid air.

"Calm down! You'll only hurt yer'self s'more!" 

"No! You're going to kill me! Lemme go! Lemme go!" Dash screamed again. The unicorn revealed himself, stepping out the dusty fog that had remained in the air from the mob. It was unnatural how it had stayed... as if not a lick of wind had been blown... The unicorn colt moved up until he was in front of her, adding strength to his binding spell to constrict her limbs. She was paralyzed now, not even able to open her mouth to speak.

"Okay." The unicorn breathed out, glaring at her with testy purple eyes. His coat was a light brown color, almost like syrup and his mane a rich maroon. "I've clamped your mouth shut for two reasons. A, you are one loud bitch."

Excuse me!?

"And B... I'm here to help you. That knife of yours... I've seen one just like it." He added, staring at Pinkie, who kept as still as she could be. There was an awkward pause for a few moments and the unicorn looked at Rainbow Dash expectantly. She looked around, checking if anypony else was around before looking back at him before raising her eyebrow. Realization dawned his face and he laughed.

"I'm sorry! Let me free your mouth." He said, releasing his hold on her. Dash groaned.
"Who... who are you?" She asked. "And why do you want to help me?" 

The unicorn opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of thundering hooves in the distance. "Ah! It is not safe to speak here. I shall take you to my group's meeting spot. My brother should be there." He exclaimed, his horn coated itself in that magical aura once more, covering Dash's mouth and cloaked with an invisibility spell. He moved her above him as the farmer colt who had attacked Dash earlier came up to him.

"Remy. Why is yer horn a-glowin'?" He demanded. The mob behind the bearded farmer looked rugged after running around the block, the dusty sands floating down on their coats. Their presence sparked fear into both Pinkie and Dash's hearts. They were so close and yet so unaware... if this Remy revealed their presences to them...

"N-nuthin' boss! I... uh... Just gettin' some crates!" Remy quickly lied, summoning some crates from the alley way where Dash had come out of. As much as she wanted to sigh in relief, Dash couldn't even if she wished to. 

Remy turned to go but one of the mobsters raised up a hoof. "Hang on there buddy boy. Is that a feather on that there box?" The unicorn froze in his tracks and Dash saw him cringe. "Uh... Must've been a bird of some kind. Heh."

"Such a large feather for a bird, Remy..." The bearded colt slowly muttered, examining it. He looked up right where Rainbow Dash floated above Remy. Panic tore into all three of their hearts at that moment and Remy did his best to keep his poker face from breaking. 

"Colorful too." He added, eyeing him with suspicion. "Remy, I've been takin' care of you since yer parent's died in that pegasi raid back when The Empress came into power." He said, trotting around the unicorn. 

Pega-pegasi raid? Dash thought to herself, watching the farmer circle Remy. 

"Are you sayin' I'm hiding the pegasus?" Remy asked. 
"I said nothin' of the sort." The farmer answered. "I believe she was around here. Be careful... she is armed and dangerous. If you see her, capture her. Understand?"

Remy nodded. "Yes'sir!" 

"Good, now get!" The farmer cried. "An' finish yer job I left you with today!"

"Yes'sir!" The unicorn colt cried out as he ran off, Rainbow Dash floating besides him unseen.

One bulky earth pony came up to the head farmer. "Uhm... Boss? He left the crates behind..."
The farmer stroked his beard with his hoof. "I know son... Get yer cousin and follow him."
"Sure thing Pa." 


*   *   *


Remy had brought Rainbow Dash to a dull looking building that looked like it had been through quite a lot of damage. Wooden planks covered up what used to be holes in the wall and mold had infected it, producing a sickly green color and a heavy stench. Pinkie glanced up and saw a sign hanging on a single chain, still and covered in what seemed to be holes from something... Drun...en... ra...on... What a funny name for a house.

The light brown unicorn entered the worn down building, lowering the invisible pegasus behind him to float inside. Dash moved her eyes around and saw several ponies lying in awkward positions and at odd places. Tables, on the floor... One was hanging on a ceiling fan. Another dense odor filled the air which Pinkie recognized as alcohol. She was never a drinker but she did know of a pony by the name Berry Punch who came to her for anti-depressants to try and keep herself from being drunk all day. Most of the time she had the very same smell that she was sniffing up right now.

Remy's legs trembled, obviously tired of hauling Rainbow Dash around, and slumped against the bar counter. A pinkish pony leaned against the counter, wiping clean a glass with a towel. She glared at him before putting the glass away. "Whadda ya want, kiddo?"

"Huh... the.... Punch... Special..." He wheezed. The bartender raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"
"Never... better..." 

The bartender sighed and went to the side and opened a small knee length door. "Come with me then for your drink, sir."

Remy followed, his magic ceasing and letting Rainbow Dash free to move again. However he kept her invisible still. Dash looked down at Pinkie quietly and she shrugged. The two followed Remy and the pink bartender to a door labeled Winery. The bartender took out a key and unlocked it, letting Remy enter. Dash ran quickly through, her broken wing brushed against the closing door. She squealed in pain.

The bartender opened the door again and looked in. "You alright, kid?"

"Yes... I'm fine!" He replied. Dash put her hoof in her mouth, keeping the rest of her scream snuffed out. The bartender shook her head and shut the door again. A small clicked indicated that the door had been locked and they were safe.

With a heavy sigh, Remy released his invisibly spell. "We made it..." He gasped.
Rainbow Dash trotted over to him, one of her eyes tightly shut as her wing started to throb again. 
"Why didn't you just let me walk with you when I was invisible back there?" She asked. 
Remy paused. "Uh..."

"You don't think things through... do you?"

He chuckled. "Nope..."

She rolled her eyes and her shoulders moved along with them. She moaned in pain again doing so. 
"Oh no... That doesn't look good... You need to see a doctor with magic!"

"The sooner the better. If this wings heals abnormally... Ah! Oowww... it hurts..." 

Remy shivered, he never liked looking at wounds. Sometimes by seeing them he could feel the pain too... He pointed a hoof down the hall, the walls laden with giant barrels that were most likely filled with wine and other alcoholic drinks. "Just this way. I promise there will be someone to help you. He'll fix you right up, wing, cuts, bruises and all." Rainbow Dash trotted behind him. "He better... I need to get home."

The path was long and winding, the never-ending sight of barrels seemed to go on forever as they walked. Pinkie looked up at Dashie and started to whisper. "You sure we can trust him?"

Keeping her voice just under her breath, Dash replied. "He saved our lives... what choice do we have?"
Pinkie pouted. "I don't trust him... He knows that old colt that tried to stab you a while ago."

"And?" She stressed out, trying to grasp her point.

"Just be careful, Dashie..." Pinkie muttered, becoming still again. Remy stopped in front of a large iron door. "Here we are." He said, his voice echoing down the tunnel. Rainbow Dash's eyes focused on the decor on the door... It was the same Equestrian emblem that she had found on the note. Wait a minute... Does this mean I was just at the Drunken Dragon now? If that's the case...

"Remy." She called out as he began to utilize magic to open the door. 
"Hm?" He replied, still gathering power. 
"What day is it today?"

"Why, it's Friday of course!" He remarked, smirking. Rainbow Dash sighed. "Thanks."
"Something the matter?"

"No, no... I just thought something special was going to happen today because I thought it was Thursday." She explained.

"Oh... Oh! You know about the meeting?" He exclaimed as the door swung open. Dash nodded. "Yes. I think they can help me find a way home."

He extended a hoof in an expression to let her go in first. She did so, minding her broken wing and keeping it from hitting the door to prevent another pain attack. Remy followed and shut the door. The room was small and had a table with a large map strewn over it. Six ponies, two earths and four unicorns sat around it discussing some important topic when they glanced over when the sound of the closing door reached their ears.

"Well, lookie here! Our little scout has brought home a girl!" Somepony had called out. Rainbow Dash flushed and stamped her hooves on the ground. "I'm not with him! I need help!" 

One of the unicorns, a white one with a red mane, came forward. "With a wing like that, I would agree with you. Stay still." He ordered. His horn started to glow and Dash cried out in pain again as her wing bones shifted in place before it had been broken. When the magic released she fell on her knees, panting from the amount of pain that had washed over her. The healed wing was numb but with a tentative jerk, movable again. 

"Sorry about that. I should have warned you it was going to hurt." He apologized. "Why didn't you?" Dash grunted, getting back up. "I had a feeling you wouldn't be too keen on letting me do it." The unicorn reasoned. He then smiled and offered a welcoming hoof. "My name is Medak. I'm a doctor from Doaria." 

He then raised a hoof to point out the others. A red earth mare with an orange mane and a bandanna tied around her head. "Mercy, she's our other scout, save for Remy of course." 

"Heya." Mercy simply said, waving at Dash. Her voice was sharp and had a strange accent unlike one she's heard before. He then pointed to the other earth pony. "This here is Wilhelm. You can say he's the oldest of our small group." Remy stepped forward, grinning. "He's also my older brother."

Something clicked in Pinkie's mind. So Remy was the pony that Wilhelm was writing to in that note Dashie found?

The last two unicorns were twins who shared the same coat color, grey, but their manes were of different shades of gold. The lighter maned one was named Gavin and the darker maned, Gabin. "Pleased to meet you!" The both spoke in unison, in perfect harmony that they sounded as one with an echoing voice. Rainbow Dash's ears folded back. "Thank you... It's so nice to meet everypony here but there is something I want to ask..."

"Shoot." Mercy said. "We'll do what we can as long as it's in our power." 
"Agreed." Wilhelm added. "What is it?"

How do I say this...

"I'm... not from around here...So I'll start with the most important question. Where am I?" Rainbow Dash asked. 
Medak motioned to her and lead her to a cushion on the ground. Dash took at second look at everypony else and realized they too were sitting on pillows. "Oh, thank you." She said.

Remy was the one to answer. "You're in Siria. It's a poor town that relies on farming as it's main source of income."

"But in a desert?"

"Yeah, I know... but one mare invented a special breed of carrot that allows it to be grown in all sorts of environments." Mercy explained. "She reached under the table and pulled out a basket of dry looking carrots. "Try one." She bit into one and tossed it in Dash's direction. The cyan pegasus jumped up and caught it, chewing half of it in her mouth and bit it down in half. It was strangely juicy despite being so dry looking. The flavor wasn't that bad either. "It's great. Thanks... What about the wall around this town? What's it for?"

"Pegasi. Ever since we were attacked by The Empress's forces back in the day, that wall's been built to keep 'em out." Gavin answered, a grim look on his face. "We lost a lot of good ponies that day." Gabin added.

"But pegasi fly, I easily got over that wall." Dash replied, raising an eyebrow. Medak rubbed his two hooves together. "Well it's only activated by magic. If anypony were to see a pegasi, all of the unicorns in town are summoned to activate the shield. you must have gotten lucky to have flown in without being noticed. Did you come in at night, per chance?"

Dash nodded. "Yeah, I did. Why?"

"Night is when the guards don't keep watch. Mainly because they rather spend their time here, in this bar... Some protection, eh?"

Rainbow Dash finished her other half of the carrot and noticed that they were staring at her intently. "What is it?"
"Your weapon... it is... odd." Mercy slowly said, squinting at Pinkie. "It seems to stare back at me with those little eyes of hers..." 

"I... found it in the desert last night. Um..." Dash tried to change the subject, not wanting them to find out that her little knife was actually alive... She didn't know how'd they would react to it. That was something she did not want to risk.

"Why... why are there no pegasi around anyway? What did we do that made everypony here tried to kill me? On a related note, why are you helping me?"

Wilhelm stood, moving towards Rainbow Dash. "The Empress is the reason. She rose up an army of pegasi and fought our two Queens. She left the sun queen a damaging scar and nopony has seen her since. We do know that she's out there hiding with her loyal army. My friend in Doaria has told me he has spoken with her on several occasions since I last visited the city. I returned yesterday to tell my friends here of this for I plan to head out by morning to return to Doaria."

"And we're going with him!" Mercy included, raising a confident hoof. She whooped excitedly. "I've always wanted to go to Doaria! I've heard it's a miraculous oasis in this wasteland." 

"I've been there myself." Medak said. "It really is a beautiful place. The moon queen did a fine job taking over her sister's place."

All the while Dash listened to them. Sun queen? Moon queen? That had to be Celestia and Luna...
"I need to find a way home..." Rainbow Dash finally asked, breaking their small conversation that the group had going on, detailing the wonders of the city by the name of Doaria. 

"Oh... Well, where do you live then, girl?" Mercy asked, bringing the map closer to her. 
"I don't think you'll find it there Mercy... I'm... I'm from Equestria." Dash explained, her ears folded back and her wings drooped. "Equestria...? I've never heard of such a place before..."
Rainbow Dash sighed. "I had a feeling you wouldn't..."

There was an awkward silence for a long while until Remy lifted up his hoof. "Hey... Brother, why don't we take uh..." He stopped. The group laughed. "It appears you have not given us your name, miss." Medak said.
Rainbow Dash smiled apologetically. "Oh. No one asked so I just... Um. My name is Rainbow Dash."

The group shared confused looks. "Rainbow Dash, you said?" Wilhelm said, sitting in front of her. His eyes did not stray from Pinkie. "From Equestria..." His gaze was very unsettling to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie. It felt as if he knew more than he did. He closed his eyes and dipped his head. "Very well then. Rest up Miss Dash. Tomorrow we all head out for Doaria."

Wilhelm glanced towards his partners with a lingering gaze before going to his cushion and lying on it.
"Good night, my friends." He said. Mercy smiled tenderly and pushed the carrot basket back under the table. 

"Night, love."
One by one, they all said evening goodbyes and sank into their dreams, leaving Rainbow Dash alone with Pinkie Pie to speak. It had been quite a day for her and they had much to discuss.

"What do you think of Remy now?" Rainbow whispered. 
"I don't know... did you see that Wilhelm guy? He was looking at me so weird... I feel so icky all over now!" Pinkie gagged and rubbed her blade with her hooves, a scrapping sound breaking the silence of the night. "Pinkie!"

"Sorry... I'll be more quiet." 
"The sun and moon queens... Do you think they could be Celestia and Luna?"
Pinkie pulled herself out of Dash's sheath and crawled down on the floor so that she faced Rainbow Dash. The pegasus was lying on her stomach, a blanket draped over her. The meeting room was quiet and dark... it unnerved Dash.

"You know something else?" Pinkie giggled, resting her head on her hooves and looking up at Dash with her small blue eyes. "I think Mercy likes Wilhelm. Tee hee!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Oh Pinkie..." But she couldn't help but smile. Pinkie yawned and blinked several times sleepily.

"Looks like somepony needs to have her sleep..." Pinkie yawned again hugged Dash's hoof, the best she could to come close to curling up in sleep. Dash smiled and lowered her head and closed her eyes. Soon... We'll find home. I promise... someone in Doaria has to help... they have too.

...

Wilhelm rolled over slightly, keeping careful not to awake Mercy. He eyed the strange rainbow maned pegasus... She was speaking... to her knife.

I'll just have to keep a careful eye on her. She may be the one the sun queen speaks of... Or she may be what the Empress desires...
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deep within the smooth marble walls of the cliffside canyon, in the darkest corner was Zecora's chamber, hidden well away from any of the pegasi folk who lived in the city tucked away inside the rocky seaside wall. The damp and molded stone chamber that she resided in stank with the heavy scent of onions and scallops, two key ingredients in the glowing green potion that bubbled and frothed in the center of the room. The lighting set the mood in the room a frightening one, making the masks hanging on all four walls seeming to grin with anticipation. A light fog, too thick to be considered a mist, leaked out from the top of the black dented cauldron with a steamy hiss. The scrying solution had taken days to compile together, the last thing it had revealed of the future was the prediction that the Empress had doubted. 

The witch frowned and shook her head. "She is a fool to not consider my work. I have successfully saved her dignity and her army many years ago with my potions... Has her head gone too big for logic? Does she fear nothing at this point? My Empress..." Zecora sighed heavily and hopped up on the stool placed before the heated potion, leaning over it for an examination. The green liquid rippled for a moment before becoming still. The surface was flat and reflective, like a green stained glass window. 

She saw nothing of interest save for her own reflection staring back at her. The zebra stepped down from the stool and retrieved a bottle of crushed gems, bringing it over to the potion and sprinkled the dust into the mix. The solution turned into a bright white color, the light was nearly blinding. Zecora dropped the bottle with a cry and it shattered as it crashed against the cobblestone flooring. The light faded out as the mist shifted into a heavy dense fog, pouring out of the cauldron like a waterfall.

Zecora loomed over the cauldron's edge and peered into all seeing concoction... 

A swirl of colors moved around in the center, swimming in the light like a fish. It shrank into a small dot before expanding out into nothingness. The potion rippled and an image formed. The Empress stood over the trampled beaten body of an alicorn, feathers of white and dark blue scatter all over, blood smeared against the dry ground of their empire. The sun queen struggled, her broken wings dragged along the dirt as she tried to get up only to be stamped down by The Empress's iron hooves. A mighty laugh bellowed out in the warzone, booming from The Empress's divine throat. 

There was a shout of emotional pain and a similar alicorn charged at The Empress. Tears were in the moon queen's eyes as her other half slowly faded away into the Death's grasp. The white pegasus stood her ground and lowered her head, a nasty grin plastered across her face as she summoned the power that made her who she was. The Empress...

The six elements separated from her celestial white body and sped towards the remaining alicorn, tearing her apart piece by piece... Many who watched cried out in fear, agony, despair or in disgust. The Empress simply laughed as her enemies were killed one after the other by her 'special' power. Her divine body soon became splattered with gore and filth as the battle raged on with the defeat of the two queens, the rebels fighting on with tears in their eyes and vengeance in their hearts. One by one they fell, helpless before the power of the elements that The Empress had acquired long ago. Her army roared triumphantly in their victory, the bodies of the slain rebels lay strewn across the burning battlefield. As the elements were absorbed back into her body, the new queen of the world simply smiled as she surveyed the valley of death. 

Zecora stared intently, her pupils dilating as she saw something else stirring in the cauldron. 

A band of ponies came over the hill, the setting sun behind them. Two who wielded magic, two who carried weapons unlike any other, and two who flew. Their leader carried a gleaming blade, her mane a flurry of colors not much unlike the Empress's. The six charged at The Empress, their bodies glowing as the elements within the tyrant responded to their cries. The blade itself even shouted a war cry, the blade stretching longer and becoming a sword. 

A flash of light emitted from the cauldron again and Zecora winced, the darkness of her chamber made her eyes sensitive. She squinted, seeing a pony with a mane of many colors holding a pink blade before herself, fear dancing in her violet eyes. With a cry, she brought the blade down and took her own life. The image became still and the cauldron shook, the green color fading into a deep black. 

It had been foreseen. Zecora stepped down from the stool and ponder what she had seen. There shall be another great war. The two queens and their rebels shall perish... yet those six ponies... that sword... Who was that pegasus and why did she kill herself?

Her mind flicked back to the scenery. The battlefield was just outside the palace's entrance... The date of the war was something she could not predict. Yet Zecora could not shake off the feeling that these were events too detailed and will happen very soon... the least she can do now is report her findings to The Empress and prepare for a battle.

"Oi! Witch, you down there?" 

Zecora simply stamped her hooves on the flooring three times, a sign that she had heard him. The sound echoed out in the room and out the hallway. Intrusion in this palace was impossible without being heard, the carved stone walls bounced off every sound made, no matter how silent. The pegasus guard banged on the door, not getting the signal. He must be new to this job, normally they would have left the reports the generals would send to her for analysis and predictions. The zebra trotted over to the large door and kicked it open. It swung open and slammed against the wall with a resounding crash, the sound blasting across the rest of the castle in a booming echo. 

"What!?" She cried, leaning towards the light green pegasus. "Can you not see that I am busy? My work demands my full attention! What is it?" 

The guard's ears fell flat against his head and he frowned. "I uh... Commander Cyrus demands your audience." He then gave her an awkward, nervous smile, looking as if he had hoped his job was done here. Zecora glanced all over him, not seeing a note or scroll of any kind on him. 

Typical.

Cyrus was not one to send reports to her. He was too proud to depend on 'striped foals' that used 'pitiful magicks'. He used strategy and was quite good at it, she had to admit. Yet his mind was that of a bigot and he was violence prone pegasus that always thought war was the answer to everything. 

Zecora had a feeling something must have gone terribly wrong if he requested to see her.

"Take me to him." She ordered. The pegasus saluted and flew up, staying close by you guide her around the maze like marble castle.

What is it have you done this time, Cyrus?


*   *   *


"Rise and shine, Miss Dash!"

"... What time is it?"

"Time to wake up!" 

"Ugh..." Rainbow Dash grunted, getting up and stretching her back and wings. They cracked, giving her a feeling so satisfyingly pleasant that she grinned to herself. The group of rebels had already cleaned up the hideout of their belongings and were waiting at the secret entrance for her to finish getting ready to go. Mercy was by her side, basket of dry carrots in her mouth, nudging Dash in an offering hum. Dash reached in and bit into a plump, round, reddish carrot and brought it down to the floor to devour it quickly. 

"So, umnumh... Where are we headed again?" She asked between bites, bits of food falling out of the corners of her mouth. 
Mercy placed the basket down to speak. "Doaria. We have a friend there we'd like you to meet. This was already a planned trip but it's been decided that we leave early for you."

Rainbow Dash swallowed down the last of her meal, feeling slightly guilty and uncomfortable. "Why are you guys helping me? I mean, the rest of this town tried to kill me. I just might endanger you guys if I hang around too long." 

Mercy smiled, closing her azure eyes. "Hm... Have you ever heard of the story of the Wondrous Bolt?" The smile on her face seemed to grow, ever so slightly.

"No, I'm not from here, Mercy. Remember?" Dash replied. She tugged on her belt strapped around her chest before walking off, the red mare following closely behind. 

"It was a marestale my mother used to tell me when I was only a filly." She paused and opened the door for Rainbow. The cyan pegasus went through and noticed that she and Mercy were behind the rest of the group, leaving themselves in their lonesome in the underground passageway. 

"Ye...yeah." 

"When the skies were filled with mayhem and darkness, a brave pegasus would drop from the sky, a mane flowing the the seven colors of the rainbow. They say she,"

"Or he." Dash interrupted. She started to feel a bit jumpy, her thoughts jumping on the conclusion that the story might be about her. With a snort, Dash shook her head ever so slightly. Don't make a foal of yourself. You've been getting your head into those adventures books Twi's been giving you.

"Or he, wields a sword that speaks and breathes just like we do. They say she was brought here by the will of the Elements to save our land in the time of crisis. To answer our pleas for salvation, to rid the land of evil, to bring back the days of kindness... friendship... good morals..." A small tear escaped her left eye and dripped down. Her mouth opened and a soft musical note escaped her lips, her voice transforming into an instrument as she sang the story of the heroine.

"The heroine with the breathing blade...
They say she came from the sky, cloaked in lightning basked in the seven colors of the rainbow. 

Her courage knows no bounds and her speed unmatched. Like a tempest, wild is she...
They say she comes to defend the land in times of evil and darkness. 
They say she comes to find the powerful magic to restore her blade back into it's original form. 

They say she comes to fight for us all, when all is lost... 
They say she comes with comrades unlike any other, all whom are blessed with the strength of the mysterious power of the legendary Elements. The elements shrouded in darkness, awaiting to be cleansed...

They title her the Wondrous Bolt. The heroine who will deliver salvation when chaos arrives. 

They call her..." 

Mercy toned out, unable to find the heart to end the song. She let out a ragged, pain filled breath.

"Sometimes I think it's just too good to be true. A world without darkness, destruction and even death at every corner. I know it's just a story..." Mercy's lip trembled and she shut her eyes to keep the tears from escaping. 

Almost instantly did Pinkie and Dash feel guilty of happiness of the land they were from. Equestria had no wars. No hatred of any kind. There was love and tolerance, everypony got along some way or another... until now, neither of the two had ever encountered such turmoil before. 

"But it's the one thing that keeps me moving everyday. Hope. Hope that somewhere... there's a hero out there... Because there isn't one here." Mercy hung her head. "I've lost my family to the war years ago, I've lost my home... everything." She glanced up at Dash sadly. "Pathetic, right? Hanging on to a fillies bedtime story..."

Rainbow Dash and Mercy continued their way down the tunnel, silent after their little talk. It was an awkward situation... what could she even do or say to comfort Mercy, an innocent pony who had lost everything? Pinkie sniffed, her size making the sound barely audible. Parties were the one thing she thought that could cheer anypony up... but that icy look on Mercy's face that expressed anger, sadness, and pain... a party was not the answer.

Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "Not really... Y'know where I'm from there are a group of the most amazing fliers ever called the Wonderbolts. Ever since I was a filly, I've been doing whatever it takes to get in and fly along side them one day."
A chuckle came out of her, reflecting back on her fillyhood. "A lot of ponies said it was just a dream for a kid and I should wake up and smell the roses, focus more on controlling the weather."

"Controlling the weather?"

It came to Dash that the sky must have been cloudless and hot for a reason. Without any pegasi, who would control the weather here? "Where I'm from, pegasus ponies are supposed to deal with the weather. Rain or shine, we make it happen. I guess that hasn't been happening here, huh?"

Mercy shook her head, the part of her mane sticking out of her black bandanna swaying. "No, I guess not."
They kept silent for a while when Dash remembered something that had happened the previous night. "Mercy, when I told you all of my name, why did all of give each other that look? Was my name funny or something?"

"No. It's just that your name probably reminded all of us of that story I just told you about. Well, I was, really. Rainbow Dash... a pegasus with the rainbow mane... Oh! I never did tell you why we wished to help you, did I? Haha, I'm so sorry!" She laughed. Rainbow Dash simply shrugged. "That's alright."

"For me, I'm helping you because you remind me of the hero in the story. You give me something to look forward too. Potential, kid, you have it." Mercy complimented. Dash smiled. "Really?"

"As for everypony else, I'm not too sure."

Dash grinned. "I don't think I need a reason to know. I'm just happy that you guys aren't trying to hurt me."
The two fell quiet again until they reached the door leading to the bar, Wilhelm and the rest of the group waiting for the straggling Mercy and Rainbow Dash. The leader of the group approached Dash, a worn looking beige vest in his mouth. He tossed it at Dash, who stretched her head forward to catch it. 

"Wear that, the townsfolk won't see your wings this way." He explained. 
Dash frowned and put down the vest on the floor. "What about my mane. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm sure you can't forget a mane as colorful as mine." 

"That's where this dye comes in! Hope you like the color!" The twins cried out, their timing together disturbingly perfect. Gavin handed her the bottle of dye. It was white... of all the colors they had to give here... it had to be white.
"Ugh... Can someone help me with this then?"

Remy leaped forward and snatched the bottle out of her hooves. "I got it, just hold still!" 
He squeezed the bottle hard, shooting out a jet of white dye across Dash's face. The group laughed, leaving only Wilhelm, Remy and Dash the ones not finding any humor in the situation.

"Remy! I... ugh! Just give me that." Rainbow remarked, grabbing the dye from him and turned it upside down on her head, squirting a blob of it on her mane. "Just rub it around on my head." She ordered.

"Sorry..." The skinny unicorn mumbled, spreading around the white color. It soaked into her mane and the pegasus sighed. "This will take days to get out...."

"Would you rather be ripped apart out there then?" Wilhelm snapped. "We're helping you for a reason, Miss Dash. Don't be irritable about it."

Mercy frowned. "What's with the attitude?" The rest of the grouped agreed among themselves. "Yeah, why?" The twins said. The brown pony turned to knock on the door, his expression unreadable. Dash splashed the last of the dye in her tail, spreading it as Wilhelm answered. "The sun queen must speak with this Rainbow Dash. I believe she has something that could make this entire world better. I'll explain later..."

He turned around, back to Dash. "I apologize for my bitterness." Dash dipped her head in acceptance and then motioned to Mercy to help her put on the vest. It was a tight fit but the pockets on the side covered the bulges the wings could have made if the pockets were not there. Wilhelm tapped his hoof against the doorway and awaited the bartender. 

Medak neared Rainbow Dash, whom looked displeased with the paint in her mane and the tight vest she wore. "Don't worry about him. He's been through quite a lot, y'know." Dash glanced up at the large stallion. "What do you mean?"
The white unicorn doctor glanced at Wilhelm, who had paid no attention to him. "Torture. Being a spy of the sun queen is a dangerous job but I've never seen anypony as dedicated to the job as Wilhelm. He's been doing it for years, regardless of the numerous captures, pain and escapes he's done. I wouldn't blame him for being so gruff."

The door opened then and the bartender let them through, nodding at each and everyone on of them. As soon as Rainbow Dash passed by she grabbed her by her vest. "I have not seen the likes of you before in this town and I certainly did not let you down there. You better start explaining missy or I'm calling the border patrol!"

"She's with us, Berthel. I had Remy sneak her in with magic so he could practice." Wilhelm quickly said. "May you let us go? I'm in a hurry to gather supplies for my group's trip to Doaria." 

Dash gave Berthel the bartender an innocent smile, hoping it was convincing enough to let go of her. "Don't do it again. You know how this town feel about pegasi spies. They got magic from what I hear now. They could be anypony. Gotta keep my eyes peeled for anything suspicious, you know what I'm saying?"

Medak chuckled, the sound deep and echoing in his throat. "Understood, my dear. Times are tough after all."

"Be on your way then. Have a safe trip, all." Berthel said, waving her hoof aside as she returned to her counter to serve a pony waiting there for her. Wilhelm nodded at them and they all followed him out of the bar. Rainbow Dash sucked in her breath, the nervousness grip taking her. Would any of the townsponies see through the disguise?

The same dusty dryness of the air filled her lungs as she stepped out, her hooves over the cracked waterless ground. Morning had come and the dawning sunrise had cast a soft orange glow over everything.

The village was barely active, a few ponies walking around and doing what they normally do in their daily life. Wilhelm looked up to the sun briefly, checking the time. "Listen up! I want you all back here by 9 AM, if you have not returned by then you are left behind. Gather as much supplies as you can, food, water, and even weapons if you can. The trip is long and treacherous. A three day's journey west and we will arrive at Doaria. Any questions?"

Dash raised a hoof. "Yes?" Wilhelm asked her, dipping his head towards her slightly. 
"Why is it important for me to go to Doaria? Is there somepony there who can help me?" 
Wilhelm shook his head. "I cannot say the reason here. Trust in me, I shall give you the truth soon enough Rainbow Dash." He asked for anymore lingering questions before sending them off. Rainbow Dash paired up with Mercy again, wanting to ask her some more questions and because she really liked the red earth pony. She was kindhearted. Gabin and Gavin went off galloping and whooping as they sang a chant of their favorite foods. Medak and Wilhelm entered a shop nearby. Remy followed closely behind the two mares, trotting at a quick pace to keep up. 

The trio passed a small group of robed ponies standing on their hind legs, all in line, silent. Each of them turned their heads towards the three ponies, staring from under the cool darkness of their hoods. They unnerved Dash and she quickened her pace. Once they separated from the strange folk, Dash turned to Mercy with a question. "Who are they?"

Mercy turned her head to look at the white robed earth ponies, her gaze was lingering on them as she said. "They call themselves the Taoka Clan. A religious sort of group that worship a strange deity. They are no pacifist though and are very dangerous. I advise not to trouble one." 

"Who is this deity?" 

"No pony knows. Some say a human. Some say a monster."

"Humans?"

"Mythical creatures, kid. They don't exist."

Remy ran up to Mercy, tugging on her tail. "Hey! Mercy! Hey!"
The red pony snapped her tail back, annoyed. "What is it kiddo?" She snapped. The three of them entered a general store and Dash's nose was filled with the smells of cheese, vegetables and other fine food products. "Hey Mercy, don't we need out own provisions for scouting?" Remy asked her.

Mercy paused, thinking for a moment. "I do believe you're right. When was the last time your ration box was filled anyway? Come and pick out what you want. I will pay."

Rainbow Dash was confused and she tapped Mercy's back. "Scouts? What are scouts?" Mercy set down a hunk of cheese, which looked old and crumbly from age, back on a display board where she had found it. "A simple job really. Remy and I are scouts and our duty is to now and then go away from the group and look out for anything dangerous or something of interest. Also we sometimes set out to spy, gather food or locate resources. It's a very simple and physically demanding job." 

Remy stuck his head out from behind a pile of wrinkled nuts atop a crate, looking sweating from the effort of holding something heavy. "What she said. Sometimes me big brother makes me stay up late at night in case somepony tries to attack us." 

Rainbow Dash blinked, surprised. "Don't you think that's bad?"

"Haha! No way! I'm more of a nocturnal kind of pony so it's cool with me. Also there have been rumors spreading around Siria that a gang of thieves are on the loose around this area so I really can't wait for tonight!" He then shouted out and fell over, whatever he was holding on his back had fallen over to the side and knocked down the large pile of nuts, scattering them all across the creaky wooden planks of the general store. The manager glared angrily at Remy. "You better clean up that mess boy or I'll have ya pay for your trouble!"

"S-Sorry!"

Dash chuckled and Mercy put a hoof on her face, shaking her head slightly as she sighed. "Go help him. She asked the disguised pegasus. "Sure. No problem." Rainbow Dash replied. She went over to Remy as he frantically scrabbled to gather the scattered nuts with his hooves. This bothered Dash, she cocked her head slightly with a frown as she said. "Why don't you use magic? You have a horn, you know." 

Remy gasped, realization dawning over him. He lowered his head to the ground and started to bang his hooves on his head. "Arrgh! Why am I so dumb!?" He shouted. Dash leaned her head back, feeling as if she had done something wrong. "No wait, I didn't mean it like that, I-"

"Save your breath... I just forget things sometimes... a lot of times." Remy explained, his horn glowing as he utilized magic to gather all the nuts together and placed them back on top of the crate. "It's just that a lot of ponies down at Doaria really look up to my older brother. He's smart and I'm not... sometimes I feel like I'm just his shadow..." He hung his head. Dash trotted over to him and placed a reassuring hoof on his back. "I don't know what's that like but I'm sure you'll get over it!" 

Remy snorted. "Yeah. Thanks." He muttered, his voiced dripping with mixed emotions. He looked out the window, towards the  sun. He quickly looked away, squinting. "Ah.. it's almost time to meet up with Wilhelm. We better tell Mercy to hurry and pay for the supplies or else my brother will leave us behind!"

"I doubt it." Mercy said, appearing from behind a shelf displaying knives. "Do you remember what Wilhelm said?"

Remy paused, thinking for a moment. Mercy's expression fell. "He said he wanted Rainbow Dash to meet the sun queen. It's of great importance that she does." Dash felt a bit concerned and she tapped on Mercy's back. "Why?" She simply asked.

The red earth pony turned to her and quickly answered her question. "Because, you're no ordinary pony. We know that. Coming from a land nopony has ever heard of... Well, I'm quite sure the queen of the sun will help you on our journey home!"

"Don't be talkin' bout the sun queen in my shop! The Empress forbids any of them rebel talk!" The shop keeper called out to them.

"Oh!" Mercy pouted but then grinned. "We've been here for years, Mac, don't be pulling on the newcomer's leg!" 

The bulky pony just laughed. "Take what you need and get on your way!" As the three made their way to the counter to pay for their items, two large colts peered at them from the outside through a dusty window pane. One of them stared at the cyan pony, a mane white as the snow that he had heard about in the stories his Pa had shared late at night. He watched as the pony turned to leave with her two new friends since strangely appearing in this town. As she passed a knife display, he watched as her vest brushed against the wooden surface of the display shelf and was caught on the bristly corner, where the splinters were aplenty. The dull looking vest tugged and revealed the bony part of a pegasus wing.

The colt slowly grew a nasty smile on his face and he nudged his brother's side to get his attention. Now they both looked at their enemy, tucking her wing back in and looking around to see if anypony had noticed. Her companions joined her again and they went towards the entrance to leave.

The colt duo ran off before they could be discovered. From what they had seen and heard, Pa would be most pleased and another pegasi scum would be wiped off the face of this town. A town proud of the blood that had been shed from the traitorous pegasi.

For all they had done...

This one must die, for their great sin.

For this drought.

For all the pain they had brought into this land.

Because of her.