Chapters Rainbow Dash yawned as the sun came up. She looked out her window and knew of the hardships of the day that lye before her. Today was the day that the Pegasi had to round up clouds to make a storm. She was hesitant to get up at first. But, she knew her prized wings came with a price; doing the duties of a Pegasi. So, she got up and walked into the kitchen. Yet, something didn't feel right. It was as if something bad were about to happen. Rainbow Dash shook that horrible feeling off and made some pancakes. She then zoomed outside and felt the warm sun on her face. She then flew to the place where They were supposed to meet.
"Hey! What gives?!" she growled furiously as she discovered that nopony was there.
Furious, Rainbow Dash smashed through clouds, as if the members of her team were hiding inside the fluff. She then gave up, and flew around Cloudsdale to search for somepony that could tell her what in the name of Celestia was going on. Then, she stopped dead in her flight when she saw a group, no, practically an army of Pegasi at the Colosseum. She flew overhead to get a better view. There were hundreds of mares and stallions alike. There were even some fillies ad colts among the large group. Somepony was speaking to the crowd, and obviously noticed Rainbow Dash.
"What are you doing up there?! Come down here!" the pony ordered her.
It was her commanding officer. She had to do it. The cyan pony fluttered down into the Colosseum, then, she heard a tiny voice call her name.
"Rainbow! Rainbow Dash!"
It was Scootaloo, who'd obviously saved Rainbow Dash a seat. With a groan, she plopped herself into the avalible seat next to the filly. Rainbow Dash held her head up high and put her wings to her side.
"Hey, squirt. Did you have to get us a seat in the nosebleed section?" she joked.
It was indeed true. They were in the top section, so high up that their ears were affected by it and they couldn't hear anything. Despite that, Rainbow Dash continued to listen to the speech that was being given to them.
"So, here are your steps; one, go to the ground."
Easy , Rainbow Dash thought.
"Two, seek out Unicorns and Earth Ponies."
You've got be kidding me... I know four!
"Three, don't let them run away."
Hah! I can keep anypony entertained!
"Four, go in for the grab!"
Easy enough! Go in for the...
"What?!" Rainbow Dash cried, flying above the crowd.
"Well, Miss Dash. You were tardy for our little "meeting" and you didn't get to hear the deets. For everypony that was late, we are going to take over and rule Equestria!" her commanding officer explained.
"No! You'll hurt my friends!" Rainbow Dash argued.
"Miss Dash, we did not say we were going to hurt the Unicorns and Earth Ponies. We said we were going to enslave them." the commanding officer replied.
With a growl, Rainbow Dash flew at the superior Pegasi and was quickly stopped by security. The ponies struggled to get her back to her seat as she tried to attack her commanding officer. Finally, they slammed the mare down onto the concrete bench. Scootaloo put her hoof on Rainbow Dash's arm, causing her to relax.
"Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo called her. "What's going on?"
"It's okay, squirt. Everything will turn out just fine."
Rainbow Dash anxiously put armor on. She watched as Scootaloo did the same, and her heart giggled just a little when the filly discovered that her helmet was way too big. But, the cyan pony quickly changed her mood when the commanding officer stormed in.
"Troops!" she boomed. "I hope you're all suited up, because it's time to get moving!"
Rainbow Dash hastily helped Scootaloo get the rest of her gear on. Then, the army of Pegasi were directed towards the edge of Cloudsdale; which was where they usually took off for ground in big numbers. Everypony held their wings high in the air, ready for flight. Scootaloo shook nervously, for the filly couldn't fly that well, especially with the heavy armor. Rainbow Dash put her hand on orange pony's shoulderblade to calm her.
"Don't worry, squirt. Everything's going to be okay." she comforted Scootaloo softly.
"Ready troops! Remember the most important part of this whole operation: don't harm the Pegasi!" the commanding officer thundered. "Now, move out!"
The swarm of Pegasi dived off the cloud and set off for Ponyville. In the commotion, Rainbow Dash lost sight of Scootaloo, making her panic. She could barely hear herself scream the filly's name over all the flapping of wings and war cries of her allies. She then saw a little body of orange falling straight out of the crowd. She gasped as she reached for her outstretched hoof. Finally, Rainbow Dash caught Scootaloo and cradled her in her arms. The filly was so terrfied that she wrapped her arms around the mare's neck and squeezed. Rainbow Dash held on tight to her as the flock flew past their bodies. She then followed them. It was awful what she saw below. Ponies looked upon the swarm with fear, even the other Pegasi. With a loud crash!, the Pegasi landed on the ground. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo followed, watching as ponies, Unicorns and Earth alike, were thrown into carriges with jail bars.
"Stop! Please!" a pony named Lyra screamed as the commanding officer dug into her neck with her teeth and threw the Unicorn into the carrige.
Scootaloo let go of Rainbow Dash and started crying at the sight.
"What about Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom?!" she sobbed.
Then, it hit Rainbow Dash like the train to Canterlot; her friends. She had to warn them. She threw Scootaloo on her back and flew to Twilight Sparkle's Library. When she arrived, she was greeted by a huge smile and two sparkling eyes. Obviously, the army hadn't made it here yet.
"Why, hello, Rainbow Dash. It's always great to have you-"
"Twilight! You need to run! The Pega..." Rainbow Dash was interrupted by a burly, white Pegasi in gold armor.
He put a bag over Twilight's horn and grabbed her by the neck with his teeth. She struggled in the soldier's grasp, but, he had a firm grip on her. He threw the Unicorn into a carrige, and then shut the door behind her. Rainbow Dash growled and charged at the stallion. Foolishly, she slammed into his golden armor, rather than his body. The whole world was seeming to be twisting and turning as Rainbow Dash took impact from the hit. She feel to the ground from dizziness and pain, causing Scootaloo to lose her grasp. Rainbow Dash slipped out of consiousness for a few seconds, only to discover that the filly was gone when she awoke.
"Scootaloo! Scootaloo!" she screamed.
She then heard a tiny voice say bravely,
"C'mon, Crusaders! Let's get out of here!"
The cyan mare knew it was most definitely Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash stood up, barely able to keep her balance. She saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders avoiding soldiers and ducking behind bushes. Finally, Rainbow Dash shook off the pain and ran into the current bush that the fillies were hiding under. They seemed shocked to see her and cowered.
"Don't worry, squirts. I'm gonna get you out of here." she said bravely.
The Crusaders climbed onto Rainbow Dash's back.
"Hey!" somepony cried when he saw her.
It was the solider that had took Twilight captive. Rainbow Dash glanced at him darkly, and right before he caught her, she took off. The fillies on her back clung on for dear life.
I have to get out of here. No matter where it is, I have to get these fillies out, was the only thing Rainbow Dash was thinking.
She took off as fast as she could. She could feel Scootaloo's arms around her neck, squeezing so hard that she couldbarely breathe. She could hear Apple Bloom sobbing, terrified of the speed and situation. And Sweetie Belle... oh Celestia!
"Where's the one with horn?!" Rainbow Dash demanded.
Scootaloo had a horrified look on her face, she shook as she pointed down. Sweetie Belle was falling. Before Rainbow Dash could start after her, her commanding officer caught the filly and flew away.
"No! Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo cried, reaching out for her friend, as if she was close enough to touch.
"It's too late! We can't go back now!" Rainbow Dash panted and grabbed her so that she wouldn't get any ideas of going after her.
Rainbow Dash gasped for breath under the hot sun. Her wings were throbbing from flying too much, her hooves were aching from restraining Scootaloo. The cyan mare fell out of the sky and onto the flaming-hot ground. The fillies on Rainbow Dash's back awoke from their slumber, wondering what was going on.
"D-Dash?" Scootaloo stammered. "Where are we?"
It was nothing but desert as far as the eye could see. Rainbow Dash has flown too far and now they were stranded in the middle of nowhere.
"Don't worry, squirt..." she began. "We can get back to civilization easy once my wings recover."
Rainbow Dash stood up, discovering that the ground was too hot to walk on. The remaining Crusaders danced around, trying to avoid getting their hooves steamed.
At least we're safe from the takeover... oh no!, Rainbow Dash thought. I have to get these fillies somewhere safe, or else they'll die from the heat!
Pondering about what to do, the mare paced back and fourth anxiously. Meanwhile, the fillies were still trying to find a way not to get their hooves burnt. Suddenly, a dark figure walked over to them, sides sticking out as if the pony had wings. Rainbow Dash sprang into action, throwing her wings out in front of the Crusaders protectively. She just knew that the army had made it over to the desert, and was bound and determined to kidnap Apple Bloom.
"Looks like you've got yourselves in quite a pickle over there!" a country voice chuckled.
Rainbow Dash examined the figure; it was Braeburn! She immediately untensed and started laughing at her own mistake. Those wings weren't really wings at all! They were just the sides of Braeburn's jacket!
"H-hiya, Braeburn!" Rainbow Dash choked out between furious laughs.
The fact that she'd mistaken Braeburn for a Pegasi was no longer funny. It was now a nervous laugh, trying to make things seem a whole lot better than they really were.
"Rainbow Dash... do you need help? You seem a bit..." Braeburn trailed off.
***
The ponies arrived in Appleloosa.
"Thanks Braeburn... this whole takeover thing is just making me a bit messed up in the head." Rainbow Dash sighed.
"Now, explain to me what happened again?" Braeburn said, walking into the bar.
The Crusaders could barely get up on the bar stools. Rainbow Dash and Braeburn easily slid onto one. Rainbow Dash ordered her and the fillies some water.
"You see..." she began slowly. "The Pegasi are planning to take over Equestria by enslaving everypony, except for other Pegasi."
"Well, shoot! That's another problem Appleloosa has to deal with! But, if they're taking over Ponyville as we speak, then why are you here?" Braeburn asked.
"I had to get the squirts away from that mess... it's too much for them to handle." Rainbow Dash sighed as she watched the Crusaders joyfully play. "I need a place for them to be safe, just until I can deal with the situation."
"You can leave em' here in Appleloosa! They lil' ponies are safe with us!" Braeburn offered.
"T-thank you, Braeburn. I need to get moving, my wings feel better. I'll go talk to the fillies before I head off." Rainbow Dash replied.
Braeburn nodded, and the mare walked over to the giddy Crusaders.
"Squirts, I'm going to leave you both here. So you can be safe with Mr.Braeburn." she said quickly.
"But, Rainbow!" Scootaloo jumped to her hooves. "I want to go with you! I want to fight against the Pegasi!"
"No, Scootaloo. It's too dangerous..." Rainbow Dash replied with a sigh.
The ponies walked out of the door and to the edge of town. They passed under an arch that read, "Now Leaving Appleloosa" on the inside and on the outside, "Howdy, Ya'll!" Rainbow Dash glanced back at Scootaloo one more time. She wasn't crying, in fact, the armored filly was enraged. Apple Bloom and Braeburn wished Rainbow Dash farewell, but, Scootaloo just stared at her angrily. With a sigh, Rainbow Dash zoomed off.
"Now, lil' fillies!" Braeburn began with a smile. "Let's move along now!"
"Um... Braeburn?" Apple Bloom called the older pony's name. "Make that one filly."
Braeburn looked next to him, there was no Scootaloo.