Her Frontier

Chapters

Past Loyalty
Welcome To EverGlade
Decisions [Part 1]
Decisions [Part 2]
What Wings Are For
A Home On The Range
Interlude: Both Sides of The Law
Day Off
Obviously DnB
Behind The Scenes
Déjà vu
Baptism Under Fire
Remembering Loyalty
Loss
Spice Of Life
Reality Check
Interlude: Around Town
Threats and Responses
Serving Equestria
Recovery and Conquest
[Author's Notes and Final Thoughts]
Her Life
Desperation and Heroics

Past Loyalty

Chapter 2: Past Loyalty

Rainbow Dash was starting to regret that she had taken up Apple Jack on her offer. At least back in PonyVille she could fly around and do something to stretch her wings. There on the train however she felt like a hawk stuffed into a tight cage. Apple Jack had told her at the train station that the trip to the Northwest Frontier would take around a thirty-six hours but Rainbow Dash believed that she would be asleep most of the time. It never occurred to her however that boredom alone could stop a pony from sleeping.

"How much longer until we get the Frontier AJ? My wings are are starting to go numb over here!" Rainbow Dash said with an annoyed tone in her voice. Apple Jack let out a small chuckle before answering her. "Maybe bout' nother six hours or so. We're actually ahead of schedule going at this speed ah reckon."

Ahead of schedule? Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her ears but the proof was right there in front of her, Apple Jack had lied to her. "Come on Apple Jack, I know we're not supposed to represent our Elements all of the time but seriously. We're ahead of schedule going at this speed? I know that's a lie."

"Ain't no lie Rainbow, its been years since ah last went to see m'ah family at the frontier. Last time ah went was when ah was just a filly and that train ride had taken four days. Compare that to thirty-six hours and be grateful that at least this train has air-conditioning." Apple Jack put further emphasis by pointing her hoof to the late morning sun baking the scrub land around the train.

Letting what she had just heard sink in Rainbow Dash came to a conclusion. " Yeah no, I still think you're lying. You haven't been talking to Discord lately have you?"

Apple Jack flared her nostrils and shook her head. "Well aren't you cranky today? Ah know how you get when you haven't had yer naps."

"Yeah yeah whatever" Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissing the idea and tilted her head to look out the window. "I could fly faster than this train with a broken wing through a hurricane."

"That ah don't doubt sugar cube. How bout' you try and get some shut eye? I'll wake you when we're getting close to the station." Apple Jack was doing her best to try and get Rainbow to relax, the poor Pegasus was going through a lot in her life right now. Apple Jack knew in the back of her mind though that introducing Rainbow to her family in this state would probably not end well for either party.

"You don't think I've tried that already? The way this train rocks makes it like totally impossible to sleep for more than two minutes! Also I don't know if you've noticed but these seats aren't even close to being as comfy as clouds." Rainbow Dash knocked her hoof against the seat cushion which made a dull Pang noise.

Apple Jack could relate to the seat cushions, several times during this trip she had to get up and walk around to remove the soreness that presented itself on her flank. "Granted sugar but just close yer eyes and think about a memory. Just drift away into sleep. Ah know that you might as well be the sleep champion of PonyVille." She finished with a small chuckle.

"Ugh fine...I'll try it your way I guess." Rainbow Dash laid down on her seat stretching all her legs outs as much as she could. She adjusted herself a little more before finally closing her eyes. She let her mind wander searching for any memory that would take her away from the train. She didn't have to look long as a certain memory presented it self to her with little effort. She let out a yawn before drifting away into sleep.

***

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash, but my decision is final. The Wonder Bolts program has been shut down because...because...."

"Because what Twilight? Tell me what reason you could possibly have for shutting down the most elite group of fliers in all of Equestria! Tell me so I can call you a liar to your face!"

"Look Rainbow, now that I've become a Princess I've had to make lots of difficult decisions that have affected thousands of ponies throughout Equestria. You're not the only one that's being affected by this."

"Oh really, well excuse me Princess but I don't see you suffering from any of the choices you've had to make."

"Wait a minute, that's because you haven't made any bucking damn choices that affect you directly! No where in the budget cuts do I see anything that affects books and libraries. In fact it seems that some new laws that you've passed increase the budget for that stuff! I thought that a Princess's intentions were to help her subjects and try to make their lives easier. Some Princess you turned out to be, in fact I bet..."

"Enough Rainbow Dash! I know that you're upset but remember who are addressing. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle now and you will act accordingly in my presence. Do you understand?"

"Oh yeah? Well..."

"I don't recall being finished. You will wait until I am done addressing you to speak! Now you listen here Rainbow, how dare you accuse me of putting myself before my subjects? After all the time we spent together I would never have come to expect that from one of my friends. I thought you were suppose to be the Element of Loyalty and stay true to your friends no matter what? There I am done speaking for the moment, now you may speak."

"Pffft, you want me to treat you like a Princess? Maybe when you get down off your damn high horse I'll consider treating you like one. Also yeah, I am the Element of Loyalty and don't you forget that! I can see when others aren't being loyal so there."

"I invite you to the castle to talk this out like civilized ponies and this is how you act? Considering all we've been through..."

"That's another thing that's been bugging me too. How come you're the only one that became a Princess after all we've been through huh? The rest of us put our bucking lives on the damn line to save Equestria and what do we get? A few thank you's and nothing more."

"I see now what this is all about. You're jealous of me aren't you Rainbow Dash?"

"What are talking about?"

"It all makes sense now Rainbow Dash. Your jealous that I became a Princess while you stayed the same. Element of Loyalty my flank. I thought one of my friends would be happy for me but obviously I was..."

"Buck you."

"What did you say to me? Think very carefully before you open your mouth again."

"I said buck you Princess!"

"Right then obviously there's simply no reasoning with you right now. I guess we'll just have to try again another time, perhaps tomorrow. Guards! Please escort my friend here off the castle grounds."

"Save your breath Twilight, I'll leave by myself. Oh and don't bother coming looking for me tomorrow, or the day after that, or the week after that, or even the year that!"

"Rainbow Dash? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying exactly what you think I'm saying Princess Twilight Sparkle. You are no longer my..."

"Hey Rainbow Dash! Come on sugar cube its time to wake up!"

Welcome To EverGlade

Chapter 3: Welcome to EverGlade

"Come on RD wake up! We're bout to arrive at the station any minute now." Rainbow Dash felt something nudging her in the ribs and let an annoyed grunt. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw that it was much darker than before she had fallen asleep. What amazed her was the fact that she had actually managed to fall asleep in the first place. She made a mental note to remember that trick that Apple Jack had taught her.

"You were asleep for almost six hours sugar cube, did you have a nice dream?"

"Not really, no. Just reliving an old memory I guess." Rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof Rainbow Dash tried to lessen the tension in her muscles. "Feel like I slept on Tank's shell again. Damn did they ever change these seat cushions?"

Apple Jack had a facial expression that suggested that she was considering the question before shrugging her shoulders moments later. "Beats me. So you were reliving an old memory, mind telling me which one it was? You know ah tend to be as curious as a cat."

"I'd really rather not talk about it Apple Jack. It wasn't exactly a good memory, actually its been one I've been trying to forget over the past couple of years." Rubbing her eyes with her hooves Rainbow tilted her head to look out the window again and saw that the sun just a few feet over the horizon. "So I was really asleep for six hours?"

"Yes m'am. Oh and between you and me RD you really should see a doctor about yer...a'hem...snoring problem."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at this. "Why does every pony say that I snore. All you girls have told me that I snore. The only pony I think who hasn't told me that I snore is good old Scootaloo."

"Gee, ah wonder why that filly wouldn't say anything that could upset you RD." Apple Jack had a sarcastic tone in her voice.

Waving her hoof Rainbow Dash changed the subject. "Whatever but that filly is going places in her life. Hey wait a minute, what were you doing for six hours while I was asleep?" A mischievous grin appeared on Rainbow's face. "Most of been awfully tempting for you AJ to have a sleek, sexy, helpless athlete just laid out in front of you. Come on you can't just sit there and tell me you weren't tempted to try something."

Apple Jack smiled and shook her head. "Ah thought ah told you Rainbow that I don't trot that way. Besides, no offense RD, but yer kinda getting up there in years. Ah think ah'd prefer a mare with a more...youthful spirit."

"Shut up Apple Jack."

"Haha hey ah'm just answering yer question Rainbow. You ever hear of the phrase the truth honesty hurts? Now come on grab yer saddle bag. Ah see the station coming up and my cousin said he'd meet me or ah guess us at the station. Didn't really have time to tell him you were tagging along."

"Cousin Apple Jack!"

Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack had just gotten off the train and stepped onto the platform. They turned their heads but Apple Jack had been quickly wrapped in a tight hug by an Earth Pony stallion. He had a silver blue coat with a dark golden mane which along with his tail was combed and kept short. "Ah know its been a long time cousin but geez come on. You starting to embarrass me in front of friend here."

The stallion let Apple Jack out of the hug and turned his head to look at Rainbow Dash who had been staring the whole time. "Apple Jack you didn't tell me that you were bringing a friend with you."

Apple Jack started to blush. "Sorry about that but this was kinda last minute. Ah hope there won't be a problem." The stallion embraced Apple Jack in another hug, "Nonsense cousin! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine! Well go on, aren't you going to introduce me to her?"

Apple Jack's blush got brighter. "Oh shoot! Ah guess I forgot with you wrapping me up in one of your world famous hugs. Rainbow Dash this here's my cousin Top Notch."

"Pleased to meet you Rainbow Dash! You good friends with my cousin Apple Jack?" Top Notch walked over and offered his hoof to Rainbow Dash. She warily took it and shook it before answering. "Uh yeah but I guess you could say we're like more than just friends though.

Top Notch at first had a confused look on his face but then smiled and turned around to face Apple Jack again. "Heck cousin, I thought you told me last time I visited you that you didn't trot that way. Congratulations to the both of you!"

Behind the group a tumble weed slowly pushed by the wind made its way across the scrub land as a hawk somewhere up high let out a call.

Apple Jack being the first to realize what Rainbow Dash had said put a hoof to her face. A few moments later and Rainbow Dash soon caught on to what she had just implied and her face turned a bright shade of red. "No no no no no! It's not like that at all. What I meant to say is that we've known each other for such a long time that we're like best friends. Not those types of friends but just best friends that like to do stuff together a lot and wow I'm just going to stop talking right now."

A loud laugh escaped Top Notch as he wiped away a tear from his eye. "You two don't have to explain yourselves, I was only fooling with ya. Personally though it wouldn't bother me the slightest if you were fooling around with mares cousin. I know how our family can be with most of them being old fashioned and all that."

"Uh thanks Top Notch, ah think. Now if'in you wouldn't mind cousin me and Rainbow Dash are pretty much starved, the last time we ate was this morning at the trains breakfast service and..."

Top Notch put his hoof to Apple Jacks mouth. "Say no more cousin. I know the perfect place to get some good eats. Just follow me and I'll take you there and give you a tour of the town at the same time. Two birds with one stone and all that."

"Allow me to be the first to introduce you both err well actually maybe just Miss Rainbow Dash to the town of EverGlade!" Top Notch stood under the town's sign waving his hoof above his head.

Rainbow Dash looked up at the sign which hanged between two posts.

EverGlade est. 1756 B.C.

"So this town's been around since before the Princesses came to power?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Darn straight Rainbow Dash, this little town of ours has weathered the worst that the world has thrown at it and its still standing strong. Hopefully it be here for a while longer." Top Notch's smile faded from his face and he began to stare at the ground.

Both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack looked at each other confused before Apple Jack spoke. "Top Notch is something wrong?"

The stallion quickly raised his head and put on his smile again. "Don't worry cousin there ain't nothing wrong that we EverGladers can't fix ourselves. Damn it look at me, here I am supposed to be showing you two gals a swell time and getting your stomachs filled but all I've done is caused you to worry." Turning around he began to make his way into town before calling back to them. "Come on you two! Let me give you the grand tour of the town."

The grand tour of the town had taken a little less than fifty minutes. While most of the buildings were old and made of wood there were some newer buildings around town. The group stopped in front of what looked like to be a new building but had its doors and windows boarded up. Apple Jack stepped next to Top Notch meaning to ask him a question but he spoke first. "I know your wondering what this building was Apple Jack, you've always been a curious one. This here building believe or not opened up just a few months ago and honestly closed down just last month. It was called The Honey Comb and was one of those new fancy pants type of health restaurants. As you can see it didn't do so well. To be honest the food was crap and the prices were outrageous. Too rich for the folks around here. I mean honestly, thirty bits for a simple salad? Whats up with that?"

Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack looked at each other before nodding. "Yeah we know what you mean Top Notch. This restaurant also opened up back home in PonyVille with pretty much the same crap food. Me and AJ over here ate there, biggest waste of forty bits right AJ?"

"Sure was Rainbow though ah didn't think it was a franchise. Oh and don't you go thinking that ah've forgotten that you owe me for that lunch."

Rainbow Dash patted Apple Jack on her back. "Come on Apple Jack, I told you I'm good for it. So Top Notch, wheres this place you're taking us where we can get some grub? Your treat, am I right?"

THE FOOD TROUGH

"Ah reckon that this is the place your were talking about Top Notch?" The group of three stood in front of a two story building located on the small towns main boulevard. From the outside it looked liked a run down old parlor. It even had the double swinging doors leading inside.

"Sure is cousin, it just opened up a couple years back and the whole town loves it. My good buddy owns the whole place and boy oh boy I can't wait to introduce you two girls to him. He's a pretty swell guy." Top Notch made his way to the door and held it open signaling for the two mares to step inside.

The two friends felt like they had stepped through a portal to another city. The building on the inside was completely different. It was completely clean and dust free with tables lined with silver ware which made the whole establishment look like it was taken straight from Manehatten. The only thing that gave the place a rustic feel was a jukebox sitting in the corner that was currently off. Paintings of other cities in Equestria lined the walls and at the back of the restaurant stood what looked like a bar. Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack followed Top Notch to the bar and took their seats on the bar stools. "Hey buddy you back there? Come on out I got some ponies here I want you to meet!" Top Notch banged his hoof against the counter and a few moments later Rainbow Dash heard what sounded like a pony coming down a flight of stairs. The jukebox in the corner seemingly turned itself on and started playing a song at random. A door behind the bar opened and an Earth Pony stallion appeared through it.

"Whats up Top Notch and who are these fine ladies you brought with you?" The stallion definitely had suave surrounding him. The pony had a tan red coat and he had a long purple mane and tail .Rainbow Dash found it interesting though that like Top Notch he didn't have an accent either.

"Cousin Apple Jack, Miss Rainbow Dash let me introduce you to the owner of this fine establishment Whiskylifa but every pony in town just calls him Whisky for short." Whisky offered his hoof to both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack and they shook it.

"So what can I get for you three? We have the finest food and drink for hundreds of miles." Whisky took out three menus from under the counter and handed them to his customers. "I'll be back in a minute to take your order." He turned around and went back through the door into the back of restaurant. Four minutes later he came back out with a tray held in his mouth containing three glasses of water. He handed each a glass before asking what they'd like to order.

"I'll have what I always do Whisky, one bottle of Green Apples Ale with an order of hay fries." Top Notch closed his menu and handed it to Whisky.

"Ah reckon ah'll have just a glass of apple cider with a sliced apple salad on the side." Apple Jack did the same with her menu.

Rainbow Dash began grinning when she found an interesting name for a drink in the menu. "I think I'll have the cucumber sandwich."

"What about to drink Miss Dash? The suns been roasting the land for five weeks straight now. Surely you'd like something cool to drink." Whisky asked.

"Well Whisky, when you put it that way I guess to drink I'll have the apple jack." Rainbow Dash closed the menu and handed it to Whisky. Apple Jack put both hooves to her face while Top Notch and Whisky both shared a laugh. Whisky moved to stand in front of Rainbow's seat. "You sure about that? That's some pretty strong apple cider and with you being a Pegasus and all that you technically a lightweight."

"I'm a lightweight huh? Well then I guess I'll have two glasses of apple jack." Rainbow Dash arched her brow before patting Whisky on the shoulder.

Whisky smiled and shook his head. "Who am I to say no to a pretty mare? Sit tight for a bit, I'll get your food out as fast as I can."

Fifteen minutes later Whisky came out from behind the door and brought with him their drinks and food. The food was surprisingly good and both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack stated that it had been perhaps the best food they had in almost a week. "If'in y'all don't mind ah got to go and use the little mares room. Um which way to it Whisky?"

"Its that door at the end of the counter to the left." Whisky pointed her in the direction of the door and Apple Jack pushed herself away from the table and made her way there. Now that Apple Jack was gone Rainbow Dash wanted to ask both Top Notch and Whisky a few questions that had been bugging her. "Hey Top Notch, Whisky, you mind if I ask you two a few questions?"

"Go right ahead Miss Rainbow Dash, I'll be happy to oblige. I'm sure Whisky here would too."

"Right first off you two can stop calling me Miss Rainbow Dash. Its just Rainbow Dash, Rainbow, RD, or if you're tired of living Dashie." She gave both of them a stern look and they nodded their heads.

"Now on to the real questions. Don't take this the wrong way Top Notch but you weren't exactly what I was expecting when I imagined AJ's family."

"What, did you imagine me being less handsome and stunning? I'd be pretty okay with that."

"Yeah, you're definitely AJ's family. No, what I mean is that you don't have an accent like she and most of her family does and your cutie mark is...ummm...whats your cutie mark supposed to be anyway?" Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof at the stallions flank. It looked like a light bulb with a screw driver and wrench crossing behind it. "I thought that all of AJ's family had apples as their cutie mark?"

Top Notch looked at his cutie mark and then laughed. "Haha a common misconception but I understand how you came to that conclusion. E'hem first off the reason why I don't have an accent is because I just simply don't. True most of my family has it but there are those of us that actually don't. Whisky here and most of the town don't have accents either. My cutie mark signifies repairs since well I'm the towns fix-it pony. Something breaks and they call me to fix it. I do run a dairy ranch though which is where most of my income comes from."

Rainbow Dash wanted to speak but Top Notch cut her off. "I know what your going to say next Rainbow. You're wondering why my special talent doesn't have anything to do with apples? Well that's misconception number two since well while apples are technically the family business we don't all work on apple farms. My Uncle Orange in Manehatten is a successful banker and my auntie Apple Seed is a professor that teaches Agriculture at the University of Baltimare."

The jukebox finished playing its current song and switched to a new track. Whisky got up from behind the counter and made his way to the jukebox. "Sorry I know most of you don't like this type of music, especially you Top Notch, but would you mind if I let this song finish? For some reason I genuinely like it. Maybe because it reminds me of home."

"Heck I don't mind Whisky. Although if that song reminds you of home I can see why you left in the first place." Both stallions laughed.

"Hey Top Notch I got one more question for you. How come the towns called..." A loud flush interrupted her and Apple Jack emerged from the restroom. "Whew! Y'all might one of give that around twenty minutes." Apple Jack made her way back to the table counter and took her seat. "So what were y'all talking about while I was occupied?"

Top Notch waved his hoof in front of his face trying to push the smell away from him. "We were just answering some questions that Rainbow Dash had for us."

"Really, what type of questions was she asking y'all?" Apple Jack looked at Rainbow Dash quizzically with the Pegasus trying to hide behind Top Notch.

"Nothing much really, I was just clearing up a few misconceptions is all. Actually I think Rainbow here had one more question." Top Notch leaned back allowing Apple Jack to see Rainbow Dash clearly.

"Is that so? Well go ahead RD ask yer question so that my cousin can answer you already."

Rainbow Dash thought about the question in her mind before deciding it was safe to ask. "I was going to ask how come this town is called EverGlade if its an old western town in the middle of scrub land and plateaus? The name EverGlade makes me think about rivers, grass, ponds, trees, etc..."

"I'll answer this one if you don't mind Top Notch." Whisky walked around from the counter and took a seat next to Rainbow Dash. "If that's alright with you buddy."

"Uh sure Whisky, go for it." Top Notch took another sip of his drink as he got himself more comfortable.

Whisky took a sip from his own drink before answering Rainbow Dash. "Now you see Rainbow I don't know if you already figured this out yourself but I'm not from around these parts, I was born in the lower Manehatten districts and moved here a couple years ago."

Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head. "Right, that much I managed to figure out but whats that got to do with anything?"

"Right, well when I arrived here fresh off the train I also asked the same exact question. See originally I was planning to move to a nice grassy area and the name EverGlade screamed that to me. You could imagine the look on my face when I arrived literally in the middle of no where." Whisky took another sip before continuing. "Apparently around a little more than a thousand years ago this guy named Discord came into power and he just loved making life miserable for ponies. EverGlade used to be a beautiful grassland with rolling green hills, cool rivers, and a gentle breeze. One day Discord came to town and well...I think you can figure out the rest."

What Rainbow Dash had just heard made sense but there was still one thing bugging her about the story. "Wait but Discord was overthrown by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Why didn't they just like fix the land again?"

"If you don't mind Rainbow Dash that's actually sort of a sore subject around these parts." Top Notch spoke before Whisky had a chance to say the same thing himself.

Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders. "No problems here, I was just curious."

"If'in you don't mind RD maybe we should change the subject." Apple Jack had gotten up and walked next to Rainbow Dash.

"I'm all for that cousin! Heck I got a few stories I've been dying to tell you and I'm sure you do to." The group spent the next four hours taking turns telling stories. Eventually though the group of four ponies each shared a yawn and that signaled the end of the night.

"Don't think I'm kicking you ladies out or anything but I gotta close down the place for the night." Whisky got up from his chair at the counter and began putting away all the silverware.

"I understand Whisky. Just put the bill on my tab and I'll get around to paying it eventually." Top Notch got up and started stretching his legs.

"No need old buddy of mine. Consider the food and drink on the house tonight."

"Any special reason for comping our meals Whisky? I'm sure the drinks that we ordered weren't cheap." Top Notch looked at the his cousin and friend and started to develop a faint idea for his friends generosity. "Your sudden generosity wouldn't be because of these two mares here, would it?" He finished he sentence with a quick wink of his eye.

Whisky simply chuckled. "Maybe, just don't get used to free food Top Notch. I'm keeping an eye on that tab of yours and I'm calling it in by the end of the month."

Both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack walked up to Whisky with the latter speaking first. "That's mighty kind of you Whisky. Ah always knew my cousin had good taste in friends."

"I'll say!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed loudly. "Talk about being one pretty cool dude! Not as cool as yours truly but still, you know what I'm getting at." She gave Whisky a playful punch on the shoulder.

Whisky started to blush. "My mother raised me well under threat of a six foot leather belt. What else can I say?"

"Right well thanks again Whisky for the great food as always. I got to get my cousin and her friend to some comfy beds over at my place. Come along gals, its sorta a long walk." With that the group of three ponies made their way out of the building with each good waving bye to the owner.

Whisky watched as they walked down the street. "Have a great night you three!" He yelled. Curiously though he found himself rubbing the shoulder that Rainbow Dash had punched. "Well I'll be." He muttered under his breath before stepping back into the restaurant and locking the doors behind him.

Author's Note

B.C. = Before Celestia. Just some clarification

Decisions [Part 1]

Chapter 4: Decisions [Part 1]

Rainbow Dash turned around to wave goodbye to Whisky but the stallion had already gone back inside the restaurant. She looked up at the night sky above and saw the thousands of stars that glowed brilliantly. Rainbow was used to seeing the stars before but never like this. Even the moon was spectacular, its size being almost triple that from back in PonyVille. Princess Luna was definitely no slacker when it came to her duty as Princess of the Night. Rainbow wanted to fly but it was so dark that she could barely see Top Notch and Apple Jack just a few feet ahead of her. She told herself that tomorrow she would have the chance to truly stretch her wings.

The group left EverGlade and moved out onto a road that lead through the scrub land. They walked for what seemed like thirty minutes in the pitch black of night with only a few random conversations scattered throughout the journey. The rest of the walk was taken by complete silence only being broken by the sound of the wildlife every minute or so.

Rainbow Dash let out a long drowsy yawn long before breaking the silence herself. "Hey Top Notch, how much farther until we get to your place? My hooves are killing me over here!"

"Not much farther Rainbow Dash, just over the next hill and we'll be there. To keep the blood pumping through your veins how about a race to the top of the hill? Ready? one, two, three GO!" Top Notch took off at top speed leaving both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack confused for a few seconds. Both friends realized what had happened and they both began running after the stallion. "Not a smart move on yer part cousin. Me and Rainbow over here are the best athletes in PonyVille fir yer information!"

"Yeah what AJ said! Except that I'm also the fastest flier in all of Equestria so I guess that makes me the better athlete!" Rainbow considered using her wings but realized that it would of been too easy. She would hoof it and make Apple Jack along with her cousin eat her dust.

Rainbow had already passed Apple Jack and was closing in on Top Notch but the stallion was already making his way up the hill. "Nuh uh, no way am I letting this guy beat me after that cheap start." Rainbow thought to herself. She put more of her energy into her legs and sure enough she began to close the distance until she was running right next to him. "Ha! Didn't think you'd win that easily after pulling that stunt did you?"

Top Notch looked over to Rainbow Dash and smiled. "Gee I didn't think I'd ever live to see the day that a Pegasus would beat an Earth Pony in a hoof race. You're something pretty special you know that Dashie?" Rainbow couldn't tell from how dark it was but she could of sworn that she saw the stallion wink at her. She could feel her face heat up and tripped over a rock doing a few rolls before coming to a complete stop. She looked up just in time to see Apple Jack run past her, scrambling quickly to her hooves she got off the ground and started running again but it was too late. She saw Top Notch already looking down at her from the top of the hill with Apple Jack moving next to him.

Rainbow stamped her hoof when she reached the top of the hill. "No fair! That was a lousy dirty trick that you used!"

"What trick is RD yapping about Top Notch?" Apple Jack asked. Top Notch just kept on smiling and wouldn't answer. A few pokes in the ribs from Apple Jack and he let out the truth. "Oh nothing much cousin, all I did was lay on the Top Notch charm. Nothing less and definitely nothing more." Apple Jack looked at Rainbow Dash a little closer and thought she saw her blushing. The mare started laughing and her cousin joined her.

Rainbow Dash was now starting to get upset, she never had liked it when other ponies laughed at her. "What!? Whats so damn funny!?"

"Don't take it personally Rainbow but Top Notch here is sorta a ladies stallion. Ah didn't tell you before because I thought you'd be immune to it. Guess ah was..."

"WRONG! I was just thrown off guard that's all. I wasn't expecting him to do that!" Rainbow quickly turned away and began concentrating on getting rid of her blush. As soon as she felt the heat from her face disappear she turned back to face them but before she could continue telling Apple Jack just how wrong she was Top Notch spoke.

"Any who Rainbow Dash let me introduce you to Top's Quality Dairy Farm." He pointed his hoof to the other side of the hill. Rainbow Dash squinted her eyes and made out a few buildings at the bottom of the hill but couldn't really see anything in detail. "I can't see anything, its too dark."

Top Notch began rubbing his chin with his hoof. "Yeah I guess I can see what you mean. Oh well just wait till tomorrow and I give you a tour of the place. As for right now I'm guessing you girls are pretty tired after that train trip. Follow me and I'll get you settled in." He made his way down the hill toward the farm with Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack following closely behind.

"Over here we have the living room where I usually take a load off after a long days work. In that room is the kitchen, I'm not much off a cook but the fridge is fully stocked. That door down the hall is the bathroom, I don't think we have to talk about what goes on in there right?" Top Notch lead the girls upstairs to the second floor of the farm house. "Your rooms are right here across from each other at the top of the stairs. My room is the last door down the hall and I don't think we need to talk about what goes on in there also, or do we?" If there was one thing that Rainbow had noticed about Top Notch it was that he seemed to laugh a lot at his own jokes. A characteristic that reminded her of a certain pink mare back in PonyVille. "If I was you girls I'd rest up, I got a full schedule planned for us tomorrow before your train leaves the next morning."

He opened the door to this right and motioned for Rainbow Dash to enter. Aside from a bed, a nightstand with a lamp on it, and window the room was completely empty. "Wow, talk about a simple life style. I'm no Rarity but even I can tell when a room needs some more color." Rainbow Dash dropped her saddle bag on the bed before hoping on it herself. She bounced up and down on it a few times before being satisfied with how comfy the bed was. "Still a long way from being a cloud but a freaking huge improvement over the train." She laid her head down on the pillow with her forelegs behind her head and let out a happy sigh. "You know this ain't actually half bad. A bucking cozy life style if you ask me."

"A cozy life style fir you since ya don't actually work here RD. My cousin Top Notch works his flank off running this farm all by himself."

"Now now cousin, I myself will be the first to admit that I do live a comfy life when I ain't working. Come on Apple Jack let me show you to your room." Top Notch and Apple Jack left the room leaving with the latter closing the door behind her.

It was quiet. Not the boring quiet either but the kind of quiet where one could actually hear the tension leave their body. For most that would be enough, for Rainbow Dash however she needed one of two things to get her to relax completely. Since it was pitch black outside she settled on the second option. Getting off from the bed she made her way out of the room. "Hey Top Notch, you wouldn't happen to have a shower would you? Kinda want to wash my troubles away you feel me?"

Top Notch came out from the room across from Rainbow's and pointed his hoof downstairs. "Sure thing the shower is in the bathroom downstairs."

Apple Jacks voice came from inside her room. "Don't take too long Rainbow, water is scarce around these parts and ah want to take a shower myself." Top Notch and Rainbow Dash went downstairs where he handed her a fresh towel from a closet and pointed her to the bathroom.

The shower had taken less than seven minutes. What Top Notch and Apple Jack had failed to inform Rainbow Dash about was that there was no hot water. It had been such a system shock to her body when the water torrent had hit her that she yelped in surprise. She swore that she could hear Top Notch and Apple Jack laughing their flanks off upstairs. She got out of the shower, dried herself off, and then headed back upstairs to her room closing the door behind her announcing that she was going to sleep.

While she would of preferred hot water the shower had still done the trick. She could feel that all her muscles were relaxed, she tossed herself onto the bed and sent her saddle bag flying to the floor. She closed her eyes and waited for sleep to take her, it didn't. She tossed and turned but still could not manage to fall asleep. Eventually enough time passed where the whole house went silent. She assumed that Apple Jack and her cousin had fallen asleep and she envied them for it.

Something was noticeably off for Rainbow Dash. For the first time in the longest time she didn't feel stressed, she didn't feel anxious, and she didn't feel angry. Granted she still felt unhappy but even that feeling was lessened to some extent. "Crap." She whispered to herself. "I haven't felt this way since....well since..." For some unknown reason everything in the world just felt right to her. "What do you know, maybe this little trip was just what I need heh." Her head fell to the side of the pillow. "What happens when I leave?" Was the last thought in her head before she passed out.

Rainbow Dash was woken abruptly by the sound of heavy knocking on the front door of the farm house. A mare's voice was calling to the inhabitant of the building. "Top Notch! Top Notch wake up!" More pounding on the front door. Rainbow heard a door open inside the house and a few moments later there was a single knock on Rainbow's door before Top Notch burst through it. He quickly apologized to Rainbow for the inconvenience before making his way to the room's window and opening it. "Clover Leaf? What are you doing out here at this hour?"

"Thousand apologies Top Notch, I know you have family over but this an emergency! It's the town's water tower, its..."

"Say no more Clover, just tell Whisky that I'll be there in a jiffy!" He shut the window closed and turned to look at Rainbow Dash. "Sorry Rainbow but looks like today's schedule of activities are going to have to wait, somethings come up!" With that being said he ran out of the room and made his way downstairs.

A second later Rainbow Dash jumped out of her bed and flew downstairs followed by Apple Jack appearing behind her a moment later. "Top Notch? Whats the matter? Whats happened?" Apple Jack asked.

"Look cousin I'm real sorry about this but duty calls and it looks like this can't wait." Top Notch ran into a room and then came out a few seconds later with a saddle bag on his right side and a tool box on his left. He ran to the front door of the house and looked back at his cousin and her friend from the doorway. "You girls just stay here and make yourselves comfortable. I'll be back as soon as I..." He was caught off guard by a blue blur flying past him out the door.

"Hecky nah, if I wanted to sit around on my ass and do nothing I would have stayed in PonyVille. You never know when you might need a Pegasus as awesome as me to lend you a hoof." Rainbow Dash was in the air a few feet above Top Notch with a content look on her face.

Apple Jack moved to stand right next to her cousin. "Ah'm going too Top Notch. Who knows we might actually be able to help you with whatever emergency's fallen on your head."

Putting his hoof to cover his eyes while he thought for a moment Top Notch considered all the possibilities of letting the two mares come along. "Well alright, I guess it wouldn't hurt if you two tagged along with me and besides...you two were probably going to come anyway even If I told you not to right?"

"Uh huh." Both mares said at the same time.

"Yeah that's what I figured. Now come on, I can't waste anymore time dillydallying with you two, not when it concerns the water tower."

The two Earth Ponies ran towards town as Rainbow Dash flew above them. It was actually the first time that the Pegasus had gotten a good look at the surrounding area. Just like she had seen from the train it was all scrub land covered by rocks, chasms, and plateaus. She had once thought it impossible for any pony to survive under these conditions let alone a whole town of them. "Huh, these ponies must be pretty tough I guess" She thought.

Finally EverGlade came into view from Rainbow's perspective and she flew down with a running trot to move along side Apple Jack and Top Notch. "Towns just up a head you guys. It looks like there's a group of ponies gathered near a tower and..."

"That would be the water tower Rainbow Dash and its usually a very bad sign when a group gathers around a point like you said. Come on girls we gotta double time it!" Top Notch put all his energy into his sprint and made his way as fast as he could to the town with Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack following suite.

The group entered the town ran down the main boulevard turning a a corner and stopping when they reached a group of ponies gathered around a large lower. Top Notch and Apple Jack began making their way through the crowd as Rainbow Dash flew overhead. Top Notch managed to break through and spotted Whisky standing at the base of the tower with the latter seeing his first. "Top Notch! Top Notch over here, you might wanna take a look at this!" Standing next to Whisky with Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack at his hide Top Notch looked up in horror as he saw what was the problem. He set down his tool box, saddle bag, and made his way to inspect one of the towers legs.

Rainbow Dash looked up as well and saw nothing particularly wrong with the water tower. It wasn't leaking or anything and the the wooden supports seemed to be in good shape. "I don't get it, what exactly are we looking at here?"

Apple Jack removed her hat and scratched her head for a bit before placing it back on her head. "Ah don't get it either Top Notch. Tower looks to be in tip top shape shape from here."

"Looks can be deceiving cousin, you see those little black balls spaced out on the towers legs?" Both mares looked and saw that indeed the towers legs seemed covered by a few dozen little black balls. Rainbow Dash still couldn't see anything wrong with the tower. "Right, I still don't get whats the big deal. Apple Jack do you..."

"The big deal is that those are Scrub Lord nests." Whisky interrupted.

"Huh, what are Scrub Lords?" Rainbow Dash asked. She turned to look at Apple Jack hoping that her friend would tell her but the farm pony had a confused look on her face as well.

"Scrub Lords..." Whisky continued. "...are a type of special termite found only around these parts. What makes them so special is that they nest on wooden surfaces and when they hatch the newborns completely devour the host structure in the blink of an eye. So if those bugs hatch on the tower then..."

"Game over man, its game over." Top Notch finished. He took one last look at the nests before turning back to face the crowd of ponies. "Every pony please stand back, I didn't exactly bring the right tools to deal with...well this and I'm going to need to work fast before these things hatch."

"Top Notch ya'll can't be serious. You can just go back to the farm and grab the tools you..."

"I wish I could cousin but there may not be enough time. Scrub Lords hatch petty quick and these definitely weren't here yesterday."

"Then let me and RD help you out with getting rid of these..."

Top Notch shook his head. "No can do cousin, this is a precision job. If one of those nests breaks then the scrub lords will just pour out anyway."

"But Top Notch..."

"But nothing Apple Jack!" He gave her a stern look. "I've already made my decision, its too dangerous and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you two. It'll be safer if I handled this myself."

Rainbow Dash had heard enough, she stepped out in front of Apple Jack and looked directly at Top Notch. "Look here Mr. It'll Be Safer If I Do This, the tower is pretty big. You seem pretty fast but I doubt even you can get out of the way in time of the tower falls. You do realize what'll happen to you if you fail right?"

Top Notch let out a long sigh. " Of course I realize that, but I also realize what'll happen to the whole town if I don't do this. Besides I tend to live my life by an old saying that my father told me when I was just a colt."

Actually surprised by his answer Rainbow Dash found her curiosity peaked. "What would that be?"

"All in all of the time." Top Notch smiled and he put some scissors in his mouth from his tool bag before going to work.

Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Whisky, and what seemed like the rest of the town watched in silence for hours as Top Notch diligently worked removing each of the nests one by one. Each nest seemed to take around thirty minutes to successfully remove. The removed nests were then taken away by some other pony to be safely disposed off. Top Notch worked until there were only two nests left. By then most of the town had left the scene believing the danger had passed with only a few ponies remaining watching Top Notch work.

"I'd hate to think what would of happened if Top Notch wasn't here." Whiskey said to Rainbow Dash. "Talk about being the hero of the town."

"You know damn well shug what would of happened if that tower fell." A familiar voice to Rainbow Dash came from behind Whiskey. The three ponies turned and came face to face with a Unicorn mare. She had a tan brown coat with a reddish mane and tail that had yellow streaks running through it. "Town wouldn't of lasted long with out it, we would have had to...."

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I recognize your voice, you were the one..."

"That's right honey, I was the one at the farm this morning. The names Clover Leaf."

Whisky laughed as he put a hoof to his face. "Right, Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack, let me introduce you two to Clover Leaf. She works for me back at the restaurant."

Clover Leaf gave Rainbow Dash a quick look over. "So you're Top's cousin Apple Jack huh? Would of met you yesterday at the restaurant but it was my day off. Pardon me honey but you don't really look like an Apple Jack to me, definitely not with that rainbow mane of yours."

"That's because ah'm Apple Jack, this here's my friend Rainbow Dash. Pleased to make you acquaintance either way though."

"The feelings mutual honey. Hey look, seems like Top's just gotten rid of the second to last nest. He should be done in no time."

Top Notch took the nest and carefully handed it off to another pony. He wiped the sweat from his brow before going to work on the last one. He put his hoof to it and fear immediately entered his heart. The last nest was vibrating violently which only meant one thing. "EVERY PONY GET BACK NOW!" He shouted as loud as he could before turning his attention back to the nest. His heart skipped a beat when he saw that it began to crack. He watched as the crack grew larger and as tiny insects began to come out if it. With no other choice he yanked the nest from the tower and tossed it into a water trough. A few scrub lord insects were flung onto one of the towers legs and right before his eyes Top Notch watched as they devoured a small portion of the leg before they fell to the ground.

The tower began creaking and without warning one of the steel screws shot from where it had been previously and hit Top Notch square in the ribs. He fell to the ground in pain and watched as the water tower began to shake. He looked at Whiskey and the three mares, "Run! Get as far away from the tower as you can!" He looked back at the tower and saw that it was beginning to lean towards him. "Buck me."

He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.

Decisions [Part 2]

Chapter 5: Decisions [Part2]

The inevitable never came for the Earth Pony stallion. The moments he waited for the tower to come crashing down on him seemed to last hours. He thought that time was being cruel to him. He waited to feel the enormous weight crush his entire body. Even more cruel he thought was that his friends and family were there to witness his death. More time passed but he continued on living.

"Hey! Not that I'm trying to rush you or anything but could you MOVE out of the way? Geez some ponies these days."

It was the most angelic thing that Top Notch had ever heard. He found the strength to open his eyes and the first sight he saw was a blue figure flying over him holding the tower back. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"Apple Jack move your cousin now! I don't know how much longer I can hold this thing up!" Apple jack obeyed Rainbow's order and ran to Top Notch lifting him up on her back getting him a safe distance away.

"Top Notch! Top Notch you there cousin? Come on Top Notch ah need you to stay with us here!" The Earth Pony stallion seemed the be in a daze. Apple Jack tried shaking him but it was to no avail. Clover Leaf came over towards Apple Jack and gently nudged her away.

"Let me handle this honey, I've got experience with these sort of things." She put her hoof under Top Notch's chin and moved his head side to side a flew times before she abruptly slapped him hard across the face with her other hoof.

"OW! What the...Clover Leaf, did you just slap me?" Clover's strategy had worked and Top Notch was now fully aware of his surroundings.

"I'll take the blame for that shug but right now we need you to concentrate. Rainbow Dash is holding the water tower up right now but she can't hold it forever. How do we get the tower to stay upright?"

Top Notch tried to stand but a sharp pain at his side forced him to to the ground again. "Damn it I can't move, buck my sides hurt." Apple Jack stood in front of Top Notch and helped him stand. "Look cousin, ah'm decent with repairs back on m'ah farm. Just tell me what ah I need to do."

"Right well I can't see from here but it looks like one of the support screws burst from its socket, come to think of it that's probably what hit me. Okay first you're going to have to find the missing screw, then you going to have to align the tower straight, and then finally your going to have to put the screw back in. That should hold the tower long enough for decent repairs to be..."

"UH HELLO!? Guys, Pegasus still holding a water tower over here. So if we could oh I don't know maybe speed up the explanation that would be awesome thanks!"

The group of three ponies had almost forgotten that Rainbow Dash was still holding the water tower. Apple Jack sprung into action and ran towards the base of the tower with the eyes scanning the ground. "Right, sorry about that RD. Now Top Notch were do you think that steel screw rolled off to?"

Top Notch was leaning heavily against Clover Leaf now barely even to stand himself. "You're seriously asking me that cousin, seriously?"

"Ah figured that since you got yer'self hit by it then you might of known where it rolled off to. Logic and all that."

If it wasn't for the excruciating pain that he now found himself in Top Notch would of probably laughed at that. "Look just search in between the legs, it couldn't of gotten too far if it hit me first." Apple Jack searched frantically around the water towers legs until her eye caught sight if her prize.

"Think ah found it you guys." She held up the screw whiched shined in the sun. "So what do we have to do again Top Notch?"

For the first time in months Top Notch noticed that he was out of breath. "You...you...you gotta find where the screw came from and put it...put it..."

"Put it in?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Okay well how we gonna find where to put the damn thing in?" Rainbow was now flapping her wings harder putting as much as she could into keeping the tower from falling. Apple Jack searched the tower up and down with her eyes until she thought she saw a small opening. "Rainbow ah think ah found it only one problem though. Its like fif'teen feet up, way out of m'ah reach. Ah don't know how we're gonna..."

Apple Jack was surprised to see Clover Leaf move next to her. She turned her head and saw that Top Notch was now leaning against Whiskey. "Maybe I can help honey, I got magic and I might as well use it." Clover looked at Rainbow Dash and let out a shrill whistle. "Hey, its Rainbow Dash right? Listen I'll put the screw back in but first you got to push the tower back to how it was."

"Easier said than done you know but sure, I'll give it my all. Just be ready to put that screw in." Rainbow Dash was huffing heavily now as she felt her strength leaving her body. "Look on the count of three I'm going to give this everything I got, after that well lets just say your going to want to move."

Clover Leaf just shook her head. "Not an option honey, we can't let this tower fall." An orange aura began to glow around Clover's horn and then she levitated the screw off Apple Jacks hoof. "Ready when you are!"

"Right one..."

"Two..."

Rainbow Dash called on all her remaining energy into her wings and took a deep breath. "THREE!"

She closed her eyes and pushed on the tower with all the might in her wings. She peeked through one of her eyes and was elated to see that the tower was actually moving back. She opened both her eyes and pushed but the tower had stopped moving back. Her wings felt as though they were on fire and her head was throbbing painfully, she had reached her limit. The could feel the tower falling against her. "Apple Jack, Clover get out! I can't hold..."

The Pegasus heard a loud Pang to her left. She turned her head and saw that a large white Pegasus stallion was now pushing up against the tower as well. "Who are..."

"Keep your mouth shut and just push the damn tower will ya?" The other Pegasus said back to her.

Rainbow Dash wanted to say something but she knew the stallion was right, right now all she had to do was push. Along with the other Pegasus she pushed the tower and felt that it was being put back into place. When she felt that the tower was now standing perfectly upright again she wanted to shout to Clover to put the screw in place but the other Pegasus beat her to it."

"Put the bucking screw in now girl!"

"Yes sir!" Clover answered as she went to work putting the screw back into place. She made sure that it was tightly in before giving the all clear.

Rainbow Dash gently lowered herself to the ground before passing out from exhaustion.

For the second time that day Rainbow Dash found that she had been abruptly woken up. She felt some pony poking her in the side. She opened her eyes expecting to see either Apple Jack or Clover Leaf standing over her but to her surpirse she saw that it was the other Pegasus.

"Little lady do you know that you're pretty bucking stupid for what you just tried to do?"

"Hey a little respect would go a long way buddy! I pretty much just helped save the towns water supply."

The Pegasus spat on the ground before answering her. "All you did was luck out. If I hand't come back from patrol you along with Clover Leaf over there would of probably been crushed to death."

"Hey do you even know who I am?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Do you know who I am?" The Pegasus responded.

Before the conversation could escalate any further Whiskey moved in between the two Pegasus. "Hey, hey , hey come on you two. This is no time to be fighting, the town was just saved from a catastrophic disaster."

"For you're own good stay out of this boy. Now you listen here little lady I'm this towns sheriff, Sheriff Silver Point."

"Ha I'll do you one better old timer. I'm Rainbow Dash The Element of Loyalty."

"Never heard of you" The sheriff said bluntly.

"Your joking right? Ever heard of the Elements of Harmony?"

"No."

"Well I was one of a special group of ponies who helped saved Equestria numerous times."

"Saved Equestria from what exactly little lady?"

Rainbow Dash smirked believing that she could easily put the stallion in his place with her list of feats. "From Nightmare Moon..."

"That's just an old ponies tale."

"From Discord..."

"I'm pretty sure that the Princesses did that."

"Defended the city of Canterlot from an invading army of changelings..."

"And I should care about that why?"

"Saved the Crystal Empire from..."

"Once again, I should care about that why?"

Nothing Rainbow Dash was saying was getting through to the sheriff. She had met some stubborn ponies before but this guy won the prize for biggest asshole in Equestria. Rainbow Dash wanted nothing more than to sock the Sheriff in his smug face and she was bout to when Apple Jack stepped in. "Easy there RD, lets not do something we're going to regret in the long run." Apple Jack then turned to face the sheriff. "Ah swear we don't want to cause any trouble Sheriff, we're just here visiting my cousin Top Notch and we'll be gone tomorrow."

"So you're Top Notches family huh? I guess that would explain a few things. Just keep her out of my way for the rest of your stay here."

The Sheriff opened his wings and took off into the sky leaving behind a very angry prismatic Pegasus. "That jerk, who does he think he is?"

"Don't...don't take...take what he means personally Rainbow Dash." Top Notch now leaning against Clover Leaf made his way to the group of friends. "He's just looking out for the whole town. He always has and I bet my bottom bit that he always...ow." The stallion was visibly in pain and was finding it difficult to just stand. "Whisky can you do me a favor? Take my cousin and Rainbow Dash back to the farm will you? Clover if you could be so kind as to take me to..."

"Like I wasn't planning on taking you to the doc shug. Chin up Top's you'll be good as new in no time." Clover Leaf turned and began walking with Top Notch towards the main boulevard. Apple Jack ran in front of them forcing them to stop. "Ah'm going with you to the doctor Top Notch."

Clover Leaf let out a small giggle While Top Notch simply shook his head in disagreement. "I appreciate it cousin, really I do, but there's no need..." Clover Leaf spoke after Top Notch couldn't continue. "Don't worry honey, he's in good hooves."

Apple Jack was still worried for her cousin but once she saw the smile on Clover's face realized that he really was in good hooves. With a nod of her head and not another word she let the Unicorn continue carrying her cousin. She made her way back to Rainbow Dash and Whisky but before she could tell them what was going on an unfamiliar voice came from behind her.

"Well well well, that was a pretty amusing show I'd say. Talk about getting lucky."

The group of three ponies turned to look where the voice had come from and saw an Earth Pony stallion step out from one of the streets side alleys. Before Apple Jack could ask who the pony was Whisky with a fierce look in his eyes made his way to the stranger. "Thatcher...when did you get here huh?"

"Oh I was here the whole time watching the towns little hero attempt to save your precious water tower."

Whisky's face was now only inches away from Thatcher's. "I'm willing to bet anything that you're the one who put those nests there."

Thatcher mocked offense."I swear what is it with you Whisky? Every single time some unexplained disaster happens to the town you always go and immediately blame me. Tell me what would I gain form the town losing its water supply?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because its mighty convenient for you? If the town lost its water supply it wouldn't be able to survive the summer and the mayor would be forced to..."

"Sell the town and surrounding land to moi?" Thatcher finished. "Yeah I guess that would be convenient for me. At the moment though all your accusations are just that, accusations. Now if you excuse me I got other things that demand my attention." Thatcher backed up and stepped back into the alley were he had come from.

Whiskey stood in place for a few moments before walking back to Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack. "Come one ladies, lets get back to the farm."

The group of three made their way back to the farm through the scrub land with Apple Jack and Whisky caught up in a conversation while Rainbow Dash remained silent. That is until a nagging voice in the back of her head forced her to speak. "So hey not like I'm worried or anything but Top Notch is gonna alright, right?" The question seemed to come out of nowhere. "No need to worry your pretty little head Rainbow Dash, Top Notch is one tough guy. He'll get through this like he always does, although..."

"Although what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Top Notch did look pretty hurt, his injury is probably going to slow him down for some time but I'm sure he'll get through it like he always does. Any way it might be best to change the subject, when does your train leave again ladies?"

It was Apple Jack who answered this time. "First thing in the morning tomorrow."

"Well shoot that sucks, I know for a fact that your cousin had a whole list of things he wanted to do with you girls today. Sadly given recent events I don't think that he'll be doing anything that he planned today or for that matter anything he planned for a few weeks." Whisky continued walking undeterred in fulfilling his promise to his buddy of get the girls back to the dairy farm.

Rainbow Dash found that she was frowning "Wow, that actually kinda really does suck. I remember years ago when I injured one of my wings and was forced to stay in the hospital. If it weren't for Daring Do I probably would of lost my bucking mind."

"If ah remember correctly RD you did lose yer bucking mind over that book." Apple Jack let out a little laugh while Whisky just seemed confused. A few seconds passed and Whisky seemed to realize what they were talking about. "Daring Do? Wasn't that a children's novel..." Apple Jack quickly put her hoof to Whisky's mouth. "SHHH! Don't ever talk down about Daring Do in front of Rainbow Dash. Trust me, it won't end pretty."

"What did he say about Daring Do?" Rainbow Dash was now flying above the two Earth ponies with a stare that could turn any living creature to stone. "Nothing! He said nothing about Daring Do, ah swear RD!"

Rainbow Dash looked at them both with a look that it it seem like she was staring into their very souls. "Alright then come on. The farms just over that hill right?"

Both Earth ponies quickly nodded their heads and the group continued on their way towards the farm.

The three ponies waited in Top Notch's living room for what seemed like hours. Aside for a sofa, chair, and portable radio the room was completely barren just like her bedroom. Apple Jack had struck up a conversation with Whisky as Rainbow Dash had chosen to lay down on the sofa.

The day for Rainbow Dash had been interesting. For the first time since Twilight's coronation she had felt adrenaline rush throughout her body, her heart pump blood at an extreme rate, and her thoughts had become a blur. All that had mattered to her while was holding up the water tower was the then and there with the rest of the world fading out of existence. She smiled at herself thinking that it truly had been too long since she had felt like that. She had missed it and more importantly she wanted more of it. There was only one solution to her and she had to make the decision now.

She had drifted off into such deep thought that she hadn't realized that the sun had set and the front door of the farm house had opened. She heard the door close and a few moments later Top Notch stepped into the living room. His upper mid section had been wrapped in a large white bandage but he was still able to move his front legs. "Hey guys, guess who's back and good as new?" Apple Jack and Whisky rushed to greet him but Rainbow Dash simply remained om the sofa still deep in thought.

"Hey there's the local town hero! So what did the doctor say, anything broken?" Whisky gently patted his friend on the back relieved to see that the stallion was okay. Top Notch returned the gesture with what started out as a hoof bump but ended with the stallion wincing in pain. "Doc just shot me up with some morphine, took some tests, gave me some pain killers, wrapped me up and sent me on my way home. Clover Leaf walked me the whole way back but said she couldn't stay."

Now Apple Jack moved to talk. "What ah want to know is if you're okay now. You didn't really answer Whisky's question if anything was broke." Top Notch slowly walked over to Apple Jack and tried to embrace her in hug but gave up on the attempt. "Doc said all I had was a fractured rib, that's it I swear! Although it is going to slow me down for a while I heal and all that." A look of concern appeared on both Apple Jack and Whisky's face with the latter speaking what was on his mind first. "Top Notch, are you going to be able to run this farm by yourself? You know I'd lend a helping hoof and I'm sure that Clover Leaf would too but we can't really leave the restaurant for more than twenty minutes during a weekday."

"Ah would stay and help too Top Notch but m'ah sister and brother need me back home at our farm. Apple Buck season is bout to start and they're going to need m'ah help." Apple Jack took her hat off as a sign of apologizing. The whole room seemed filled with frowns and Top Notch was haven't none of it. "Hey come on, I'm already feeling guilty about not being able to take you girls out for my list of activities. I don't need you two feeling sorry for me, I'm sure I'll figure something out like I always..."

"Well buck it seems like I have a solution that benefits the both us then." Rainbow Dash interrupted suddenly. The rest of the ponies tilted their heads to her as she casually walked over to where they were standing. "And what solution would that be sugar cube?" Rainbow Dash placed Apple Jack in a one hoof hug. "Isn't it obvious AJ? I'll stay here in EverGlade with you cousin and help him out around the farm."

Top Notch and Whisky weren't sure if they heard Rainbow Dash right. "Wait hold up." Whisky started. "You're willing to stay here and help Top Notch on the farm? You know what, I'd say that's incredibly generous of you." Rainbow Dash smiled at the compliment. "I know right? It ain't even my element and I still got it down pretty good. Besides I've been thinking about a change of scenery lately." Apple Jack broke lose from Rainbow Dash and started pushing the Pegasus out of the room. "Would you both excuse us for a minute? Me and Rainbow here need to have a private talk."

Apple Jack finished pushing Rainbow Dash into the hall way and made sure that no pony else was listening. "Okay Rainbow, whats this all about? Ah know that this didn't just come from nothing."

"What, can't a mare who's not Rarity be generous once in a while? I'd though you of all ponies would be thrilled that I would help your cousin out and like I said, I was thinking about a temporary change of scenery."

"Ah see, now this change of scenery wouldn't be to get away from a certain Princess would it?" Apple Jack wanted to strike a nerve with Rainbow Dash to try and get her friend to see reason and she had succeeded, at least with striking a nerve."

Rainbow Dash's eyes darted across the hallway nervously. "Yes? No! I don't know, maybe but look Apple Jack. Something in my heart tells me that this town is where I need to be right now. Ever since we got here I just felt good for some reason but I don't know exactly why."

"There's something else isn't there sugar cube." Apple Jack couldn't believe it but Rainbow Dash was actually beginning to convince her. She just needed to know a little more before she could accept what Rainbow Dash was saying was true.

A heavy sigh escaped Rainbow Dash and she spoke in the calmest voice that Apple Jack had ever heard her speak in. "When I was little blank flank growing up in CloudsDale I used to dream of a far off place where a heroes welcome would be waiting for me. That the ponies there would cheer when they saw my face and some pony would say that that would be where I belonged. That's the main reason why I moved from CloudsDale to PonyVille in the first place, because it felt right to me. When we defeated Nightmare Moon all those years ago and were treated as heroes I felt that finally my dream had come true. But lately back in PonyVille I've started to feel the same way I felt back in CloudsDale. Call me crazy, stupid, reckless, or whatever but I just know that I have to do this."

Apple Jack had heard all that she needed and she quickly wiped away a tear from her eye. She wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash and gave her the warmest hug that she could. "If you need anything Rainbow just send a me a letter and ah'll be back here as fast as my hooves will carry me."

"Actually AJ, there are a couple of things that I'm going to need you to do for me when you get back to PonyVille. Some of them aren't really important while others are necessary."

What Wings Are For

Chapter 6: What Wings Are For

It had been five day since Apple Jack had gone back to PonyVille and Rainbow Dash had stayed behind in EverGlade. Top Notch had agreed to allow Rainbow Dash to stay with him at the dairy farm and was even going to pay her for the work she would put in. The afternoon after Apple Jack had left was spent by Rainbow Dash being taught how things worked around the farm. It wasn't the first time the Pegasus had worked on a farm since she would help out on the Apple farm every now and then. Those were apples and not cows however. Two days ago was Rainbow Dash's first attempt at actually milking a cow under Top Notch's supervision.

There were a few things that she never knew about milking cows. The first being that apparently a cows teats had to be cleaned with iodine before use and the second was that to reduce the friction on the teats the milker had to apply Vaseline or some other type of lubricant to their hooves. When Rainbow had asked Top Notch were he had gotten the Vaseline from he had said that the bottle he handed to her was from the nightstand next to his bed. Rainbow had blushed hard and quickly threw the bottle as far away from her as she could with Top Notch dying in fits of laughter. He assured her that he was just joking but his assurances didn't get the mental images out of her head. The first day of milking had gone smooth enough after that with only seven buckets of milk lost to accidents.

Now it was the sixth day and Rainbow Dash was taking her break on a cloud high above the farm. "Oh come whats taking it so long? I'm sure AJ would of been back at PonyVille by now taking care of what I asked her to do." Rainbow said to herself. "Lets see I told her exactly what to do right?" Rainbow closed her eyes and and started mentally checking off all the things that she had told Apple Jack. "Tell Fluttershy to look after Tank while I'm gone, go to the weather office in PonyVille and tell them that I'm taking an extended leave for a while, ask Pinkie Pie to send me some stuff from the bakery every now and then, and I'm sure I told her to go to my cloud home and send me some of my stuff along with my collection of...CRAP!"

"Oh please tell me that I didn't forget to tell her to include those in the package she's sending me. Damn it if I forgot then that means ugh...and the last chapter was such a cliffhanger as too! Freaking hate cliffhangers like that." She put her hooves to her face and rubbed her eyes, she had never realized just how hard and weird it was milking cows for a living. Sure they could talk and help her through it but that just made it all the more weird for her. Top Notch said that she'd get used to it and that she was a fast learner but she hand't believed it. She let out a yawn and could feel that she was tired but for some reason could not fall asleep again. "Not this again, every night for the past four days I've slept like a filly. Why can't I fall asleep right now?"

"Well there is that trick that Apple Jack taught me on the train but..." Rainbow had remembered the dream that had occurred last time she had done that. She gave it some consideration before deciding that she would actually choose the memory this time and not take the first one that came to mind. "Alright so lets see what we got to work with." She closed her eyes and began searching for a decent memory but her subconscious seemed to have other plans. A memory presented itself to her and she felt herself lose consciousness.

***

"Come on Twilight, don't tell me that you're afraid of this after all the things you've seen and done. I promise that nothings going to happen to you."

"You can't possibly promise that, you don't know what might happen!

"Do you know what might happen?"

"Well no but still! The wind might blow harder, or another Pegasus might crash into me, or who knows a dragon might come from out of no where and attack us!"

"You see there are plenty of valid things that could happen while I'm doing this."

"Wow, okay first off I already checked the weather for today and there's going to be nothing but gentle breezes all day. Second, this a private spot that only I know of so there's no chance of another Pegasus crashing into you. Third, how are you enjoying Pinkie Pie's fanfiction club? I remember her telling me the other day that they had just gotten their hooves on some fantasterific DragonXGriffon...

"Okay okay! Maybe I was considering the worst case scenarios, you know how I tend to be when it comes to these sort of things."

"So you ready to start or what?"

"Not really."

"Awesome, now I bet you're wondering why I brought you to this cliff face today."

"Well come on, you've got to be wondering right? Maybe even got some questions you want to ask me before we start?"

"I'm scared to ask."

"Look Twilight its simple, all you're going to do is stand at the edge of the cliff and then jump off. Easy right?"

"That's stupid!"

"No, that's how I learned how to fly. Except in my case I jumped off from my cloud home in CloudsDale and I didn't have a cloud preserver like you will."

"I see, so that's why you brought that tuft of cloud with us."

"Mhmm."

"Right then on second thought Rainbow Dash maybe I'll just have myself be pulled around on a chariot like Princess Celestia does. Thank you for your time Rainbow but I don't think I'll be needing these flying lessons any..."

"Nope, not an option for you Twilight. Look I didn't want to say anything before with me being the Element of Loyalty and all that but Princess Celestia has a fat ass. No disrespect to her of course."

"Rainbow are you trying to me me something?"

"What do you think wings are for?

"To fly, I mean isn't that sort of obvious?

"Right for a normal Pegasus, Griffon, or bird that is all that wings would be for but you are no normal Pegasus Twilight. You are a Princess, you're going to have learn not to depend on others as much as you used to. You need to learn to rely on yourself from now on to get what it is a Princess does done."

"The best place to start would be learning to trust your own wings Twilight. You see what I'm getting at?"

"Yes, yes I do. I'm still not sure abut this but you do a valid arguement as to why I must learn how to fly. So thank you Rainbow Dash, I think."

"Heck that's what friends are for right? Oh but could you maybe do me a tiny little favor?"

"Name it."

"Please don't mention to Princess Celestia that I said she has a fat ass.

"I Pinkie Promise."

"Sweet, now go on. Its time for you to take your first leap of faith Twilight."

Author's Note

Just a little note here but I am going to try and update this story every Saturday until completion.

A Home On The Range

Chapter 7: A Home On The Range

Rainbow Dash began to slowly wake from her dream, she could hear Top Notch calling from below her cloud bed. Slowly but surely her mind began to wander back from her dream. She let out one final yawn before allowing herself to fall through the cloud towards the ground opening her wings just a few feet above the scrub land and landing next to Top Notch. "I'm guessing my breaks over then?"

"Actually your break was over nine minutes ago but I decided to let it slide Rainbow." The Pegasus had been working on the dairy farm for almost a week now and during that time she had gotten to know Top Notch a little better. The stallion turned out to actually be a pretty chill and cool guy, that is if one could survive his jokes.

Rainbow Dash finished stretching out her legs and wings before she addressed him again. "Okay so who's getting milked now? Is it the cow that's white with brown spots or that other cow who's white with black spots?" Rainbow tilted her head to get a look at the the pens which held the living milk factories. When she had asked Top Notch just how many cows he owned he had decided to give her a little lecture instead of a direct answer.

Top Notch told Rainbow that technically he didn't actually own any of the cows on the farm. He explained that since cows were sentient and had the ability to speak they could not be considered property, the herd of cows had to be convinced to stay on the farm. Apparently it was Top Notch's great grandfather who had gone out into the wild scrub land, found a small herd of cows and made a deal with them. In exchange for their milk Top Notch's ancestor had promised the herd a safe stable place to live and a steady supply of food. "You know they have names right? I don't think its that hard to remember the names of a few dozen..."

"Yeah yeah, but I can't take their names seriously though. It's like when a cow names her new born she immediately gives it the first bad pun that pops into her head. Moving on though who's the next cow to get milked?"

"Gee Rainbow Dash, you sure seem eager to milk those cows? Is because you finding the task fun now maybe because you just like to rub Vaseline on your hooves?"

Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her face. "You know if you weren't AJ's cousin or injured I probably would of kicked your ass all the way to Fillydelphia by now."

Top Notch laughed the threat off. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't a compliment you ass..."

"Thank you for compliment!" Another thing that Rainbow Dash had noticed about the stallion in front of her was that at times he could as annoying as Pinkie when it came to deciding what color of streamers there should be at a party or Rarity when it came down to whatever the hell the prissy pony was having a diva episode about. "Actually Rainbow Dash the towns mail pony just stopped by and said that you got a package waiting for you at the office in town. He said that he couldn't bring the thing because it was pretty big. So I was thinking that maybe you would head into town to pick up your package and then head over to Whisky' place and grab us some dinner on your way back."

It had taken days but it seemed like Rainbow's long awaited package had finally arrived. With a quick nod of her head she took off into the sky and headed towards town but had to turn back half way there due to the fact that she had forgotten to ask where the towns mail office was. Top Notch gave her some directions and she took off again in a blur eager to see if her friends in PonyVille had sent her everything. The prospect of food also helped her to pick up the pace.

One thing Rainbow Dash had not expected when she volunteered to help at the farm were the work hours. The amount of work she could deal with but no pony had ever told her that everyday she would have to wake up at four in the morning. Having to work from such early hours was cutting into her nap schedule and it was also leaving her with more of an appetite. Rainbow Dash had finally realized how Apple Jack managed to eat so much but not gain any weight.

"Lets see here, a package for a miss Rainbow Dash. Rainbow...rainbow...rainbow...Rainbow." The pony running the front desk at the mail office was starting to irritate Rainbow Dash. He was an elderly stallion who had obviously seen better days. The stallion was going through his records for what seemed like the ninth time and Rainbow had just about had enough. She reached over the desk, grabbed the records book, flipped through it, and then handed it back to the stallion open to the page that had her name.

"Oh here it is, one package for a miss Rainbow Dash from a miss Apple Jack in PonyVille." The stallion disappeared into a room behind him and came out a few minutes later lugging with him a rather large package. "Here you go Ms. Rainbow Dash. Sorry it took so long for this package to arrive but apparently a grey mail mare Pegasus accidently flew your package to Las Pegasus." Rainbow Dash had a certain idea about who that certain grey mail Pegasus could be.

"Whatever, I'm kinda used to my mail getting lost anyway." She put her package in between her forelegs and then made her way out of the mail office.

Rainbow Dash had decided that it would be a better idea if she would drop her package off the farm first and then head back into town to pick up dinner. She entered the farm house through her bedroom window so that she wouldn't attract Top Notch's attention. She dropped the package on top of her bed before dashing out the window again. She felt that Top Notch was the kind of guy who didn't go through other ponies stuff so she felt confident leaving her package alone and unprotected.

ON BREAK FOR 20 MINUTES

Rainbow read the sign out loud as she walked up the steps towards the door of the restaurant. She could hear what sounded like music coming from inside so she assumed that either Whisky or Clover Leaf had to be there. Rainbow Dash tried to push the double doors open but they were locked.

"We'll reopen in another ten minutes so please come back then okay?" Clover shouted from inside the restaurant. Rainbow Dash knocked three times before calling to the Unicorn. "Clover its me Rainbow Dash! I was hoping that maybe you or Whisky might be able to able to cook me and Top Notch something to eat?" Rainbow could hear hoof steps coming towards the front and a few moments later the doors opened.

"Oh hey there honey, didn't know it you at first. Come on in and take a seat while I see what I can do for you." Rainbow did as she was told and she entered the restaurant and made her way to the bar. The jukebox was playing a song* that Rainbow Dash instantly recognized. She was surprised to hear Clover humming along to song. Rainbow's past experience with the Unicorn race had lead her to believe that all Unicorns either loved Classical prissy music or eardrum shattering dubstep.

"So what can I get for you and Top Notch honey?"

"Oh he said he'll have the usual as always and I'll have veggieburger again."

"Coming right up honey."

"Wait aren't you still on your break? I don't mind waiting for a bit and I'm sure Top Notch won't mind either." Rainbow Dash had no problems with her friends doing her favors out of the blue but strangers were a different story. "Nonsense Rainbow, were would my hospitality be if I forced friends of mine to wait."

friends

All this time Rainbow had thought Pinkie was the best at making friends but after only a week Clover Leaf was calling Rainbow Dash, a pony she had only met a few days ago, her friend. "Well if you insist Clover then don't let me stop you. I'll just wait at the bar while you do your thing."

"No need for that Rainbow, you can just head up stairs and talk to Whisky. I'm pretty sure he's still in his room unless he sprouted a pair of wings in the last twelve minutes and flew out his window."

"Whisky lives above the restaurant? That's um...well that's..."

"I believe the word your looking for Rainbow is dedication. Some say that stallion is married to his work. I always tell ponies that ain't true, though that may just be wish full thinking." There was a hint of sadness in Clover's tone but Rainbow Dash really didn't want to ask her about for fear of an awkward conversation. "Shoot look at me blabber on like some valley mare. The stairs to his room are through the kitchen honey, just make sure you knock first."

Rainbow Dash nodded her head and made her way through the door behind the counter into the kitchen. "Wow, and I thought Twilight was the queen of organizing but this...this makes her library look like a pre-schools book section." The entire kitchen was clean and sparkling. Rainbow could even see her reflection on the tile floors, but what amazed her most was that everything seemed to be in alphabetical order from the solid ingredients to the bags of flour. Rainbow found the stairs and made her way up them but stopped in front of the closed door. She knocked three times and waited, she could hear different music coming from inside the room. Finally the door opened and she was greeted by a warm smile from Whisky.

"Oh hey Rainbow Dash! Whats bring you to my Fortress of Solitude?" Whisky usually had a suave surrounding him but now it seemed like it was turned off.

"Your what? I thought this was supposed to be your room."

"No, you see I was making a reference to SuperStallion. You know, the comic book hero?

"Oh I'm not really into comics, my friend Pinkie Pie was always the one into that kind of nerdy stuff." Rainbow realized that she could of worded her previous sentence a little better.

"HEY, it's not nerdy! But actually I don't really read the comics either. I just saw the new movie that came out earlier this month while I was visiting Manehatten." Just like that the stallion seemed to turn his suave back on. "So yeah, this is were the magic happens." Or at least Whisky was trying to turn his suave back on. "What brings you up here any way Rainbow?"

Whisky motioned for Rainbow to take a seat on the edge of his beg while he took a seat on a small sofa that was opposite of his bed. "I actually came by looking to pick up some dinner for me and Top Notch. Clover's down there cooking it up for me and she suggested that I come up here and talk to you."

A smile as wide as a mile appeared on Whisky's face. "Say no more Rainbow Dash, I'll make sure that Clover throws in a bottle of wine for the two farm love birds."

Rainbow Dash never realized just how much of a blusher she was until she moved to EverGlade. "WHAT!? NO! It's nothing like that I mean yeah he's a cool dude and all but..." Whisky was laughing so hard that he was drowning out the music. "Easy there Rainbow, don't ponies where you're from have any sense of humor?" Rainbow Dash ignored the question and just buried her face in a pillow trying to get rid of her blush.

"Re' al' uys n is own jeks?" Rainbow' voice was muffled by the pillow.

"Um could you repeat that?" Whisky asked.

Rainbow Dash felt that the heat on her face was fading and took her face off of the pillow. "I said 'Are all guys in this town jerks?' "

"If by jerks you mean comically gifted then yea, I guess you could say we are. Actually just me and Top Notch probably are probably, Sheriff Silver Point doesn't kid around at all and I really can't speak for every other stallion in EverGlade." Whisky turned his attention to look out his window for a moment before turning back to look at the Pegasus. "So how are you adjusting to our beautiful little town of ours? Like it, hate it, Whats going through your mind girl?"

The truth was that Rainbow Dash didn't really have the slightest clue on what was going on in her mind. She had based her whole decision to stay in EverGlade on a feeling in her gut. "Living here is better than what I was doing in PonyVille which was doing just a bunch of crummy weather jobs. Here I'm you know...some place different I guess?"

"So you're going to tell me that milking cows for a living is better than controlling the weather?"

"Better? No. Different? Yeah, so at least I'm trying something new and meeting some interesting new ponies."

Rainbow Dash had always been told by her mother that if she gave a stallion an inch they'd take a mile but when it came down to Top Notch and Whisky the stallions seemed willing to take an entire country. "Me and Top Notch interesting? Well well well my mother always told me that I'd be popular with the all the mares." Just like that Whisky had just proven Rainbow's point.

"Say Rainbow Dash, since me and Top Notch answered your questions when you first arrived here would you mind answering just one question from me? You see I was just wondering if there was you know any other reason that you had for staying behind and helping Top Notch in his time of need? Ulteriour motives and all that stuff." This definitely came out of the blue. For the past couple of days Top Notch and the others had been quiet about asking Rainbow any personal questions about her life. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth but no words came out. She considered her options; on one hoof these ponies had been really kind to her and allowed her to stay on such short notice but on the other hoof they were still mostly strangers to her.

In the end she chose to dodge the question the same way that Top Notch had avoided her question when she first arrived. "I really don't want to talk about it...kind of a sore subject to me personally. Also you're all really cool and everything but you're all still...still..."

"Strangers to you? Hmm yeah I guess we are still a little unknown to you but that's something I hope will change when more time passes."

A voice came from the kitchen downstairs. "Hey Rainbow Honey! Your foods packaged and good to go!"

Whisky answered for Rainbow Dash. "She'll be right down Clover! It would sure be waste to let such good food go cold." He turned his attention back to her. "We'll you best get going Rainbow, I hate to get in between two love birds." Whisky let out another laugh and Rainbow just smiled this time and shook her head before making her way downstairs.

Clover was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps with a brown paper bag held in her mouth. Rainbow handed her the bits that Top Notch had given her to pay for the food, took the bag in her own mouth, and with a quick nod and the best smile she could could come up with made her way out of the restaurant into the blue sky above the scrub lands back towards the dairy farm.

Making her way into the farm house through the front door this time Rainbow Dash set the bag on the kitchen table and then quickly made her way up the stairs to her room to check on her package. She opened the bedroom door and saw that Top Notch was sitting on the bed with the package in his hooves. "What the hay are you doing with my package!?"

With the look Rainbow Dash was giving the stallion she would of expected to him begin cowering and begging for her forgiveness. Top Notch however just continued to sit there acting like he had done nothing wrong whatsoever. "Oh nothing much just taking a look at what came in the mail..."

"For me!" Rainbow Dash started

"For you." Top Notch finished. "This thing feels heavy, what did you have my cousin send you?" Top Notch shook the package a little which caused Rainbow Dash to rush to the bed and forcefully remove the package from his grip. "I swear to Celestia if you so much as opened it!"

Top Notch put both his forelegs into the air before getting off the bed and making his way towards the door. "Easy there girl, my mother raised me right. I don't mess with what ain't mine and I expect the same of others too. I reckon the foods on the table?" Rainbow Dash continued to stare daggers at the stallion but nodded her head while doing do. "Sweet, I know for a fact that Whisky would hate for his food to go cold."

"Actually Clover Leaf cooked it."

"Same deal but different pony. Now come on, aren't you going to join me?" Rainbow Dash looked at Top Notch and then at the package in her hooves. "What? You think that package is just going to sprout legs and wander off into the scrub by itself? I promise your package will still be there." Top Notch was taunting Rainbow Dash, that much she knew from years of being on both ends of the action. "No! But after I saw you with your hooves on it..." Rainbow set the package back down on the bed and made her way to the door and made her way downstairs to the kitchen along side Top Notch who wore a very victorious smile on his face.

Both ponies ate their meals in silence at the kitchen table. Top Notch was digging into his mushroom steak while Rainbow Dash took bites out of her burger taking occasional glances at her boss across the table. "So after I recover from my injury do you plan on continuing to work for me Rainbow Dash or are you going to go back home after?" Another question from out of the blue and again it was one that Rainbow Dash considered personal. She and Apple Jack were the only ones who knew the whole reason why Rainbow Dash was staying in EverGlade and she planned on keeping it that way. "I don't know, you seem like a pretty cool boss and the pay is good so I might just stick around."

"You know I'm grateful that you decided to help me out. I may put on the tough guy act but to be honest I didn't know how I was going to run the farm with my injuries. I also sure do enjoy your company, usually its just me working the farm by myself ever since my folks passed away." This was something that the Pegasus had not expected to come the stallion sitting across the table from her. They barely knew each other and here the guy was telling her that his parents were dead albeit without any details.

Feeling a little more than uncomfortable Rainbow pushed her food away from her. "Why are you telling me this Top Notch?"

"Why am I telling you what?" The stallion responded with a nonchalant voice. With the look on his face it would seem as if he would of just told her the tomorrows weather forecast.

"You just told me that your parents are dead and usually that's something personal that ponies keep to themselves unless the know the other pony better. You just blurted it out like it was nothing, like you didn't care that your parents are...you know."

"That they're dead? I don't want you to get the impression that I don't care that their gone, truth is I miss them everyday. You're asking me why I'm telling such a personal thing about myself even though we don't know each other very well? It's actually quite simply really, I know that there's something more to you staying with me here in EverGlade. I'm not as thick as you probably think I am!"

Top Notch abruptly stood up from his side of the table, threw his trash away, and then quickly made his way up the stairs. It took a moment for Rainbow to realize what had just occurred. "Buck how come this crap only happens to me?" She finished her burger and made her way upstairs hoping to put this hopefully minor conflict behind her.

Rainbow Dash made her way to Top Notch's room and saw that the door was closed. She knocked once on the door and waited for an answer. "Come in." Rainbow Dash was expecting him not to answer her. The way she had played this out in her mind was that she was probably going to have to barge her way into the room and force him to listen to her. She was thankful that it didn't resort to that. Making her way into the room she saw Top Notch sitting on his bed with a picture frame in his hooves.

Before Rainbow could say anything Top Notch spoke first putting the picture frame face down on the bed. "I'm not angry or upset with you with Rainbow Dash, if anything I'm more upset with myself."

Upset with himself?

"Let me explain something about myself. I absolutely hate seeing other ponies miserable, especially those in my company. When I first saw you at the train station with my cousin Apple Jack I could feel that something was off about you.
The look in your eyes that day, they were the look of a tortured soul."

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing because it seemed impossible. She wanted to tell him something to convince him that it wasn't true but he just kept talking. "I know that look because it was the same look I had years ago. I got over that part of my life and I made a vow then and there that no pony around me would suffer that same way that I did."

"But I still don't get it, why are you telling me all of this? What are you trying to do?" A flurry of feelings was beating up Rainbow along with a crackle of conflicting thoughts in her head.

"I'm trying to get you to feel comfortable. Rainbow Dash I don't know whats troubling you but as I would appreciate it if you would call this humble farm house of mine your home as well and that you stay for as long as you need. You don't have to tell me whats wrong but just allow me to offer you a safe relaxing place where maybe you can help yourself. How about it? Will you allow me to do that much for you at least?"

The prismatic Pegasus didn't know what to say so she just said the first thing that came to her mind. "Alright, sounds good I guess. Thank you..."

"Say no more Rainbow Dash, I'm just doing what I can to help my fellow Pony kind. Now go on, I believe you have a package waiting for you." Not another word was said and Rainbow Dash slowly backed out of the room and closed the door behind her making her way to her own bedroom. Sure enough the package was still on her bed just like Top Notch had promised.

Author's Note

*Apparently the song link is broken. The song is "Elevation" by U2

Interlude: Both Sides of The Law

Chapter 8: Both Sides of The Law

He never wanted the job but somepony had to do it. There were few before him that had the nerve and the bravery to take up the badge and protect the town. Those who actually manged to get the courage to do so usually ended up living long lives. They were mostly dull lives due to the tranquility of EverGlade but that usually ended up being a blessing in disguise.

Yet somehow the universe saw it fit to drop a backlog of trouble mixed with disasters on top of Sheriff Silver Points head when it was finally his time to make sure the law was upheld in the town. He had taken up the mantle of sheriff willing to risk his life to protect the town but knew very well that it probably wouldn't come to that.

"Everyday its the same old dang thing. I go on patrols North of the town, then go on patrols West of the town, and finally finish off of the day by patrolling the East. I really need to hire a deputy or somepony like that to lesson the load on these old wings of mine." The Sheriff spoke to himself while walking down the towns main boulevard coming back from his last patrol of the day. "Who though? I'm the only Pegasus, scratch that, the only pony I can actually trust in this town to get the job done. Then again I guess I could always trust Top Notch but last I heard that boy got himself injured. Now the whole town is calling him a hero for doing what? Getting himself hurt and risking the lives of two other ponies."

The sheriff saw Whisky's restaurant in the distance and picked up the pace. "Honestly, has the term hero lost its meaning over the years? One becomes a hero by accomplishing something, not by failing at trying to save the town." He stopped in his tracks when he saw an annoying familiar figure fly out from the restaurant. "So that mare is still in town huh? Heard rumors that she stayed behind but I thought she'd have more common sense than to cross paths with me."

Before he entered the restaurant the Sheriff could of sworn that he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He double checked his surroundings but came to the conclusion that his tired eyes were playing tricks on him .Sheriff Silver Point entered the restaurant and made his way to the corner where he usually sat. He let out a whistle and a minute later Clover Leaf came over to his table. "Hey their Sheriff what can I get for you shug? Seems like you've had a hard days work."

"If by hard work you mean making sure tumble weed A doesn't smash into tumble weed B in the scrub land then yea, I should just hang up the old vest and badge right now." This enticed a giggle from his server. "However it seems that when ever I'm out of town some form of disaster has to happen. Any way I'm starved, I'll have the eggplant salad wrap with a glass of water."

Clover thought it was awfully weird that the Sheriff was ordering water, usually the old Pegasus order Ale or Gin with his food. If anything the Sheriff actually rarely drank water, he seemed to live with a fear that the towns water supply could be easily poisoned. "Something bothering you Sheriff, whole town knows you've pretty much sworn off water." Sheriff Silver Point closed his menu and handed it to Clover. "Nothing to worry your pretty little horn off about little lady, just getting old. Speaking of getting old hows your old man doing?"

"My old man's doing just fine Sheriff. He's just got a lot on his mind right now since every other day Thatcher stops by the office pressuring my dad to sell the town. You know my father though, he'll hold out till the end." Clover took the menu in her magic and made her way back to the kitchen.

An annoyed grunt escaped his mouth .Sheriff Silver Point got up from his table and made his way to the jukebox and picked a song that he had grown up listening to. Thatcher was starting to become a real pain in the Sheriff's side. It was bad enough that the mining company he owned wanted to expand their business and start mining in the center of town but now it seemed the Earth Pony was actually taking matters into his own hooves. Sheriff Silver point had begun to notice how every time some disaster struck the town it was always while he was out on patrol. It all pointed to Thatcher but he could never get any evidence to pin the crime on the dang pest. One annoying Earth Pony was bad enough but now it seemed like he would have to deal with a new thorn in his side in the form the new Pegasus in town.

When Clover came back with his food the Sheriff took the opportunity to ask a few questions regarding the towns newest resident. "Say Clover what do do make of that new Pegasus mare. You know, the one with the disrespectful tone and attitude."

"You talking about Rainbow Dash Sheriff? I don't know the gal seems like an awfully sweet girl to me. She's staying behind to help out Top's on the farm. Heck she was just in here a couple minutes ago to grab dinner for her and Top's. I don't know about you Sheriff but I've never met a pony that put her life on pause to help out a stranger."

Sheriff Silver Point knew that Clover was a sweet and trusting girl but she was also naive when it came to certain facts of life. More often than not it was Silver Point who had to educate the poor girl since her father was usually busy. "Clover Leaf do you actually truly believe that Pegasus stayed behind just to help a stranger she never met?"

Clover ran a hoof through her mane while she thought the question over. "Well, Whisky told me that she was also looking for a change of scenery. So I guess it would benefit her to stay behind as well?" A pony looking for a change of scenery in a town that was pretty much off the map didn't sit well with the Sheriff. "The way I see it Clover that Rainbow Dash that you, Whisky, and Top Notch seemed to have gotten close to is hiding something. Something about that mare just doesn't sit well with these old bones of mine. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious regarding her. One last piece of advice as well, keep your interactions with her to a minimal if you can."

Clover Leaf took a look and saw that the Sheriff was being dead serious. She frowned slightly before speaking in a more assertive tone. "I appreciate your concern Sheriff but I'm a full grown mare and I'll make my own decisions if you don't mind." With that being said she walked away and went behind the bar. Before she began busing the counter top she looked back at the Sheriff and spoke. "Word of advice to you Sheriff Silver Point, you got to stop staring at tumble weeds all day. You're starting to get a bit paranoid."

The Sheriff could do nothing but sigh and start eating the meal in front of him. He thought to himself that it wouldn't be his fault when his predictions came true regarding Rainbow Dash. For now though he had to focus on the greater of two evils. He pondered how we he was gong to deal with Thatcher.

Along the shadows provided by the alley Thatcher watched as Sheriff Silver Point took his leave from Whisky's restaurant. "About time the old coot finally left geez, the food isn't even that good." As soon as Thatcher confirmed that it was safe to step out of the shadows he made his way down the main boulevard towards the water tower. He needed to check up on a few things before he had to make his report on the status of the current situation.

He walked by the closed building which was the The Honey Comb and shook his head in disappointment. "A real pity that this place closed down. Now this was real food, not the garbage they serve in the other place. All the more reason why this town needs to disappear off the map. No point in having a bunch of ponies that prefer low grade greasy food over top quality healthy meals."

Continuing on he walked slowly past the water tower and watched as local ponies were making repairs to the structure. He frowned when he noticed that they were reinforcing the legs with an anti termite coating of paint. "No point in trying that again. Gonna have to come up with something new, damn it if only that idiot Top Notch had failed then the town would of been in my bosses hooves by now."

Having seen enough to finish his report he decided that it was time he made his way back to his office at the edge of the town. He took the alleys in between the buildings to avoid being seen by a certain old Pegasus. The days that followed the water tower incident were filled with the Sheriff snooping around Thatcher's office asking the same questions again and again. Out of all the ponies in the town it was only Sheriff Silver Point and Whisky that seemed to suspect him. On one hoof he was glad that it was just those two but on the other hoof he was annoyed with himself for being suspected in the first place.

Thatcher stepped out from the alley when he was just across the street from his office. He walked up to the door which was made of metal and knocked five times. A small window slid open on top of the door and a pair of eyes appeared. "Whats the password?"

"It's me you idiot." Thatcher responded and a second later and the door opened. A large burly Earth Pony stood in the door way with a nervous look on his face. "Oh sorry chief, I got to ask to make sure. You understand don't ya?" Thatcher motioned for his lackey to move out of the door way allowing him passage into the building. "Yes I'm well aware of the protocol Specter but apparently you are not. Your only supposed to ask if they knock four times, wait three seconds, and then knock again. For anything else you just ask them to state their business and then tell them to buzz off."

The large Earth Pony quickly closed the door behind his chief and locked it securely again. "Right sorry chief, I promise it won't happen again." Thatcher made his way to his office, opened the door, but before stepping inside and closing the door he called out to his lackey once more. "Specter make sure I'm not disturbed for the rest of the night. I'm going to have a little chat with the boss now. Finish your shift and then you can head down stairs for the night." Specter nodded graciously and with that Thatcher closed the door behind him and made his way to his desk.

He sat on his chair and looked at himself in the small mirror on top of the desk making sure he looked presentable. His suit grey coat was well groomed and his dark red mane was tidy and in order. When he saw that he looked presentable he looked at the clock and waited for the hour hand to strike the correct hour. To any pony just looking about the room the mirror on his desk would seem just that, a plain old mirror. In reality what Thatcher had in his possession was a very rare and elusive item, a magic two way mirror.

When the clock struck the hour mark the mirror began to glow slightly until its reflective nature was gone and instead a shadowy figure appeared inside.

"Thatcher, its been almost two weeks since we last spoke. At the end of our last conversation you said that you had a plan that would secure me the town. I believe you were going to sabotage the water tower?"

"Yes boss, that was the plan and I did rig up tower with the Scrub Lord nests." Now came the hard part, explaining to his boss that once again he had failed in securing the town. "Well you see all was going to plan boss but I sort of ran into some complications along the way." Thatcher now waited for what was about to come.

"So the town is still not in my possession then? Have you failed me again?"

Quick to defend his actions Thatcher brought he mirror closer to him. "Its not my fault boss! I swear I planned everything out perfectly this time! I calculated it so that the nests would hatch while the Sheriff was out of town! I would of succeeded too if the towns little hero Top Notch hadn't removed most of the nests before they hatched."

"All I hear are excuses with no results Thatcher. You know how I hate excuses."

"What else can I say boss? Everything was going exactly as I predicted it would go. Heck even Top Notch would of failed if it weren't for that Pegasus mare jumping..."

"Pegasus mare, what Pegasus mare?"

"I don't know, I think her name was Rainbow Maine or something like that. It doesn't matter though she isn't important..." Thatcher could tell he had said something wrong but it was too late to fix what was already done.

"Fool, if she prevented me from gaining control of the town then she is of some importance. I want you to find out what you can about her and then report back to me, understand?"

"Yes Boss, I'll do that for you." Thatcher mentally reprimanded himself for not taking the situation with the new Pegasus more seriously. He made a note to keep an eye on the mare more carefully. "Now boss there is the situation of the two bothersome stallions that I told you about before. Sheriff Silver Point and the owner of the towns sole restaurant owner Whisky have grown increasingly suspicious of me. Perhaps it would be best if we...took them out of the equation?"

"No, for now all they have are suspicions and nothing more. The blame is yours alone for gaining suspicion in the first place. We'll let them be for now and see what develops."

Thatcher let out a sigh, honestly he would of preferred if he could just eliminate the two. If anything he would be content with just taking out Whisky. Thar stallion had a look of in his eyes that Thatcher knew all to way and hated, the look of defiance. "Very well boss I'll let them be for now. Moving on though I have a new plan in the works that will surely..."

"I have no need for your plans any more Thatcher. I've grown tired of your constant failure and have come up with my own method. Now listen closely for here is what you are going to do."

Author's Note

Only two updates this week due to mental block and 100+ degree weather =/

Day Off

Chapter 9: Day Off

Closing the door firmly behind her Rainbow Dash turned her attention to the package that was on her bed. With a quick hop she landed on the covers and brought the parcel to face. Examining it quickly she became content with the fact that Top Notch had not opened it. She undid the string that sealed the package and with out a moments hesitation dumped out its contents on top of the bed. To her delight and relief she saw that Apple Jack had sent her collection of Daring Do books. "Alright! Now I can finally find out if Daring escaped the clutches of Warlord Silver Back!" The Pegasus quickly began to take the books one by one and began arranging them in a stack on the side of the bed within hoof reach of the spot on the bed that she favored.

She next turned her attention to a small plastic container with a good idea of what was in side it. Bringing the container to her face she took a quick whiff of it and immediately began to smile. "Sweet..." She popped the lid of the container and saw an assortment of sweets and treats packed inside. "Knew I could count on Pinkie Pie to send me some stuff from Sugar Cube Corner. Huh, whats this thing?" At the bottom of the container was piece of paper stained with frosting and covered in sprinkles. She took it out and seeing that it had writing on it began to read it in her mind.

Dashie,

Wanted to send you a super duper awesome Good Luck and Have Fun cake but the girls told me that there wasn't enough room in the package for one. I Pinkie Promise to send one in the future along with more sweets from Sugar Cube! Trying to get the Cakes to spring for some vacation time so I can come visit you soon! We all already miss you and hope you'll come back soon. Well tah tah for now, got to get back to watching to the twins. Have a super terrific time with Apple Jack's cousin anddon't forget to write this time.

-Love Pinkie Pie
P.S. Never thought you were the type of mare to get wooed over by a Stallion heh heh!

Rainbow couldn't help but laugh at the letter and then rolled her eyes. "Same old Pinkie Pie. Wait a minute, what did Apple Jack tell the girls?" Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack had agreed that for the time being only they would be the ones who knew the real reason why she was staying in EverGlade. Apple Jack said that she didn't like lying to her friends but that she'd come up with some excuse to tell the girls that technically wouldn't be a lie. "So what excuse wouldn't be a lie then?" She raked her mind thinking and came to an annoyed conclusion. She quickly read over Pinkie's letter again and began blushing. "Seriously?" She grabbed her pillow and buried her face in it. "Not you too AJ!Why?"

She put the pillow back after she regained her composure and looked at the last two items on the bed. Both of them were picture frames. She picked up the smaller one and smiled when she looked at it. It was a picture of her with Tank perched on top of her head. "This was taken last Spring at PonyVilles Twelfth Annual Pet Games. I remember the look on Rarity's face when Tank came in first place during the Obedience Competitio!. Not my fault her snooty cat threw a hissy fit and scratched the judges face." A grin appeared on her face. "Heh no pony ever suspects the tortoise!" She put the picture on the night stand next to her bed and moved on the next picture frame.

Picking up the frame she frowned a bit before finally forcing herself to smile at the picture. It was a picture of Rainbow at the Young Flyers Competition surrounded by all her friends. The picture has been folded back in one corner to hide a certain lavender unicorn. "Best day of my life. I save one of my friends and performed a Sonic Rainboom. They were all so happy for me back then and I thought I was luckiest pony in the world to have such awesome friends. Thought we would all be friends forever...guess I was wrong." She moved to put the frame on the nightstand next to the picture of her and Tank but stopped. She reasoned that she still had four other friends who's smiling faces would be staring at her and put the picture frame down on the nightstand.

Rainbow Dash let out a long tired yawn and rubbed her eyes. Before falling asleep she made her way over to the window and looked up at the night sky. She gazed at the moon for a bit before turning her attention to the stars. To her they seemed to sparkle without a care in the world high above the troubles that the rest of the world face. "Must be nice to not be able to care about anything."

Making her way back to her bed she slid the package off the mattress and taking the plastic container in her mouth she made her way downstairs placing her sugary delights inside of the fridge. Back in her room she closed the door behind and slowly laid herself out on the bed. Taking one last glance at the the pictures on the night stand she blew out the lamp before allowing herself to fall asleep with the knowledge that at least she was still loved by her friends back home.

Rainbow's body had gotten used after a week of working on a farm that she began to wake up at around the right time every morning. This morning however was different, usually the first thing that Rainbow would see was the morning darkness outside her window. This time though she saw rays of light coming through her window. "Crap I overslept, here's hoping that Top Notch won't be too mad me." Slowly she began to rise out of bed and made her way downstairs towards where she thought Top Notch would be at this hour, the kitchen.

To Rainbow's surprise Top Notch was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs with a smile on his face. "Morning Rainbow! Did you sleep well?"

"Uh yeah I guess. Wait you're not angry that I slept in?"

"Nope, why would I be upset with you for sleeping in on a day off?"

"I mean after I accidently poured Iodine into ten gallons of milk yesterday morning I thought that...day off? What?" Rainbow Dash found herself confused. Top Notch had told her that she would get days off every now and then but he would tell her a few days in advance. "You heard me right Rainbow, oh but its not just you who's taking a day off. I decided that with the hard work that I've put in I've also earned a day off myself."

Now Rainbow Dash was certain that Top Notch was joking. Ever since he had gotten injured all he had done was supervise Rainbow around the farm and give her instructions. "Right, because its real tough work to talk non-stop and laugh at your own jokes all day." Ignoring the remark Top Notch made his way to the kitchen with Rainbow Dash lagging behind him.

The scene in the kitchen might as well of been a murder scene to Rainbow, on the kitchen table were the remains and crumbs of several sweets that Pinkie had sent her. The sight alone was almost enough to bring a tear to Rainbow's eye, almost. Top Notch casually walked up to Rainbow Dash munching on a blueberry muffin.

"He y te ong ace? U ould tri som o tese, tey retty ood!" Bits and crumbs flew from the stallion's mouth as he spoke to the still shocked Rainbow Dash. It was only after a soggy muffin bit hit her in between the eyes that Rainbow Dash finally snapped back into reality. "Okay two things. One, wow that's gross. Didn't your parents teach you not to talk with your mouth full? Two, why are you eating my food!?"

Complying with the wishes of Rainbow Dash the stallion finished his muffin before addressing her again. "Oh that was your food? Whoops, only meant to eat one cupcake but then one thing lead to another and then another, and another until I found myself face first in a strawberry short cake. But hey its not like I ate all the sweets myself, there still a good amount of goodies in the fridge. I was just about to brew up some coffee, I'd recommend you eat up since we got a long day ahead of us."

"Wait I thought you said we had a day off today?"

"You heard correct, today is our day off."

"So then whats with the long day comment?"

"That's because I'm taking you out for a little stroll through the scrub land. Did you think I forgot about that list of activities I had planned for you and my cousin Apple Jack?" Rainbow Dash had honestly forgotten that Top Notch had made plans for her and Apple Jack. A quick gaze over Top Notch's upper body reminded her of the reason why he had to cancel his plans. Shaking her head a bit to clear her thoughts Rainbow looked Top Notch in the eye again. "Okay so where are we going?"

Following his iconic laugh Top Notch had told Rainbow Dash that it would be a surprise. To silence any further questions from the pegasus he quickly shoved a muffin into her mouth and was met with a protest. Rainbow quivkly spat out the muffin. "Ew! Don't shove your damn hoof in my mouth! Surprised that I'm not tasting Vaseline right now."

"Oh come on, I thought I told you I was only kidding when I said that!"

"Sure you were Top Notch...sure you were. I know that stallions get a bit embarrassed when it comes to this sort of thing." When Top Notch failed to come up with a counter to the remark Rainbow Dash happily walked towards the kitchen counter and began to make the coffee. She was content with herself for finally shutting Top Notch up.

The rest of breakfast passed rather smoothly and after they were finished both ponies left the farm and made their ways towards town. Top Notch told Rainbow Dash he wanted to pick up some lunch and a few drinks from Whisky before they headed out into the scrub land. The pegasus had complained saying that it would be faster if she just flew into town alone to pick up the food like she always did but Top Notch had insisted that he head into town too.

Inside the restaurant Top Notch placed the food that Whisky handed him into his saddle bag and made his way outside where Rainbow Dash was waiting. Before he made it five feet from the counter however he heard Whisky call him back from behind. "Hey where you going in such a hurry? Doc said to take it easy while you recover."

"Well Whisky old buddy of mine I'm actually on my way with Rainbow Dash into the scrub land. I'm going to show her my-"

"Whoa! Little straight forward don't you think Top Notch? At least take the girl out on..."

"-favorite spot in EverGlade. Wait, what did you think I meant?"

Whisky laughed a little but stopped when he realized that Top Notch was being serious. "Oh, um well I thought you meant that you were going to um...you took Seventh Grade Health right?"

Top Notch rolled his eyes at what Whisky was implying. "Wow, and ponies say that I've got a dirty mind."

"Hey you can't blame a guy for assuming given whats been going on lately."

"What do you mean assuming? Assume what?" Top Notch asked.

"I mean come on Top Notch! Its pretty obvious isn't it? Ever since Rainbow Dash started helping you at the farm the whole town hasn't seen you. We all just assumed that you um...e'hem... found the gold at the end of the rainbow?"

"And ponies say I have a dirty mind."

"Hey, I'm just saying what we're all thinking man. The whole town pretty thinks the same thing."

"Well you can go ahead and tell the whole town that it ain't like that. I'm just trying to help the girl relax and get rid of her problems, that's it."

Whisky let out a small laugh before going back to wiping down the bar counter. "Whatever you say old buddy of mine...whatever you say."

"Don't take this the wrong way Whisky but how about you worry about your own interests?" With that Top Notch made his way towards the front door again and heard Whiskey say one more thing.

"Oh don't worry Top Notch. I'm definitely keeping a close eye on my own interests."

Rainbow Dash waited for Top Notch to come out of the restaurant. "Ugh whats taking the guy so damn long? This is so boring!" The stallion told Rainbow that he didn't need her to escort her everywhere and had insisted that he could order the food by himself. "Well at least the guy ain't helpless but still...I don't think that he'd kill himself by hurrying a little."

She heard Whisky laugh from inside the restaurant. At first she passed it off as nothing but after a minute of no show from Top Notch she began to suspect something was up. Curiosity finally got the best of her. "Buck it, I'm going in there!"

Before she got the chance to march into the restaurant Top Notch appeared through the doors. "Sorry that took so long, Whisky and I were having a little...hey are you okay? You look a little worked up."

"Oh uh...its nothing. I was just just going to go in and see what you two were talking about."

Top Notch started darting his eyes back and forth as worry stated seeping into his mind. "Why? Did you hear what me and Whisky were talking about?"

"No but I heard him laughing so that's reason enough to do a little investigating."

A few moments passed as Top Notch thought of an adequate excuse to avoid an awkward situation and the potential rage from the mare that would follow. "It was nothing really, Whisky just told one of his jokes and laughed at it. I didn't because it was bit too um perverted...YEAH! perverted for me."

"Really, too perverted for you? Nah I don't believe it. What were you really talking about in there?" It like to Top Notch that Rainbow was no looking at him but rather through him as if trying to see inside the restaurant. Top Notch swallowed hard before attempting to change the subject. "Hey come on now, don't you trust me? It was just a little joke, nothing more and nothing less." He glanced down at his right foreleg as if looking for something. "Oh will you look at the time? We got to get going if we're going to make it there!"

Rainbow Dash looked at his foreleg and then shot him a a confused look. "You're not wearing a watch."

"I can tell what time it is by looking at the sun!"

"Really? Me too! I was a weather pegasus back home and had to take a three day course on this stuff. Weird cause they never taught me how to tell the time when the sun is blocked from view by a couple of buildings and a water tower."

Letting out a long sigh Top Notch decided that there was only one option left. "Look would it be alright if I told you this later?"

"Later huh? Pinkie Promise?"

"What Promise?" Top Notch asked with a confused look on his face.

Rainbow Dash blushed slightly when she realized who she was talking to. "Oh um never mind but do you promise?" Top Notch held out one of his front hooves and signaled for the Peagsus to shake it. "I promise that I'll tell you later." Rainbow shook his hoof and the pair made their way out of town and into the scrub land.

Top Notch wasn't kidding when he said that they had a long day ahead of them. Rainbow Dash had thought that he'd meant 'long' as in full of stuff do. The harsh reality of it though was that he had meant 'long' as in four hours of walking/flying.

Most of the trip had been filled with conversation between the two ponies about their jobs, favorite foods, and favorite hoof ball teams. At one point the two had gotten into a heated argument when the debate came up over which team was better. The two of the them agreed to disagree before changing the subject to something less debatable.

Feeling her wings tiring from continued flight Rainbow Dash had decided to walk for the past twenty minutes alongside Top Notch. "So you going to tell me where we're going now?"

"Nope, I intend it to be a surprise. But I will say that it is one of my favorite spots in EverGlade. Its pretty neat too!"

Her twentieth attempt had once again come up short. The difference this time being that the answer was a little less vague. The two walked along side each other for a couple dozen more minutes before Top Notch seeing that his destination being just up ahead stopped in his tracks and turned to face Rainbow Dash with a smile on his face. "We're here!"

Tilting her head to look around the stallion standing in front of her Rainbow Dash saw nothing but more scrub land and a few large rocks ahead of her. "That would be where exactly?"

Top Notch pointed towards the rocks with one of his front hooves. "One of my favorite places."

"One of your favorite places is a bunch of rocks?"

"How about you trot over there and take a look at just whats behind those rocks. You'll probably be in for a surprise."

With a little nudging Rainbow Dash made her way to the rocks with Top Notch following behind her. Once at the base of the rocks she opened her wings and leapt onto one of them and went wide eyed when she saw what was on the other side of the rocks.

Hidden below the scrub land was a large chasm with a river flowing through it in such a way that gave it the impression of "Welcome to Horse Shoe Bend Rainbow Dash! A real sight to behold ain't it?"

"Gee I wonder why they called it that."

"Well as you can see the river goes around this bend making it look like oh you were being sarcastic weren't you?" Rainbow Dash answered by simply lifting her eye brows.

Letting out a small chuckle he motioned for Rainbow Dash to come closer. "Come on, I know a spot with some shade where we can eat our lunch." A few more minutes of walking and Top Notch lead Rainbow Dash to shade under some rocks that still had an impressive view of the river below. When both had finished their lunch Top Notch had Rainbow follow him down a path that lead to the river below.

"So how do you know about this place?" Rainbow asked. "it would be pretty tough to spot this place unless you were a pegasus in the air."

"My mother used to always bring me here on the weekends when I was a colt. At first I wouldn't want to come here because I thought it was boring but lets just say that my mother had a way of convincing ponies otherwise." Top Notch walked up to the waterline and dipped his front two hooves in the river. "Oh boy now that hits the spot. Shoot if I wasn't banged up I probably dive right in and start swimming. Don't mind me though, you go right ahead and..."

A loud splash came from in front of the stallion followed by the spray of water.

"...dive right in because it might help you relax. Hmm"

Rainbow Dash poked her head out of the water after a moment and moved her mane out of her eyes. "You know what? You were right, this does hit the spot." She swam for a little bit before heading back to the shore line until the water was shallow enough to stand. She stood up shook her body vigorously sending water every where. Top Notch turned to look away in order to avoid staring at her. "What are you part dog?"

"Hmm? You got a problem with a wet maned mares?" Rainbow Dash leapt into the sky and once she was high enough dove down at an extreme speed opening her wings only a few feet off the ground with her mane and coat now completely dry. Casually walking right next to Top Notch she bopped him on the head. "You can look now. Geez never would of took you for a GentleColt. Most stallions back home probably would of paid money for the show I just put on."

Rubbing his forehead Top Notch glanced over at Rainbow Dash and was impressed that the mare had actually dried herself off completely. He saw that she was relaxed and decided that it was now or never to move on to the next stage. "So do you know why I brought you here Rainbow Dash?"

"I dunno, to hang out?"

"Yea sort of. Remember that talk we had last night about you staying here and all that."

Rainbow Dash's ears splayed back and she began nervously rubbing the back of her head with her hoof. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Well I brought you here to try and get you to relax a bit and what better way to wash your troubles away than with a dip in a beautiful river."

Feeling a little betrayed to his true motives Rainbow Dash went on the defensive. "So let me get this straight. You brought me here to get me to lower my guard and open up to you."

"No, I brought you here to relax. Like I said last night I ain't going to force you to open up to me. I'm not going to lie though it would be pretty nice if you did."

Rainbow Dash thought hard about what to say next. She began to feel a pang of guilt since Top Notch in his current state forced his injured body this far away from town with out any help. She considered telling him the whole story but couldn't shake the feeling that he was still hiding something from her.

She settled on a solution after a few more moments of thinking. "Look I'm trusting you not to tell anypony about this alright. One of the reasons why I decided to stay was because I'm having some trouble with a certain pony back home alright?"

"Greatly appreciate you trusting me Rainbow Dash, really I do. I know that ain't the whole story but we've all got to start some where right?" Top Notch gave her a warm smile and she found herself just smiling back. Rainbow Dash felt relieved in away telling Top Notch.

The stallion put a hoof over his eyes and looked up into the sky. "My expert sun reading tells me that we better get going back to the farm. Can't forget that we both have work tomorrow." Top Notch started making his way back up the slope and when he wasn't looking Rainbow Dash let out a small laugh.

"Heh heh, guess this guy is actually turning out to be pretty cool."

[So while I was browsing through DrawFriends #856 over at Equestria Daily I came across this picture and decided to add it here.]

Author's Note

"He y te ong ace? U ould tri som o tese, tey retty ood!" = "Hey why the long face? You should try some of these, they're pretty good!"

Obviously DnB

Chapter 10: Obviously DnB

Laying on top of the bed exhausted from a long days work with the only thing on her mind being rest was Rainbow Dash. True to Top Notch's word she was starting to get used to the daily milking though she still felt more than a little creeped out when the cows wanted to talk while she was working on them. The day had gotten difficult when one of the cows had complained that Rainbow Dash was pulling to hard o her teats. "Not my fault that the old milk bag is sensitive. Besides that cow complains about everything."

Three days had passed since Top Notch had shown her Horse Show Bend. For some reason that Rainbow could not quite put her hoof on she had felt better that night after swimming in the river and slept like she had been deprived of her slumber for years. "Wonder if that water is magic or something. Maybe it cleans a ponies mind or does something to make them feel better." Rainbow Dash had thought about going back there on her own later on. She remembered where the river was and it would definitely be easier to spot from the air. She sighed when she had realized that there was a problem with her plan though. The river was hours away by hoof and Rainbow Dash's breaks were only thirty minute long. "Even if I flew I wouldn't make it back in time. Gonna have to hope that Top Notch gives me another day off..."

"Wait! He never did tell me what Whisky was laughing about in the restaurant." A sudden realization hit Rainbow Dash and she put both her front hooves to her face. "Ugh! I'm so stupid! I should have made him tell me what Whisky said as part of a deal of me telling him about Twilight!"

Twilight

"Well I guess I didn't technically tell him about Twilight, I never said her name. Besides it was either tell him that or the other reason." For the past couple of days Rainbow Dash couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that she had gotten at the river. Not just for hiding the truth from Top Notch when the stallion was trying his hardest to get the pegasus to relax but also for leaving her friends behind on a spur of the moment decision. She started to feel like she had abandoned them all because she was unhappy with how her life was at the moment.

"Some friend I turned out to be..."

She laid her head on her pillow and began to thinking about her friends back in PonyVille. She missed every single one of them every day. From Pinkie's craziness to Rarity's over the top diva moments she missed them all with everything in between. The memory of a certain Lavender mare burned in the back of her mind though. "Hmff who needed her anyway!? My life was just awesome before she waltzed into town."

Somewhere in the recesses of Rainbow Dash's mind a voice was yelling at her for lying to herself. "Abandoning my friends...just like she abandoned me." Wishing to clear her head Rainbow Dash left her room and headed downstairs before returning with the portable radio from the living room in her hooves. "Well Top Notch did say to treat this place as my own home." She began to fumble with the dials looking for a decent radio station.

Finally she found a station that was playing a song that she greatly enjoyed. Putting the radio on the nightstand she laid herself back on the bed with the head nested snugly on the pillow. She looked at the picture of her with her friends on the nightstand before letting out a loud yawn and closing her eyes. "Haven't heard this song since-" Another yawn that was deeper and more profound. "-Since that night with me and Twilight at the..." She dozed off as the radio continued to play the song.

***

" Rainbow Dash do you mind explaining to me what we're doing here?"

"We're here because I'm trying to get you to relax Twilight and what better place to relax than then at the local club!"

"You're right Rainbow Dash! How can I not relax with loud booming music ,ponies bumping into to me that apparently haven't heard of deodorant, the blinding strobe lights, and the fact that we have to yell just to talk to each other."

"To top it all off I don't even like Dubstep!"

"Wow Twilight, I try to take you out to get you to unwind a little from all your princessing and this is the thanks I get? This song isn't even Dubstep, its Drum and Bass."

"There's a difference?"

"Obviously, I mean Drum and Bass usually has fast break beats that's usually between 160 and 190 bpm. Dubstep on the other hoof normally has a two step rhythm with dark baselines that are usually produced at a tempo of 140 bpm. Also Dubstep has the bass drops and wobble..."

"You stopped making sense after fast break beats."

"Dubstep is slower than Drum and Bass."

"And you used to make fun of me for being an egg head."

"Hey! It's not being an egghead if the stuff is cool, every pony knows that!"

"Interesting."

"What? You're actually starting to like Drum and Base cause you know Dubstep isn't all that bad either. I actually know this Unicorn DJ, her names Vinyl Scratch, and she actually..."

"No, its interesting that the madness that you and all these ponies call music has such logic behind it!"

"Alright look, you obviously have something bugging you and it ain't music or the smell of the other ponies. What gives Twilight?

"I'm real sorry Rainbow Dash, I'm not trying to be what you call a 'Stick in The Mud' on purpose. Its just that ever since I got these wings I can't shake the feeling that I'm constantly being watched by ponies around me."

"Thats because you are being watched by every pony around you. I don't know if you forgot but you're a princess now.

"No I haven't forgotten that I'm a Princess. How can I forget when twenty royal guards have to escort me to a simple club in PonyVille and intimidate everypony as they stand guard at front?"

"Sometimes I wish that I never became a Princess and that I stayed as the dorky town librarian.

"Twilight you will never go back to being just a plain old Unicorn like you were before. Hey you weren't even a plain old Unicorn to begin with, you were Princess Celestia's prized student! Besides I never thought you were dorky, an egghead yeah but never a dork. I know for a fact that none of the other girls ever did either"

"You really mean that?"

"I ain't Apple Jack but yeah I do mean that. Me along with the rest of the other girls will always have your back Twilight, always."

"Thanks Rainbow Dash, really I mean it."

"Um you mind if I ask you a quick question though?"

"Go for it."

"How does a pony dance to this type of music? It looks like they're all having a seizure except for that one in the middle of the floor. He looks like he's having a cardiac arrest."

Author's Note

Only two updates again this week. Chances are only two next week also due to various reasons.

Behind The Scenes

Chapter 11: Behind the Scenes

The weather was finally starting to cool down as summer in EverGlade began to come to an end. It had been three months since the towns newest pegasus resident had stayed behind at the local dairy farm. Despite having to do the same activities everyday Rainbow Dash felt content . The work load had gotten easier for her once Top Notch had his cast removed and started helping out around the farm more. Even with his injuries healed the doctor had advised the stallion not to over exert himself in the near future.

Life for the ponies in town was no different, residents went about their daily activities without a care. Some took notice that the town hadn't experienced any form of disaster since the water tower incident but believed that whatever run of bad luck had found the town was finally over. It was only Sheriff Silver Point and Whisky that remained vigilante, neither seemed to like the fact that the town had gotten too quiet for the past couple of weeks with the exception of the previous four days. A certain mare had come to visit Rainbow Dash bringing along all that she needed to throw the wildest party the town had ever seen.

Else where however sat a stallion at his desk waiting for the clock on his wall to strike the correct hour. "Specter make sure I'm not disturbed while I talk to the boss." His earth pony lackey simply nodded before making his way out of the room to the front of the building closing the door to the office behind him. Thatcher had his eyes glued to the clock until only a minute remained, that's when he turned is attention to the mirror on his desk and watched as the shadowy figure appeared inside of it. "Hello boss how have you been lately?"

"Cease with the pleasantries Thatcher, did you receive what I sent to you?"

"Sure did boss, got it right here safe and sound next to me." Thatcher moved the mirror to face two items that were on the desk. One a container in the shape of a cylinder while the other seemed to be an eight sided ball. "Just need you to give me the go ahead on the plan."

"Good but listen very carefully Thatcher. You must not break the seal on the container until its time. Everything must be in place before its contents are set loose in the town."

Thatcher rubbed the back of his neck after hearing this. "Yeah about that boss, won't I get put in harms way from this plan of yours?"

"You needn't concern yourself with worry Thatcher. All you must do is listen to my instructions and no harm will come your way."

Now that he felt less expendable Thatcher moved on to the next subject he wanted to talk to his boss about. "I've been following that pegasus mare around just like you told me to. Her name is Rainbow Dash and she's from the town of Pony..."

"Rainbow Dash? Yes I've heard talk of her around Canterlot. She one of Princess Celestia's Elements of Harmony that saved Equestria a couple of times from the cliche antagonists that seem to plague our fair country. What's she doing all the way out there in the middle of nowhere? Despite her we must carry on with the plan."

"Oh and one more thing boss, a few days ago she a had a friend come visit her, a pink mare who goes by the name of Pinkie Pie. Am I to assume that she's an Element as well?"

"Yes, is she staying in the town as well?"

Thatcher waved his hoof dismissing the idea. "She was but it seems like she just came to visit Rainbow Dash. Before our meeting I spotted both Elements along with a local stallion heading to the train station."

Rainbow Dash and Top Notch waved good bye as the train pulled out of the platform. The two ponies stayed at the platform until they could no longer see Pinkie waving back to them from the train. Both made their way back into town heading towards Whisky's restaurant. Rainbow couldn't help but laugh all the way back into town as Top Notch continued to rub his upper body sorely. "Hey you can't say I didn't warn you about her hugs. Just consider yourself lucky that I told her to go easy on you. Pretty sure she could of put you back in that cast again."

"You're telling me! For the longest time ponies told me that I gave rough hugs. Compared to that though my hugs might as well of been gentle love taps." It had taken Rainbow Dash a considerable amount of time but she had finally gotten used to Top Notch's jokes. Both laughed as they walked into town. Top Notch had been glad that Rainbow Dash had stayed at the farm after his injuries had healed, surprisingly more than he thought he'd be.

As they walked through the streets neither one seemed to notice that ponies passing by them gave a quick glance. Rainbow Dash and Top Notch had seemed to become inseparable which led the town to speculate further. "I know you said your friend was a party animal but damn she had to have broken a world record with how long that party lasted."

Rainbow Dash tilted her head back and laughed. "The party she threw only lasted twenty one hours. I've been to one of her parties that lasted around two days! She's bragged about once having hosted a party that lasted six days. I doubt it though. The way I see it any pony who says they remember that party wasn't really there."

"Talk about having a great sense of humor also, I'm pretty she laughed at every single one of my jokes! She's also pretty funny herself! Remember when she acted surprised when she found out that we didn't share a..." Just like that the situation had gotten tense between them. Both turned to face away from each other to hid the fact that both were blushing slightly.

"Heh...yeah...Pinkie always did have a wild imagination heh heh oh this is kinda of awkward isn't it?"

"Slightly." Top Notch responded. He turned to look down the street and saw that their destination was in sight. "Hey look, we're here!" The stallion quickly made his way to the restaurant and Rainbow Dash flew the rest of the way in an effort to avoid making eye contact with him. Top Notch quickly entered the restaurant with Rainbow Dash right behind him.

Whisky and Clover Leaf were in a deep conversation when Top Notch came through the front door. It seemed like the two were arguing over something but they quickly dropped the subject when both noticed that their friend was staring at them. It was only after Rainbow Dash appeared behind that Top Notch that Clover made to speak. "Oh hey Top's, what brings you and Rainbow here? Thought you two were sending Pinkie Pie off today."

"Yeah we just got back from seeing the girl off. Say, what were you two talking about before we got in here?" Top Notch responded.

Before Clover had the chance to answer Whisky intervened. "Oh nothing really, just some restaurant business is all. So anyway that sure was one hell of party that Rainbow's friend threw the other night huh? Thought Sheriff Silver Point was going to shut it down for sure but boy was I surprised when I saw him back down from your friend. Don't think I've ever seen the Sheriff turn tail to any pony before."

Top Notch smirked at his friends obvious attempt to change the subject but didn't get the option to push the matter further thanks to mare behind him. "Pssh standing up to the Sheriff is nothing for Pinkie Pie. I've seen her go hoof to claw against worse things. There are those who live to party and then there are those who party to live. Pinkie Pie is both of those." Rainbow Dash finished that sentence with a very content look on her face while the other three had baffled looks on theirs.

"Um honey, what you said right now didn't really make any sense."

"Neither does Pinkie Pie most of the time but she exists." Rainbow Dash seemed self assured by her own explanation.

Whisky could tell that Top Notch intended to get back to the original subject. He quickly dug up some menus from under the bar counter and shoved them in front of his two friends faces. "If you're here then that means your hungry. How about me and Clover leave you two alone a few minutes while you decide what you want to order."

Rainbow Dash and Top Notch made their way to the bar counter and took their seats. "I don't necessarily just come here to eat Whisky. I'm pretty sure I've stopped by a good number of times just to chat with either you or Clover."

"Besides!" Rainbow Dash started. "We already know what we want to eat! I'll have the veggie burger with a side of hay fries." Rainbow closed her menu and handed it over to Clover. Top Notch also ordered his food without even glancing at his menu.

"Okay then how about Top Notch heads back with me to the kitchen while you two ladies mingle. Let the Stallions cook while the mares relax. Would that be okay with the both of you?"

Rainbow Dash and Clover Leaf gestured that they were okay with the idea and Whisky practically dragged Top Notch over the counter and into the kitchen.

Once Whisky was sure that the door behind them was closed he turned to speak to Top Notch but was cut off by his friend. "Whisky look, I'm real flattered that you asked me to help but I've never really..."

"You can stop right there buddy. I know that you'd set the restaurant on fire if you'd tried to make something as simple as a grilled daisy sandwich."

"You're never going to let me live that down are you? It was one time and besides, that time I was making soup. I hear that soup is one of the most dangerous dishes in the world to make."

Whisky couldn't help but sigh. "It was just soup and besides it was tomato soup. That dish is supposed to be served cold."

"What kinda of soup is served cold? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of soup?"

"I don't know the pony that came up with it was probably mental or something but that's beside the point. Look we're getting off topic!"

A sly grin appeared on Top Notch's face. "Oh so now you don't want to change the subject huh? Talking about being complex. It wouldn't happen to be that time of the month would it?"

Whisky's right eye twitched in a way that would concern most other ponies. "Any one ever tell you how mush of an ass hole you can be sometimes?"

Top Notch put his hoof on his friends shoulder. "Consider this payback for the other day. But seriously though whats on your mind?"

Whisky shook Top Notch's hoof off of him and went to gather a few ingredients for the food. Once the food was on the stove cooking he let out a deep breath and pivoted to look at his friend. "What I'm about to say doesn't leave this restaurant got it? Me and Clover Leaf we've...we've sorta been seeing each other for a couple of months now."

"Well congrats but I still don't really see why you two were arguing." Top Notch stared quizzically at his friend trying to figure him out.

Whisky ran a hoof down his face "Look Top Notch what I'm about to say next isn't going to easy to say since it concerns both you and Rainbow Dash as well. The problem with the relationship is that Clover's dad ain't really to keen on the idea of her dating a stallion like me. For a while we we're able to hide it from him but then he started snooping around. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before he found out but then a rainbow appeared over the horizon."

"Wait..." Top Notch was starting to put the pieces together. "All the rumors that started going around town about me and Rainbow Dash..."

"I may have started those rumors to keep Clover's father off of us?" Whisky wore a painful smile on his face while Top Notch however just stared blankly at the floor. With a cross look in eyes Top Notch made his way to the stove and turned off the flame. Just as Whisky was about to protest he found himself being pushed towards the stairs.

Top Notch pointed to Whisky's room. "Upstairs...now!" Top Notch said with a grim tone in his voice. Never before seeing his friend like this Whisky complied without saying a single word.

Whisky heard the door to his room close shut behind him. Turning around he saw an agitated looking stallion behind him. "Look Top Notch I can explain, I know what did was dishonest and dumb but..."

"But what!?" Top Notch was doing his best to avoid yelling. "You knew that something was bothering her but you still decided to use the poor girl and me as a shield to hide behind! I thought you would of been raised to have a sense of guilt."

Rubbing one of his forelegs nervously Whisky was doing his best to try and avoid eye contact with his friend. "I first yeah I did feel guilty but then I saw how you two started growing closer together and I figured that..."

Top Notch had heard enough. "Oh for crying out loud Whisky I'm tying to help the girl out. I've seen that she's got some sort of problem, no pony just drops everything and helps out a stranger for no reason. The world doesn't work like that!" He walked over to the window and looked out at the town. "I just want to help her get through whats troubling her that's all."

"You can't deny that she's a nice girl though. Maybe the world doesn't work where a pony helps out another just for no reason. That might be one of those undeniable rules of life but maybe she's the exception that proves that rule true. How do you know that she's not into you? Have you asked her?" Whisky moved to place his hoof on Top Notch's shoulder but he just shrugged it off. "This can't be because of um your last relationship because I'm pretty sure there's no way you're getting back with her."

Whisky was given a hard look by Top Notch "It has nothing to do with that. I ended that relationship myself." A long drawn out sigh escaped the stallion. "I just want to help Rainbow Dash, that's what friends do for one another." With that being said Top Notch made his way back to the door but stopped when he heard Whisky speak.

"There's only so much a friend can do, sometimes ponies need something more."

"Was Clover Leaf in on this?"

"No, she'd probably kick my ass if she found out what I'd been doing." There was a moment of brief silence between the two that was only broken by Whisky when Top Notch opened to the door. "You're not angry at me are you?"

Stopping for a moment at the stairs Top Notch gave Whisky his answer. "No I'm not angry at you. I'm disappointed and angry at you. You don't have to worry though, I won't tell Rainbow Dash what you were doing. There's no reason to make the girls life more confusing than it has to be right now."

While the stallions worked away in the kitchen Rainbow Dash had struck up a conversation with Clover Leaf. Over the past few months the two had actual gotten very close and had become good friends. Rainbow was fine hanging out with stallions but curiously enough she discovered years ago that she also greatly enjoyed hanging out with mares. "So then I snuck up behind a group of three of them and when their backs were turned I whooped their bug asses. I picked my friend Fluttershy off the ground, dusted her off, and then dove head first into another group of changelings. Needless to say I pretty much put the team on my back as I single hoofed it in saving Canterlot from the changeling invasion. Oh and Shining Armor and Princess Cadance helped out I guess."

Clover Leaf had been listening to the story intently. She was amazed at just how exciting Rainbow Dash's life was. Half of her was envious of the pegasus while the other half was glad to be away from such danger. "Wow but what happened to the Queen? Did the Royal Guard ever find her and the rest of her hive?"

"Last I heard she had disappeared back into the Waste Lands. Can't say I blame her though. I'd probably run away with my tail between my legs if I had gotten such a beating, serves her right." The smug look on Rainbow's face could of put Prince Blue Blood to shame. "Maybe some other day I'll tell you about that time I defeated an evil king and saved the Crystal Empire with some help from my friends and Princess Cadance."

"Girl you must keep Top's entertained with all your stories! Speaking of which where are those two with your food?" Clover turned around and stared at the wall behind her. "Maybe I should go check up on them."

Top's

"Nah I'm sure they're just fine. You said Whisky's a pretty good cook right? I bet they're just talking about some stuff like we are." Rainbow Dash figured that now was the best time to ask about something she'd been curious about for the past few weeks. "Hey Clover why do um call him Top's? I'm pretty sure that you're the only one who I've heard call him that."

The unicorn turned back to face Rainbow Dash and gave her a pleasant smile. "Oh no special reason really. Its just the nick name I gave him when we dated a while back."

It was a good thing that Rainbow Dash hadn't been drinking anything because she was pretty sure that Clover Leaf probably would of been hit directly by those hypothetical fluids. "You...and...and...Top Notch....dated?"

"Sure did but it wasn't really anything to extraordinary. We never got to far into the relationship and Top's broke the thing off himself. Pity too because he sure was a sweet guy."

Rainbow stared down at the bar counter and muttered under her breath. "Yeah his is."

Clover perked her eyes up. "What was that hon'? Didn't quite catch that."

The pegasus kept her eyes to the counter. "Nothing."

"So yeah he broke it off but I was okay with it. We're still good friends and all that. Besides I got my eyes on a different pony now." A small giggle escaped Clover's mouth.

Rainbow Dash snapped out of her temporary daze. "Any pony I know?"

Clover giggled again. "Oh you know him." She pointed to the kitchen with her eyes.

"No way, you're interested in him?" Rainbow made sure to put extra emphasis on him.

Clover Leaf made her way around the counter and took a seat beside Rainbow Dash. "You say it like its a bad thing. I know that Whisky's got his flaws but he's a super sweet and loving stallion. Beside Top Notch he's the only other pony in EverGlade who puts others before himself."

Rainbow put her hooves up in a show of disinterest. "Hey I'm not going to tell you how to live. Sleep with who you want its your life."

A loud laugh escaped Clover as she tilted her head back. "Good to know. Since we're on the topic though how are things between you and Top Notch?" The unicorn added her own emphasis with a simple wink. "You know, just between the two of us.

"Well he's..." Rainbow Dash didn't get a chance to finish. Top Notch as if by some coincidence came through the door with a torn up look on his face.

Before either Rainbow or Clover could ask what was wrong Top Notch turned to Clover and spoke. "Clover could you be so kind as to wrap our food up to go instead? Somethings come up and so we can't stay to eat."

"Uh sure Top's." Clover made her way into the kitchen leaving Rainbow alone with the stallion.

A few moments passed before Rainbow spoke. "So whats going on?"

"Don't ask."

Minutes passed before Clover came out levitating the bag that contained the food with Whisky following behind her. When Top Notch had tried to pay Whisky had insisted that the food was on the house. Top Notch had none of it, he left the money on the table and then made his way out of the restaurant with Rainbow Dash in tow.

Déjà vu

Chapter 12: Déjà vu

The town of EverGlade was fast asleep. Along the shadows caste by the street lamps two figures moved through the alleys towards their predetermined destination. The lack of wings or horns identifies them as earth ponies with the noticeable diffeence separating them being that one was a bit larger than the other. The two moved silently in tandem avoiding the occasional lights that shone through windows. The leader moved ahead at a swifter pace while his companion stayed closed behind. A moments distraction however caused the larger pony to knock over a trash can and with it fill the alley the two were in with a healthy amount of noise. Light came through from a window above followed by a mare sticking her head out searching up and down for a moment before disappearing again through the window.

Once the light was off again the two ponies continued on their way towards their goal with no other accident taking place. It was only after they were sure that they weren't followed that the smaller one spoke in a silent tone. "Specter didn't any pony ever teach you to watch were were you were put your enormous hooves? Honestly we could of been caught if this towns residents were as smart as canines."

"Sorry Chief. I turned around for a quick second to see if we were being tailed and the next thing I know I'm face first in something rotten. I reckon I'm going to need a shower after we're done with this job." The stallion lifted up one of his forelegs and began to sniff it.

Thatcher moved away from his foul-smelling lackey. "Indeed you will. Just stand over there while I plant this thing."

"To keep a look out for any pony that could spot us?"

Taking a cylindrical container out from his saddle bag Thatcher moved towards a desirable location. "Yes that and because I can't stand the smell of you right now." He looked around and when he saw a satisfactory location he planted the cylinder and then gave the top of the container a quick twist. A hissing sound could be heard for a few seconds before all was silent again. "There that should do it. Come along Specter our job in this town may finally be done."

The two stallions sneaked their way back to their hide out and once inside Specter turned to Thatcher. "Chief do you really think this is going to work?"

"Oh course it will Specter. This is the boss's idea after all and he never makes any mistakes. Soon this land will be in his hooves and then he can move on with the last stage of the plan." Thatcher moved towards a door way but before entering the next room he pivoted to face Specter again. "Please make sure you shower thoroughly Specter since we're going to be laying low for a while."

With a tired yawn Rainbow Dash rolled out from the bed and fell unceremoniously to the floor. She remained there with her face against the cold hard wood floor for some time before she gathered the energy to pick herself up. With another yawn she picked up her towel from the floor and made her way downstairs to the bathroom. Checking with a wing to see how cold the water was she quickly hoped in and let the cold torrent wash over her. Despite her initial dislike for the cold water she had gotten used to it over the past months.

Drying herself off with the towel she made her way to the kitchen. With her mane still dripping wet she strode over to the fridge. A quick glace in the direction of the table and she saw Top Notch eating a bowl of cereal. Rainbow Dash was surprised with just how comfortable she had gotten with her home away from home. True to Top Notch's request she had begun treating the farm house as if it was her own home. Her wet maned appearance in the kitchen being a testament to it.

"Hmm that's weird." She thought to herself. Top Notch would often try to look away to avoid staring at Rainbow Dash with the occasional peek. This morning however the stallion just stared into his breakfast without making any eye contact what so ever. Rainbow noticed that he had been acting strange for the past two days ever since they got back from Whisky's restaurant. She grabbed a bottle of milk from the seemingly hundreds that filled the fridge and sat across the table from Top Notch. "So who's on today's milking agenda?"

Top Notch brought the cereal bowl to his muzzle and slurped the rest his breakfast in one swift motion. "I think you're starting to rub off on me. Before you came along I never would of done that before. Any who today we got to milk old Bessie and then we got..." Loud knocking came from the front door. "Huh I wonder who that could be this early in the morning. Folks around here don't usually wander out this far from town."

Rainbow Dash got up from the table and began to walk towards the front door. Top Notch got up and moved to intercept her, for some odd some he had a bad feeling in his gut. "Easy there Rainbow. You go back and have breakfast while I get the door. I'm sure its nothing."

The pegasus gave him a strange look before shrugging her shoulders. "Alright, just call yell if you're being attacked by something." With a simple smirk she made her way back into the kitchen. More knocking came from the front and Top Notch made his way to door. He had a confused and worried look on his face when he saw a familiar looking unicorn and earth pony staring back at him. "Clover Leaf? Whisky? What are you two doing here in the morning?"

Clover gave Whisky a rough shove but the stallion just stood his ground in silence. It was only now that Top Notch noticed that Whisky had a black eye. "We're really sorry to bother you so early Top's but Whisky's got something he wants to tell you and Rainbow Dash. Don't you Whisky?"

"Yes mam." Whisky said in a low voice.

Top Notch closed the front door behind him as he stepped outside. He knew where this was going. "Look Clover he already apologized for what he did. Now I can't say I accept his apology since it feels like I've been stabbed in the back by my best friend."

"Oh believe me Top's he's definitely sorry for what he did behind mine, Rainbow Dash's, and your back. He learned the hard way not to mess around with others lives. That shiner I gave him after he told me this morning is proof enough. Isn't that right Whisky?"

"Yes mam." Whisky said again this time in a much lower voice.

Clover made it her intention to go into the farm house but Top Notch blocked her path. "Step aside Top's. We're going to go give Rainbow Dash a proper apology."

"No." Top Notch stated firmly.

"No!? What do you mean no?" The stare that Clover was giving Top Notch was one that the stallion and Whisky recognized all too well. In a moment a pony was going to be on the ground reeling from pain unless something was said to calm the unicorn down.

"You can't go apologize to Rainbow Dash because I haven't told her what Whisky was doing. I figured it would be better if she didn't know."

"Better she didn't know!? Top's you know I've always trusted your judgement when it came to things but why wouldn't you tell her?" The anger was beginning to wash off Clover's face and was being replaced with a look of concern and confusion.

Top Notch took one look at the farm house and then set his gaze on the distraught unicorn in front of him. "I'll tell you the same reason that I told him. I'm trying to help the girl work out what issues she has in her life right now. I've just recently gotten her to relax and feel comfortable here. She's in my kitchen right now with a wet mane drinking..."

"With a wet mane and drinking? Top's I don't think you and I have the same concept of helping out." Clover peeked past the stallion in front of her as if she could some how see the pegasus through the farm houses walls.

"Drinking milk Clover she's drinking milk. You know, since its breakfast and this is a dairy farm? As for why she has a wet mane in the middle of the kitchen that just goes to show how comfortable she is around me right now. She trusts me and I trust you to keep this within our group."

Clover gave Top Notch an enticed look. "Don't recall I ever walked through your kitchen with a wet mane."

The stallion was at a loss for words by the look he was giving Clover. "Whatever Top's. If you think that she'll be alright not knowing then I'm holding you to that. Just know this though. Me and Rainbow Dash have gotten awfully close over these past months. That being said if you so much as hurt her then know that I'll give you quadruple what I gave Whisky." She put further emphasis on the threat by patting Whisky on the head. "Oh and two more things. Don't bother coming to the restaurant , I had Whisky close it down for the day, we're going to go meet my father. Ain't that right Whisky?"

No verbal reply came from the battered stallion this time. Instead all he gave was a nervous nod.

"Steel Cast over at the tool shop in town said he finished your repair order and said that you should head on over and pick up your stuff." Clover gave Top Notch a quick smile before turning around with Whisky and heading back towards town.

Top Notch stepped back inside his home and headed to the kitchen. He noticed that Rainbow Dash was just finishing up her breakfast. "So I didn't hear you yell. Who was at the door? You talked outside with whoever it was for a bit." Rainbow Dash slurped the last of the cereal bowls contents before slamming the bowl back down on the table.

"Oh it was just Clover Leaf. She came to tell me that the tools I put in for repair in town are done."

"It took her that long to say that one sentence?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We talked about a few other things as well but nothing too interesting. Now come on we got to get the days milking done before we head into town and pick up my tools." Top Notch gave the pegasus a weary smile before heading out the back door towards the stables.

Top Notch's behavior didn't sit right with Rainbow Dash. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her. She pushed her concern to the back of her mind before heading out the back as well to begin the days work.

For the first time Top Notch noticed as he walked alongside Rainbow Dash how the the towns residents gave curious glances their way. The fact that they turned away when either Top Notch or Rainbow Dash looked at them confirmed the stallions fear. There was no doubt about it now, Whisky had been telling the truth.

Rainbow Dash seemed oblivious to it all and for that Top Notch was grateful. "So how much that did repair cost you? Must of been expensive with how that shop keeper was looking at you and at me too for some reason."

Top Notch sighed again which was starting to worry him. He made a mental note to ask the towns doctor about excessive sighing next time he bumped into him. "Oh I don't know like around forty five bits. I know its a expensive but that pony makes sure you get exactly what you pay for."

"Right I guess that makes sense but why was he looking at us all weird like?"

"He's always been weird like that!" Top Notch blurted out.

His pegasus companion gave him an inquisitive look. Now she was certain that something was off about the stallion from the look he had on his face. "Alright somethings definitely up." She pushed Top Notch towards a side alley in between two buildings.

"Well of course somethings up!" He gave her a nervous smile. "The sky, the clouds, and the birds are always up!"

"That was lame even by your standards. Now I know that something is definitely up so come on, to the alley we go." She continued pushing him towards the alleys opening.

The jostled stallion began to protest. "Rainbow Dash wait please stop! Every pony is starting to look at us!" He spoke the truth, every pony on the street was looking at them. The sight of a mare and pegasus heading into a deserted alley for some privacy gave them a faint idea about what was about to occur. Elders walked away disgruntled at the days youth and mothers covered their children's eyes.

"When did you start caring about ponies looking at the two of us? You know the more you struggle the more ponies are going to look." Top Notch continued to struggle despite Rainbow Dash's attempts to speed things along.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, she hoped it wouldn't have come to this. "You know one thing I was real good at back home was getting the attention of the entire town. I'm sure I haven't lost my touch so how about you just step into the alley before I attract even more attention Top's."

Top Notch stopped struggling upon hearing his nick name. He was obviously taken back hearing it come from Rainbow Dash. "Yeah I know why she called you that. Consider it pay back for calling me Dashie to cheat in that race when I first got here. So now are you going to keep fighting me or are you going to let me help you?" Top Notch looked at the alley and then nodded softly before stepping into it.

"Okay so now that we're all alone away from the eyes of the town will you please tell me what's got you bothered Top's?"

"Will you please stop calling me that!" The stallion leaned up against a wall after checking that the alley they were in had no windows and was empty. "It just sounds weird coming from..."

"Coming from me?"

"Well yeah I guess. I mean Clover Leaf started calling me that on account of..." Top Notch waited for Rainbow Dash to finish his sentence but she remained silent as if wanting to hear him say it. "...On account of us dating."

"So you two did date then." He slowly nodded his head. "Okay but I'm guessing that's not whats bothering you is it?"

Top Notch glumly shook his head. "So then what's bothering you?"

He figured that there was no use hiding the truth from her. "Have you noticed how the other towns folk have been looking at us?" Top Notch began. "How they've been giving you weird looks for maybe the last month or so?"

"What are you talking about? I talk to ponies around town all the time and they don't look at me weird and when I talk to them about you they don't give me any weird looks either."

Something told him it wasn't going to be easy. "No let me rephrase the question. Have you noticed how they look at us when we're together?"

Rainbow Dash thought back days, weeks, and months to all the times that she was in town with Top Notch. In all honestly after the accident Rainbow had gone into town alone to take care of Top Notch's errands while the stallion stayed back on the dairy farm. The only times she was in EverGlade with him was when she had first arrived, when the water tower was in danger, that time they had gone to the river, and just recently the party Pinkie had thrown a few days ago.

"The party!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed out loud much to Top Notch's confusion. She remembered that when she had hung out with Top Notch at the party Pinkie Pie had teased her about her very special somepony. Rainbow dismissed it as Pinkie just being her normal zany self. Now that she thought back to that night though she had noticed how the party goers had given her strange looks. "So wait you're angry that the town thinks that me and you are like together?"

"No, that's not quite it and there's more to the story unfortunately." He ran a hoof through his mane and smiled. "Shoot we'll I guess its technically later."

"Wait what?"

"Remember that day when I took you to Horse Shoe Bend? You asked me what Whisky was laughing about in the restaurant. I promised you I would tell you later and well technically it is later. Whisky had made a joke about you and me being more...e'hem...intimate with each other and the whole town thinking so as well."

"What was the joke?"

"Something about me finding the gold at the end of the rainbow." Top Notch chuckled nervously.

Rainbow Dash began to feel her face warm up and she quickly turned to face away from Top Notch. "Right so If you excuse me now I think I'm going to go help Whisky find this jaw which I'm about to go knock into next Tuesday."

"I wouldn't bother with it. Clover already took care of his punishment it seems." Rainbow Dash turned around and stared at him with a baffled look on her face. "Before you ask, no, that wasn't the reason why I'm upset right now. The reason why I'm upset is because the pony who I had considered my best friend for the longest time just goes behind my back and betrays me. All the rumors that went around town about us being more intimate were started by Whisky. He said he did it to hide his and Clover's relationship from her father."

Rainbow wanted to speak but Top Notch continued his rant. "I mean honestly he knew I was trying to help you with your problems! I know that he knew that you were troubled and no I didn't tell him any of the stuff you told me that day river. He's smart enough to figure that out on his own. Something I strove to do got all messed up just because it made my best friends life easier! He then tries to justify what he's done by saying you and me really have become more than just friends!"

Friend going ones back? Betrayed by them for a reason that makes their life easier?

Rainbow Dash was getting a crazy sense of déjà vu. "Just like us" She muttered under her breath. She put a hoof on Top Notch's shoulder. "Top Notch I think I should tell you that..."

She didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. The two turned to look in the direction where a loud yell had come from. Top Notch got off from the wall and started heading towards the origin of the shriek. "What in Equestria was that? Come on I think it came from around the corner at the end of the alley!"

The pair of ponies rounded the corner and came upon a confusing scene in front of them. On the ground was stallion knocked unconscious. Above him stood another stallion and a mare. The other stallion had the mare pinned against the wall of the alley as the his victim yelled for help. "Please somepony help! Get him off of me get him off of me!" The mare was practically on the verge of tears.

"Hey you! What do you think you're doing!? Get off of her right now!" Top Notch's attempt at diffusing the situation had failed as the attacker still had the mare in his grasp.

"Yeah! How about you pick a fight against a pony who can fight back!?" Rainbow Dash spread her wings and flew over to the assailant determined to tackle him to the ground. At least that was her intent. The stallion leapt off of the mare and Rainbow Dash flew in between the two. She landed on the ground and just as the other stallion was about to jump at her Top Notch tackled him to the ground.

The situation quickly changed however when the stallion gave Top Notch a punch to his injured side and then flipped him onto his back pinning him. Top Notch was stunned for couple of reasons. The first being that he was in pain from the blow and the second being that his attacker was apparently snarling and growling at him. "Hey buddy don't take this the wrong way but I think you got some issues." Now the other stallion was snapping his jaws at him.

Rainbow Dash's second attempt at a tackle was more successful. She knocked the attacker off from Top Notch and slammed him hard against the alley wall. The pony let out a loud shrill before collapsing on the ground. Being sure that the strange pony was out of the fight she quickly made her way over to Top Notch and helped him up. "Hey you okay?"

"Yeah just got the wind knocked out of me ow..." He put a hoof to his side. Top Notch limped is way over to the mare who had apparently been the target. "Miss are you alright? He didn't hurt you did he?"

The mare was still shaken up a bit from the ordeal. "N-No but...but... he knocked out my colt friend." She rushed over to unconscious stallion on the ground."

"What do you think that was all about?" Rainbow asked as she made her way over to the mares assailant. The pony lay crumpled in a heap on the ground.

Top Notch moved to stand next to Rainbow Dash. "I don't know but something about him didn't seem right. I guess we'll just turn him into Sheriff Silver Point and..."

Green fire suddenly erupted around the assailant. After the flames died down the pony was gone and in his place was a more insect like creature. Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide from what she had just seen occur in front of her. "Changeling..."

Rainbow Dash started to get a dreaded sense of déjà vu.

Author's Note

dun dun duuuuuuun!!!

Baptism Under Fire

Chapter 13: Baptism Under Fire

"Wait what did you say that thing is?" Top Notch looked over to Rainbow Dash but she wasn't giving any answer. "Rainbow Dash!? Hey snap out of it!" He began to shake her a little in an attempt to snap her out of her daze.

Rainbow Dash finally snapped back into reality. "I s-said it was a changeling but somethings not right. This one isn't like the ones I saw in Canterlot a long time ago." She looked over the creature and noticed there definitely was a difference. "The ones that attacked Canterlot were black and had blue eyes. This one is dark green with red eyes and besides this one seems a bit smaller than the ones I fought back then."

"How's that possible? From what I heard about them changelings all have the same basic drone shape. Why is this one different?" Top Notch and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances at one another. Neither seemed to have the answer.

"Isn't it obvious? That one's different because its a different species of changeling." A voice said from above.

Both Rainbow Dash and Top Notch looked up in time to see a white pegasus swoop in and land in front of them kicking up dust. Once the dirt had settled they saw Sheriff Silver Point standing in front of them. Before either had to a chance to talk to him he made his way over to the changeling on the ground and gave it a good look. "No doubt about it. That right there is a Wildling."

"Uh Wildling sir?" Top Notch asked.

"Did you hear me stutter boy? Yes I said Wildling. I didn't expect you to know the difference seeing as you've never seen a changeling in you life. Her on the other hand." He turned his attention to Rainbow Dash. "For one that brags about fighting off an army of them I thought that she would of at least known. about these too."

"Oh yeah? Well how do you know about these ones? I thought you said you didn't know about the changeling attack on Canterlot?"

Sheriff Silver Point walked up and gave Rainbow Dash a long hard stare. "Here I thought I would be the one will the crap memory due to my old age. I never said I didn't know about the attack, I said that didn't care about it. To be more specific I didn't care about whatever minor role you had in saving the city." With that said the sheriff walked back over to the changeling.

"MINOR ROLE!?" Rainbow Dash moved towards the old pegasus with a fire raging in her eyes and mind.

She was stopped by Top Notch sticking a foreleg out in front of her. "Let it go Rainbow Dash."

"But.."

"I said let it go." Top Notch said sternly.

For a moment their eyes met and in that moment each saw what was on the others mind. Top Notch saw the raging wildfire that was present in Rainbow Dash's eyes while she just saw a calm cloudy sky in his. "Please? For me?" After that the flame that had built up inside of her was extinguished. She closed her eyes and nodded her head. When she opened her eyes again she saw Top Notch smiling at her.

"Ugh." Sheriff Silver Point muttered under his breath witnessing the scene play out. "Guess those rumors about the two of them were true. The boy's a dang fool. Doesn't know what he's got himself into with her."

"Hey sheriff? What are you going to do with it?" Out of the corner of his eye the Sheriff could see that Top Notch was now next to him.

It was actually a valid question. In all the years that Sheriff Silver Point had worn the badge he never had encountered a changeling. Only one option made itself apparent in his mind. "I'll take it back to the station and lock it up in cell for now. When it's locked away then I'll think of what to do with it." He hoisted the creature onto his back and then opened his wings. "Do me a favor Top Notch and make sure that stallion on the ground there gets proper help will ya?" After Top Notch nodded the pegasus took off into the air in the direction of the Sheriff's station.

Once he was gone Rainbow Dash and Top Notch made their way to the pony couple on the ground. The mare was crying over the stallion and it had taken Rainbow Dash a few minutes to calm her down. Top Notch, with help from Rainbow Dash, lifted the unconscious stallion onto his back and then the group of four made their way out of the alley towards the doctors office.

Rainbow Dash and Top Notch headed over to the Sheriff's station after dropping off the couple at the towns medical center. The doctor had assured them that the stallion was going to be fine seeing as he had just taken a heavy blow to the back of the skull. The mare had begun tearing up from the good news and thanked both of her saviors for what they had done. Top Notch had asked the mare to keep quiet about what she had seen and heard about the changeling in the alley. She quickly nodded her head before hastily going back to her coltfriend's side.

"So what are you thinking about Rainbow Dash?" Top Notch asked as casually as he could.

"I dunno. I'm mostly just confused. To be completely honest I never thought I'd have to fight another changeling in my life."

"How come? Was it a tough fight last time?"

"Yeah I guess you could say that. Th fight itself was just really weird. Nothing like fighting an army that are clones of yourself and your best friends. It leaves you with a weird look of yourself." Rainbow Dash continued to muse when the two finally arrived at the Sheriff's station. Top Notch took the lead and opened the door for Rainbow Dash. "Ladies first."

"Ladies? Where?" Rainbow Dash let out a small quick laugh as she made her way into the building.

"Girl this is no laughing matter so try to keep a serious tone will you?" The Sheriff was in front of a closed cell looking inside at its new occupant.

Rainbow Dash wanted to say something in return but stopped herself when she felt Top Notch's presence enter the room. Both ponies made their way over to the cell the Sheriff was standing in front of and looked inside. The small changeling was pacing back and forth in its enclosure. When Rainbow Dash had come into view it added a deathly stare to its routine. Rainbow noticed that part of it's right wing was bent probably from being slammed back in the alley.

"Has it tried to talk to you Sheriff?" Top Notch had broken the silence that fell on the station. "I mean from what I've heard from Rainbow Dash I thought they could talk."

"That's because the ones your little mare friend fought were..."

"SHE'S NOT MY MARE FRIEND!"

"I'M NOT HIS MARE FRIEND!"

A pony could cut the tension in the air with a knife. " As I was saying the ones she fought were Hivelings. Those are the more intelligent sophisticated species usually led by a queen or king. These Wildlings usually travel alone or in small packs led by a single matriarch."

With Top Notch being the first to regain his composure he made to speak. "So have you ever dealt with any of these before Sheriff?"

"No but some of my predecessors have. They left me their reports of when ever a changeling would show up in town. I've read through all of them and usually one of these things would impersonate a colt or a mare in town and try to leech off love from the significant other."

"So how did the other Sheriffs get rid of the changeling problem?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well the first step would be discovering that their was a changeling in EverGlade. The town usually found out through one of two ways. The first being that the significant other the changeling was trying to leech off of would notice something off about the other and report it to the Sheriff. A lynch mob would usually then form and then drive the creature out of town."

"And the second way?" Top Notch interrupted.

The Sheriff gave both ponies next to him a glum look. "The second way the town would find out would be when some pony discovered the body of the victim the changeling was leeching off of. By the time any pony realized what had happened the changeling would usually be long gone with the town usually mourning the loss of a life."

Rainbow Dash wanted to speak but didn't get a chance to. The Sheriff now seemed confused and deep in thought. "One thing about this whole attack on the couple doesn't add up though. Wildlings never attack a pony couple. Even more so in broad day light. If they do attack they target those that are by themselves and those incidents are usually at night. So what caused this one to act differently?"

Once again Rainbow Dash tired to speak but this time Top Notch beat her to it. "There's something else that's bothering you isn't there Sheriff?"

"Folks around here always said you were good at reading ponies like a book. Normally I would dismiss this attack as just some random occurrence but something else I saw today bothered me. I was out patrolling the scrub land west of the town when I noticed that a good amount of the train tracks leading into town were missing. Almost as if something was trying to cut the town off from the rest of the..."

The three ponies jumped back startled when the changeling launched itself at the cells iron bars wildly. It emitted a loud screeching noise as it began to bang violently against its prison. Rainbow Dash figured now was as good as any to get her chance to speak. "What's it doing?" The changeling's erratic behavior caused her to forget the other thing she wanted to say.

The changelings screech was getting louder as it banged against the cell harder. Top Notch was forced to bring his head to the ground and cover his ears. "Sheriff can't you make it stop?"

Sheriff Silver Point looked around the room for anything that would silence the creature. He saw a broom leaning against a window and ran to get it. The Sheriff took a quick glance out the window and froze. Rainbow Dash ran next to him and looked out the window as well. Her heart dropped into her stomach. "Holy crap."

"Clover Leaf are you sure there's no other way around this? Maybe today isn't a good day to try..."

"Shut it Whisky. It's going to be either now or never."

"Never is sounding pretty good right now."

The couple was just exiting Whisky's restaurant after spending the better part of the morning arguing over the days plan. Once the couple had returned from Top Notch's farm Clover had insisted that Whisky comb his mane back just for the day. The stallion had refused at first claiming that his mane was off limits. Clover Leaf tried giving him the puppy dog eyes but when that failed she threatened more physical methods of negotiating.

Both Whisky and Clover Leaf started walking down the street in the direction of Clover's home. "Clover, what if he doesn't accept me? You know how your father can be."

"Will you give my old man a chance Whisky? I'm sure he's going to like you. What makes you think that he won't?"

Whisky began to recall the first day he had arrived in EverGlade. "Oh I don't know. A good example might be that he refused my offer to open a restaurant in this town. He said that EverGlade didn't need a big city pony like myself trying to extort the townsfolk with mediocre food."

In reality Clover had forgotten about that. She recalled to herself that the reason why she had starting working at Whisky's restaurant was to spite her father. "Hey but he eventually let you open the place right? That means he may have started to like you."

The stallion couldn't help but smirk at that. "Clover look, you know I love you and one of the things I love most about you is how simple you think the world is." Clover Leaf raised her hoof as if her intent was to strike Whisky in the face again. "Not the face! Not the face!" She moved her hoof with the intent to strike him in a lower region of his body. "OKAY THE FACE THE FACE!"

Clover put her hoof back on the ground and laughed. "One of the things I love about you is how defensive you can be when something you love is put in harms way."

"Right now can I finish what I was saying before without any threat to my stallion hood or my future children?" Clover playfully nodded her head. "Your father only let me open my restaurant after my fifteenth attempt at asking him and under the condition that he set the prices at my restaurant for the first year and..." Whisky suddenly stopped and turned his head. "Clover did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I don't know sounded like a mare was yelling for help." Whisky turned his entire body in the direction of the yell.

"Oh no, don't think that you can get out of meeting my father that easily." She pushed Whisky back in the direction of her home.

"But but but..." Was all Whisky was able to stammer.

"Nuh uh. No buts, ifs, or whats. Now come on we don't wan't to keep daddy waiting."

The Sheriff ran outside to get a better look at the oncoming threat. Rainbow Dash and Top Notch ran out behind them and turned their eyes to the sky. Little dots could be seen moving towards the town from all directions. The Sheriff took to the sky with Rainbow Dash behind him.

The peagsus mare squinted her eyes to try and make out the shapes dots in the distance better. There was no doubt about it. All the figures in the distance were changelings. "Uh Sheriff you wouldn't happen to have any plans on how to deal with this would you?

"What, you mean one of the Elements of Harmony who help defend the royal city of Canterlot doesn't know what to do against what I'm guessing is five dozen changelings? I guess your role really was minor."

Despite the threat looming over the town Rainbow Dash wasn't about to let the insult slide. "Hey! At least I have some experience with fighting these things! I didn't just sit around like a lazy old pony reading reports about what others before me did! I have field experience when it comes to a full on changeling attack."

"Alright well what does your field experience tell you we should do first then!?"

"Uh well the first thing we should do is...um...you wouldn't happen to have a unicorn around here that's good with shield spells would you?" The Sheriff stared back at her with a dismal look on his face. "I take it that's a no then?"

"I knew it! You don't know what you're doing do you? All you're good for is trying to be a hero even if it means getting in the way of others. The reason why you're here is probably cause you got kicked out of the last town you were in! I swear I knew you were nothing but trouble since the first time I laid eyes on you. To make matters even worse you're trying to drag down Top Notch with you! You're nothing but a phony, a liar, and a pathetic mare that turns everything she touches to dust! I swear that..." The Sheriff found himself being tackled through the air by a changeling.

Rainbow Dash tracked the two with with her eyes and smiled. "Sometimes the universe just gives you a freebe." She winked at the sky and then flew off in the direction of the changeling and the Sheriff.

"You are Whiskylifa, the one my daughter is apparently infatuated with?"

"Yes sir."

"Forgive me for forgetting but aren't you also the owner of the restaurant that she works at?"

"Right again sir."

"The same restaurant owner who arrived three years ago from Manehatten and pestered me for the longest time to approve the construction of that restaurant?"

"Yeah that would me be me...uh sir!" Even with Clover Leaf standing next to him Whisky was having trouble keeping a smile on for the elder unicorn stallion in front of him. "Excuse me Mr. ..."

"Allium Bouvardia, Mayor Allium Bouvardia. I thought with how long you were dating my daughter you'd know my name by now." It was apparent that Clover's father was not at all amused with the situation. Clover had interrupted her father's work session in his office and insisted that he meet Whisky right then and there. He was an older pony with a brown coat and long tidy white mane who had definitely seen better days.

"Right excuse me Mayor Bouvardia but perhaps we could sit and talk about this. Its just that it was sort of a long walk here so perhaps we could sit while we have our conversation?" Whisky's face was practically hurting now from how long he had been smiling.

"Hmm I suppose that would be customary wouldn't it? Very well come along with me and lets continue this little 'Meet and Greet' in the common room shall we?" Mayor Bouvardia made his way out of his office leaving Whisky and Clover a moment to themselves.

"See Whisky! I told you he'd like you!" Clover gave him a smile as she led the way to the next room.

"Clover you must have a different definition of the word 'Like' from the rest of the world." He followed his marefriend into the next room realizing that it was going to be a long day.

"You know it's going to be a long day if you keep getting your ass kicked like this old man." Rainbow Dash wrapped her forelegs around a changeling that had pounced on the Sheriff. She then lifted the bug into the air and brought it down hard with suplex. "Ha, Rarity said I was wasting me time going to those wrestling matches!" The celebration was cut short as the pegasus mare was jumped by another changeling from behind.

"Nope! Not going to be that easy bug breath!" She flipped her attacker over her so to get it into position. The bug quickly turned around and attempted to deliver a punch but Rainbow Dash blocked it and in another second delivered a quick kick to its stomach. She followed that up with a snap DDT and the changeling was knocked out instantly. "That's makes three changelings compared to your one Sheriff Silver Point."

"Girl if you would shut the buck up for a moment and let me concentrate I would be able to fight better. But no you got to keep running your darn mouth off!" He wrestled with a changeling and was visibly locked in a grapple stalemate with the bug.

Rainbow Dash rolled hr eyes and focused on another changeling flying straight at her. "Oh I've been dying to try this move out for the longest time!" She waited for her attacker to get closer and then at the last possible moment she sidestepped. As the changeling was passing her she wrapped one of her forelegs around its neck and then spun horizontally with it. Both slammed hard into the ground and were laid out on their backs with the only difference between the pony and the bug being that Rainbow Dash was able to stand. "I've been trying to do that neck breaker for the longest time now. How you holding up old man?"

"Me? Oh I'm in between joyful and peachy right about now." An opening finally appeared for Sheriff Silver Point. He socked the changeling hard in the chin and followed it up by turning around and bucking the creature hard in the chest knocking it against the wall. Both pony fighters got a few seconds of reprieve. "Girl you mind telling me where you learned to fight like that?"

"Me and my friends Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie would always go to wrestling matches when the EEW visited our town."

"All those fancy moves just to knock a pony out? No thanks I think I just sticking to bucking my opponents in the chest. Works just as well in my opinion."

For the first time since Rainbow Dash had arrived in EverGlade she shared a laugh with the Sheriff. "You didn't take any brain damage when that changeling tackled you into that building did you? Never thought I'd see the day when you and me would see eye to eye."

"That makes two of us then. Don't get to used it since I'm probably not thinking straight right now." The Sheriff looked above Rainbow Dash and saw another wave of attackers approaching them. "We'll these old bones of mine still have some fight in them."

Rainbow Dash popped the joints in her neck. "I've always wanted to perform a senton bomb on an airborn opponent before."

"Is it your intent to perhaps one day marry my daughter Whiksylifa?"

Whisky choked on his water. Clover had to pat him on the back to get him to stop coughing. "M-Mar-rry?"

"Hmm Clover Leaf would you be a dear and refill your coltfrie...I mean Whiskylifa's water glass please?"

"Right away daddy!" Clover got up from her seat next to Whisky and levitated his glass in front of her as she left the room.

When she was presumably out of earshot Mayor Bouvardia spoke in a more stern voice. "What intentions do you have with my daughter then Whiksylifa if you don't intend to marry her? I would hate to think that you are only using her for your own pleasure."

"What? No no no no no! It's not like that all Mayor Bouvardia! I really do love your daughter and would never take advantage of her like that no matter how persistent she is about it! I just think that marriage is thinking too far ahead right now. I mean maybe one day if I get the chance I would like to marry her but as of right now I think we're fine as it is for the time being."

"So in other words you have no clue what it is you want to do with your life. Am I correct to assume this Whiskylifa?" The old stallion didn't seem to be letting up.

"Well I wouldn't say that is correct because I do own a successful business right now and..."

"Successful business. Being a little egotistic don't you think young man?"

Whisky had heard enough. There was no dancing around the pony in front of him lightly. He took and deep and cleared his mind before he spoke. "Look Mayor Bouvardia. I don't wan't to waste any more time so can you please just tell me what it is that you want from me?"

"At the moment I just want whats best for my daughter. That's all I've ever wanted for her ever since my wife left me when Clover Leaf was still just a filly. Nothing that you've brought to the table so far has convinced me that you are what's best for her. She needs a stallion that can keep her safe, support her, and at the moment I just don't think that's you. I'm sorry if Clover Leaf had you waste your time coming here on this fruitless mission. You may finish your glass of water and then leave my daughter alone for the remainder of your days." As if on cue Clover Leaf walked back in with a full glass of water held in her magics aura.

As she was about to hand Whisky his drink she suddenly dropped the glass and pointed her hoof at the rooms window. "LOOK OUT!"

Before the stallions in the room had time to react a changeling smashed through the glass and slammed hard into Whisky knocking him into onto the hardwood floor. Clover moved towards Whisky but her father pushed her into a corner of the room and then shielded her with his body. "Close your eyes Clover and don't open them no matter what!"

The changeling lunged at the elder stallion and young mare. The rest happened as if in slow motion as Whisky quickly got off the ground and ran towards Clover and her father jumping in front of them. "No you don't!" He caught the bug in open hooves and they rolled on the floor. Finally Whisky found himself on top and began to deliver quick punches to the bug's head until it stopped struggling.

Whisky got off of the changeling and made his way to the Mayor and Clover. The latter burst from behind her father and wrapped her hooves around his neck. They shared a kiss that was interrupted by a cough from the Mayor who was now slouching against the wall. "Well Whiskylifa, that was certainly unexpected wasn't it?"

"Sure was and for the record you can just call me Whisky."

Clover Leaf made her way to the broken window and looked outside. "Daddy I think the whole towns under attack!"

Mayor Bouvardia thought for a moment before speaking. "We better get to the Sheriff's office. I'm sure we'll be safe there!"

Whisky moved to help the Mayor onto his hooves. Suddenly the downed changeling sprung back into life and charged at the two stallions. It never had to chance to harm it's victims as it was bashed in the head multiple times by one of the chairs in the room. The chair was encased in Clover's magic aura and she continued bringing the chair down on the bugs head until the weapon itself broke and by that time the changeling had been knocked out cold.

Both Whisky and Mayor Bouvardia looked at her with confusion on their faces. "What?" Clover asked. "Mom always used to take me to see The Stalliongrad War Machine at the Equestrian Entertainment Wrestling fights when ever I went to visit her in Baltimare."

Remembering Loyalty

Chapter 15: Remembering Loyalty

"...Rainbow Dash..."

"Rainbow Dash..."

"Hey Rainbow Dash! Come on wake up!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open as she let out a loud scream. The world was blurry as her pupils began to adjust themselves to the light. "Hey Rainbow Dash, are you alright?" The panicked pegasus paid no heed to the voice that was speaking. When her eyes finished adjusting themselves she looked around her surroundings. She was no longer plummeting towards a watery death, instead she was sitting on wooden steps with a book in her hooves.

"You sure you didn't hit your head on your way over here Rainbow Dash?" A glance down revealed the source of the voice. A familiar lavender colored pony stood at the bottom of the steps looking up at her.

"Twilight?" Rainbow looked in disbelief at the pony who she once considered her friend. "Is that really you?"

Twilight Sparkle gave her pegasus companion an engrossed look. "Of course its me. How many other purple alicorn princesses do you know?"

"Uh..."

"Wait let me answer that for you, none. As for alicorn princesses however you know three others. When it comes to how many other purple ponies you know, fifty-seven."

There was no doubting it anymore, Twilight was definitely the one speaking to Rainbow Dash. How exactly that was possible was what left Rainbow Dash confused. "Twilight how did I get here?"

"Get where?"

"Here! How am I in your library back in PonyVille!?" A quick glance around her confirmed Rainbow's assumption that she was indeed in Twilight's library. "I was all the way in the North West flying from a swarm of..."

"Woah woah woah! Hold on, you were in the North West, as in the North West Frontier?" Rainbow Dash nodded her head quickly. "I'm sorry Rainbow but I don't think that's possible. The North West Frontier is days away from PonyVille by train. Besides you told me before you dozed off that you came here from Sugar Cube Corner. Are you sure you weren't just dreaming?"

Something strange had just happened, for a moment it sounded like Twilight had spoken in two voices. "Don't you remember Rainbow Dash? You came over here so that we could go have dinner together. You said that I agreed to pay for both of us which quite frankly I don't remember agreeing to at all. I was busy reorganizing the pony history section of the library so you decided to read one of the Daring Do books while I finished."

Everything seemed unreal to Rainbow Dash. "Wait, so what you're saying is that I've been here the whole time while you worked?"

Rainbow Dash dropped the book and put both hooves to her mouth. She had also just briefly spoken in two voices. "Correct. I was coming to tell you that I was finished but I noticed that you had fallen asleep. I assumed you were just coming off whatever sugar high you were on from over at Sugar Cube. Anyway I'm famished, want to get going?"

Not knowing what else to say Rainbow Dash got up the steps and made her way down to meet Twilight. "Sure I guess. Besides if you're buying then who am I to pass up on free food?" She let out a brief false laugh.

"Same old Rainbow Dash." Twilight gave her a warm smile before opening the front door of the library and stepping outside. She turned to one of three guards who were standing guard outside of the library. "Come along sir's, me and my friend are ready for you to escort us to our destination." They acknowledged and moved into formation around her.

Before Rainbow followed her friend out she glanced back over to the book on the floor that she had supposedly been reading. She read the title of the book and became confused. "Huh? That's weird." She said out loud.

"What's weird Rainbow Dash?"

"That book I was reading, I thought I finished that Daring Do a year ago."

"Unless you can perform time traveling spells then that is highly unlikely Rainbow Dash. That Daring Do book was just released last week."

Something was definitely off but Rainbow Dash couldn't put her hoof on it. She shrugged her shoulders and headed out of the library.

The walk through PonyVille could of been described as, weird. The town seemed so familiar and yet so foreign at the same time. While there wasn't any drastic changes there were still some pretty big differences. One of them being that when Rainbow Dash had left PonyVille for EverGlade it had been summer. The town looked liked it was currently in the last stages of winter. "Definitely weird." Rainbow Dash muttered.

Twilight had picked her own favorite restaurant in town to have dinner at. Both friends walked inside and where they were shown to their table. Rainbow Dash noticed how the wait staff as well as the other customers had looked Twilight's way when the Princess had arrived on scene. Rainbow Dash and Twilight didn't even have to wait in line with the other potential customers. Once the pony running the reservations up front had seen a mare with both wings and a horn he had ushered Twilight along with her companion into the restaurant.

"Sure must be nice having ponies kiss up you all the time." Rainbow said in a low murmur.

"Oh not really it starts to lose it's charm after the fist hundred or so ponies. After that it just becomes repetitive seeing them all try and get on your good side." Rainbow's face was reddening, she hadn't expected Twilight to hear that. "Really makes you think though about the loyalty of ponies to one another in Equestria. Before my coronation I was loved by those around me but that's it. One crown and a pair of wings later and suddenly it seems like the whole of Equestria loves me now including those who have never even met me or even seen a picture of me. It's all so mesmerizing and a bit confusing to say the least." Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash and saw a look of confusion on her friends face. "Oh look at me, here I am supposed to be enjoying dinner with one of my best friends and all I've managed to accomplish in the span of a few minutes is confuse her. Sorry about that Rainbow Dash I didn't mean to bother you with my own burdens."

Rainbow was definitely confused but not from her friends ramblings. When the pair arrived at their table, which was located right in the middle of the restaurant surrounded by the other patrons, they were left alone with menu's. The friends looked over what they wanted to order in silence. Rainbow couldn't help but stare at the alicorn across the table. Something in the back of the pegasus's mind kept screaming at her but she couldn't figure out what it was.

"Hey there honey, you two ready to order yet?"

"Clover Leaf!?" Rainbow Dash looked to her side expecting to see her unicorn friend. Instead an elderly earth pony mare waitress stood in front of her.

"Have you made your choice yet your highness?" The waitress looked at Twilight while simply ignoring Rainbow Dash. "If you wish I could assist you by recommending some of the house specials."

Twilight closed her menu and shot their server a smile. "No that won't be necessary Ms. I already know exactly what I want to order. What about you Rainbow Dash? Have you decided what you want to order?"

The waitress turned her attention to the Pegasus at the other end. "Yeah, I'll just have what Twilight's having."

This response made Twilight clap her hooves joyfully. "Okay so that'll be two tulip and strawberry salads please with water to drink." Both friends closed their menus and handed them to the waitress.

Just as the waitress was about to leave Rainbow Dash put a hoof out to momentarily stop her and spoke to her in a hushed voice. "Hey, instead of water let me have your strongest Apple Family hard cider."

The waitress smiled and whispered back. "Oh don't worry honey, I know you ain't for all that fancy salad and stuff that your friend ordered. I'll make sure to send you an order of hay fries along with the salad. Despite her taste in good food your friend there seems like an awfully nice pony." The earth pony mare walked away without saying anything else. Rainbow's vision blurred and for a brief moment it looked like the waitress had taken on the form of Clover Leaf.

Rainbow Dash felt her heart rate begin to speed up. "What the..."

"So how have things been with you lately Rainbow Dash? It seems like we hardly get the chance to talk any more because of my extended castle stays. I've been meaning to work up the courage to ask Princess Celestia if I can perform royal work from the library or maybe even town hall."

"Me? Oh you know just same old same old. I've just been hanging around PonyVille doing weather jobs and stuff like that. What about you Twilight? What you been up to?"

Twilight didn't answer right away. She seemed to play with her hooves for a few moments before finally speaking. "Oh you just royal...princess...duties." A slight frown appeared on Twilight's face. "Rainbow do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Ask me what Twilight?"

"It's just that...hmmmf! It's just that Princess Celestia has decided to put me in charge of next years kingdom finances. I'm expected to make budget cuts but I just don't know what to cut from the kingdoms spending! Everything seems so important and no matter what I do some pony is going to end up on the losing end. The Princess said I need to make the decision on my own but I was wondering if maybe you had any ideas?"

Rainbow wanted to say something in response but realized that for whatever reason she couldn't speak. Her whole body went numb and began moving by itself. Rainbow Dash had lost all control of her senses. Her body now acted on it's own and it began to speak back to Twilight as Rainbow could only watch as the scene played out in front of her.

"Twilight..."

"I know I know i'm a terrible pony and a terrible Princess for having to ask my best friend to share some of my own burden. It's just that...i'm...really scared...i'm scared that what I end up doing will be the wrong choice and that every one will hate me, Equestria, the Princesses , my friends..." Twilight at this point was choking back her tears.

"Its just that I wanted to ask you because..." Twilight took a deep breath before continuing. "...because you've always been so loyal and I just figured that nothing I did would ever get you to stop being my friend."

Tears were now streaming down Twilight's face. Rainbow Dash handed her a napkin to wipe her eyes with. "Oh look at what I've done. I've ruined what was supposed to be a pleasant meal between friends. You must hate me now don't you Rainbow Dash? Some princess I turned out to be."

"No." Rainbow Dash got up from the table and moved towards Twilight's side.

"Rainbow Dash? What are you..." Rainbow slapped Twilight hard across the face with her hoof before making her back to her seat. "Rainbow Dash what gives!? That really hurt!" The rest of the restaurant patrons stared in disbelief with their mouths open as three royal guards rushed towards the princess's attacker. Twilight put a hoof up to stop them. "Stand down sir's i'm alright."

"Are you sure mi'lady?" One of the white stallions asked.

"I'm quite sure, i'm in no imminent threat at the moment. Now please return to your posts, I would very much like to continue dinner with my friend." The three guards bowed and left the scene as the other patrons went back to their own businesses. Twilight turned back to look at Rainbow Dash who was playing with the silver ware. "Well?"

"Well what?" Twilight pointed to the pink hoof shaped bruise on her cheek. "Oh right, that..." Rainbow Dash put her two for hooves together and took a deep breath. "Well some pony had to smack some sense into you! Look Twi, I can tell you right now that there is nothing in this world that will make me stop being your friend. I will always be loyal to you, always. The same goes for all our other friends too, we will always be there for you Twilight through the good and the bad. Through out all of our adventures me, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy have always put our faith in you. Maybe it's time you started putting a little faith in yourself. Princess Celestia made you her star student for a reason. You know what? I know that one day you'll be a greater princess then either Celestia, Luna, or Cadance combined!"

"You really mean that Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow Dash simply nodded her head. "Thank you Rainbow Dash, really you don't know how much that means to me right now."

Rainbow Dash suddenly regained control of her body and her senses. Her eyes went wide and she put her hooves up in front of her face. In her mind she had watched what had just occurred play out like a motion picture. "Twilight, what just..."

"Here you are Princess Twilight, one tulip and strawberry salad with a glass a water." The waitress took the food off a platter on her back and put it down in front of Twilight. The earth pony mare then made her way to Rainbow Dash. "Here you are Rainbow, tulip and strawberry salad with some hay fries on the side. Oh and one mug of the strongest Apple Family hard cider this place has." After setting Rainbow's dinner on the table the waitress left the two friends be.

"Oooo looks this looks delicious!" Twilight levitated her fork and knife and began digging into to her food. Rainbow Dash simply sat and stared her friend in silence.

It took some time but Rainbow Dash finally found her voice to speak again. "Twilight, this isn't right."

Twilight looked up from her plate and swallowed down her food. "What isn't right? Your order? Yeah I wondering that myself. I don't remember you ordering any hay fries or hard cider. If you want we can get the waitress to..."

"No! I'm not talking about my food, i'm talking about everything!"

"Rainbow Dash, what in Equestria are you talking about?"

"I'm not supposed to be here right now! I'm supposed to be in EverGlade right now! I'm supposed to be helping them fight off a changeling attack. I'm need to get back to Sheriff Silver Point, the mayor, Whisky, and Clover Leaf. I need to make sure that Top Notch is safe..."

Twilight wanted to speak but Rainbow Dash put a hoof up to stop her. A tear fell into her salad as Rainbow Dash looked at the confused alicorn in front of her. "Most importantly though is that I'm not supposed to be your friend right now Twilight."

"You don't want to be my friend Rainbow Dash? But you just said..."

"I KNOW WHAT I SAID!" Rainbow yelled at the top of her lungs. "We're not friends Twilight, at least not right now. It's not that I don't want to be your friend. I don't know exactly what's happening but this time that we got to spend together as friends again makes me wish that this was real but something in the back of my mind I know that it's not."

Rainbow Dash looked around expecting to see the other ponies in the restaurant staring at them. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and looked in disbelief. The other patrons weren't looking their way. Instead they seemed to be frozen in place. "What's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious Rainbow Dash?"

"Huh?

"It's finally time for you to wake up. Good bye Rainbow Dash..."

Author's Note

My apologies for the short update this week after the small hiatus.

Loss

Chapter 16: Loss

"AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Rainbow Dash sat straight up breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She immediately clutched the right side of her head with a hoof as a throbing pain forced her to shut her eyes again.

"Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow's eyes shot open as she recognized the voice. She turned to face the source of the voice. At her side were both Whisky and Clover Leaf. "Rainbow Dash?" Whisky asked again. "Are you alright or...OW!" Whisky winced in pain as Clover delivered a quick punch to his shoulder.

"Well of course she's not 'Alright'! You where there when they found her. You saw the condition she was in. Heck just look at her right now and tell me if she's "Alright'? Honestly Whisky sometimes I worry about goes on in the little skull of yours."

"Hey um guys..." The couple seemed to ignore Rainbow Dash.

"Well EXCUSE me Clover, before you punched me I was going to ask if she wanted me to go get the doctor. Also of course I know she's not 'Alright'! What do you think I am blind? A pony just has to take one look at her wing and see that she's doing good!"

Rainbow Dash looked to her side and saw that indeed her right wing was not in the best of conditions. It was bandaged and set in a caste. It didn't take an egg head to realize what had happened to her wing. "Um guys?"

"Well no duh Whisky, I know you ain't blind cause a blind pony wouldn't of bumped an unconscious pony's head four times as he was carrying her up towards her bed!"

A quick glance and Rainbow Dash noticed that she was indeed sitting in her bed at Top Notch's house.

"Well maybe I wouldn't of bumped her head if a certain unicorn hadn't been pushing me from behind to hurry up!"

"Oh, so this is all my fault now is it?"

"Seems like it."

"How in Equestria did I ever get the idea that you were a gentle colt?"

"How in Equestria did I ever hire such a hot headed mare to work at my restaurant?"

The couple stared furiously at one another in silence before their glares without warning suddenly disovled into loving glances at each other.

"I love you." Both said at the exact same time before leaning into to each other.

They failed to lock lips on account of Rainbow Dash holding them apart with her hooves. "GUYS! Okay first off please don't 'do it' in front of me right now. I'm already pretty beat up and confused so I really don't need to see that." Both Whisky and Clover blushed heavily before apologizing and moving a apart from each other. "Moving on, why were you guys screaming when I woke up?"

"Honey we were screaming because you suddenly sat straight up in bed with your eyes open and screamed at the top of your lungs. Gave me and Whisky a good jump and we just couldn't help but scream. Also um sorry about me and Whisky preparing to get more 'intimate' right in front of you. It just that a lot has happened in the last few days and I guess we sort of got caught up in the heat of the moment and..."

"Clover, don't take this the wrong way but I really don't care about that right now. You and Whisky just go get a room or a closet later." Clover Leaf and Whisky nodded. "I have a couple questions for you two."

"Go ahead and ask us anything you want Rainbow Dash." Whisky replied.

"Okay so how did I get here? Last thing I remember was taking a steep nose dive in Horseshoe Bend with a hoard of changelings behind me."

Whisky rubbed the back of his head his with hoof before answering. "Right well after you took off to go find the device that Thatcher told us about Top Notch came down stairs and told us what you were planning to do. Top Notch wanted to head out immediately and follow you but we stopped him and reasoned it would be best to wait until the changelings left town and followed you. So we waited some time and after we agreed it was safe we headed out with a group of towns folk towards Horseshoe Bend to go look for you. Top Notch and Sheriff Silver Point took one group North of the river and me along with Clover Leaf took another group South of the river. Once we finally got to the river we searched the rest of the day for you. We were just about to call it a night and come back in the morning when suddenly a pegasus saw you brushed up underneath some reeds at the shoreline. Your wing was pretty messed up but you were still breathing. Clover levitated you onto my back and we made our way back here as fast as we could."

"Honey you got lucky. When the doctor finally arrived he said that it was miracle that you were alive. He began to explain how given the current conditions your nose dive into the water would of killed any other pegasus."

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but smile at that. "Well i'm not just any other pegasus." A sudden thought appeared in Rainbow Dash's mind. "Wait, what about Thatcher? What happened to that asshole?"

"Yeah about that...we really don't know how it happened but he managed to get away." Whisky looked over to Clover who simply shrugged her shoulders.

"It's like this honey, when we split off into parties to go look for you we left the little weasel tied up back at the Sheriff's Station with two ponies guarding him. The two guards heard some noise in the alley next to the station and went to investigate but found only an over turned trash can. When they got back inside they saw that Thatcher was gone."

Whisky blew some his mane from out of his face. "If you ask me the coward ran off in order to avoid a trial in front of the Princesses. I'm pretty sure we'll never see his ugly face around these parts again." Rainbow Dash tried to get out of bed but Whisky put a hoof up to stop her. "Easy there Rainbow Dash. You don't want to over exert yourself right now seeing as you've technically been out for about a whole day."

"Where's Top Notch?" Rainbow Dash asked in a low voice.

Both Whisky and Clover looked at each other. Whisky looked quizzically at Clover Leaf and she simply nodded her head. "After we found you we sent a pegasus to go tell Top Notch and his party to meet us back at his home." The stallion tilted his head and smiled for a brief second. "I'm not lying when I say that he got back here before us. He must of ran at full gallop to accomplish that. When the towns doctor finished bandaging you up Top Notch stayed at your side all never left you for those two nights and day that you were out. I swear that stallion was really worried about you Rainbow Dash. I mean the whole town was worried for you but you could tell that he really cares about you...you're real special to him."

"I don't get it." Rainbow Dash despite Whisky and Clover attempts to keep her in the bed got up and slowly stood on all four hooves. "If he never left my side then how come he's not here right now and what do you mean that the whole town was worried for me?"

"Well to answer your first question Rainbow, the reason why he's not here is because me and Whisky told him to take a breather and grab some chow. He barely ate the whole time he was at your side. It took a few hours of convincing but we finally got him to go outside and take a break. As for the whole town being worried about you, how about you step over and open your window?"

Rainbow Dash looked at both of them confused as to why they had smile on their faces. She walked over to the window and pushed it open sticking her head outside. As soon as her head out she was barraged by cheers and applause from a few dozen ponies standing outside. They whistled and stamped their hooves in celebration upon seeing the pegasus awake. Rainbow was taken back by the display. "What...what's going on?"

Whisky walked up and put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "They're happy to see that you're okay Rainbow. The whole town knows what you did. Rainbow Dash...you're a hero to this town."

Hero

It was all too much for Rainbow Dash to handle as she brought her head back inside the house and closed the window before sitting back down on the bed. "I'm a hero to this town. I'm a hero again...a hero."

"You sure are honey! Heck even Sheriff Silver Point won't doubt it. In fact when we brought you back here he gave us strict orders to make sure that you were taken care of. I'd say you definitely won him over!"

Rainbow Dash contemplated what she just heard. Despite all she had been though over the past few years she managed to prove that she still had what it took to be a hero. "Then how come I don't feel like a hero?" She said to herself in a low voice so that Whisky and Clover wouldn't hear her.

The realization dawned on her and she turned to face the two ponies in the room with her. "Where's Top Notch?"

It was Whisky who answered her. "He said he was going out for a walk and that he'd be back in an hour but..."

"...but that was six hours ago." Clover finished. "We don't know where he is right now. We sent out a few ponies to look for him but no one has been able to find him."

Rainbow Dash suddenly gt off the bed and made her way to the door. "I'm going to go look for him."

With out a moments hesitation Clover Leaf rushed over and blocked the door. "In your condition? I don't think so. Besides if we don't even know where he is then what chance do you have of finding him?"

"Well actually that's not entirely true." Both mares turned to look at him. "I might have an idea about where he is."

The sun was beginning to set as Rainbow Dash slowly walked in the direction that Whisky had pointed to her. She had turned down their offer of accompanying her stating that it would be best if she went alone to find Top Notch. Rainbow had been walking for what seemed like an hour before she finally came to a landmark that Whisky had described to her. There in the middle of the scrub land were stunning pink and yellow flowering tree's surrounded by beautiful green grass.

Rainbow Dash carefully made her way into the grove and stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted Top Notch sitting still in front of what seemed like two curved polish stones. Rainbow just stood in her spot silent for a few minutes watching him as she mustered up the courage to speak. "Top Notch..." She finally spoke.

The stallion quickly turned his head to face Rainbow Dash and rushed over to her embracing her in a tight hug. "Rainbow Dash! Thank the heavens your okay! I thought for a moment back there we had lost you."

Tears fell on Rainbow's coat which surprised her. She patted Top Notch on the back trying to calm him down. "Hey...it's not like I wasn't going to be okay. Don't you remember who I am? Rainbow Dash, the most awesome flyer in all of Equestria! A girl's got to keep her reputation you know?"

Top Notch let her out of the embrace and looked at her with a dismayed look on his face. He stared at her and she stared right back. He wiped his eyes and turned away from her making his way back to the two stones. "You act like what you do doesn't affect those around you. Tell me, did you ever stop to think about what you family and friends would go through if you didn't come out alive from that stunt you pulled?"

Rainbow was taken back his sudden change in attitude. "Top Notch I..."

"Why did you do it?"

"I did it because the town was about to be destroyed by a hoard of changelings! It really was a no brainer..."

"NO!" Top Notch shouted. He turned back to look at Rainbow Dash, anger mixed with confusion visible in his eyes. "No, I mean why did you forgive Whisky back at the Sheriff's Station after what he did behind our backs? Even though he's the one that brought you back I haven't fully forgiven him for what he did. How come you did?"

Pain

Turmoil

Ire

These were all things that Rainbow Dash saw looking at Top Notch. She slowly walked up and put him in a hug. "The reason I forgave Whisky for what he did is because back there in the alley when you were telling me about how angry you were at him I saw something. The way you were acting was the same way that I had probably been acting myself a few years ago. You said I have no idea what's it like to feel betrayed by a best friend but I do and I know what could happen if that anger at a friend is left to boil over time. I forgave him because I didn't want you to lose your friendship with him the way I lost one of my best friends."

Any anger that Top Notch felt evaporated in an instant. He pulled Rainbow Dash into a tighter hug and let himself cry again. "I've been a fool haven't I?"

"No, you were just looking out for me. I don't need other ponies doing that for me but it doesn't hurt to feel cared about." Rainbow Dash again began patting the stallion on the back in an effort to calm him down. She looked around the grove and then at the two stones in the middle. "Top Notch, what exactly in this place?"

Top Notch took a deep breath to calm himself and then spoke. "This is where my mom and dad are buried."

"Your mom and dad?"

"Yeah."

"So those two stones are their..."

"Yeah."

Rainbow Dash got out of the embrace and nudged her way towards the two headstones. She noticed that their was something noticeably missing from the polished stones. "What were their names?"

"My dad's name was Wrought Notch. As you can probably guess i'm sorta named after him. My mom's name was Gilliflower Apple. I think you can put two and two together and figure out which one of my parents came from the Apple side of the family."

Both ponies stood there in the middle of the orchard for some time in complete silence after that. Rainbow had another question she wanted to ask but didn't get the chance to ask. "I bet you're wondering why these trees are here in the middle of the scrub land or how they're growing here in the first place." Rainbow Dash silently nodded her head. "Well these tree's are actually two different type of tree's. The ones with yellow flowers are Sassafras trees and the ones with pink flowers are Red bud trees. They were always my mom's favorites so I decided to plant them here. There's an underground spring that my dad discovered here when I was a little colt. Next to the base of the tree's a little stream of water so they don't dry up, I come by every couple of months and tend to the trees to make sure they're doing okay."

"Top Notch, I don't mean to sound rude but..."

"I know you weren't really wondering why these trees are here or how they're here. It's just that I prefer to tell that story to the one that I'm about to tell you right now. You were going to ask me how my parent died right?"

"Yeah."

"Not a lot of ponies know about this cause I don't really tell any one about it. Those who know already I have no reason in telling again and those who don't know wouldn't really care. I guess you deserve to hear this story though since you technically fall under a special category of pony."

Top looked over and saw that Rainbow Dash was looking at him with sympathetic look on her face, he smiled at that. "It happened a few years ago when there was an EVA pandemic going around the North West..."

***

Nine Years Ago...

"Please you have to let me speak to her! I've already waited four days, I can't afford to wait any longer!" The young stallion stared at the line of royal guards that blocked Canterlots throne room. They looked at the colt unflinching in their ranks. When he got no answer Top Notch attempted to push his way through the guards but was violently thrown back onto the palace floor.

One of the guards broke formation and went to stand in front of pony splayed out on the ground. "Sir, you've already been informed numerous times that you must wait until it is your turn for consultation." The guard raised a hoof and moved it through the air across the room. "As you can see there are still a significant number of ponies that came before you that are also wishing for consultation with her highness."

The guard now looked down at Top Notch. "How do you think it would look like if I, a Lieutenant Commander of the Canterlot Royal Guard, let some hot headed colt just jump to the front of the line? Wouldn't sound very good or seem very fair would it? Now how about you head back to your designated area. We will retrieve you when it is your turn for consultation."

The Lt. Commander turned around and made his way back to the formation of guards. Top Notch picked hims self off of the floor and with out thinking rushed the Lt. Commander. "I already told you that I can't wait any longer!" The guard without warning spun around and smacked Top Notch onto the ground with the blunt end of his spear.

"It is ill advised that continue down this path young man. Any further act of aggression with result in your banishment from the palace grounds. Consider this your final warning."

Just as the guard turned around he felt a hoof on his back. "Please...I have to see the Princess right now. It's my parents, they're dying." Top Notch's eyes were swelling up with tears and his whole body was shaking. "I promised them that I would get help no matter what it took."

"Please...please...let me see Princess Celestia. I beg you!" The young colt broke down in sadness on the floor sobbing quietly.

Not knowing what to do the Lt. Commander looked back at his subordinates, they all looked at the crying colt on the floor and shrugged their shoulders. A minute passed before the Lt. Commander spoke again. "Wait here while I fetch my superior to decided what to do with you." The pony left the room and after some time returned with another stallion in gold and purple armor.

The new pony had something whispered into his ear by the Lt. Commander and nodded his head before making his way to Top Notch. "I am Regal Lance, Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard. As I understand it you wish to speak with Princess Celestia right now because your parents lives are in danger?"

"Yes."

"I'm afraid that I can not allow you to proceed in front of those that came before you..."

"No, you have to make an exception! It took me five days to reach this city by train! I've already wasted enough time waiting for my consultation! If you won't allow me to talk to her then I'll just break into her thrown room myself and..."

Regal Lance put a hoof up to silence the young stallion. "As I was saying, I can not allow you to proceed in front of those who came before you without the Princess's approval first. I shall speak to her and if she allows it then we will let you speak with her ahead of schedule. Is this to your liking?"

"Heck yeah...I mean yes, that is very much to my liking. Thank you."

The Captain left and entered through the large double doors into the throne room and disappeared as the doors closed behind him. For Top Notch minutes felt like hours as he waited for the Captain to reappear. He felt light headed and his breathing was shallow as he stared at the large double doors.

Finally the doors opened again and the Captain stood in between them. "I have talked to Princess Celestia and she has agreed to a priority consultation with you. You may proceed into the throne room." The line of guards broke and made an opening in their ranks for Top Notch to pass through.

Top Notch got off of the floor quickly and hurried into the throne room. As soon as he passed into the room the doors closed behind him. In the room

"Greetings young colt." Celestia smiled at him as she sat on her throne .

"Er um...greetings to you too your majesty." Top Notch cautiously made his way towards the throne. "Thank you so much for meeting with me Princess Celestia."

Celestia's smile seemed to widen even more. "Of course I would meet with you. My Captain tells me that you wish consultation for your parents. I will gladly hear you out but please come closer, you will find that I do not bite." She giggled a little at her own joke before her face took on a more serious expression. "Now tell me, what is causing so much turmoil for you and your parents?"

"My parents are dying Princess, they've both been diagnosed with the EVA disease and the doctors said that they'll die without the proper treatment."

"The EVA virus, yes a most deadly disease if left unchecked. I am aware that there is an epidemic of the disease in the North West of Equestria. Tell me young colt, are you from the North West?"

"Yes Princess, I live in a small town called EverGlade with my parents. We run a small dairy farm and..." Top Notch didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Celestia rose from her throne and began walking toward Top Notch.

She stopped in front of him and gave him a curious look. "Are you not aware that medication and vaccines exist to combat that virus. I made it priority long ago that all settlements, towns, and cities in Equestria have access to the best medical supplies available."

"That's just the thing though Princess! This EVA that my parents have contracted, the doctors say it's a new strain of the virus that they've never seen or heard about before. The virus is immune to all the medication that they've given my parents."

"I see, this I was not aware of. Thank you for bringing this to my attention however if the doctors can not help your parents then what do you wish to gain from a consultation with me?"

Top Notch steadied his nerves and took a deep breath knowing that what he was about to say would probably sound blasphemous. "The doctors say that they can't combat the virus normally in time to save my parents. They reasoned though that powerful magic could boost the potency of the medication that they have. They said that only an alicorn's magic would be strong enough."

"You wish me to personally save your parents from death? Is that correct?" Top Notch quickly nodded his head. Celestia looked at him and frowned. "If that is indeed the case then I am sorry but I can not fulfill your request."

The world suddenly disappeared for Top Notch. He felt his stomach fall into his stomach and his head began throbbing in intense pain. Anger began to build up inside of him. "WHY!? Why can't you use your magic to save my parents? It would be easy for you to do it! Is it because we're just a bunch of nobodies? I bet if we were a family of Canterlot snobs you'd help us out but since we're just some dairy farmers we're not worth your time!"

Celestia turned away from Top Notch and began to make her way back to her throne. "As I said before I can not help you young colt."

"WHY!?"

"My reasons are my own but if it will calm your mind then I shall tell you. I do wish to help your parents, really I do but I can not for the sole reason of principle. I can not heal your parents because if I would then others would flock to me wishing for me to cure their sickness. I am the ruler of Equestria but I can not fix all of the problems that plague our world. I would be giving false hope to others if I were to help you. Now go, be by your parents side in their final hours. Give them both all your love and ease their passing into the next world."

Top Notch was left speechless. He slowly began to back away from the throne and then began running to the doors wanting to escape. He reached the doors but hesitated for a moment. "I hate you." He muttered.

Celestia closed her eyes and frowned. "I understand and accept your hate. Please realize this though, I understand the pain of having to lose a beloved family member for the greater good of others."

***

"By the time I got back to EverGlade the doctor had told me that my dad had passed away the previous day. I didn't even get a chance to day good bye to him." Top Notch turned to look away from Rainbow Dash. He could feel his eyes burning and droplets streaking down his face.

"I'm so sorry Top Notch. I never would of guessed that it would have been like that." Rainbow put a hoof on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "What about your mom? Did you at least get a chance to..."

"My mom stayed alive for about a week longer. I stayed by her side the entire side thankful that I was at least there for her in her final moments. Before she finally moved on she told me not base my whole life on their deaths. She wanted me to live a happy life like all good mom's do. The doctor couldn't explain how my mother managed to live longer than my dad. It was a nurse that told me that the only thing keeping my mother alive was her fear of leaving me alone."

Rainbow Dash felt her face grow warm except this time she knew it wasn't from embarrassment or awkwardness, it was from the grief and sadness she felt in her heart. "Sounds like she was an awesome pony, your dad too."

"They were so special to me. I guess you could say all parents are special to their kids but for me it felt different. I dunno I guess I just wish I could of spent more time with them or treated them better. I know I wasn't always the greatest son. I guess I didn't know what I had until it was gone and by then it was obviously too late." Top Notch quickly spun around and put Rainbow Dash in a tight hug. "Which is why I was so scared after you left town with those changelings behind you. I couldn't bare the thought of losing another pony that was special in my life and that I wouldn't get the chance to say goodbye."

Now Rainbow Dash began tearing up at Top Notch's words. She tried to fight back her emotion but eventually lost. Both ponies now sat in the grove embraced in a hug and crying. They stayed like that for a few moments before Rainbow Dash cleared her voice to speak. "Hey, wanna know what I was thinking when I came up with the idea to have those changelings chase me?"

Top Notch sniffled a little. "What?"

"I thought about something a pretty cool pony told me a while back. It was only then that I realized what it means." Rainbow Dash looked into Top Notch in the eyes. "All in all of the time. I thought about what you told me all those months ago Top's."

"You know you're calling me that name again right?"

"I know. I want to." Rainbow Dash nuzzled his chest lovingly and continued to do so as the sun set over the horizon and all that was heard was the quiet silence of a gentle breeze rustling through the tree branches.

Author's Note

EVA is also known as the Horse Flu and is deadly to our Equine friends. The more you know...

Spice Of Life

Chapter 17: Spice Of Life

Rainbow Dash and Top Notch remained at the grove for some time after the sun had set, neither wanted to break physical contact with the other. The moon rose to it's full glory and the vast sky was filled with the light of the shimmering stars. The rest of the world along with all of it problems dissolved for the two ponies.

"Hey um Rainbow Dash?" Top Notch said finally breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"I've been meaning to tell you something for some time now but I felt it was inappropriate given the circumstances."

"What is it?" Rainbow Dash looked at with a glimmer in her eye.

Top Notch continued with new found confidence. "I know this is probably going to come from way out of left field but..."

"Yeah!?" The pegasus was both figuratively and literally standing on the tip of her hooves at this point as well as leaning in closer to Top Notch.

Taking a moment as if for dramatic affect, Top Notch took one last deep breath before continuing on. "I think we should head back to the house. It's starting to get really cold and the others must be worried about us by now."

Rainbow Dash unceremoniously pushed Top Notch onto the ground and let out an annoyed grunt. She threw a hoof up into the air and made her way to the exit of the grove. "Fine! Whatever!"

Top Notch got off the ground and dusted himself off laughing. "Sorry, sorry! How can I help it think you're cute when you're mad? I'm really trying not to smile even though I sorta feel bad."

"What did you just call me?"

"Nothing! Now come on we better get back before they start to think that we're up to something. I'll lead the way since you probably...hey wait a minute. How did you find this place anyway?"

Rainbow didn't even give Top Notch the courtesy to look at him. "Whisky told me where you'd probably be." She stopped for a moment and unfurled her left wing while the right one remained clasped to her form due to the caste. A slight blush appeared on her as if she forgot she was injured. "Ohhhhhh, right."

"Come along Dashie, lets get back to the dairy farm before you catch your death out here." Top Notch had a smile on his face that only seemed to grow by the minute. It was a refreshing sight for Rainbow Dash to see the stallion smile again.

Rainbow Dash flinched a little at being called by her nick name but unlike before felt oddly alright with it. If anything hearing it come from Top Notch felt weirdly pleasant. Without saying anything else Rainbow Dash began walking behind him as they both left the grove and made their way back out into the scrub land. The moon was high in the night sky by the time they caught sight of the lights coming from the farm house.

Both Whisky and Clover Leaf were waiting for them inside the house with worried looks. They began to explain how they were just about to send out another search party to look for Rainbow Dash. Top Notch reassured the two that Rainbo had found him safely and that there was no need to worry or fuel any unneeded speculation. It took convincing from both Rainbow Dash and Top Notch to finally get the other two to quit worrying and head home.

"I don't know about you Rainbow but i'm going to hit the hay. Despite all the crazy stuff that's happened I still got a dairy farm to run. We've already lost about three days worth of work so we're a bit behind. I'd recommend you head to bed too, you're still recovering after all." Top Notch started heading up the stairs but was stopped by Rainbow Dash.

"Hey you mind if I ask you a question?" Rainbow Dash was right behind him in the stairwell with a hoof on his back.

Top Notch shot her a quizzical look. "What kind of question?" Rainbow Dash shifted a bit from the uneasiness that had built up inside of her the past few seconds.

"I was just wondering, you said that you told Princess Celestia that you hate her nine years ago. Do you still hate her now?"

The stallion in front of her shifted her head back and forth as if thinking the question over in his mind. "Yeah, I guess I still hate her. Can you blame me for that?"

"No, I guess not." Rainbow Dash said quickly.

"Alright, well if you don't have any more questions then I guess I'll see you in the morning Rainbow, good night."

"Night to you too." Without any further interruption Top Notch made his way to the top of the stairwell and through the hallway to his room. Rainbow Dash silently made her way upstairs to her room as well. She closed the door firmly behind her and made her way to the bed rubbing her body sorely. "Ugh, that's enough hugging for one night I guess."

Rainbow flopped down onto her bed but immediately sat up wincing in pain. "OW...oh right, injured wing. Keep forgetting about that." She gently lowered herself back down onto the bed. "Well at least its not as bad as last time." The pegasus reached over to the side of the bed and pulled up a Daring Do book. "Besides even if I was that injured at least I'd have Daring to keep me losing from my mind." She reached over and turned on the small portable radio on her nightstand. One minute of fumbling with the dials later and she at last found a station that was playing music.

An hour passed of flipping through the pages of the book when Rainbow Dash realized that for the first time in since ever that she wasn't interested in Daring Do. Frustrated, she tossed the book aside and rubbed her eyes. "Whats wrong with me? I feel tired so why can't I fall asleep?" Her gaze shifted across the room looking for something to catch her attention. She caught sight of the pictures on her nightstand. She brought over the frame containing the picture of her with her friends.

"If you guys knew what'd I did you'd probably kill me or have me locked away in the crazy house." Rainbow gazed at the picture for quite some time before noticing its folded portion. She took the picture out of the frame and unfolded its corner revealing Twilight. For several minutes she just stared at the image of her then unicorn friend. "There's no point in living in the past I guess." She folded the the corner of the picture like it was before and put it back inside the frame then onto the nightstand.

Rainbow Dash lay on her bed staring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours lost in thought. She looked over to the small clock on her nightstand and noticed that in reality only five minutes had passed by. Placing a pillow over her face she sighed. "Maybe not sleeping would be a good thing. I really don't want to dream tonight."

As if on cue Rainbow suddenly felt her eye lids become heavy. She let out a long tired yawn and stretched herself out on the bed making herself comfortable. "Damn it." Was all she was able to mutter as she unconsciously closed her eyes and switched the radio off falling asleep.

Rainbow Dash became aware that she was fully conscious yet she kept her eyes closed. Slowly she began moving her hooves around her trying to get a feel of where she was. "Okay so it feels like i'm on my bed." She peeked through one eye and upon seeing that she was indeed still in her room she opened both eyes fully. "Hmm, better double check just in case."

Without any hesitation the pegasus quickly slapped herself across the face and after reeling from the sting of the impact she let out a sigh of relief. "Good, i'm not dreaming...wait a second." She quickly began touching various spots of her head and then looked around to see if her wing was still injured. "Awesome i'm definitely not dreaming." Rainbow got up from the bed and made her way to the door grabbing her towel and a plastic bag for her wing on the way. She made her way downstairs to the bathroom but found that the door was locked.

"Rainbow Dash, that you?" Top Notch's muffled voice came from inside the bathroom.

"Who else is it going to be? A changeling?"

"Never considered that before. Now you got me worried so tell me something that only the real Rainbow Dash would know." Top Notch responded.

Rainbow Dash face hoofed. "I know you can be sort of an asshole and a bit perverted."

Moments of silence passed by before Rainbow heard a clicking noise and the door opened. Top Notch stepped out drying his short mane with a towel. Rainbow Dash found it weird seeing him like that in front of her. He was happily humming a tune with his eyes closed seemingly without a care in the world. In all the time Rainbow Dash had known the stallion he had always seemed like a cheerful cool guy. The way he was acting right now felt different however and for whatever reason Rainbow found that she just could not stop staring at him.

Top Notch opened his eyes and stared at the stunned peagsus before smiling. "Now who's a bit perverted?"

A quick shake of her head snapped Rainbow out of her daze. "Shut up Top's." Rainbow Dash pushed her way past him and closed the door behind her. "Pfffft talk about being having an ego, kinda works for him though." She put the towel on the sink, carefully wrapped the plastic bag around her caste, and stepped into the shower letting the water cool her off.

Once breakfast was done and over with Rainbow Dash stepped out back and began looking for Top Notch. She considered doing a fly over of the farm but a pain at her side reminded her that option was out of the question. A quick glance around the backyard and Rainbow caught sight of the stallion heading into one of the stables.

"Top's you in there?" Rainbow Dash stuck her head through stable doors and looked around. She spotted him milking one of the numerous cows.

Top Notch brought his head up from under the cow and gave Rainbow a smile. "Yeah i'm in here, sorry for not waiting to have breakfast with you. Lot of milking today so I thought I'd get a head start." He started pointing his head towards the other side of the stable. "The other bucket is over there next to old Butter Milk already set up for you. I forgot the Vaseline though so you might have to run up to my room and grab the bottle."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and walked over to the cow. "I thought you said you were joking about that?"

"Maybe I was and maybe I wasn't. What are you going to do about it?"

A wide grin appeared on the pegasus's face. "I dunno, maybe i"ll just have to find out for myself and see if you really do have that bottle of Vaseline in your room tonight."

Top Notch continued milking but after few moments stopped and quickly turned to look at Rainbow Dash. "Wait, what!?"

"Nothing." Rainbow Dash said in a sing song voice. Top Notch scratched his chin before slowly turning back to milking the cow. Time passed as the two ponies made their way through the rows of cows milking in silence with only their thoughts to keep them company. Once the last of the cows in the stable had been milked the two made their way out into the late morning sun. "Hey Top's you mind if I ask you a question? It's sorta personal though."

"Do you think that the answer i'm going to give might be long or take a while?" Top Notch inquired.

"Yeah, well actually no...well actually...I guess it really depends on what type of answer you're going to give me."

A few seconds passed as Top Notch thought it over before finally coming to a answer. "Sure i'll answer your question but under one condition. You're going to have to wait until the end of the work day. Usually i'd be happy to answer you right now but like I said before we got a lot of work today."

The answer seemed fair enough to Rainbow Dash. "I'm cool with that."

Top Notch made his way over to the next stable and motioned for Rainbow Dash to follow. " Alright then now come on, these cows ain't going to milk themselves. Believe me,when I was younger I tried to get them to."

"How'd that work out for you?"

"With a cow having a sprained hoof and my mom almost tearing me a new one. Boy was I lucky my dad stepped in when he did or i'd probably be walking with a limp right now."

Rainbow Dash grimaced at the thought. "Ouch."

A laughed escaped the stallion. "Yeah we'll I sure learned my lesson."

"What lesson?"

Another laugh escaped Top Notch. "Don't piss off a mare." Both ponies laughed at that as they made their way into the next stable.

As the day went on both Rainbow Dash and Top Notch continued to work around the farm. Initially they had worked together to clear out individual stables faster but later on in the day they had decided to split up in an effort to speed up the work. The only other time they had seen each other was during the short lunch of milk and bread.

Rainbow Dash made her way over to the last stable on the farm with the milking pail in her mouth. She entered and noticed that Top Notch was already hard at work on cow. She made her way over to him and spit the pail out. "How many have already done in here?"

"I only just started, the rest of these gals still need to be milked." He pointed her to the cow next to her. "How about you start over there and then we'll meet in the middle."

Without asking anymore other questions Rainbow Dash walked over to her side and began making her way down the line milking the bovine milk factories. A few minutes past as the two milked in silence when Rainbow Dash suddenly heard a audible click come from Top Notch's direction followed by jumbled noise. She turned around and saw the stallion fiddling with a small portable radio. "Hey, where'd you get that?"

Top Notch looked up from the radio but kept fumbling with the dials. "Oh this is just the portable radio from your room. Before I came here I sorta went into the house and grabbed it thinking that we might listen to music while we finish working. Only problem is I can't seem to get the thing to work right now." He started fumbling with the dials more aggressively.

"Give it here, I know how to make it work." Rainbow Dash got up and strode over to her frustrated companion. Top Notch passed it to the mare and sure enough after turning the dials a few times she got music to start playing out of the small device.

The song, while distorted and full of static, filled the stable with a lively energy. Top Notch smile and shook his head. "You know if you don't like the song feel free to change it to another station."

The pegasus placed the radio on the floor and made her way back to the cow she was milking. "Nah I doubt we could get any other station on this thing. Besides, this song is a classic! Any one who doesn't like this song or at least finds it catchy honestly needs to live a little."

"No argument here." Her companion responded. Both went back to their milking but a minute later Rainbow Dash felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Top Notch standing behind her holding a hoof out. "I hope this isn't awkward or anything but since I finished milking my side and you pretty much finished yours..."

Rainbow Dash shot the stallion a sly grin. "You asking me to dance Top's?"

"Hey, you said not me." Top Notch quickly responded.

"Hate to burst your bubble there casanova but I don't dance."

Top Notch smiled and began to slowly move away from her. "Hey its not problem with me, I don't know how to dance either."

"Woah, woah, woah...I never said I didn't know how to dance. I actually know some pretty sweet dance moves."

The stallion saw his opportunity and continued his teasing. "Sure you do Rainbow Dash, sure you do. I understand that one pony can't possibly be good at everything."

Now Rainbow Dash got up from her position by the cow and stormed over to Top Notch. "You think a pegasus as awesome as me doesn't know how to dance?"

"Prove me wrong then Dashie." That was the final straw for Rainbow Dash. Without warning she grabbed the stallion and place her body firmly against his and began moving in rhythm to the song. The pegasus had a stern expression on her face with a hard look in her eyes. Top Notch couldn't help but chuckle at how serious Rainbow Dash was taking the dance. "You may want to ease up there a bit Rainbow."

"Oh i'm sorry, am i going to fast for the little stallion?"

"Not at all, it's just that usually when a mare presses her body this close and this hard against a stallion it means..."

"Top's..."

"Yeah?"

"Just shut and dance." Shut up and danced he did. The pair continued to dance for some time in the stable even as the song ended and a new one started.

For the two dancers there was only themselves, the music, and the occasional moo from the cow's who seemed to have turned to look away from their dancing handlers. Rainbow Dash knew that if any of her friends, or any other pony besides Top Notch for that matter, asked her about this later that she would probably deny it. Top Notch knew that if others asked who had led during their dance session he would lie and say it was him.

Once the latest song they were on had ended the two finally separated and sat and the ground catching their breath. "That...was...pretty nice. You sure...proved...you proved me wrong there Rainbow."

"Yeah...I...I sure did didn't I?" Rainbow Dash wiped the sweat from her forehead and then stood up. "Kinda thirsty now."

Top Notch being the gentle colt, that implied he was anyway, got up and made his way towards the stable's entrance. A quick glance over to the horizon and he noticed that the sun was setting. "Wait right here and i'll go get us some cool milk from the farm house."

An idea suddenly occurred to Rainbow Dash. She quickly ran over to the her milk pail and grabbed it in her mouth. Sneaking behind Top Notch she dumped the milk onto the unsuspecting stallion.

"What the!? Rainbow Dash, what gives!? What was that for?" Top Notch looked over himself and saw that he was dripping wet from head to hoof with his product.

"Oh lighten up Top's, its just one pail form the hundreds we got today. I wanted to show that you didn't have to go into the house to get milk. "

"But now i'm all sticky!" Top Notch retorted.

"When did you become such a diva? Maybe I should introduce you to a certain pony I know, i'm sure you'll have a lot in common with her. Seriously try lightening up a bit."

"Lighten up? Alright i'll lighten up, just stand still and don't move." Without any hesitation Top Notch ran back into the stable and grabbed his own pail of milk.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened when she realized what the stallion intended to do. "Wait I didn't mean that! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..." A second later the pegasus found herself soaked from head to hoof in the white liquid. "Seriously? Not cool."

"Lighten up Dashie."

"Don't think that just because I have an injured wing I can't break your ribs again."

Top Notch laughed off the threat. He gave himself and Rainbow Dash a quick look over. "Come, I guess we should hope in the shower...again. I'll let you go first since i'm sorta used to being covered in the stuff anyway."

Rainbow Dash took longer in the shower than usual. Top Notch had insisted that she make sure to scrub behind every nook and cranny of her body since the milk they had dumped on each other had not been cleaned and was full of bacteria. Once she made sure that she was rid of the white stuff she stepped out of the shower and dried herself off completely, mane and all, before stepping outside.

She made her way to the living room where she found Top Notch seated on the couch. "Mind if I join you?"

"Nope, not at all. Actually I remember you said something about wanting to ask me a personal question." Top Notch patted the seat next to with his hoof.

The peagsus took a seat and played with her hooves a little before finally speaking. "Remember when you told me you hated Princess Celestia?"

Top Notch gave her a confused look. "Didn't I already answer this question?"

"Yeah kinda but I wanted to make sure about one other thing."

"What other thing?"

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and cleared he thoughts. "I just wanted to know that since you hate Princess Celestia, do you hate the other Princesses too?"

The question threw Top Notch off guard. "Uh...well...I hate Princess Celestia, no doubting that. As for the other Princesses...you're talking about Princess Luna, Mi'Amorewhatshername, and that new one. Princess..."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle." Rainbow Dash interjected.

"Yeah her, to be honest I guess I don't hate them since they didn't do anything wrong. Why do you ask?"

It was the moment of truth for the prismatic pegasus. "I'm asking because I may of been best friends with one of those Princesses at one point." Rainbow Dash looked at Top Notch who seemed to be trying to make sense of the situation.

"Which Princess?" Top Notch asked. "Which Princess were you best friends with?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle." Rainbow Dash answered quickly. "Well technically I knew her since she was just a unicorn."

Top Notch let the information pass through his mind a bit. "Okay, but I still don't get why you wanted to know if I hate all the Princesses."

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and did her best to calm herself. "I was worried that if you did hate the other Princesses then you might hate those who were their friends."

The pegasus felt a hoof placed under her chin and she opened her eyes. "Rainbow Dash, after all you've done for me I could never hate you. You stayed with me when I needed help the most and even after I healed. Heck you saved the entire town from changelings. You're this town's and my hero. I don't think i've ever met a pony more special then you before, in fact I can't remember how my life used to be before...hmmf!"

Top Notch was cut off by Rainbow Dash's lips being pressed against his. While initially surprised he eventual gave into the pleasure and closed his eyes to savor the moment. The problems of the world disappeared for the two as they continued to share their kiss. For both everything seemed to be in perfect harmony.

Finally they separated once they ran out of air and looked at the other in silence for a few moments. It was Rainbow Dash who spoke again after regaining her senses. "Thank you Top's, really, you don't know how much I needed to hear that."

"Uh sure thing I guess. Like I said thanks for sticking with me for this long. It also meant a lot to me."

Rainbow Dash gave the stallion a quick peck on the cheek before making her way to the stair way. "I'm going to head to bed, pretty exhausted after a long work day. I'll see you in the morning, night Top's."

Top Notch sat on the couch rubbing his cheek. "Yeah good night to you too Rainbow." For both Rainbow Dash and Top Notch life was perfect. There seemed to be nothing that could bring the two down from the high they were on. Top Notch remained downstairs for some time contemplating what had just occurred. He smiled at what the future held for him and Rainbow Dash. His thoughts went back to a certain restaurant owner. "I guess I sorta owe Whisky an apology now." He got up and made his way over to the bathroom to take his shower.

For Whisky it was another lonely night at the restaurant. The last patron had finished their late dinner and left minutes ago stepping out into the dark streets of the town. The restaurant owner looked around and let out a sigh of relief. Despite the changeling attack on the town a few days ago his business and home where one of the few lucky ones that had been spared of damage.

Just as he was about to lock the front doors a unicorn stallion stepped inside. "Sorry sir, i'm afraid we're closed for the evening." Whisky said in an apologetic tone. A quick look over the stallion and Whisky realized that he didn't recognize him. "Sorry for asking but are you from around these parts?"

"No not all i'm afraid, you see i'm actually in town on business." The unicorn had a familiar air on him that Whisky couldn't put his hoof on.

There was one thing that definitely bugged the earth pony though. "Wait, you said you're in town on business? I don't know if you've heard but most businesses in EverGlade are closed due to a recent changeling attack."

"Oh i'm quite aware of the changeling attack and the heroics of a certain rainbow maned pegasus."

Now Whisky was definitely confused. "That doesn't make any sense, the mayor is still writing up the damage report to send to Canterlot. If you're from out of town then how could you know of the changelings and Rainbow Dash?"

"I had my subordinate tell me all that's happened. I believe you two have already made each others acquaintance, i'm pretty sure he's dying to see you again actually."

Before Whisky could say anything else two earth pony stallions walked into the restaurant, one of them Whisky recognized all too well. "You!?"

"Now young man, I promised my subordinate her some time to catch up with you. For now though lets stay on topic shall we? Be a good fellow and tell me everything you know about Rainbow Dash."

Reality Check

Chapter 18: Reality Check

Rainbow Dash felt giddy when she woke up. She had always told her friends that she never giggled but the universe thought otherwise that morning as she giggled like a school filly when she thought back to the previous night. Putting on a straight face she made her way down stairs to the kitchen where she caught sight of Top Notch fidgeting at the table with two empty bowls in front of him, a bottle of milk, and a plate what Rainbow Dash believed to be burnt toast.

"Hey." Rainbow Dash said as she made her way across the room and took a seat across from Top Notch.

"Hey to you too Rainbow. Wanted to wait till you woke up to have breakfast this morning. Thought about changing things up a bit since I usually wake up earlier than you and eat alone." He pointed to the bowls and plates across the table. "I took the liberty of setting the table and making pancakes."

"Pancakes?" Rainbow looked down at the table but didn't see anything that resembled the fluffy texture of pancakes. "I don't see them."

Top Notch nudged the plate of burnt toast towards Rainbow Dash. "Right here, just like my mom used to make."

Rainbow Dash felt sorry for the stallion and his father if they truly had to live with burnt cooking. Despite this the last thing on Rainbow's mind at the moment was offending Top Notch. Slowly she picked up one of the burnt pieces and brought it close to her mouth. She hesitated for a moment when her eyes began to water. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and took a mouth full of her ashy, flakey, discolored breakfast.

"I know I'm not the best cook but I manage every now and then to prepare something edible." The work 'edible' and Top Notch's pancakes were two things that Rainbow Dash would never put together in the same sentence. "Whisky even gave me some lessons once, he said I did really well even though I almost burned down his restaurant. Did you know that tomato soup supposed to be served cold?"

Rainbow hadn't been paying tom much attention to what the stallion was saying due to her chugging down a bottle of milk. Once the burnt taste was off of her tongue she turned her attention back to Top Notch. "You have to burn down a building to serve tomato soup on a cold day? Seems a bit weird to me."

"Yeah I'll say...wait what?"

"I dunno know you said something about burning down a building and tomato soup. Wait, you're telling me you don't have to burn down a building to serve tomato soup?"

The mare sitting across from Top Notch was definitely a strange one, but then again he figured that was one of the reasons she was so special to him. "You know what? Never mind. Remember last night when you were telling me about how you used to be friends with Princess Twilight Sparkle. You know, before we..."

"Before we kissed?" Rainbow Dash stated putting as much emphasis on 'kiss' as she possibly could.

"Yeah before we kissed. I was wondering if you know, maybe you could tell me some more about what happened between you two? I mean if you knew her from when she was just a unicorn then you two must of been close right?"

A familiar uneasiness began building up inside of Rainbow Dash. "I guess you could say we were best friends. We used to hang out a lot and go on epic adventures or secret missions to save Equestria."

Top Notch's found his interest rising. "You haven't talked to her in year also right? Have you ever thought about sending her a letter or something?"

"Yeah I've thought about doing that but...I dunno it's kinda of complicated."

"Seems like there's a story behind all that. Mind telling me sometime about your friendship with her?"

"You really wanna know?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

"Of course, I mean after last night I definitely want to get to know you better."

Memories of the previous night flooded back into Rainbow's mind. She began to smiling unconsciously at the very thought. "I'm cool with that but don't we have a lot of work to do again today?"

Top Notch thought for a minute before smiling at an answer he had just come up with. "I know, how about after we finish today's work we head into town and grab few drinks over at Whisky's?"

"I'm down with that."

"So now that we got a plan how about we..." loud knocking from the front of the house interrupted Top Notch. "I wonder who that could be this early in the morning." The knocking seemed to increase. "I'm coming just hold on a second will ya?" The knocking persisted to the point where Top Notch thought the wooden door would splinter. "Hey buddy you break it and you're buying me a new one." Whoever this visitor was they were doing a good job of ruining what was perfectly good morning the stallion.

Top Notch reached the front door and opened it quickly. "Listen buddy, its too early to be making this much nose so what..." The stallion froze at the sight of the mare in front on him. "Clover? What..." Before he could finish the mare leaned against him, her sobbing muffled by his shoulder. Without thinking Top Notch did the only thing that came to mind. "Rainbow Dash get out here! Hurry!"

A few seconds latter and the pegasus appeared next to him. "Top's whats happening....Clover Leaf? Why is Clover Leaf here and...is she...why is she crying?"

A worried look was all Top Notch was able to give Rainbow Dash. "I don't know! I opened the door and she just started crying on me!" He began to move Clover Leaf into the house and closed the door. "Rainbow help me get her to the couch in the living room."

The two moved to get the distressed unicorn and let her rest on the couch. Top Notch offered her something to drink but she denied the offer. Despite this he went into the kitchen to get Clover Leaf a glass of milk while Rainbow Dash remained and attempted to calm down her friend. "Clover just relax and tell us whats wrong." The unicorn simply shook her head and continued to cry. "Damn it I was never good with this kind of stuff...uh...how about you start by taking a deep breath? Does that sound like something you should do?"

Clover Leaf continued to cry but she did attempt to take deep breaths. Just as Rainbow Dash was about to head into the kitchen to see what was taking Top Notch so long she heard Clover's shaky voice. "It hurts...it hurts so much." Without any hesitation Rainbow ran back to Clover Leaf's side.

"What hurts? Clover, come on, you got to tell me more for me and Top's to help you."

"The pain..." Clover responded in between sobs. "...the pain hurts so much...I can't stand it. Please...please don't let it be true."

Rainbow Dash had enough to make her start worrying as well. "Top's! Drop what you're doing and get back in here now!" Top Notch rushed back into the room and looked at both mares.

He took a seat next to Clover Leaf on the couch. "What? What happened? Did she say anything?"

"Yeah she said something about the pain hurting so much and wishing that it wasn't true. She's really starting to creep me out now." Rainbow Dash caste a glance over the distressed mare. "Top's, whats going on?"

Top Notch ignored Rainbow Dash and Clover Leaf by the face forcing her to look at him. "Clover, tell me whats wrong. What happened?"

Clover Leaf let out a few more sobs before taking another deep breath. "It's Whisky..."

"What about Whisky?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh please let this all just be some horrible nightmare!" Clover Leaf began to wail again and buried her head in Rainbow Dash's shoulder this time."

Pain started to build up in he pit of Top Notch's stomach. He got up from the couch and knelt beside Rainbow Dash and Clover Leaf. "What happened to Whisky?" Rainbow Dash noticed the somber tone in the way the stallion had said that.

"Whisky...he's..."

"...he's dead."

The rest of that month passed by in silence. Rainbow Dash and Top Notch stood dressed in black on the outskirts of the town. They waited until finally it was their turn to walk up to the casket and take one last glance at the peaceful stallion that lay inside of it.

The two fought back their tears as they looked at Whisky. To one side of the casket sat Clover Leaf, her eyes swollen from the amount of crying she had done over the past weeks. She sat next to the elderly mare that was Whisky's mother. The whole crowd that was gathered at the ceremony remained silent as they each said their goodbyes to once cheerful stallion.

Mayor Bouvardia said a few final words before signaling for the casket to be closed and lowered into the the ground. Once it was lowered Top Notch along with a few other stallions that had been friends with Whisky began shoveling dirt until the grave was completely sealed. A number of those in attendance left soon after that and went back to town with solemn faces to attend to their businesses.

The Mayor stayed for a little while longer before even he too had to leave to finish writing up the town's damage report. He said his goodbyes to his daughter and took his leave. Clover Leaf and Whisky's mother remained until the sorrow overwhelmed the elderly mare, she along with her son's love walked back to town together.

Finally only Rainbow Dash and Top Notch remained at the grave site. "He's really gone." Top Notch mumbled. "I wish I could of..." The stallions voice began to tremble. Rainbow Dash draped her good wing over his back. Over the last month her right wing had healed to the point where a caste was no longer required. Despite this the doctor advised her to take it easy and not to put much stress on her wing. Rainbow was alright with staying on the ground for a while longer, currently she didn't feel like flying at all. "I wish I could of....could of told him that...I was sorry for all the things I said about him. I wanted to tell...him that...that I didn't really mean any of it."

"I wanted him to know that I was thankful that he found you and brought you back to me. Some friend I turned out to be."

Rainbow Dash couldn't stand to hear anymore. "Don't say things like that Top's. He knew you were thankful for finding me. He always remained your friend till the end. I promise you that he never thought any less of you."

Silence. The two remained at the grave for a while longer while before even they too decided to head back to the farm. As they made their way back to the farm Rainbow thought back to the day Clover Leaf had told them the news. Rainbow Dash had looked at Top Notch and could barely make out that the stallion was fighting back tears through her blurred watery vision. Rainbow Dash and Top Notch had agreed on that same night to put any relationship they had on hold.

"I noticed the Sheriff didn't come to the funeral." Rainbow Dash said as they walked back from the graveyard. "I bet I know where he is."

"Rainbow, you know as well as me that he's been working non stop to find the bastard that did this. Whoever did this better pray that Sheriff Silver Point finds him before I do."

"Top's do you know what you just said?"

Top Notch eyed the mare at this side with a grim look. "I know what I said...and I mean it." He spat on the ground to put further emphasis. "I'm not some young colt anymore that can't save the lives of his own parents. I'm a full grown stallion and I intend to make the one responsible for this pay. How does that saying go? An eye for an..." Rainbow Dash slapped the stallion hard across the face. He looked back at her and saw that she was trembling. "Why?"

"Why? WHY!?"

"You honestly have the gull to ask me why I did that!?" Rainbow Dash stared daggers at Top Notch. "I can't stand to see ponies out of character. An eye for an eye? Really? Do you really think that's what Whisky would of wanted? I did it to smack some sense into you."

"I'm not taking back what I said Rainbow Dash. If I find who ever did this to Whisky, heck not even just to Whisky, but to Clover Leaf and his mother...frontier justice. Plain and simple."

Rainbow Dash stood dumbfounded in front of him. A large pain began to build up in her chest. "Right then, looks like I'm going to have to hit you again cause you're still not thinking straight. I'm sorta glad Whisky isn't around to see you like this." She pulled back her hoof and let it go straight at him.

The hoof never hit it's intended target. Top Notch grasped Rainbow Dash's hoof with his own in a firm hold. "Don't you ever think for one second that you knew him better than I did! Who do think was the FIRST PONY HE MET when he arrived in EverGlade? ME! THAT'S WHO! I was the one who showed him around town, I was the one who helped him get his restaurant started, and I was the one who introduced him to Clover Leaf! He was my BEST FRIEND damn it! You expect me to believe that some peagsus who just shows up out of no where and gets to know him for a few months is going to know more about him than me!? Actually, now that I think about it..."

Rainbow Dash tried to break away from him but couldn't. Her efforts to move away only caused the stallion to tighten his grip. Finally she gave up and looked at him wincing slightly. "Top's, you're hurting me."

In a moment of confusion and grief Top Notch looked down at her and let go off his grip. Rainbow Dash brought her hoof back to her and examined it. "Sorry." Top Notch muttered under his breath. "Come on, lets get back to the farm house. There's some things we need to talk about."

Without saying a single word more they walked back to the house in silence barely looking at one another. It was only when they stepped in through the front door that Top Notch spoke again. "Let's get upstairs and get these cloths off of us then meet me down here in the living room. I need to ask you a few things.

Unbeknownst to Rainbow Dash and Top Notch they had been watched the entire way back from the funeral. Two ponies lay down on their stomachs on the hill overlooking the dairy farm. Both had binoculars in their hooves.

"Hey chief, what do we do about those two?"

Thatcher put down his binoculars and ran a hoof through his mane. "Oh I don't know Specter, to be honest with you I'm actually quite satisfied at the moment. The little pest of the restaurant owner is finally out of my mane so to I'm content to call it a week." The earth pony let out a content sigh. "Unfortunately its not up to me anymore to decide what we do next, isn't that right boss?"

Both Thatcher and Specter looked back at the unicorn that was standing behind them. "Correct Thatcher, while one pest may be out of the picture, be it by accident, we still have to deal with an Element of Harmony. When I arrived here I thought that Ms. Rainbow Dash would be more of challenge. It seems however that getting her out of the picture will be easier than I imagined." The unicorn signaled for the two earth ponies to stand up and follow him. "We will make our next move on her as soon as there's an opening to get her or that stallion she's so fond of alone."

"Hey boss, its not like I'm questioning you or anything but wouldn't it be better to wait a little longer?"

"No Thatcher, I believe I've waited long enough for this town to be mine. EverGlade is the launching point for my plans across Equestria. In a months time Princess Celestia along with the rest of her entourage will be serving me."

Top Notch sat in the living room with a genuine rigid look on his face as Rainbow Dash entered. "Have a seat Rainbow, I think there are some things we need to talk about."

"What kind of things?" Rainbow Dash made her way to the couch and sat down next to Top Notch leaning against him slightly. "Is it about Whisky?"

A bit of tension left Top Notch feeling Rainbow's body against his. "Well first off I want to apologize for hurting your hoof earlier today. I didn't mean it. I guess I was just angry and upset over..." The stallion took in a deep breath. "...over Whisky." Rainbow Dash nuzzled him lightly which tore at Top Notch's emotions. "The second thing I wanted to talk to you about something more personal to me. I need you to tell me the truth Rainbow."

"Tell you the truth? The truth about what?" Rainbow Dash looked up at him with inquisitively. "I mean I really don't see what you mean by the 'the truth'."

"It's alright Rainbow Dash, I really wasn't expecting you to go first any way. Let me go first and tell you the truth about how I feel about you." Top Notch leaned more into Rainbow Dash and played her mane a little. "Rainbow Dash, I told you that I honestly can't imagine how my life was before you arrived all those months ago with my cousin Apple Jack. I know I may have joked around about you being together with her but that's all that was. At first glance you seemed like a swell mare to be friends with. At second glance I saw a tortured soul."

Top Notch chuckled to himself. "Then came the time when I took a third glance at you. The day when the town's water tower was in danger. When the I saw the water tower leaning towards me I thought for sure that I was dead. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was sorta happy cause I'd get to see my folks again. With my eyes shut I waited for my death but it never came. When I opened my eyes I saw the most beautiful thing in my life, I saw you flying above me holding the water tower up."

Rainbow Dash blushed slightly at the stallions words. "It was nothing really, Top's I would of done it for any other pony plus its not like I was about to let my one of best friend's cousins get crushed in front of her."

"But still it meant a lot to me that day. I mean heck you even volunteered to stay with me after I was injured and you're even still staying with me right now after I've recovered. Once my injuries were gone I began thinking to myself how lucky I was to a have a pony this special stay and help me out."

"I already told you Top's that I'm more grateful to you after all you've done to..."

"But recently I've started to think about some stuff you told me Rainbow Dash. Early on you told me when I took you to Horse Shoe Bend that you left PonyVille because of an issue you were having with a friend. A few weeks ago you told me that the friend you were having an issue with was Princess Twilight Sparkle. You said you and her had a fight that caused your friendship to end but then what?"

"Top Notch I don't really see where you're heading with this."

"Oh you will Rainbow Dash, trust me you will." He looked at her almost accusingly. "How long was it that you stopped being her friend before you came to EverGlade?"

Rainbow Dash didn't like the tone the stallion was taking with her but she decided to play along. 'I dunno something like eleven months?"

"Eleven months? So you lived in PonyVille for eleven months after that before you came to EverGlade. So my question to you is, if losing her as a friend was such a big deal to you then how come you waited so long to leave PonyVille and get away as far away from her as you could?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide with realization once she realized what Top Notch was getting at. "Top's look I can explain!"

"I knew it! I didn't want to believe it but I knew that you were still hiding something from me! I don't know if I was stupid or ignorant for ignoring such an obvious detail for so long." The stallion got up form the couch suddenly and stood in front of Rainbow Dash. "Now you're going to tell me exactly why you came to EverGlade."

Fear began seeping into the pegasus's mind. She felt the need to jump through the window and run as far away from the stallion as possible. Rainbow Dash realized however that she had to stand her ground and be honest with the pony that had taken care of her. "Fine, you're right Top's. I didn't just come here to get away from Twilight. I guess I should start from the beginning though."

"After Twilight's coronation life was great for a while. Me along with everyone else was happy that life in Equestria seemed so perfect. That was the problem though, life in Equestria was too perfect. Me and Twilight along with the rest of our friends would save the world from evil and all that stuff. We were treated like heroes after each adventure we had. All that ended after she became a Princess. Life got boring, dull, and repetitive for me as time went on. I was stuck doing the same old crummy weather jobs around PonyVille with nothing exciting happening. To top it all off Twilight decided to disband the WonderBolts which I always dreamed of joining. So pretty much my life was at a stand still and I hated it. I wanted so badly to relieve the glory days of when I was a hero. One day Apple Jack invited me to come with her to visit you and I accepted because I didn't know what else to do."

Top Notch closed his eyes as he took in everything that Rainbow Dash had told him. "So, what you're saying is that you came here seeking glory."

"I guess you could say that."

"That's the real reason why you risked your life to save a stallion you barely even knew from getting crushed wasn't it?"

"What!? No! I saved you because...well...I already told you why I saved you!"

'"Its also the reason why you risked your life getting rid of the changelings wasn't it?"

Rainbow Dash remained silent and stared at the ground.

"Top's, I used to believe that that in order for my life to be fun I had to be in danger or saving the world from something. Living here on the farm with you these past months made me realize just how awesome life can be without all that danger." She stood up and made her way over to him nuzzling his chest. "You made me realize just how awesome you could be."

Without warning Top Notch moved away from the mare's touch. "Please...don't do that right now."

"But...Top's..."

"Don't...please just don't call me that either. Look just stay here in the house. I'm going to go for walk alone into town. If you really meant what you just said then you'll stay here and not follow me." Top Notch made his way to the front door, opened it, and looked back briefly at Rainbow Dash. "I promise I'll be back soon."

Rainbow Dash watched as the door closed perhaps not just to the house but also on another part of her life. She stared at the door for sometime before she closed her eyes and mentally screamed at herself.

Interlude: Around Town

Chapter 19: Around Town

"...buck..."

"Buck!"

"BUCK IT ALL!"

The language that had been coming from Top Notch's mouth ever since he left the farm was enough to make any mother cover their children's ears. The stallion was sure that he had yelled every profanity under the sun by the time he stepped into the town. There were two things he wanted to get off his chest and, coincidently enough, two places in town that he wanted to visit.

The Sheriff's station came into view. Normally Top Notch wouldn't even bother coming in to the station in the middle of the day since chances were that Sheriff Silver Point would probably be out of town patrolling. Over the last month however the old pegasus had dedicated almost every waking moment to finding Whisky's killer. Folks around swore that the only time they saw the old stallion leave his station was to go to Whisky's restaurant.

Top Notch walked in and, just as he thought, Sheriff Silver Point was at his desk with papers and folders spread all cross the wooden surface. "Sheriff Silver Point." No response, the Sheriff definitely seemed to be consumed by his investigation. "Hey Silver Point!"

"Boy I thought I told you when you were a colt to always address me as Sheriff Silver Point or Sheriff. Don't you have any manners?" The Sheriff eyed Top Notch for a moment before putting a hoof to his own face. "You know what, never mind. I'm actually glad you're here. Follow me Top Notch I need your help with something real quick."

"Uh sure thing Sheriff." The Sheriff lead the stallion into an open cell and pointed at the lone bed. "You want me to get on the bed?"

"Don't flatter yourself boy. I just need you to make sure that it's comfy. These new cell beds arrived before the changeling attack and I want to get a second opinion on them."

It was an odd request but it seemed to make sense. "Okay, seems fair enough." Top Notch got on the bed and laid down on it. He twisted and turned for a bit before coming up with an answer. "Seems comfy to me Sheriff"

"So they are comfy? Good." Sheriff Silver Point walked out of the cell and slammed the door to it shut. "Top Notch you are here by placed under arrest for suspicion of murdering Whiksylifa. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say will and can be..."

The scene the played out in front of Sheriff Silver Point seemed awfully familiar. As if possessed Top Notch leapt off the bed and slammed against the cells bars causing the whole structure to shake. "This isn't funny old man!"

The Sheriff walked back to his desk, glanced around it as if searching for something, grabbed a piece of paper, and made his way back to the cell. "I never said it was going to be funny boy. You're in a heap of trouble so if I were you I'd watch my mouth."

"If you were me then you'd be watching me kick your ass all the way to Canterlot right now. Were do you get off suspecting me of murdering my best friend?" Sheriff Silver Point shook his head at that and slid the paper he was holding into the cell. Top Notch picked it and quickly glanced at it. "What's this?"

"That right there is a suspect bio. I have one for every pony in town and I always make sure to keep it updated. Don't be crying thinking that I suspected you right off the bat either. I went through every pony in this town before I got to you. I didn't want to believe it but out of every resident in EverGlade you had the most cause for murdering that boy."

"Most cause? What are you..."

"Actually let me correct myself. You had the most cause out of any resident currently in town. As I recall you and Whisky were arguing the day of the changeling attack."

Top Notch couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But that was nothing! Sure I was mad at him but over nothing serious enough to kill the guy!" He rattled his cell bars a little more.

"That ain't going to do you any good. Had them reinforced ever since the changeling broke out. Getting back on topic now, every single other town resident I questioned had an alibi that checked out on the night of the murder. Every single resident except for you however."

The solution occurred to Top Notch. "I do have any alibi that checks out. I was at the farm all day and night with Rainbow Dash when that happened! It was only the next morning when we found out about what happened."

The Sheriff smirked at this. "Okay so how about you and me head on over to the farm and talk to Rainbow Dash to see if your story checks out. If it does then I'll let you go free on the spot. If it doesn't...well you better hope that it does."

Not the answer that Top Notch wanted to hear. His ears splayed back and he hung his head. "We can't do that Sheriff. Me and her aren't exactly on speaking terms right now."

The old pegasus found his interest peaked. "Oh?" Slowly he walked back and forth in front of the cell making sure to keep at hoof distance from the bars. "Lemme guess, you got in an argument with your little mare friend didn't you?"
Sheriff Silver Point eyed Top Notch for a moment before going back to his desk and working on his report. "So am I going to have to put her under protection now too?"

"She hurt me real bad Sheriff but I think she hurt herself even worse." That definitely came from out of the blue. "I just don't know what to think anymore Sheriff. In a way you were sorta right about her from the beginning. Maybe I should of taken your advice and not of gotten so close to her."

Top Notch went quiet and kept his stare pointed at the floor. Sheriff Silver Point looked over and saw the look the dairy farmer had on him. Slowly he got up from his desk and made his way to the cell. "I just got one question for you Top Notch, do you think or do you know if Rainbow Dash killed Whisky? Be honest with me boy."

Sheriff Silver point stood right next to the cell waiting for Top Notch's answer. "No Sheriff, I give you my word that Rainbow Dash didn't kill Whisky and neither did I." That was all the Sheriff needed to hear.

He unlocked the cell and opened the door. "Alright, you're free to go Top Notch."

"What? But I thought you said that I needed to have my alibi confirmed by Rainbow Dash in order to go free."

"Yeah I'm breaking a lot of protocols letting you go just like that but its obvious you didn't kill him. You're heartbroken which I'm guessing is torture enough. I wouldn't know since no girl has ever broken my heart. There ain't no mare in this country of ours that's going to tie me down."

Top Notch got of the bed and walked out of the cell standing in front of the Sheriff. "Thanks Sheriff."

"Don't mention it boy. No seriously, don't mention this at all to anyone else. If the Mayor found out about this I'd probably lose my badge." He patted Top Notch on the head before sitting back at his desk. "I don't know what you did to have that girl break your heart Top Notch. I ain't no couple's counselor but maybe you should try and go talk to her. See if she'll take back a fool like you."

"I don't see that happening Sheriff. If anything she should be begging me for forgiveness after all the secrets she hid from me for so long. She's in the wrong here, not me."

The pegasus smiled at that. "Oh I highly doubt that boy. If you're this heartbroken I can't even imagine what she's going through right now."

"Wait...are you...you're defending Rainbow Dash?"

"I not her lawyer but yeah when you put it that way I suppose I am."

"But you hate her! Ever since she arrived in town you've done nothing but ignore her and put her down."

"Hated, don't get me wrong I still can't stand that attitude that she has but she's proven that she is dependable in a crisis situation. Heck without her this town would probably be ground zero of a new changeling hive. So yeah I've come to respect her a little, she's proven she can hold her own in a hoof fight."

Top Notch was struggling to believe what he was hearing. "But..but...she hid her secret from me for so long! I mean how can I even trust anything she says now?"

The Sheriff stretched his legs and let out a yawn. "Tell me Top Notch, did this secret involve her stealing money from you? Did she try to trick you into giving her the deed to your farm? Did she somehow travel back in time and convince Princess Celestia to not help you save your parents?"

"No, nothing like that. What she did was..."

Sheriff Silver Point held a hoof up silencing the stallion. "I don't care what she did or what her secret is. That's none of my concern. What I do know is that everyone has a personal secret of two they don't want others knowing about. Ponies that say different are damn liars. Heck for all you know it could of been hurting her more to keep that secret to herself for so long seeing as she's probably been weighed down by the burden. Now that her secret is out she's finally free to be completely honest with herself and those around her."

The young stallion kicked at the floor for a while trying to come up with something to say that would null what the Sheriff had just told him. A couple of minutes passed by in silence when Top Notch realized that he had nothing. "You've given me a lot to think about Sheriff. By the way you wouldn't happen to have any leads on the murderer do you?"

Shuffling through his papers the Sheriff gave shake of his head. "Can't say I do since I just let my prime suspect go free. There really isn't much for me to work with seeing as there literally nothing at the scene of the crime. No blood, no cuts or bruises on the body, not even any hoof prints on Whisky. The only thing that seemed out of place was a chair on its side next to where Clover Leaf found his body. It's almost as if Whisky died in his sleep and somehow ended up on the floor of his restaurant. There's also that dirt that was on the table and next to Whisky but nothing else. I'm honestly shooting blanks here."

"I'm sure you'll figure out what happened Sheriff. If you excuse me I've got one last stop I've got to make in town before I head home."

"You're going to go check on Clover Leaf and Whisky's mother aren't you?"

"Yes sir."

"Let me know if you find anything suspicious will you?"

"Will do Sheriff."

"Oh and one more thing Top Notch. Try to see it from her point of view when you talk to Rainbow Dash. I know it's going to be hard to believe coming from me but she doesn't seem like a bad mare."

Top Notch stood at the door of the Sheriff's station and nodded his head before making his way out onto the street and towards the restaurant.

The streets of EverGlade were crowded by its residents going about their afternoon businesses. Some of the ponies that Top Notch walked by he recognized from the funeral earlier that day. The stallion couldn't help but feel a little pissed off seeing them walk around town as if nothing had changed. "Ungrateful jerks. Whisky gave them amazing food and service and they act like he's not even gone."

Top Notch walked in through the front doors of the restaurant and looked around the dining room. All the tables were empty giving the building a life less feeling. Even the bar was empty despite usually being occupied by a pony or two. The whole room was eerily quiet which for whatever reason bothered Top Notch. "Hello? Clover Leaf? Anybody? It's me Top Notch, I just came by to check in and see if everything is alright."

A voice came from upstairs. "Give me one moment and I'll be down in a jiffy. Just taking care of some cleaning up here." Top Notch obliged and took a seat at one of the tables. It had taken him some time but he realized why the restaurant was so quiet. He turned his attention to one of the walls and saw that the jukebox was off.

The jukebox refused to turn on despite a minute of Top Notch fidgeting with the dials. "I never was good with these things. I know, maybe its unplugged..."

"Wouldn't waste your time with that thing Top Notch. Dang thing hasn't worked since Whisky passed away." Top Notch turned around and saw Clover Leaf come through the kitchen door with Whisky's mother behind her. "How have you and Rainbow Dash been holding up?"

Quickly abandoning his efforts to get music to play Top Notch made his way over to Clover Leaf and put her in a hug. "Oh you know me Clover, I'm a survivor and I'll get through this one way or another. As for Rainbow Dash...well...I guess you could say she could be doing a whole lot better right now." A sudden realization struck him. "Wait did you just call me Top Notch?"

"Yeah, that's your name isn't it? Don't tell you got a name change since the last time I saw you today."

"No its just that you haven't called me by my full name since before we dated all those years ago."

"Oh...that's what you meant." Clover Leaf rubbed the back of her head. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since...well you know. I figured it wasn't fair to Whisky, you, or Rainbow Dash that I call you by a nick name that I gave you when we dated. It's little too late now I guess but it's the thought that counts, right? At least that's...that's...what I've been..." Tears started to build up in the unicorns eyes.

Top Notch was about to move and embrace the mare in a hug to try and calm her down but Whisky's mother intervened putting the sobbing mare in a hug. "Hush now child. My son loved you to his final breath and didn't care if you called your ex by that name. Now dry your tears. You know what they say, you're not supposed to cry over a loved one that's passed away because it makes them cry in the next life."

Clover Leaf wiped away her tears and returned the embrace. "I know...thank you Ms. Hoofpac."

Ms. Hoofpac gave the unicorn a bright warm smile before turning her attention to Top Notch. "You must be the stallion that was best friends with my son right? Forgive me child cause my memory isn't so good these days but your name is Top Notch right?"

"Yes mam' and let me say that it is a pleasure to meet you at last although I do wish it was under better circumstances. Your son Whisky told me so many good things about you."

The smile on the old mare grew as she wiped away a small tear. "Thank you child, that means a lot to a pony of my age." She motioned for the three of them to take a seat at a close table. "Now Clover here has told me that my son may have wronged you by spreading some nasty rumors of you being romantically involved with a pegasus from out of town. Tell me young stallion, is this true? Did Whiskylifa really do such a thing behind your back and that girls back?"

Top Notch felt uneasy telling his dead friends mother such an awful truth. "I hate to make your son look back after he's passed away mam' but unfortunately he did do that."

Both Top Notch and Clover Leaf looked stunned when they saw Ms. Hoofpac break out in laughter. "Forgive me, forgive me but it just brings a little bit of joy to this old mares heart to hear that her son was still up to old tricks even after all this time."

The old mare noticed the looks they were giving her. "Oh look at both of your faces, you must think I've gone insane from my son's death." In reality that wasn't far from what Top Notch was thinking. "Here let me explain from the beginning. Me and Whisky's father had him when we were still pretty young. At first me and his father were as happy as a couple be, then came the rough years. For a while money was short with Whisky's father having lost his job. Eventually the stress of being jobless and having to raise a son was to much for that stallion."

Clover Leaf listened to the mares words and slowly put tow and two together. "Wait, you don't mean that Whisky's father..."

"I do child, that stallion couldn't handle the pressure and one day just disappeared leaving me to raise Whisky on my own. It broke my heart every time he asked me where his father was. I just didn't have the strength to tell him the truth until he was a bit older. Once I told him I think he hated his father for having abandoned him and me."

"That would explain why he never talked about his dad." Top Notch reasoned.

Ms. Hoofpac nodded her head at that. "My son was unhappy growing up without a father, that much I saw everyday he lived with me. Interesting thing is that even though he was unhappy he always tried to make the lives of those around him better. The most common way that he would do this would be by playing match maker."

Top Notch did a double take on that. "Match maker? You mean he would set ponies up on dates?"

"In a way yes but he was never direct about it. He would go around spreading little rumors about the two ponies and then let life take over. I believe that's what he did with you and that pegasus. Actually I know so because several months ago he sent me a letter saying that he had met a wonderful pegasus mare that was perfect for his best friend."

"Wait, he said she was perfect for me? What did he mean by that?"

The old mare reached across the table a put a hoof on Top Notch's shoulder. "My son would write to me saying how bad he felt for you. He always said in his letters that you out on a brave face. He told me how lonely you were after your parents passed away. Whisky thought that maybe all you needed was a special pony in you life again."

"There's only so much a friend can do, sometimes ponies need something more."

Those were the words that Whisky had told Top Notch the day he confessed to the rumors. "He wasn't talking about Rainbow Dash, he meant me."

"My son would never do anything to hurt his best friend. Whatever Whisky did he did with the best intentions."

Top Notch stood up from the table and thanked Ms. Hoofpac for her words. "I think I should head back to farm. There are some things I need to talk about with Rainbow Dash about. Mostly me apologizing for being an inconsiderate fool."

Clover Leaf's ears perked up at this. "Wait, what did you do to Rainbow Dash!? So help me Top Notch I told you that if you did anything to hurt that girl I'd..."

"Easy, easy Clover...glad to see you haven't lost your fighting spirit. I was just acting stupid and I said some dumb things. I thought she hurt me pretty bad but now I see that I was that one that probably broke both our hearts." Top Notch made his way to the door but called to Clover Leaf before he left. "Hey Clover, mind if I have a word with you real quick?"

"Uh sure Top Notch."

Both walked outside of the restaurant and once Top Notch was sure they were alone leaned in close to whisper. "So how have things been with the restaurant? I know the town awarded you ownership but how you holding up?"

"Oh I've been just swell business wise I guess. I'm going to have to hire another pair of hooves to help me out though. Why you asking?"

"Well actually Clover..." Top Notch began but stopped when he realized what he was about to say. The main reason he had come to the restaurant in the first place was to find out if Clover had any suspicions on who the murderer might be. He shook those thoughts from his head. "The Sheriff told me to tell you if you have any news or found any evidence to tell him immediately."

"Okay so is that what you wanted to tell me Top Notch?"

The stallion nodded his head before saying goodbye and taking his leave. There was nothing more that he wanted in than to apologize to Rainbow Dash.

The sun was setting over the horizon by the time Top Notch was out of the town and in the scrub land making his way back to the farm.

He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a familiar voice call him from behind. "Hello there lover boy. How have you and Rainbow Dash been holding since the death of your bar tender friend?"

Top Notch spun around and came face to face with an earth pony. "Thatcher...it was you wasn't it? You killed Whisky didn't you?"

"Maybe I did and maybe I did. Either way I'm just glad that pest is finally out of my mane. What are you going to do about it lover boy? Kill me?" Thatcher laughed at his own crude joke.

"No but I'll beat you till you near death and then turn you over to the Sheriff. How does that sound to you?"

"Not going to lie, that actually sounds pretty unpleasant Top Notch."

Without a word more being said an enraged Top Notch rushed at Thatcher but didn't come anywhere close to him. He was held back by a a force and being lifted so that his hooves were barely off the ground. He glanced around his body and saw that he was completely covered in a magic aura. "What the...Thatcher what is this?"

"This is us using you as bait young stallion." An unfamiliar voice came from the incapacitated stallion's right side. Out of the corner of Top Notch's eye he saw what looked like to be a unicorn.

"Who are..." Top Notch didn't get a chance to finish. From his left side came a burly earth pony who landed a hard puch to the side of Top Notch's skull.

Stars were the last thing Top Notch saw before blacking out completely and then falling to the ground in a heap.

Threats and Responses

Chapter 20: Threats and Responses

Light from the rising sun began to seep through the window of the living room. Slowly the beam of light stretched its way across the room passing empty milk bottles and paper until it touched the hoof of the cyan pegasus sleeping on the couch. It inched its way up her leg until it finally shone on Rainbow Dash's face causing her to stir from her sleep.

With a loud yawn Rainbow stretched her hooves and wings as she sat up. A quick glance around the room confirmed her suspicion that she had indeed fallen asleep downstairs which expplained her soreness. "Crap must of had too much to drink last night. Hope Top Notch isn't..." Memories from the previous day flooded back to her. "So that wasn't a dream then." She mulled over what had happened between her and the stallion. "I guess I can't blame the guy, after all he did to try and help me I keep a secret that big from him. Ugh, What was I thinking!?"

As she got up from the couch her hoof touched one of the empty milk bottles that were littered across the floor sending it rolling across the room. She bent over and picked up one of the milk bottles trying to remember what she had done with them. "So if yesterday wasn't a dream then that mean I really did try...oh crap." She grabbed her stomach and bolted for the bathroom door slamming it shut behind her.

Several minutes of painful moaning and groaning passed before a flush came from the bathroom. Rainbow Dash made came out of the room still grasping her stomach with a hoof. "Right, so it is impossible to get drunk from drinking nothing but milk. Nauseated? Oh yeah. Glazed? Definitely a no." She looked at the culprits that littered the floor quickly putting a hoof to her mouth. "Yeah...I think I'm done with milk...for a...oh buck me." Once again the bathroom door was slammed shut.

Making sure that she got the dairy out of her system completely, Rainbow Dash was again reentered the living room making sure not to make eye contact with any of the bottles. She turned her attention to the other objects that were scattered across the floor. She picked up one of the pieces of paper and noticed that it had writing on it.

Dear Twilight,
I know its been a while since we talked ~~mostly because of the stupid choices you made with out talking to me first~~ but how have you been lately? They give you own kingdom to rule yet?

-Rainbow Dash

Rainbow Dash looked at the paper and realized that it was indeed her hoofwriting. A quick scan of the room revealed more papers. "Weird, I remember writing only a few of these last night. Then again I only remember drinking two bottles of milk last night so..." A rumble from her stomach made her change her train of thought. "Wonder if any of these are actually good." She made her way over to a crumpled paper on the floor and picked it up.

What's up Twilight? Rainbow Dash here just keeping you updated on my life, ~~you know that life that you pretty much ruined by shutting down the WonderBolts~~...

"Right, can't use that one."

Hey Twilight, remember when you made me promise you that you'd be the first one to know if I ever found a stallion I liked? Well I met this pretty awesome guy, his name's Top Notch. He's AJ's cousin and we're doing really well together ~~until yesterday when I told him about my secret and he pretty much dumped me on the spot for not telling him~~. I hope you get to meet him one day ~~though he sorta hates Princess Celestia just to let you know~~.

"Maybe I can salvage this one." The pegasus tossed the paper onto the couch before moving on the next one.

Rainbow Dash had made her way around the room looking at all the potential letters and being disappointed when they were all pretty much her ranting or complaining. Finally she held the last piece paper in the room up to her face.

JEEZ PRINCESS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO APOLOGIZE TO ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS FOR PRETTY MUCH RUINING HER LIFE? NOT JUST BY SHUTTING DOWN THE WONDERBOLTS BUT ALSO CAUSING A STALLION THAT SHE LIKED TO BREAK UP WITH HER. WHAT, ARE YOU CONSTIPATED ON THE THRONE? I'M PRETTY SURE TANK COULD DO THIS FASTER THAN YOU!

Without any hesitation Rainbow Dash crushed the paper into a ball before tossing it into a bin in the corner of the room. "Yeah, I really can't use any of these without sounding like pathetic selfish loser or a socialpath. Whatever I guess I cold always write a better one later to her when I'm not under the imaginary influence of milk." Walking back to the couch she inadvertently kicked another empty milk bottle sending it sliding into the wall before cracking in two. "Oops, I guess I should clean all this up before Top's see's the mess I made. Who knows maybe he's already seen it."

"Actually...I don't remember Top's coming home last night at all." Making her way up the stairs Rainbow Dash knocked on Top Notch's bedroom door. When no response came she creaked the door open a little and poked her head through. "Hey Top's...I mean...Top Notch, you in here?" The stallion was no where to be seen with the room looking as if no one had been inside it recently. "I guess he must of found some place to crash in town. Geez Rainbow, you must of pissed him off on a whole new level for him to avoid coming back to is own house."

Back downstairs Rainbow Dash made her way out through the kitchen to the stables. "Hey Top Notch! You out here?" She waited a minute for a response and headed back into the house. Putting the obvious question of where Top Notch was aside Rainbow Dash began to wonder what to do next. "Okay, he's not here but I don't need him here to do work around the farm. Then again...I really should head into town and ask around for him."

A low growl came from the pegasus's stomach that didn't send her running to the bathroom. "I can't think on an empty stomach. Pretty sure I'll think of something during breakfast." Rainbow Dash headed back into the kitchen, got some bread out, and made was about to make toast when a two loud knocks came from the front of the house. "Can't be Top's since, don't think I ever heard of any one kocking before coming into their own house."

Two more knocks came from the front door. "I'm coming I'm coming just a hold on a second." Placing the bread next to the toaster she headed towards the front of the house. "If you're here looking for Top Notch then you're going to have to come back later."

Rainbow Dash froze in place when she opened the door and saw that Thatcher was standing in front of her. "Hello there Rainbow Dash. My you're looking good for a pony who almost lost her life saving the town for a changeling attack." A jumble of conflicting thoughts fought for attention in Rainbow's mind with 'Tackle Asshole to Ground' winning out. Before Rainbow Dash could make a move Thatcher spoke again. "Now before you inflict any bodily harm to me just know that it is in your best interest to listen to what I have to say."

"Oh yeah? Why would I do that?" Rainbow Dash flared her wings as if ready to pounce.

"Simple, it would be a real shame if Top Notch shared the same fate of that other stallion. Oh what was him name? Whisky?" Rainbow Dash backed off after hearing that. Her whole body began to tremble from the fear and anger that coursed through her. "Good, I thought you'd listen to reason. Now I bet you're wondering what I'm..."

In an instant Rainbow Dash grabbed the stallion, spun him around, and pinned him against the house. "Where is Top Notch?" Rainbow pushed Thatcher harder against the wall. "Tell me before I do something you're going to regret."

To Rainbow's surprise Thatcher didn't even struggle. He just allowed himself to be handled by Rainbow Dash. "Funny how even after a month has passed you're still a stupid girl." A blow to the back of the head sent him face first into the wall. "You know the last pony who hurt me didn't end up doing so well. Here I thought you'd listen to reason but apparently I was wrong."

A shove from behind sent him face first into the wall again. Thatcher noticed a small blood stain on the side of the house. "Look if you let go off me then I'll gladly tell you where your little colt friend is. I was going to anyway but apparently ponies in this town are too hot headed to listen to reason."

Rainbow Dash shoved him one last time against the wall before letting him go. "Alright, start talking before I change my mind and decide to turn you into the Sheriff."

Thatcher brushed himself off before putting a hoof to the blood seeping from his nose. "Don't suppose I could trouble you for a paper towel?" A blank expression from the pegasus gave him his answer. "I take it that's a no then. Anyway don't worry yourself over Top Notch. He's not hurt and is being well taken care of courtesy of my boss. No harm will come to him as long as you cooperate with us."

"What exactly do you mean by 'Cooperate'?"

"Just as it sounds. All my boss wants to do is talk to you. To tell you the truth he's actually taken quite an interest in you. All you have to do to is come down to our hide out and..."

Rainbow Dash scoffed at that. "Come down to you 'Hide out'. Right cause that doesn't sound suspicious at all."

"Well what did you expect? That I'd just walk back into my old office in town? I would of been arrested on the spot. Now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, all you have to do is come down to out hide out alone to talk with my boss. You do that and we won't hurt Top Notch or you. Seems fair enough right?"

"Like you could hurt me but fine. I'll go meet with your boss. Where's your stupid hideout anyway?"

Thatcher took out a piece of paper from a saddle bag at his side and tossed it into the house. "Directions are on there. Just remember that you have to come alone. If you tell anyone else or show up with anyone else then that little stallion you love so much will suffer for it. Oh and before I forget, you've got two hours to comply. If you don't then..."

A nasty stare from Rainbow caused Thatcher to choke on his words. "I'll be there, you just better hope that Top Notch isn't hurt." With that Rainbow Dash went back into the house and slammed the door shut.

With his goal accomplished Thatcher headed back out into the scrub land. He rubbed nose sorely seeing if the bleeding had stopped. "Guess there really was no way that could of gone better. Oh well, either way the stupid girl will pay for messing up the boss's plans."

Rainbow Dash waited inside the house by the front door for a minute before peeking out the door to see if Thatcher was gone. She closed the door, locked it, and then picked up the piece of paper containing the instructions. "Okay lets see here." Her eyes glanced over the paper. "Seems easy enough."

Something curious happened at that moment to Rainbow Dash. For no apparent reason her back left leg began to shake violently before crumpling causing the peagsus to collapse onto the floor. "What the?"

All at once she felt the rest of her body begin to tremble as well. Her hear rate sped up exponentially and she felt an icy chill in the pit of her stomach. The pegasus's entire body began to shake violently forcing her to remain on the floor of the house. "Why...why can't I move?" Rainbow Dash willed her body to listen but she could not manage to move a single muscle. Fear began to build in her as she contemplated what would happen if she didn't show up for the meeting with Thatcher's boss. "They killed Whisky and...and ...they'll kill Top's too if I can't get my stupid body to move! ARRRGH!" Rainbow Dash let out a loud scream before her head fell to the floor.

Her face began to warm up as she felt her whole body continue to shake. "What's wrong with me? I abandon one of best friends over a stupid decision, I leave the rest of my friends to try and be a hero, and I broke the heart of the stallion that did nothing but care for me all these months. I'm such a bucking failure in life." Rainbow Dash felt tears begin to stream down the side of her face but couldn't move a hoof to wipe them away.

"I'm sorry Top's...maybe you would of been better off if I had just left with Apple Jack and gone back home."

Something clicked in the back of Rainbow Dash's mind, her body acting the way it was along with the thoughts of doubt now seemed familiar to her. "Last time I felt like this I guess was at the Young Flyers competition at CloudsDale a couple years ago. I was so nervous of failing and looking like an idiot in front of Princess Celestia and my friends."

"Is that whats happening to me right now? Am I nervous? Nervous of what? I'm Rainbow Dash, I don't get nervous anymore." She willed her body to move but still remained firmly on the floor. "Oh who am I kidding? I am nervous...and a bit scared I guess if I'm going to be completely honest with myself."

Rainbow Dash's body began to tremble less. "Okay so I'm scared, so what? Still doesn't change the fact that I've got a pony to save. There's no way I'm going to let Thatcher and his 'boss' ,whoever that is, win against me. I'll be the slowest flyer in Equestria before that happens!"

All at once Rainbow Dash jumped off the floor almost hitting her head against the ceiling. There was a slight pain in her right wing but she ignored it and flew up the stairwell to her room where she began to formulate a plan. "Okay, so they obviously think I'm stupid enough to actually go alone and meet them. Pfft, Rarity's got a better chance of becoming the EEW Heavy Weight Champ before I fall for that. Read too many Daring Do books to know how that ends but still. If they see me walk up or fly in with the Sheriff then Top's will...hmmm! There's got to be an answer I'm not seeing here. Villains always have stupid holes in their plans!"

The pegasus paced around her room trying to come up with a feasible solution. Every time she thought she had a plan she jumped in the air only to come back down slowly when she realized it wouldn't work. This pattern continued for several minutes until out of the blue Rainbow Dash came up with not one, but two plans. Each that she believed were guaranteed to work. Without any further hesitation she set about making her preparations for both plans.

Glancing at a clock in the farm house Rainbow Dash noticed she had only around thirty minutes left to meet the deadline. She packed up what she needed in her saddle bag before flying out through her bedroom window towards town as fast as her recovering wing would allow her.

There were two stops and two ponies that she needed to meet in order for both of her plans to work. As she flew over the town the first pony came in view just outside of Whisky's restaurant. Rainbow Dash dove down and landed in front of Clover Leaf. "Clover do you know where your dad is? I need to ask him for a favor!"

"My old man? Why do you need to ask him for a favor?" Clover Leaf gave Rainbow Dash a quick look over and noticed that the pegasus was sweating profusely. "Rainbow Dash you haven't been putting too much stress on the wing of yours have you? The Doctor said..."

"The Doctor said that I need to take it easy for a bit, yeah I know but this is important! So come on, do you have any idea where your dad is?" Rainbow Dash knew she had a only small time window for both of her plans to be in motion.

"Well I guess my dad would be in his office in the Town Hall." Clover Leaf pointed down the street. "That's probably the safest bet."

"Awesome! Do you know if he finished that damage report yet?"

"I think I heard him say something about finishing it today but what does that have to do with anything?"

Rainbow Dash perked up after hearing that. She wasn't too late, there was still time to for get both of her plans to work. "Cool now I got to hurry! Thanks a lot Clover!" Rainbow Dash took off down the street but then quickly flew back to her friend. "Oh one more thing Clover. Stay inside the restaurant or your house today and lock the doors. Make sure you don't talk to any one you don't know personally! Got it?"

A nod from the confused unicorn was enough to send Rainbow Dash flying back down the street towards Town Hall

Rainbow Dash pretty much let herself into the Mayor's office pushing past a disgruntled secretary that tried to send her away. "Mayor Bowlorama..."

"That's Mayor Bouvardia to you Ms. Rainbow Dash. You have a reason for storming into my office like this? I know the town of EverGlade see's you as a hero but we do have a procedures for scheduling a meeting with me." The Mayor shuffled some paper work on his desk before lighting up his horn.

"Wait Mayor Boo...Bularian...boova...Mayor Clover's dad! What's that you're about to send?" Rainbow Dash rushed to the side of the Mayor's desk pointing at the papers he held.

The Mayor levitated the thick paper stack in front of Rainbow Dash. "This is the damage report that I've just finished. I was actually just about to send it on its way. Oh and before I forget it's Mayor Bouvardia. Please try to remember my name Ms. Rainbow Dash. You don't see me forgetting yours now do you?"

"Look I promise I'll remember you name after all of this is over. Right now though I need you to hold on a second on sending that report. Also I need to ask you for two favors that are really important." Rainbow Dash got out a rolled up piece of paper from her saddle bag and placed it on the Mayor's desk. "I need you to send this note to Sheriff Silver Point."

"Pardon me Rainbow Dash but wouldn't it be easier and save time if you just delivered this note yourself?" Mayor Bouvardia looked at the note quizically. "Can I look at it?"

"No." Rainbow Dash stated bluntly. "The less ponies know about this the better, trust me."

Mayor Bouvardia looked at the rolled up piece of paper and levitated it up into the air before it vanished in a poof of magic. "Done, now about this second favor?"

Rainbow Dash dug into her saddle bag and dug out another rolled up piece of paper placing it in front of the Mayor. "I need you to send this with the towns damage report to Canterlot."

Serving Equestria

Chapter 21: Serving Equestria

The wind whipped through Rainbow Dash's mane as she flew towards the the meeting point. She figured she had at least a few more minutes before the deadline line, more than enough time for the fastest flyer in Equestria. Bringing up the paper with the directions she stopped when she figured she was approximately over the meeting point. Glancing around below she saw nothing but scrub land.

Immediately she began to worry thinking that she had in fact taken too long and that her opportunity at saving Top Notch was gone. Her panic began to disappear when she noticed a rather large earth pony waving up at her. Rainbow Dash flew down landing in front of the stallion. The pony was definitely not Thatcher but he still had an air about him that keep Raiinbow Dash wary. "I'm guessing you're Rainbow Dash?"

The question which Rainbow Dash immediately deemed 'stupid' won the stranger a roll of the pegasus's eyes. "No, I'm actually Princess Luna and I'm trying on a new mane style and had my coat dyed cause I got tired of looking all dark and gloomy. Of course I'm Rainbow Dash!" The stallion in front of her looked confused for a moment as if deciding if Rainbow Dash was telling the truth.

"Hey, do you think I'm some kind of idiot who can't tell when ponies are being sarcastic?" He stomped a hoof at the ground trying his best to be intimidating. "Well!?"

"Oh no, I take you as the mind reader type big guy." Rainbow Dash eyed him down doing a better job of being intimidating.

This remark left the stallion seemingly confused again for a second. "Do you really think I'm a...wait you're just being sarcastic again aren't you?"

"Well duh, you're probably just Thatcher's dim wit muscle lackey. Makes sense that coward wouldn't want to meet me here face to face after what I did to him."

The stallion stamped his hoof against the ground again. "Shut up! I'm not a lackey. Thatcher and the boss told me personally that I'm an intelligent crucial part of this plan." The stallion had a painfully smug look on his face. "Well, what do you have to say to that little miss sarcastic? Out smarted by big bad Specter."

A grin appeared on Rainbow Dash's face, the stallion was making it too easy for her. "Okay Specter, so if you're not a dim wit lackey then tell me, why is the sky blue?"

The question pretty much wiped the smug look off of the pony as he visibly struggled to come up with a answer. "Um...the sky is blue because of...cause...well when two pegasus love each other very much then...MAGIC! Yeah that's it, magic, thought you had me there for second didn't you?"

If the circumstances were different Rainbow Dash would of been on the ground rolling over in laughter. She kept her composure and covered her mouth to silence herself. "Oh yeah, you're definitely a lackey."

"Well this lackey holds the fate of the stallion you like so much in his hooves. Got anything else you want to say now?" Rainbow Dash's laughter stopped and she gave the stallion an icy stare. "Thought so, now come on. The boss is waiting for you."

"What do you mean waiting for us? This is where the directions on the paper said to meet your boss." Rainbow Dash got out the paper from her saddle bag and showed it to the stallion who laughed at the sight of it.

He took the piece of paper in his hooves and ripped in into pieces before throwing it into the wind. "Right, knew I was forgetting something. Almost forgot to destroy the evidence like the boss told me to." Specter began walking and signaled for Rainbow Dash to follow him. "You didn't really think we'd write down where our hide out was did you?"

The two walked across the scrub land for several minutes before stooping seemingly again in the middle of no where. Specter pulled out a piece of paper from his own saddle big, his lips moving quietly as if he was reading. Once he read over the piece of paper again for the what seemed like the fifth time he tucked it back into his saddle bag. "Oh right, come on lets go."

"Thought you said that you guys didn't write down the directions to your hide out?" That earned the peagasus a nasty paniced stare. "What? You're going to try and tell me that I'm wrong and that's actually you're grocery list or something before yelling 'shut up' aren't you?"

"Shut up! This is actually my...SHUT UP!"

Specter began moving again with Rainbow Dash following him. She couldn't help but think how unfair it was that she always ended up facing the dumbest villains in the world. Not that she was asking for capable villains but she wondered how much trouble she would probably be in if Specter had half a brain to look up at the sky above them.

They finally came to a stop in front of what appeared to be an old outhouse in front of a large boulder. Specter walked up and motioned for Rainbow Dash to step inside. "Get in."

"No thanks, already went before I left the house."

Specter put a hoof on his face. "Just get in and push the back wall. This is actually the secret entrance to our hideout."

"You're secret entrance to your hide out is a toilet? Talk about a crappy secret." Rainbow Dash stepped inside the structure and put a hoof pushing on the back wall. "Hey Mr. Lackey, the wall ain't budging. Sure you didn't get us lost?"

"Wait till I close the front door from the outside then push." Specter closed the door and Rainbow Dash heard the click of locks from outside.

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on the wall again but stopped herself. "What? You're not going in with me? How am I supposed to find your boss without a map of the place?"

"Push the wall and then walk forward, the chief should be waiting for you. I got orders to stay out here and guard the front door to make sure you don't try and run."

Doing as she was told, Rainbow Dash put a hoof on the wall and pushed it out of the way. On the other side was a long narrow stair way lit by lamps leading down. Rainbow Dash cautiously made her way down the stairs through the dimly lit passage. She walked down for what seemed like a couple of minutes before the stairs ended in front of a large door at the bottom.

A moments hesitation was all that stood between her, meeting this boss pony, and saving Top Notch. She pushed the door aside making her way into a better lit room that was scarcely furnished with a few tables and sofas.

Seated at one of the tables was Thatcher who was waving her over to his table . "Hello there Rainbow Dash, so glad you could join meeting me and my boss for a friendly little discussion. Please be a dear and have a seat at the table."

Rainbow Dash sat across from the stallion doing her best to give him an intimidating stare. "So where's you boss?" She leaned against the chair and threw her back hooves onto the table. "Thought the deal was I was meeting with him, not you."

"My boss will be joining us momentarily. He's actually just behind this door finishing up the final preparations." Thatcher moved aside slightly giving Rainbow Dash a view of a large silver door. "I'm just here to talk to you before we get started."

"Talk to me about what?"

"A proposition that my boss has for you Rainbow Dash. I guess to be more specific, we want to offer you a job."

A job? That certainly wasn't what Rainbow Dash had been expecting. "You want to offer me a job? What makes you think that I'd take a job from you creeps?"

The smile that appeared on Thatcher unnerved the peagsus a little. "We know you'll accept one way or the other for many reasons. The first reason being the most obvious seeing as we'll release Top Notch if you accept. Another reason is that the pay off for this job is a whole ton of glory for you Rainbow Dash. You and I both know just how much you love glory don't you? Seeing as how you, an Element of Harmony, seemed to love basking in the lime light."

Rainbow Dash brought a hoof down to the table quickly. "You don't know me! Now where is Top Notch?"

"Easy there Rainbow Dash." Thatcher put two hooves up by his sides. "Your little colt friend is in that room behind me having a brief talk with my boss. Aparently he also has a certain motive for potentially helping us. Who knows, maybe Top Notch will accept my boss's offer and join our side. How would you feel about that?"

"He'd never join you creeps! Not after you guys killed Whisky!"

"Ah yes, you two were quite good friends with Whisky weren't you? Funny thing is that his death was a complete accident." The smile Thatcher had talking about her friend's death was unsettling to the pegasus.

Sliding her back hooves off the table and sitting up right, Rainbow Dash looked Thatcher dead in the eye. "So you guys really did kill Whisky."

"When you say it like that then I suppose we did, though it was an accident. The poor fellow must of OD'd from how much of the stuff we were giving him. I have to say that stallion really did have a strong will if he resisted the influence for so long."

Thatcher looked at the mare across the table and thought he saw her...smiling? "What's wrong Rainbow Dash, you seem to be smiling hearing about your friends death."

No answer. Rainbow Dash just kept smiling.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash it's time to come back to reality now." Thatcher rubbed the back on his head with a hoof. "Maybe I broke her?"

An familiar old voice came from behind Rainbow Dash. "You didn't break her you little rat. She's smiling because you just confessed to the murder of Whisky and boy do I look forward putting you and your group behind bars." Thatcher quickly got up from the table and looked passed Rainbow Dash to see an old pegasus standing next to the door where Rainbow Dash had entered. "Sheriff Silver Point? How did you ...I told Thatcher not to bring Rainbow Dash here if she wasn't alone."

Sheriff Silver Point walked over to the table where Rainbow Dash was seated at. "With all offense intended Thatcher, that lackey of your's is as dumb as a sack of bricks. Apparently neither you or his mother ever taught him to look up. There I was sitting at my desk in the Station when a note magically pops out from out of nowhere in front of me. The note was from Rainbow Dash telling me to fly above her and track her to your hide out. Took a while too since it seemed like that stallion kept getting lost."

"Wait but where's Specter now?" Thatcher looked around the room as if expecting to see the burly earth pony.

"Oh don't you worry about him. I'm sure he's learned his lesson to look up from now. I took a page from Rainbow Dash's book and swooped in on him real nice like. Your little lackey is knocked out like a light."

The Sheriff jumped up and landed on the table in front of Thatcher staring the pony down. "I'd read you your rights but come on, all of us here know that you and anyone that you're working with is pretty much going to be convicted of treason once we hand you over to the Princesses."

Quickly Thatcher looked around the Sheriff at Rainbow Dash. The mare was smiling at him with a certain look as if tempting him to try and run. Her eyes were full of defiance, he hated that. "You don't know what you've done you stupid girl! This could of been easy but no, you had to be like the rest of this hick town and defy my boss to the end. Just know that what happens next could of been avoided."

Rainbow Dash took out a piece of cloth from her saddle bag and tossed it over to the Sheriff. "Do me a favor and gag him for me will ya? I'm getting pretty tired of hearing him talk."

Sheriff Silver Point took the gag and, with a pair of hoof cuffs that he got from his own saddle bag, jumped down in front of Thatcher. "My pleasure but first he's gonna tell us where his boss is. Isn't that right Thatcher?"

"I'm not going to hide where he is. I already told Rainbow Dash that he's behind this door over here. Go ahead and arrest him." The earth pony was gagged after that with his front two hooves hoof cuffed.

Thatcher was then pushed onto the floor against the wall by the Sheriff. "Sit tight, I'm going to go have a word with your boss." Sheriff Silver Point made his way over to the door and opened it. "Alright, who ever's in here listen up! You are all being placed under arrest by the authority of..." Without warning the old pegasus was thrown against the opposite wall by an unseen force. Before Rainbow Dash could react she realized that she was unable to move her body.

At first she thought it was just her nerves acting up again but a quick glance over her body and she realized that she was covered in a golden magical aura. Rainbow Dash looked at Thatcher and saw that he was grinning. "What's going on?" She felt her muscles become tighter and tighter.

Thatcher spit the gag out and looked over to the silver door. "What's happening? You've upset my boss and now you'll see why you should of just been smart and listened to us."

Rainbow Dash didn't get a chance to respond as she too was then thrown against the opposite wall as well. A new voice resonated through the room. "It's quite all right Thatcher, I wouldn't of expected anything but defiance from the Element of Loyalty." Rainbow Dash looked towards the silver door and saw that a unicorn stallion was standing in the door way. He looked old, perhaps a little younger than Sheriff Silver Point. He had a grey coat with a neatly combed dark blue mane. He wore small circular glasses with what seemed like a piece of rock dangling from his neck by a short chain.

The unicorn made his way over to Thatcher, encasing the earth pony's hoof cuffs in a golden aura before snapping them off. "Thanks boss, those things were starting to chafe me."

"Who are you?" Rainbow Dash finally manged to say.

"Ah yes, how rude of me. Here I am knowing all of your names but there you sit pinned against the wall not knowing mine. My name is Professor Honey Dew, a pleasure to finally make the acquaintance of an Element of Harmony besides Princess Twilight Sparkle." With an elegant flick of his head he levitated both Rainbow Dash and Sheriff Silver Point into two seats.

That name, his name sounded familiar to Rainbow Dash. " Professor Honey Dew? I've heard your name before...where?"

"It's not surprising that you've heard about me before. I am a Professor and Department Chair of Chemistry at the University of Canterlot. Oh but you probably don't know me for my teachings, no you seem like the type of pony who dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade and took some dead beat job." Rainbow Dash wanted nothing more than to jump out of the chair and smack the Professor clear across the room but the magic restraints held her tight to the chair. "You probably know me better from the health food chain I run, you heard of the Honey Comb Restaurant right? If memory serves I had a Honey Comb here in EverGlade but it went out of business due to the lack of customers."

Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as she continued to try and break herself out of the unicorn's magical grip. An intense pain shot up from her right wing forcing her to stop. She felt a hoof placed under her chin and was brought face to face with the Professor. "Where's Top Notch?"

That earned a grin on Honey Dew's face. "Ah yes, the little farm boy. I had actually hoped that he would join me as well but he has adamantly refused to be part of my plan."

"What plan?" Sheriff Silver Point asked.

"I was just getting to that but perhaps it would be best if all three of you were in the same room so that I don't have to repeat myself. Thatcher, please go and retrieve our guest in the other room."

"On it boss." Thatcher got up from his spot on the wall and disappeared into the next room. A few moments later Top Notch was thrown through the door onto the floor. "You got visitors lover boy." Soon Top Notch was also encased in the golden aura and seated in between Rainbow Dash and the Sheriff.

The stallion looked like he had seen better days. Rainbow Dash looked at him and felt a pain surge inside her chest. "Top Notch! Top Notch!" She glared at a grinning Thatcher. "I thought you said you didn't hurt him!"

"We didn't hurt him...once we had him locked up that is. Unfortunately there really seemed to be no other way to bring him in without knocking him unconscious first."

"When I get out of here I swear I'm gonna..."

"Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash turned and saw the source of the weak voice. Top Notch was looking at her barely able to keep his head up. "Top's..."

"Rainbow Dash, what are...what are you doing here? I thought you'd be safe at the farm house." Top Notch was breathing heavily, his left eye only barely open. "I thought you'd be smart to to not come here on your own!"

"I'm here too you know, got dragged into this by your little mare friend's 'plan' to rescue you." Top Notch turned to look a Sheriff Silver Point. "I suppose it is my duty the town to help rescue you however so I can't complain. I'm starting to wish that I did hire some deputies down the line somewhere."

"Glad to know you care Sheriff. I promise I'll put in a good word for you with the Mayor..."

"As touching as this is we're actually on a schedule." Professor Honey Dew levitated the three of them along with their chairs so that they were seated in front of the table. "Now since I'm a reasonable pony I'm going to give you all, that includes you too Sheriff, one final chance to join me by your own free will. I invite you all to come on board this plan of mine."

"What plan!?" Rainbow Dash spat. "We don' even know what you're yapping on about!"

"That' because you two had me gagged and cuffed before I got the chance to explain it to you!" Thatcher spat back. "Honestly, why can't any pony in this town be patient and reasonable?"

Professor Honey Dew put up a hoof to silence his subordinate. "It's quite alright Thatcher, I think I'd actually prefer it if I was the one who explained it to them. Either way they will still be joining us soon enough." Pulling up a chair fro himself the Professor sat himself across from Rainbow Dash. He took the stone off from his neck and dangled it with his magic for all three to see. "Do you know what this little stone is?"

Silence came from the three ponies across from him. "Fair enough that you don't. Even geologists themselves wouldn't be able to identify this marvelous mineral. Why? Because as far as the rest of the world knows this mineral doesn't exist. I have given it the name of Discordium, sound familiar? It should since without Mr. Chaos himself this mineral wouldn't exist. As you locals recall around a little over a thousand years ago Discord paid your town a little visit. He turned your world upside down by changing what was once a beautiful meadow into a vast scrub land. That's not all he changed however as I discovered years ago."

"When Discord altered the landscape of your town he also unintentionally altered the molecular structure of Barium deposits around the area creating Discordium. If the fool had known what he had done he probably would still be on the throne today. Funny how fate gives vast power to the uninformed."

All this seemed like nonsense to Rainbow Dash. The stallion might as well of been talking a different language. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything my dear as you will soon realize. For you see I discovered that Discordium has an interesting property. When ingested the dust from it instead of going through the digestive system will actually attack both hemispheres of the brain. It numbs the mind until the inflicted subject becomes weak and feeble minded. To put it in lay pony terms the subject becomes like a new born infant except with the added ability for a third party to imprint themselves onto the subject. The first creature they see they immediately take as their master. A subtle way form of brainwashing if I do say so myself. Although recently I've found out that too much of the dust is lethal thanks to that restaurant owner."

The plan starting sounding more and more like a bad Daring Do fanfic. Did the stallion actually think he could brainwash all of Equestria? "So what, you're gonna brain wash all of Equestria with that one little rock?"

"Two answers for that question. The first being no, I don't intend on brain washing all of Equestria. Just a few notable figures like I don't know all four Princesses maybe? The second answer is that unfortunately this little rock of mine has been all used up so I need more to complete my plan. Luckily I found a large cluster of the mineral in the middle of EverGlade. The whole town is practically a gold mine of the stuff. Once this town is gone I'll have all that I need."

He turned his full attention to Rainbow Dash now. "Which is were you come in my dear Element of Loyalty. I've been busy building a restaurant empire this past few years but as you may be aware of the Princesses are very, picky I suppose is the correct word, when it come to what they will eat. I was actually having a difficult time figuring out how I was going to get my dust close enough to them to have any effect. I received word a few months ago that you flew into town Rainbow Dash. With the Element of Loyalty vouching for me, well, lets just say I'd be serving them their meals no problem at all."

A brief moment of silence as the Professor stared at all three of them. "Originally I only needed Rainbow Dash but I am a generous and very reasonable stallion. So here is my offer to all three of you. Join my by your own free will or under the influence of the dust. To show you that I'm not a monster I'll leave you three alone for a few minutes to decide. Come along Thatcher, lets give our future friends some time to think." With nothing else to say at the moment Professor Honey Dew got up from the table and along with Thatcher exited the room.

The three captured ponies were left alone to think. They looked at each other unsure of what would happen next. Finally it was Top Notch that broke the silence between the three. "So just to be clear, we're all saying no right?" The other two nodded. "Good cause there are some more important things I want to get off my chest before those two come back." He turned to look at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow, I..."

"Save your breath Top's, you already told me what you think back at the house or did that knock to the side of your head make you forget that?" Rainbow Dash looked away from Top Notch facing the wall. "Honestly, we should be like using this time to make up a plan or something."

"Rainbow Dash look, I know I said some pretty stupid things yesterday but..."

"Are you serious?" Sheriff Silver Point interrupted, he looked at Top Notch surprised. "I know I told you to talk to her but right now? Seriously?"

"You went to talk to the Sheriff about this? Seriously?" Rainbow turned to look at Top Notch for a brief second. "You needed to tell him?"

Top Notch rolled his eyes. "Look Sheriff you mind turning away and tuning us out? This is sorta, you know, private matters." The Sheriff shook his head before turning to look away mumbling something under his breath. Top Notch gave Rainbow Dash his full attention. "Rainbow Dash I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but you gotta try and understand that I was angry and upset when I said those things to you. I know I hurt you after how close we'd gotten with each other."

"Pffft, tell it to some pony who isn't about to brainwashed. What's the point of telling me this now?"

"I'm telling you this now because I don't know what's about to happen. I just want you to know all this before whatever happens to us. Peace of mind or something like that."

Rainbow Dash turned around to look at Top Notch, her face contorted with mixed emotions. "Peace of mind huh? All you're doing is confusing me more! Honestly you're like the most confusing stallion ever. One minute your a pervert, the next your a sweet guy, and then you turn into a...a..." Rainbow Dash began choking on her words. "You know what? Just forget it. If you really want to give me piece of mind then you'll just stop talking right now." The pegasus's head drooped, her gaze falling to the floor. "It would of been better for the both of us if I had left with Apple Jack."

"No Rainbow Dash, it wouldn't of. I'm not one to believe in fate or destiny but I've always believed that nothing in this world happens without a reason. Those other things I said to you at the house, the stuff about me not being able to remember how my life was before you came along. I meant every word of it. I've had some time to think and I figured I was wrong trying to get you to tell me personal secrets. Here I was trying to help you but all I did was make things worse."

Every word that came out his mouth struck Rainbow Dash like a sledge hammer. She wanted to say something that would prove him wrong but couldn't come up with anything. With nothing to say she continued to stare at the floor. Top Notch saw the opportunity and he took it. "I'm really sorry I hurt you Rainbow Dash. I don't expect you to forgive me. Heck I actually expect you to still hate me. I just wanted to let you know that you're still special to me Rainbow, I'm sorry."

Rainbow Dash's head pounded with all that she had just heard. She was still special to him and maybe he was still special to her. She had tried to rescue the stallion by offering up herself. What made her so special that she was forgiven after lying to him for so long. For that matter, what made him so special that she was actually considering forgiving him? For the life of her she didn't know and it no longer mattered. She heard footsteps coming closer to her as her head magically jerked to look at the Professor.

"Well have me made a choice then? I'm sure I gave you three enough time to talk things over with each other. So what will it be then, freewill or the dust?"

The smile he gave Rainbow Dash was what finally boiled her over. "Buck you." She spat at him, the saliva landing in between his eyes.

"I see that negotiations have failed then." Without warning he threw Rainbow Dash clear across the room slamming her hard against the wall causing her to cough up a small amount of blood. Professor Honey Dew wiped the spit off of himself and made his way over to the pegasus on the ground. "I don't like to get my hooves dirty, that's what I have Thatcher for. You'll definitely be more cooperative once the dust has mellowed you out a little. I don't see any reason for us to delay any longer. Thatcher, the jar please."

A moment later and Thatcher came up next to his boss handing him a jar that seemed filled with silver dirt. "Can't say I didn't try to win you over. Don't worry, from what I've seen this is going to be painless. Once all three of you are out of the way I can turn my attention back to getting rid of the town." Putting a mask over his mouth that Thatcher handed to him the Professor opened up the jar. "I'm going to need you to take a big sniff of this if you don't mind."

He brought the jar up to her muzzle but then stopped. "Hmmm, you know what? I'm being to nice to a mare that spit in my face just moments ago. This calls for some poetic justice. I know, how about your little colt friend gives this to you? How does that sound?"

"In your dreams you lunatic!" Top Notch shouted. "You got a better chance of Tatarus freezing over before that happens!"

The Professor laughed at that. "My dear boy, you say that as if you have a choice in the matter." He walked over to Top Notch waving the jar in front of him. "Now be a good little colt and say ahhh for me." The jar was shoved into Top Notch's face. The stallion jerked violently trying to free himself before remaining still. "We'll see if you're as resilient as that restaurant owner was." A few moments paced as Top Notch remained still. Rainbow Dash watched in horror at the stallions lack of movement.

Top Notch all of sudden looked up staring at the professor with glossy eyes. The Professor smiled, patting the stallion on the head. "Well Top Notch? Who do you now serve?"

A large wad of spit landing on the Professor's cheek served as his answer. "So unhygienic . Oh well, doesn't matter to me if you don't survive more doses." He lifted the jar up again to the stallions face.

All Rainbow Dash could do was watch as the the jar was again shoved into Top Notch's face, the way he struggled to break free again, and the wicked smile that Professor Honey Dew had as he watched in enjoyment. All this was what Rainbow Dash saw before she and every other pony in the room were suddenly blinded by a bright light.

To Be Concluded...

Author's Note

For those of you wondering about Professor Honey Dew, the first time he was mentioned in this story was actually in the very first chapter. He kept making appearances as the shadowy figure talking to Thatcher through the magic mirror in his office before the changeling attack. Hope this clears up any unintended confusion.

Recovery and Conquest

Chapter 22: Recovery and Conquest

For those in the room it would of appeared that time had stopped those few seconds following the flash of light. The intensity of the flash had been great enough to force the eyes closed of all in the room. Rainbow Dash found it strange how despite everything else that had happened in the past few minutes the light itself felt good. She was disoriented but at the same time felt calm.

All of sudden she found that she was able to move her body again, the Professor's grip on her had vanished completely. She brought her hooves to her eyes and rubbed them vigorously as she tried to regain her sight. Finally she managed to look around and immediately noticed that she was on the ground. At some point she had fallen off of the chair onto her back. Rainbow Dash shook her head in an effort to get rid of the slight ringing in her ears.

A faint voice was calling to her but she was unable to make out who it belonged to. Rainbow Dash once again felt herself surrounded by a magic field. At first thought she believed that the Professor was again restraining her but this time felt different. She still had control of her body as she was lifted onto her hooves. Unlike the magic she was held in only a few moments ago which was hard and cold, this field was soft and warming. Her hearing returned to her and she felt the magic field around her body disappear. Rainbow Dash felt a hoof placed on her shoulder, she turned around and her jaw fell open at sight of the lavender colored mare standing next to her.

"Twilight?" It all seemed too unreal. She knew there was no way that Twilight could of been standing there next to her. An illusion, that's what Rainbow Dash concluded it was, nothing more and nothing less. Twilight spoke but Rainbow Dash couldn't make out what she was saying. The alicorn's horn lit up and the world came back to life.

"Rainbow Dash, please answer me! I need to know that you're okay! Rainbow Dash!" Twilight grabbed the pegasus and began shaking her. Rainbow Dash didn't reply, she refused to be tricked by the illusion. That all changed though as she looked around the room and saw that Sheriff Silver Point, Thatcher, and Professor Honey Dew were all looking at Twilight as well. Their facial expressions a mix of surprise, horror, and confusion.

It was at that moment that Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, touching the alicorn's face with a hoof. "You're real..." It was all the stunned pegasus was able to mutter.

Twilight frowned at that. "Well of course I'm real! What, you think that I wasn't going to come here after I got your letter?"

"...but...but..." Rainbow Dash was stammering hard. It was simply too much for her to take in. Never in a thousand years did she believe that her second plan would of actually worked. "Twilight, how did you..."

"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise? Here I was only expecting the Element of Loyalty but I end up getting the Element of Magic as well. I must say Princess Twilight Sparkle, from all the times I've seen you around Canterlot I've never seen you make such a flashy entrance." Professor Honey Dew walked over to the Top Notch who was laying on his side down on the ground. "It seems that I just can't catch a break can I?"

"Professor Honey Dew what are you doing here?" Twilight looked genuinely surprised seeing the Professor stand in front of her. "Why was my friend Rainbow Dash being held by a restraint spell. Exactly what have you been up to?"

The Professor knelt down beside Top Notch placing the stallion up right in the chair again. "You must forgive me Princess, I'm just amazed that you're here right now. Tell me, was that a teleportation spell that you used? I'm in awe at how powerful you've become that you seemingly teleported from Canterlot all the way up here. The level of magic that alicorn's have never ceases to amaze me. To tell you the truth I'm quite jealous."

Twilight knew that the unicorn was trying to change the subject, that much she suspected. What still threw her off was how calm the Professor was. "The letter I received from Rainbow Dash informed me that there were ponies here with evil intentions. I arrive and I see you, a fellow scholar, using your magic to hold my friend against her will. What exactly are you up to?"

"Twilight..." The Princess turned her attention to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus was leaning heavily against her. "This asshole is a bucking lunatic! He wants to rule Equestria and was going to do it by brainwashing you and the other Princesses! He's tried to destroy EverGlade, took that stallion over there hostage to get to me, and he...he..." Rainbow Dash began choking on her words. She fought back the tears forming in her eyes. "He killed another stallion that ran the restaurant in town."

It was unbelievable to the Princess, here was Rainbow Dash telling her all these horrible crimes committed by the Professor. Twilight draped a wing over her friends back in a attempt to comfort her. "It's okay Rainbow Dash, I'm here to help one of my friends." Twilight glared at the Professor who simply smiled back at her. "Honey Dew, is what she said true? Did you really go as far as kill a fellow pony all in the pursuit of this ludicrous plan of yours?"

"Guilty as charged Princess Twilight Sparkle. I see no point in attempting to lie to you. Yes, I did attempt to get rid of that back water town. Yes, I did take this stallion here hostage to get to Rainbow Dash. Yes, I did kill that restaurant owner although that was an accident. At least that stallion can rest easy knowing that his death gained me a bit of research." Twilight's horn began to glow brighter and brighter as the Professor continued to speak. "As a fellow scholar I know you'll understand that sacrifices mus be made for the sake of research."

Twilight had heard enough of the stallion's ramblings. "Don't you dare compare yourself to me or any other well meaning researcher! You crossed the line Honey Dew and now I'll see that you face trial in front of the Celestia Court before all four Princesses for what you have done." To her surprise the Professor didn't seem to be taking anything that she had said seriously. He seemed more preoccupied with Top Notch. "What are you doing to that stallion?"

Professor Honey Dew looked at Twilight in a way that the Princess deemed unsavory. "Me? Oh I'm just getting my mouth mask that I dropped on our friend here." The Professor placed the white mask on himself. "In a way I'm actually glad you're here Princess Twilight Sparkle. Lets me cut out the middle pony and all that." Professor Honey Dew's horn began to glow.

"What are you..." Twilight didn't get a chance to finish. In the next instant she heard something explode next to her. The Professor had used his magic to implode the glass jar containing the dust. Glass was sent flying outward in all directions with a few shards cutting into the pony who had been standing right next to the jar. Blood dripped down Twilight's legs as she wobbled slightly from the pain. Before she had time to react the Professor jumped at her tackling her towards the ground.

"It's no use trying to struggle Princess Twilight, there is no where in this room you can run to without breathing in my dust now. Just make it easy on yourself and take a deep breath will you?" The Professor's horn began to glow as he used his magic to assist himself in pinning the Princess to the ground. Twilight found herself fighting two battles, she was struggling to free herself from the Professor's magic while at the same time struggling to control her own breathing.

Twilight and the Professor knew that given enough time she would eventually lose both struggles. He was the pony in control out of the two. At least he would of been if not for the pegasus mare in the room.

"Get off of her you creep!" Rainbow Dash lunged at the stallion knocking him off of Twilight. They rolled across the room before coming to a stop with Rainbow on top. "Don't you ever put a hoof on my best friend!" She managed to get in two hits before she was pushed off of him by his magic.

Rainbow Dash was flung against one of the walls hard. Her injured wing burned intensely with pain forcing her to close her eyes. She reopened them just in time to see a chair fly towards her. Rolling out of the way just a second before the chair shattered against the wall behind her she once again ran towards the Professor. Another chair was thrown her way, she dodged but was grazed by it causing her to stumble forward. In that instant she felt herself encased in the Professor's magic again as she was lifted into the air.

"You know Rainbow Dash, I'm really starting to get tired of you." Rainbow Dash felt the unicorn's magical grip tighten around her throat. "In fact I've come to the conclusion that I don't really need you anymore now that Princess Twilight Sparkle has delivered herself to me. So before you draw you last breath is there anything that you would like to say to the group?"

Rainbow Dash felt her chest burn as she became more and more light headed. "Yeah...I..I do. Buck...buck you...literally!" The Professor didn't have time to react as Sheriff Silver Point reared up his hind legs bucking the unicorn hard in the side causing the Professor to lose his concentration and drop Rainbow Dash to the ground.

"Didn't forget about me did you?" The Sheriff ran up to Professor Honey with the intent on delivering a knock out punch to the side of the unicorn's head.

Just as Sheriff Silver Point's hoof was inches away from it's target he stopped as he was encased in the Professor's magic. "No I didn't forget about you Sheriff. I had just assumed that you had dropped dead from inhaling too much of the dust. I see that you have not so allow me to speed up the process." Sheriff Silver Point was slammed up and down against the floor and ceiling numerous times before being thrown down on a table breaking it in half. The old pegasus didn't move after that. Satisfied with taking care of one problem Professor Honey Dew turned his attention back to Rainbow Dash in time to see her tackle him against the wall.

Rainbow Dash delivered a swift punch to the Professor's stomach causing him to bend over in pain. "Not so tough when you can't concentrate and use your magic are you?" She felt something pierce her shoulder. Stumbling back in pain she saw there was small gash in her shoulder. Her gaze fell on the Professor who's horn was tinged slightly red. "What the?"

"One of the advantages of being a unicorn is having a weapon attached firmly to your head. It's considered barbaric for unicorns to use their horns in this day and age as weapons but it does get the job done." Professor Honey Dew lit up his horn again grabbing Rainbow Dash with his magic. Just as he horn was tinged red his magics aura also took on red stains. "Now where were we? Ah yes, I was just about to rid this world of one Element of Harmony before bringing another under my control." He slammed Rainbow Dash hard against the ground kocking the wind out of her. "Did you really think that some pegasus would be able to beat me? I am considered a high level unicorn so the chances of you coming out on top in a fight against me was impossible." He increased his grip on Rainbow Dash causing her eyes to redden and tears to form. "A valiant but vain effort, good bye Rainbow Dash."

Just as the Professor was about to squeeze what little breath remained in the pegasus's lungs he was shot backwards onto the ground by a bolt of magical energy. With his grip on her gone Rainbow Dash took several small hasty breaths uncaring for the dust that filled the room. She looked behind her and saw that Twilight was standing with a purple aura encasing her body. With a flick of the alicorn's head soon Rainbow Dash found that she was encased in alicorn's magic as well. "Don't worry Rainbow Dash, you can breath easy now. I casted a spell that is filtering the air around us. Just sit back and rest now, I'll finish this up."

Not even waiting for a response Twilight moved to stand in front of Rainbow Dash shielding her from any further harm. The Princess glared at the Professor who was just then beginning to pick himself off of the ground. "You boast about being considered a high level unicorn but you seem to forget just who you address. Rainbow Dash may not be a unicorn but she is an Element of Harmony. The magic contained inside of her is far beyond your comprehension. As you also said my level of magic is also far greater than yours. Just give up now Professor Honey Dew, you can't hope to win against us."

"Your wrong Princess! I have no need to be more powerful than you or the other Princesses since soon you will all be under by control! With four alicorns behind me there is nothing that I won't be able to accomplish!" He turned his head and looked towards his subordinate laying face down on the floor. "Thatcher get up! I require your assistance this instant!" No response came from the earth pony. "Thatcher get up you useless excuse for a henchpony!" Professor Honey Dew hobbled over to Thatcher and flipped the stallion onto his back. Thatcher was breathing but his eyes were glossy and he stared straight ahead seemingly at nothing.

"It's over you lunatic!" Rainbow Dash got up and stood next Twilight. "Give up or fight us until you beat you to a pulp! I'm not gonna lie, I'm sorta hoping you pick the second option."

"Don't you dare mock me! I will not stand by and be insulted by the likes of you!" The Professor's face was twisted with anger and rage as his horn glowed brighter and brighter. "I'll show you! You think I can't go horn to horn with a weak Princess like her!? She's nothing compared to what I'm capable of!"

Sensing danger, Twilight put up a small shield around her and Rainbow Dash. "You think that little shield is going to protect you? Allow me to show you just how wrong you are! I can rule Equestria with just three Princesses anyway!" The unicorn's horn began glowed a sickening golden mixed with crimson to the point of almost blinding the two friends. "Good bye Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

All of a sudden the bright light and glow faded in an instant. The Professor was thrown backwards ans his spell seemingly imploded on himself and fell to the ground. A large crack ran up the side of his horn. He closed his eyes and passed out from the pain and shock of the experience. In his mind he knew that now he had truly lost. All his plans and dreams would never come to pass now. "What a shame." He drifted off into unconsciousness.

Feeling that they were now relatively safe Twilight lowered her shield and with flick of her horn a purple flash encased the room. Once the flash had faded all of the dust was gone. "It's over." Twilight sat on the ground and began rubbing her injuries.

Rainbow Dash immediately ran towards the one thing that was consuming her thoughts. Top Notch sat still in the chair somehow unmoved by the fighting. He stared at the ground with glossy eyes breathing heavily. Rainbow Dash shook him vigorously trying to snap him out of his daze. "Top's! Come on Top's please say something to me!" She put the stallion in a hug, her tears falling on his coat. "I'm sorry Top's, I'm so, so sorry! Please don't do this to me Top's! I promise I'll forgive you if you just say something, anything!"

Top Notch remained still. Rainbow Dash hugged him tighter refusing to let him slip away from her. She a felt hoof on her shoulder, turned, and saw Twilight standing behind her. A new wave of tears fell down the pegasus's face. "It's okay Rainbow Dash, I promise that everything is going to be alright." Twilight draped a wing over her sobbing friend.

The weeks that followed what Twilight had reported as 'The Frontier Incident' were packed with nonstop work for the young Princess. Regiments of Royal Guards had arrived two days after Twilight and went to work securing EverGlade and it's borders. The town itself began to resemble a military base as the days went by. The streets were patrolled by unicorn and earth pony guards as the skies above the town were watched over by squads of pegasus. Sheriff Silver Point felt uneasy having outsiders protecting the town but he was recovering from the scuffle with the Professor so he allowed it for the time being at least.

One section of the town had been put under heavy protection by Twilight's orders, the medical station. Once Twilight had been treated for her cuts she had gone straight to work on Top Notch doing everything in her power to reverse the effects that the dust had taken on him as well as bring the stallion back to full health. It hadn't helped that a nervous Rainbow Dash had kept watch the whole time Twilight worked on Top Notch.

Rainbow Dash had been inseparable from him during his stay at the medical station. Day and night she never left his side. Top Notch had been fully conscious during most of his recovery and had repeatedly assured Rainbow Dash that he was okay. The pegasus mare would have none of it, she insisted that she had a debt to repay him.

It was around lunch time when Twilight walked into the infirmary room carrying with her the results of Top Notch's latest test results. As always Rainbow Dash was seated right next to his bed. The two ponies appeared to be in deep conversation before Twilight entered. "Oh I'm sorry, I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

"Nah me and Top's here were just talking about some minor stuff, nothing big really." Rainbow Dash noticed that Twilight held a clip board. "Whatcha got there Twilight?"

"Hmm? Oh this is just Top Notch's latest blood tests." She levitated the clip board over to the stallion. "Here you go, have a look for yourself."

Top Notch took the clip board in his hooves and glanced up and down it before handing it over to Rainbow Dash. "Um Doc...I mean Twilight...I mean Princess Twilight Sparkle!" The stallion's nervousness brought about a round of laughter from the two mares.

"No need to be nervous around me Top Notch. From what Rainbow Dash has told me that you two are actually really close friends."

"Yeah...real close friends." Rainbow Dash repeated. Both her as well as Top Notch blushed slightly while Twilight seemed oblivious.

A quick cough and Top Notch regained his train of thought. "So anyway...uh Twilight...I was never really any good at reading medical mumble jumbo so could just tell me what my tests say?" He signaled for Rainbow Dash to hand the clip board back to Twilight.

Grabbing the results with her magic Twilight flipped through the pages before shooting them both a warm smile. "Well if these tests results are correct then Top Notch, I'm glad to say that we have finally successfully eliminated the dust from your system! All we would need to do is run a few more tests and then you'll be cleared to leave the medical station."

Rainbow Dash jumped up and put Top Notch in a tight hug after hearing that. She felt a wave of relief wash over her and onto Top Notch. "That's awesome news! Top's can finally go home and stop being cramped up in this room all day! What do you think about that Top's?"

"Well I think it truly is great news. I can finally get back to work on the farm. Last time we were only behind a few days and now I'm behind weeks! Oh I can already feel my hooves killing me from all the extra hours I'm going to have to put in."

"Oh toughen up. It's not like you're going to be doing all that work alone. You're gonna have me there helping you remember?" Rainbow Dash gave the stallion a playful punch in the shoulder. "Heck with Equestrias top athlete I bet you'll catch back up in no time!"

"Yeah...catch back up in no time...with you're help. You know, since you're staying with me here...in EverGlade." Top Notch gave Rainbow Dash a quick smile but then quickly looked away.

A nurse entered the room just as Rainbow Dash was about to ask Top Notch about his weird behavior. The nurse spoke with Twilight, the Princess giving a nod. "Come on Rainbow Dash, the nurse is about to take some final tests from Top Notch. Lets give him some privacy." Twilight left the room while Rainbow Dash was a bit more hesitant to leave the stallion alone.

Top Notch gave her a reassuring look. "It's alright Rainbow, it's not like I'm going anywhere." Before Rainbow Dash had a chance to respond she was quickly ushered out of the room by the nurse. The door closed shut behind her as she found herself standing in the hallway alone with Twilight.

Rainbow Dash figure it was as good a time as any to get a few things off her chest. "Hey uh Twi? I've been meaning to ask something since you showed up and saved my flank. Oh and thanks for saving my flank by the way."

"Go ahead and ask Rainbow, I know I've been sorta busy around here with all that's happened but I'm all ears now. To tell you the truth its actually nice to talk to you again after so long." She gave Rainbow Dash a warm smile and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Go ahead and ask whatever's on your mind."

"Well, I was actually wondering how you managed to find me so fast. I know I sent you a letter and all that but I didn't even know where I was meeting the Professor when I sent you that. So how did you find me? Also is it true what the Professor said about you teleporting all the way from Canterlot to here?"

"Yeah, I guess I could see how you're confused. I really didn't much to work with when I got your letter. All I knew was that you were in some serious trouble. Actually, I think I have the letter you sent me right here." Twilight dug into saddle bag and levitated a letter in front of Rainbow Dash so that her friend could read it.

Twilight get your flank over to EverGlade right now! There's some evil stuff going down and I could really use your help!
P.S. This is Rainbow Dash.
P.S.S Sorry about the not talking to you for over a year thing.

Rainbow Dash blushed slightly from embarrasment. "I really didn't have a lot of time to write that actually since I had to do other stuff in order save Top Notch. You can go ahead and rip that up now if you want."

"No, I think I'll keep it as a memento." She rolled up the letter and put it back in her saddle bag. "Oh and to answer your other question, yes, I really did teleport all the way here from Canterlot. I would of been here sooner but you didn't really tell me where exactly EverGlade was in your letter. I had to look at a map first and then ask Princess Celestia for assistance when it came to the teleport. I actually ended up in the middle of the Mayor's office and boy was he surprised to see me! After apologizing for breaking his desk in half I performed a tracker spell that Princess Celestia had taught me a while ago if I ever needed to to find the Elements of Harmony. The rest is history."

"So wait, you really did teleport all the way from Canterlot and used a new spell to find me? Huh, I didn't know you were learning new spells."

Twilight put both of her front hooves on Rainbow's shoulders giving her wide smile. "That's because we haven't talked IN OVER A BUCKING YEAR!"

...

Twilight blushed little before regaining her composure after her outburst . "Sorry. It's just really good to see you again Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah, same here." An awkward silence fell over the two friends. "I'm actually really sorry about that Twilight. You were right back then to say I wasn't showing my element by being disloyal to you. I guess I just overreacted about you shutting down the WonderBolts. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and figured that I was just unhappy with my life. I was bored of not doing anything and I missed being a hero. You shutting down the WonderBolts was just the icing on the cake. I was being selfish and I shouldn't of just stopped talking to one of my best friends like that."

"You know Rainbow Dash, after you stopped talking to me I stayed up countless nights trying to figure out what drove you to act like that. I knew you would be angry at me for shutting down your heroes but I didn't really care. I guess I just figured that you would get over it eventually. Never did I once consider that you would flat out stop being my friend. It was then that I realized that maybe it was me that was in the wrong. I really should of told you what I was planning instead of you finding out another way. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry for going behind your back like that." Twilight glanced at the door to Top Notch's room. "I guess you found a new friend from all of this so at least something good came out of it."

Rainbow Dash draped a wing around Twilight. "Hey don't go thinking that Top's is replacing you. There ain't another pony in the world who could replace one of my best friends. Besides, there are certain things that I would do with Top's that I wouldn't do with you or the rest of the girls."

Twilight looked at her friend slightly confused. "What would you do with him that you would do with...ohhhhh." She blushed madly at the realization. "You mind if we change the subject?"

Rainbow Dash patted the alicorn on the head. "I was just about to anyway. So is the Professor...you know."

"Just sent off this morning along with Thatcher and that other earth pony back to Canterlot with a regiment of Lunar Marines guarding him. I don't think he'll be escaping anytime soon. Which reminds me, I got to be back in Canterot when that train comes back so I can be at his trial. As the newest Princess it is my duty to be there along with Celestia and the others for Professor Honey Dew's Celestia court hearing. The train comes back in about six days but you're not coming back with me are you?"

A smile on the pegasus's face was all the answer that Twilight needed. "Nope, sorry Twilight but I think I gonna hang around here. But hey, you ever need me just send a letter and I'll be right by your side in no time!"

"I understand, just don't be a stranger Rainbow Dash. The other girls miss you too!" Twilight put Rainbow Dash in a tight hug and the pegasus returned it with interest.

The door to Top Notch's room opened as the nurse stepped out. "I'm finished taking the samples from him Princess Twilight Sparkle. You can see him now but he is wishing to speak with Ms. Rainbow Dash in private first."

Without any hesitation Rainbow Dash made her way into the room and closed the door behind her. Top Notch was looking at her with what was obviously the most fake smile in the world. "Hey there Rainbow Dash. There's something I want to talk to you about."

Rainbow Dash hoped up and sat at the foot of his bed. "What's on your mind Top's?"

Top Notch took a deep breath which was never a good sign to Rainbow Dash. He motioned for her to come closer and grabbed her hood in his own. "Rainbow do you really plan on staying with me here in EverGlade?"

"Well yeah, I mean I don't see why not. You're a pretty awesome stallion to hang around with. Besides you're going to need all the help you can get if your getting to catch up on all your work. I also definitely want to spend more time with you if you catch my drift." She ran her hoof up and down the stallions leg.

Losing his train of thought for a moment from the physical sensation Top Notch put on a straight face. "Rainbow Dash, you're special to me. I mean really special to me. I just want you to know that I have never felt this way about any other pony before the way I feel about you. Not with Clover Leaf and not with any other mare. Rainbow Dash, I love you."

Those words pounded inside Rainbow Dash's head and caused her heart to almost leap out of her mouth. She sat there stunned for a few minutes trying to comprehend those words. "Top's, I love you too."

She leaned in close to him but he held her back. "I love you Rainbow Dash, and its for that reason that I can't let you stay with me here in EverGlade. You have to go back home Rainbow, your friends need you."

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. Top Notch had confessed his love for her just moments before saying that he didn't want her to stay with him. "But...but...why!?"

"When you came here Rainbow Dash I saw a mare that needed my help. Your eyes back then were full of sadness and confusion. I swore to myself that I would do all I could to help you through whatever problems you were facing. In turn I also discovered there was more to you then I ever would of imagined. You also helped me Rainbow Dash and for that I'm thankful. When I look in your eyes now I don't see any sadness or confusion any more. Instead I see joy and optimism. You don't need to stay here anymore Rainbow Dash. I'm not telling you to not visit me every now and then, far from it actually. If you truly want to make me happy then you'll go back home and live a wonderful life. Show me that you've truly healed."

"But it's not fair!' Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves down on the bed. "I just get my best friend back and now I have to lose the one stallion that I ever fell in love with! Why can't I ever have both!?" Tears began to fall onto the bed sheets.

If there was one thing that Top Notch couldn't stand it was seeing a mare cry. "You'll always be special to me Rainbow Dash and I hope I'll always be special to you. Besides it not like we're never going to see each other again. You'll come visit me and I'll come visit you. Think about all the fun we'll have when that happens."

Rainbow Dash leaned forward and hugged Top Notch as hard as she could. "The farm! I can't leave because then who'll help you on the farm? You'll never be able to catch up without any help!"

"Hey now, I handled myself pretty well before you showed up and I'll be able to handle myself after you leave. Don't you worry about me and the farm, you've got bigger and better things to do than work on a dinky old dairy farm with me. Which reminds me, I still got to pay you for the work you've put into the farm. You're gonna have to give me some time to crunch some..."

A hoof was placed over Top Notch's mouth. Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through his mane and nuzzled him lightly. "Idiot, you've already paid me more than I ever could of wanted."

It was the evening of their departure. Around Top Notch's dairy farm stood guards waiting to escort the Princess and her friend back to Canterlot. A rare gentle breeze blew over the farm bringing with it a coolness that served to help calm the heat of emotions coming from inside the farm house.

Rainbow Dash took one final look at what had been her room for the past months. There had been many occasions where she had wished for a cloud to sleep on but now she couldn't imagine waking up to anything different but the bed in front of her. The room was now once again how she had found it, empty save for the bed and nightstand. Sitting in a box at the door were all the things that had been sent to her as well as a few mementos that she had picked up during her stay in the town. She glanced around the room one final time before closing the door shut. To her side stood a unicorn guard, she nodded her head signaling she was ready. The guard levitated the box and followed her downstairs where the others were waiting.

In the living room sat Top Notch, Twilight, Clover Leaf, and Sheriff Silver Point. They all looked at Rainbow Dash with different expressions as she entered. Twilight motioned for the guard to give the group some privacy and take Rainbow's belongings to the train station.

Once they were alone Clover ran up with tears in her eyes and threw her hooves around Rainbow Dash. The unicorn definitely had strength in that little body of hers as she hugged Rainbow Dash tighter and tighter. "Clover...getting...hard...to...breath!"

Clover Leaf gave her one more squeeze before letting the pegasus out of the hug. "Sorry honey, it's just that I'm going to miss you around here. I can't imagine what I'm going to do once you leave. Promise me that you'll write me some letters or better yet, feel free to visit us whenever you feel like it. Whisky's restaurant is always open to you! Oh shoot I almost forgot."
The unicorn brought out a large paper bag. "I made you a veggie burger with an order of hay fries just like Whisky used to make for your trip back home." She put the food in Rainbow Dash's saddle bag before placing her in a smaller hug. "I really am going to miss you Rainbow Dash. My dad sends you his goodbyes also and says he's sorry he couldn't be here himself. He's swamped with paper work that EverGlade is now an official Equestrian Military outpost."

Rainbow Dash returned the hug and thanked her for the food before Clover Leaf stepped aside for Sheriff Silver Point. He walked up with a stiff expression and looked his fellow pegasus in the eye. "Don't go expecting me to hug you little lady."

"I wouldn't have it any other way Sheriff Silver Point."

"That's Chief Warrant Officer Silver Point now Rainbow Dash thanks to the Princess over there. Can't complain about it though since it only makes sense for me to lead these Royal Guards in keeping EverGlade safe. I understand her logic for wanting to keep a deposit of mind control dust under protection. Enough of me bragging though, I know we didn't exactly see eye to eye at first but you'll alright Rainbow Dash. Definitely proved to me your worth and it's sort of a shame you're leaving. I was considering making you a deputy."

Bring her hoof up to her head Rainbow Dash gave the old pegasus a salute and he gave her one as well. "Don't think I won't pop up every now and then around here Sheriff Silver Point. Do me a favor and go easy on these Royal Guards will you?"

"No promises." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and gave the old pegasus a quick hug.

A Royal Guard entered the room informing Twilight that their train was ready to leave. Rainbow Dash looked at Top Notch with a worried look on her face. "Can we wait a little bit? I didn't get a chance to say good bye to Top's yet."

"Don't worry Rainbow, I'll walk you and the Princess to the station." With that being said Rainbow Dash said her final goodbyes to Clover Leaf and Sheriff Silver point before leaving with the others. She stepped outside the house into the orange glow of the setting sun. The three made their way out of the farm and began walking up the hill. Once at the top Rainbow Dash stopped and looked back at what she had called her home.

Top Notch walked up and stood next to Rainbow Dash as they both looked over the horizon at beauty of the landscape. Sensing that she wasn't needed Twilight decided to leave the two alone and made her way back to the train station along with her guards.

The two ponies stood there for some time basking in the fleeting warmth of the sun and the calming quiet of the land around them. Rainbow Dash began nuzzling the stallions chest wanting to desperately remember how he felt. Top Notch in return nuzzled the top of her head with the same intention. After a few moments Rainbow Dash broke away from the embrace wanting to look the stallion in the eyes. "I promise that'll I'll come back and visit you soon. You think you can survive without my awesomeness for a little while?"

The stallion smiled and ran his hoof through her mane. "Well it'll be hard for sure but I'll always have that bottle of Vaseline in my room to keep me company until you get back."

Rainbow Dash shoved the stallion lightly. "You're such a pervert."

"Hey you feel in love with a pervert so who's more perverted, me or you? Besides you don't have to come back too soon. I'll still be here no mater what. Besides now that all the action is over I doubt you'll find a reason to come visit hmmmf!"

The two melted into the kiss for some time before Rainbow Dash pulled away. "Oh I think there's something that'll make come back and see you soon."

Rainbow Dash looked out over the hill and onto the land below. She looked around seeing the vastness of the frontier illuminated by fleeting light of the sun. She opened and spread her wings out wanting to catch the breeze that was blowing across the land. She had come to this frontier seeking adventure and glory but now she left it with more than she ever could of wished for. A new outlook on her life and high hopes for what lay ahead waited for her back in PonyVille with her friends. She would never forget this place or the ponies she had met, not in a thousand years would she forget. It would be impossible to forget the place where she had found and conquered her frontier.

*~*FIN*~*

Author's Note

Two things:
1) Stick around for the [Authors Notes and Final Thoughts] for a special thanks, some concepts, and other stuff.
2) Longest chapter I've ever written. What? I really mean it this time.

[Author's Notes and Final Thoughts]

If you have any (reasonable) questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I promise to answer them.
-FTM

Special Thanks to Readers

Wow. That's really the first thing that comes to my mind right now when I see that this fic is done. First off I want to thank all of you for just reading the first chapter and giving this fic a chance. What started off as an idea ended up as a 82,000+ word story which really, to me at least, is just...wow.

I also want to thank those of you who read all the way through and stuck through my madness till the end. Some of you were here from the very first update and some of you a little later. To me it doesn't matter when you started reading this but that you actually read to the end. Thank you all for reading through "Her Frontier" from start to finish. Oh and apparently at one point a few weeks ago this story was added to a Rainbow Dash group here on FimFic. To the person that added it, if you're reading this, thank you very much!

Inspiration for "Her Frontier"

I'm not just going to be thanking my readers this whole time. There are other things I want to discuss here as well. One of the most important of those being how this story came to be. This story would of never been written if it weren't for this beautiful song by PonyEveningStar

I remember just being blown away by it the first time I heard it. The music and the background picture all fit so well that I honestly just sat at my desk stunned. I closed my eyes letting the song play and the story for "Her Frontier" played out in my mind. It wasn't the whole story but the idea was there and I began to scribble madly in my note book as I thought about this story more. PES's music is just so amazing, most of his songs tell a story on their own. Before I move on to the next topic I want to talk about I highly suggest you listen to a preview for his latest album Grand Flying Machines.

The Writing Process

Moving on now, before I start talking about things that were cut from the story, character concepts, etc... I would like to talk about the writing process in general for this story. Before I began working on "Her Frontier" I had decided to make it my summer project. What this means is that every day of the work week (Mon-Fri and sometimes Sat.) I would work for a couple hours each day during multiple writing sessions on the story. I had given myself two goals when it came to this story. The first being that I would update every week and the second being that each update would contain three chapters. As you can tell that second goal died real fast. It became two updates a week until finally only one update a week. There were a few exceptions such as the Changeling chapters as well as chapters Nineteen and Twenty.

I think the reason why I was able to update every Saturday was mostly because I was on my own with this fic. I had no pre-readers or editors (Probably could of really used both) to help me along. That's not to say that I don't want pre-readers and/or editors, its just that I don't know how to ask.

No pre-readers or editors however meant that I was able to go on my own schedule which I guess in turn allowed the weekly updates. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't of pushed back the updates, if it mean better quality then I would of loved to of worked with pre-readers and editors. What's done is done however.

Character Concepts

Top Notch: Originally Top Notch was going to be called Wrought Notch but I dropped that name and gave it to his father since it didn't really sit well with me.When I first started thinking up Top's character I didn't really expect myself to like him as much as I do now. I am very happy with the way that Top Notch came out in the end. I needed a character that would keep Rainbow Dash grounded and who better to do that than an earth pony? Top Notch was always intended to help Rainbow Dash along throughout the course of this story. As one of Apple Jack's many family members one thing that I immidiately wanted to do with Top Notch is make him different but not too different from his Honest cousin. This allowed me some leeway for his dialogue throughout the story. I made him kind but also slightly(yes slightly) perverted. I needed a character that could annoy but also connect with RD. Earn her trust throughout the course of her stay in EverGlade while also being helpful.

Whisky(lifa): The name for Whisky actually came from my cousin's dog. My cousin owns a male terrier called Whisky. One day I was hanging out with him and his dog when a song by Whiz Kalifa came on over the radio. I looked at his dog and then put two and two together calling him Whiskylifa from the name similarities. To this day I still call his dog by that name. Whisky came to be from a need for a friend for Top Notch as well as his rival. Rival for what? I'll explain that in another section. In the end he just became Top Notch's best friend, this was very important. I needed a friend to betray Top Notch so that Rainbow Dash could relate to Twilight betraying her. Originally Whisky had a whole lot of back story that I decided to cut out all together. Looking back at his character I do wish that I had changed some things. One thing I wish I could of changed was make his personality a little different from Top Notch's.

Clover Leaf: To be honest there really ins't much to say about Clover Leaf. Her creation was mostly because I needed a unicorn, a love interest for Whisky, and a mare for RD to be friends with. I also needed her to show that Top Notch did live a semi normal life before RD came into town. As for her father, Mayor Allium Bouvardia, I needed a more realistic mayor than the original one I came up with. Also when it came to naming in this story I tried to have family members have similare names. For example, Whiskylifa is name after Whiz Kalifa while his mother Ms. Hoofpac is named after Tupac Shakur. Clover Leaf is named after flowers while Allium Bouvardia is comprised of the names of two different flowers.

Sheriff Silver Point: I realized from early on that I needed some form of an antagonist. Originally Sheriff Silver Point was going to be the main antagonist as the crooked Sheriff but that was cut out. I kept him in as sort of an anti hero. I needed a pony that could hinder RD but not be a real threat to her. The answer came as an old pegasus who was as stubborn as RD is. I added him as a miss understood pegasus that only wanted to protect the town he loved from those who would harm it.

Thatcher: When Sheriff Silver Point fell through as my main antagonist I had to come up with a new one. The concept for Thatcher was The enemy of my friend is also my enemy. I introduced Thatcher as an indirect antagonist to RD. At first he would instead of threatening RD directly threaten those around her. I imagined Thatcher as she kind of pony who wears a nice suit, works in a fancy office, and then plants bomb under your car at night. Soon I realized that Thatcher as an earth pony could be a threat but was not the antagonist that I needed. I needed a driving force behind him that caused him to bring trouble to the town of EverGlade. That's where our next character comes in.

Professor Honey Dew: Now we get to the main antagonist of the story. You know, the one I introduced in chapter one and kept locked away in the shadows until the end? I went through earth pony and pegasus antagonists before I settled on a unicorn. Twilight was once a unicorn so I figured, "Hey, why not have RD face up against an intellectual unicorn like Twilight!" A high level unicorn would surely be a good match for RD since he could fight not just with his intellect but his spells as well.

Hmm? You're still reading this? Here have a cookie.

Story Elements that were Cut

Love Triangle: Remember when I said that originally I planned for Whisky to be Top Notch's rival? Yeah...originally he was meant to be his romantic rival. The idea was that Whisky would fall in love with Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash would love Top Notch, and Top Notch would eventually fall for Rainbow Dash. Top Notch and Whisky were always going to be friends but when RD showed up then their friendship would be strained. Once Whisky realized that RD loved Top Notch he would become jealous of his friend and in a way hinder Top's progress in helping RD recover. This idea was cut because I figured it was too complex and unneeded in a story that was supposed to revolve around Rainbow Dash. The idea was also cut when I decided to remove Whisky's back story.

Whisky's Back Story: So it was planned somewhere that I would mention that Whisky's father was abusive. His father would shun him for trying to be a cook. At one point in the story it would be that Whisky's father would come to visit his restaurant while RD was there. His father would be putting Whisky down saying how much of a failure he was for being a chef instead of taking part in the family business (Which was construction). RD would step in and stand up for Whisky calling his father a coward. In turn Whisky's father would then start talking trash about RD which would prompt Whisky to finally step in and stand up to his father.

TwiDash: So yeah...this was a thing at one point in the story.
"I'm saying exactly what you think I'm saying Princess Twilight Sparkle. You are no longer my mare friend"
This idea never got far off the ground and I quickly abandoned it since it added an unneeded level of complexity to the story.

Rainbow Dash's Journal: Originally I had planned to have RD keep a journal during her stay in EverGlade. Each chapter would begin with a journal entry from Rainbow Dash talking about how her life was progressing as well as her past. I cut this out because I couldn't come up with a good reason for her having the journal in the first place. Twilight is the only one I believe out of all her friends who would suggest that RD keep a journal. This idea was replaced by the dream sequences in the story which turned out well I think.

Princess Luna: During once of the chapters in the story I originally planned for Princess Luna to appear in front of Rainbow Dash. The set up for this was that RD would be having trouble falling asleep one night, complain a little, and say it was probably better since she didn't want to dream. Luna would appear from out of blue and talk to RD for a little while. She would also tell RD that Twilight was suffering equally from their broken friendship giving RD some stuff to think about. I cut this out for the sole reason of it being a one shot of Princess Luna. Not really worth it in my opinion.

The other mayor: I'm just going to keep this one short. One of the first ideas for the Mayor of EverGlade was a giraffe. Yeah, a giraffe. I was pretty keen on keeping the giraffe in the story until I woke up one morning and realized how ridiculous of an idea that was and how it really served no point. Also I couldn't come up with a good name for the giraffe.

Music

As you may have noticed I did include links to music in parts of "Her Frontier". Ninety-Eight percent of the time while I was writing the chapters I would be listening to music, it was only during the more serious chapters that I turned off the music. When I'm writing I can't visualize a scene without music playing in the background. I only added music links when I believed it was necessary to set the scene. Diversity was also something I tried to keep when it came to the music ranging from rap, drum & bass, rock, hillbilly rock, country protest, and R&B. The music I would listen to while working on this ranged from this to this. Needless to say there were some writing sessions I left with a headache.

Songs Used in Story:
"Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by the Georgia Satellites
"Black and Yellow" by Wiz Kalifa
"Elevation" by U2
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield
"Krewella - Killing It (Dirtyphonics Remix)" by Dirtyphonics
"Lets Groove" by Earth Wind & Fire

Future Projects and What's Next

I was able to wrap up "Her Frontier just as the new College semester is starting. For the next few months most of my dedication is going to go to my school work, gotta prioritize you know. If it wasn't for the summer I don't think I would of ever been able to finish this story. Now that this story is finished I can finally catch up on some other fanfic's I've been reading. Also Grand Theft Auto Five releases in a few days, countless hours will be lost there.

That doesn't mean I won't be working on other fanfics, it just means they won't be updated weekly or be as long as this one was. I actually have two other fanfic's that are currently in the works.

The first one being a Slice of Life fanfic about Princess Luna and Princess Cadance. This fic focuses more around the two's relationship starting from Princess Luna's return and following the two all the way through Season Three.

The second fic I'm currently working on is actually quite new territory fo me, it's a shipfic. This story revolves around Rarity and Pinkie Pie. I'm not really going to go into further detail about this one.

As of this writing both of these new fic's have their first chapters completed and I just need to re-read as well as clean them up a bit. One of them will probably go up around the end of September or early October.

Both the Princesses fic and shipfic are minor projects so they won't be that long. I do have a new main fic on the way though. This new story would be another Adventure/Slice of Life fic revolving around Rarity and Rainbow Dash. The premise is simply "How do you increase the ego's of the two most egotistical ponies of the Mane 6?" The answer is actually quite simple but I'll leave it at that.

Sequel

There really is not much I can say when it comes to a sequel for "Her Frontier". I've toyed around with the idea these past couple of weeks trying to make sense of it. I do have an idea for a story that takes place months after the end of this one but right now its just that, an idea. No work has started at all on any sequel since I'm pretty busy with college now. One thing that is certain though regarding said sequel is that it will be character driven. This means that there will be no villains at all and instead focus on Rainbow Dash and Top Notch's (Yeah he would a make a return) trials.

If I do go ahead with the sequel don't expect it any time soon. Work on it would probably begin in December with the first chapter going up some time late January.

Final Thanks

I just want to thank you all so much one last time for giving this story a chance and reading through. The comments, the likes, the favorites; it all drove to work on this fic harder. These past three months of working on this story were truly something else for me.

I know I;m not the best author in the world, no where even remotely close to it. There are some MLP fic stories out there that are seriously jaw dropping like "CRISIS: Equestria" that leave you wishing for a movie based on that story. Despite not being the best author I always put everything I have into my stories. I always welcome constructive criticism and would very much appreciate it for this story.

Oh, and if for some reason you like my Rainbow Dash stories then you could consider having a look at my other story "Beyond Expectations". It's more focused around Scootaloo with a healthy dose of Rainbow Dash. It is 100% finished but in the process of being worked on again with a few chapters up.

What more can I do to thank you?

...

Hmm? What's this in my notebook next to me?

Determine the Molarity(M) of your solution by calculating the number of moles of NaCl-

Whoops, those were my chemistry notes, my bad! Oh here's what I was looking for,

Rainbow Dash walked around PonyVille's library looking back and forth between Twilight and Top Notch. The two continued to watch the stressed pegasus do this for a few more moments before finally Twilight spoke up. "Rainbow Dash you have to calm down. I'm sure that Princess Celestia will have a solution for this. So just be patient and..."

"BE PATIENT? Your're not the one being affected by this!" Rainbow Dash sat on the floor crossing her legs. "How long does it take for Princess Celestia to answer a simple letter?"

Top Notch looked at Twilight and motioned for her give the two of them some privacy. "I got this Twilight. Just give me some time to calm her down a little." Twilight nodded her head and headed upstairs leaving the two alone. Once Top Notch was sure they were alone he made his way to Rainbow Dash and draped a fore leg around her. "Hey Rainbow, just try and simmer down will you? This isn't just affecting you, I'm pretty worried too."

"Oh yeah, you're so worried that you won't even come with me to see Princess Celestia in Canterlot!" Rainbow Dash shrugged him off putting as much distance as she could between the two of them. "Look just leave me alone until that letter from Celestia arrives."

Dialogue is subject to change in possible final version

Her Life

Her Frontier

By FromTheMoon

Chapter 1: Her Life

Boredom

Dullness

Repetitiveness

These were all things that seemed to plague Rainbow Dash nowadays. The prismatic Pegasus was used to doing so much more. It was she along with her friends that saved Equestria numerous times from the forces of evil. They had stood up to the darkness that was Nightmare Moon, held strong against the manipulative ways of Discord, fought an invading army of changelings, and even saved an empire from a powerful Unicorn King!

It seemed that those days were gone however. Nightmare Moon had reverted back into Princess Luna, Discord was by some unforeseen miracle now a ally, Queen Chysalis had not been seen in years, and the Crystal Empire was flourishing up in the frozen North. To top it all off now Twilight Sparkle had been crowned Princess. For once in a almost a millennia everything was perfect.

"Ugh, why does everything have to be so damn perfect around here now?"

Or at least everything was perfect for the other residents of Equestria. For Rainbow Dash however every passing day in PonyVille was now a living hell. Not the kind of hell where you get poked with sharp sticks and flung over vats of boiling lava. No, that hell would at least be somewhat exciting if you could handle the pain. This felt like the other kind of hell however, the kind where a pony is strapped to an upright bed and forced to watch paint dry for the rest of eternity. It wouldn't even be an exciting color of paint, it would be egg shell white.

Worst of all was that the rest of Rainbow Dash's friends were happy with everything being perfect! They didn't care for adventure anymore and wanted to just live out the rest of their boring old lives at home doing absolutely bucking nothing. It seemed like she was the only one who remembered that she was a national hero and she'd be deep in the ground before she let her vice grip on that loosen.

"Stupid annoying Mayor Mare, how can she possibly expect me to make sure that every single plant around the town center is watered properly? I mean don't we have professional gardeners that do this?" Rainbow Dash was finishing up placing the last rain cloud over the cherry blossom tree in the town center. "Oh Rainbow Dash! I don't mean to be a burden on you except I do since I'm much too lazy to get off my fat ass and do anything myself but since you were just about to take your afternoon nap how about you move all rain clouds to the center of town and water the plants hmmm?" Rainbow Dash said in a mocking tone. She finished up her job and flew off towards Sweet Apple Acres to meet Apple Jack for lunch and maybe even snatch a little shut eye in one of those comfortable trees. "How is this my life? I used to be an adventurous Pegasus that flew all over the place doing tricks and stuff while also being a hero for saving the world. Now look at me, I've been reduced to...ugh...gardening duty" She landed next to the local watering hole and walked up to the waters edge and stared at her reflection. Her reflection stared back at her with tired eyes and a horribly long face. She had bags under her eyes, her coat was losing its sheen, and worse still the colors in her mane were starting to dull. She angrily stamped her hoof and broke the stillness of the water shattering the reflection before flying back into the air towards her destination.

She would never admit it to any of her friends but she was not happy. Whenever she would see them she would put on a fake smile and just nod her head. "Of course it was easier for them to get used to boredom, before Twilight came to town all they lived was boring lives. I was the only one who actually loved to go on adventures in dangerous places. I was already used to life in the fast lane doing crazy stupid things! Heck if it wasn't for me they wouldn't even have their cutie marks!" She snorted angrily and squinted her eyes when her friends farm came into view. Apple Jack would probably be finishing up the day's Apple bucking...Apple Jack. "Wait a minute, the others would be content with their lives but Apple Jack had always been a fighter too! How can she put up with all of this boredom? Huh, maybe I'm not alone after all. OH OH maybe me and AJ can go on like a safari or something! I'm sure I could convince her its a great idea." Rubbing her two front hooves together eagerly she picked up the pace as she flew past the first apple tree.

"Hey Apple Jack! Yo AJ where are you?" Rainbow Dash landed on top of the farm house and looked around her surroundings for the orange Earth Pony. She always found it funny how every other pony in her family had a coat that matched an apple's color but Apple Jack was well...the color of an orange. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath before openning her mouth again "HEY APPLE JACK! WHERE ARE YO-"

"Sweet Celestia Rainbow will ya pipe down? My Granny is trying to sleep! I heard ya the first time." The voice seemed to have come from the window directly below the Pegasus. Rainbow looked over the edge of the barn roof and sure enough she saw a familiar face with a stetson perched on its head. "Oh s'up Apple Jack, so you ready for lunch? I seem to remember you saying that you were buying today."

The nonchalant way that Rainbow said this and the look on her face forced Apple Jack to let out a long sigh. "Well howdy to you too sugar cube. Yeah ah guess you could say ah'm a bit starved, didn't really have time for any chow this morning. Wait, when did ah ever say ah was buying? As ah recall last time was the fif' time this month you ducked out of the bill."

"Oh come on AJ, I mean that's what friends are for right? Paying the bills when you forget your bits in your other spare saddle bag. Besides you know I'm good for it, its not like I'm never going to pay you back." Rainbow flew down so that she could speak to Apple Jack face to face at the window. "Now how about we get a move on, I'd rather avoid getting stuck in line behind some old geezer from the retirement village."

Apple Jack gave Rainbow a stern look and thought to reprimand the Pegasus but thought better of it. "Ya'll know that there's a difference between forgetting yer' money and being too lazy to pay? Right?" Apple Jack wasn't sure if there was anything in her previous sentence that sounded offending but Rainbow Dash just simply blew up in a fit of anger in front of her. "LAZY!? Who are you calling lazy!? Maybe the rest of your girls are lazy now but not me! I'm like the only one that hasn't gone soft over the years!" Rainbow was huffing heavily, her breaths coming out in ragged bursts, and her wings flapping at an erratic rate. Apple Jack considered backing away from the window but held strong in front of her friend.

A few moments passed before Rainbow Dash manged to calm herself down. She looked at Apple Jack and was surprised to see that her friend was still there with her head poking out the window. Rainbow Dash wanted to speak but Apple Jack beat her to it. "So...that was definitely something. How bout' we go get lunch now. Some food might do y'all some good RD, ah'll be down in a minute or two."

"Right, yeah...maybe we should get going. I'll wait for you down at the farm gate AJ."

The two friends walked in silence from the farm back towards town. Rainbow Dash had simply nodded when Apple Jack had met her at the gate. Neither one of them were speaking to the other, at least until Apple Jack's curiosity got the best of her.

"So Rainbow, maybe y'all want to talk about what happened back..."

"No." Rainbow Dash stated bluntly.

"You sure? Something seems to picking at you like a humming bird to a flower."

"Uh huh, nothing at all is wrong with me, how can anything be wrong with everything being so...so..."

"Perfect?" Apple Jack finished.

Rainbow's ears perked up and she looked at her friend with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "You noticed it too AJ? I knew it! I knew I wasn't the only one bored out of her bucking mind around here! Listen I've actually got this great idea for us to go on a safari or some junk like that someplace dangerous. It'll be just like the old..."

Rainbow Dash was stopped in her tracks by Apple Jack stepping in front of her. "Easy there Rainbow, lets not jump on that wagon yet. Look ah know that life around these parts may have gotten a bit..."

"Boring, dull, repetitive, or d) all of the above?" Rainbow said sternly.

Apple Jack let out a small chuckle before continuing. "Okay look, ah know where you're coming from, sorta. Yeah life sorta slowed down for us now but that's not really that bad of a thing when you look at it the right way."

A sigh escaped Rainbow's mouth. "You're right AJ, looking at it the right way its not that bad of a thing."

A smile started to creep up on Apple Jack's face. "There, ah figured ah could talk some sense into..."

"ITS A BAZILLION TIMES WORSE!" Rainbow shouted at the sop of her lungs. She stared at Apple Jack with a fierce look in her eyes. Rainbow Dash was visibly shaking and for the second time that day Apple Jack considered leaving her friend. "No" She thought to herself. "That's not who I am."

With a roll of her eyes Apple Jack stepped out from in front of Rainbow Dash and began again to walk towards town. She looked back and saw that Rainbow was still standing in place. Apple Jack let out a shrill whistle. "You coming or not RD?"

Rainbow Dash wanted to speak but thought better of it. She realized that the next words that might come out of her mouth would possibly put a strain on her and Apple Jack's friendship. Better to stuff something into her mouth to both help her calm down and also to keep her from saying anything else stupid she thought.

The duo had walked the rest of the way to town without even so much as looking at each other. It was only after they had crossed the bridge that lead into town that Rainbow spoke again but not before carefully going over what she wanted to say in her mind first. "Look Apple Jack, I'm...i'm sorry for yelling at you back there."

"Come again RD? Ah don't think these old lazy and soft ears of mine quite caught that, mind repeating it?" Apple Jack looked back at Rainbow Dash with an expressionless face.

"I'm sorry."

"What was that?"

"I'm sorry."

"Third times the charm Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "I said I'm sorry for acting like an asshole before. Both back on the farm and on the road here." Apple Jack walked up to Rainbow Dash and put her hoof around her showing a genuinely warm smile on her face. "Think nothing about it Rainbow but if ya don't mind ah'd really like to get m'ah hooves on some food. We can talk about this after lunch. That sound good to you?"

"I guess."

"Good." Apple Jack said obviously content with herself. "Now come on, ah hear there's this new place in town that just opened up last week. Been meaning to check it out for some time now."

The food been had been below sub-par and barely even edible. Supposedly the restaurant was one of those new age health food locales that had been growing in popularity recently."Ah'm paying forty bucking bits for this hogwash?" Apple Jack whispered to Rainbow across the table. Both Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack had ordered cucumber sandwichs believing there was no way that any pony in the world could screw up a simple sandwich. Although as they both soon discovered anything was possible. When Apple Jack had asked to speak to the chef they had been told there wasn't one. Their server claimed that most of the food was brought in and prepackaged from some factory in SanFrancisColt.

"Well ain't that just swell? Apple Jack stated once their server was out of earshot. "No chef, overpriced hogwash, and worst of all..." Apple Jack pointed to their two bottles of Professor Honey Dew's Real Cider. "The apple cider here tastes like mule piss." Both friends nodded their heads and poured their drinks on the ground, the only time either one of them had wasted apple cider.

Rainbow Dash let out a small laugh before turning to looking Apple Jack dead in the eyes. "So you gonna make me talk about what happened earlier today or what?" Apple Jack pushed her plate away from her before speaking. "Look here sugar cube, you and ah've been friends for years now, ah know when somethings eating you."

"Wait, AJ, so you're not mad at me for yelling at you twice today and acting like a total bi..."

"Rainbow..." Apple Jack started. " Ah'm not angry at you for yelling at me, although ah'm a little upset that you wouldn't trust me to help you out." Silence found the two friends for a moment before Apple Jack continued. "Now will ya please just tell me whats bugging you?"

The Pegasus closed her eyes and thought for a moment. She considered lying to her friend rationalizing that maybe it was best to just put her outbursts behind her as quickly as possible. She pushed that thought out of her head realizing that if she didn't get this off her chest now she would never do it. "Apple Jack, the truth is I'm not happy with my life right now. I guess you can say I even hate it."

"But why sugar?" Apple Jack asked with a tone of concern on her voice.

"Because...because everything is so bucking damn perfect!"

Now the farm pony was starting to put two and two together. It made sense with Rainbow Dash being well Rainbow Dash logic dictated that of course the Pegasus would get frustrated with nothing to do. "Rainbow Dash, life is good for all ponies in Equestria now. There's no more fighting, no pony goes hungry, and love along with kindness wash over the land around us."

"But AJ come on, you can't just sit there and honestly tell me that you don't miss the good old days when we would fight against the forces of Evil as heroes of Equestria. Compared to what we used to do now we might as well be nobodies."

Apple Jack took a moment to take in what Rainbow Dash was saying. "Honestly RD, ah do somethings wish things would go back to the way things used to be but life is just so much better now in the long run. With all the free time ah've had since Twi's coronation ah've been able to focus more on the farm. Look at Rarity, her boutique has grown now that she only needs to focus on dresses."

Apple Jack's words were starting to make sense to Rainbow but she continued to press the issue. "But what about Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie? I'm sure they..."

"Stop foolin' yer'self Rainbow. You know that Fluttershy never liked saving the world and the only reason she would go with us besides being the Element of Kindness was to make sure none of us got hurt. As fir Pinkie well...shes well...she was just being Pinkie Pie."

Rainbow felt a lump building up in her throat. She wanted to talk but Apple Jack wasn't finished yet. "Ah realize that you feel like you've had all your dreams crushed with the Wonder Bolts being..."

"I don't want to talk about that!" Rainbow Dash said sternly.

Apple Jack just simply rolled her eyes and sighed. "Rainbow when are you going to learn to let that go? It wasn't yir' fault."

"I know it wasn't my damn fault!" Rainbow Dash said loud enough that the entire restaurant was able to hear her before she lowered her voice again. "It was her fault."

"Look here Rainbow, Twilight had a point in shutting down the Wonder Bolts..."

"No she didn't! There was no bucking good reason for doing what she did!" Rainbow Dash said loud enough to get her point across but soft enough so that the rest of the restaurant wouldn't be able to hear her.

"She did Rainbow and whether you like it or not whats done is done. She had to make budget cuts some where for the Equestrian military spending and well she was right when she said that over the years the Wonder Bolts had been ineffective in dealing with disasters, invasions, and rampaging dragons."

Tears started to flow down Rainbow's face, she did her best to hide them from her friend fearing that she would also lose her image of being a strong tough pony. "I...I...I just don't know what to do with my life anymore AJ." Rainbow Dash said choking on her words. "My dreams, my hopes, my titles feel like they've all been taken away from me. I feel like I'm the only one in this world that's not happy! It's not fair, how come life is good to every pony else but not me? What did I ever do to deserve this!?"

Apple Jack felt her heart melt at the sight of seeing her friend so distraught. "Rainbow Dash look, ah don't claim to have all the answers to the whole dang universe, ah'm just a farmer after all. Ah can't go with you on any safari or adventure because ah've got responsibilities at home. Maybe all you need need is get of town for a little bit though, ah'm heading up in a few days to the North West Frontier to see family. Maybe you'd like to join me? Who knows it might actually do you some good." Apple Jack got off from her seat at the table and moved towards Rainbow placing her friend in a tight hug. "How does that sound?"

Rainbow Dash took several deep breaths before calming down and answering her friend. "Sure...if its okay with you I guess."

Apple Jack paid the check and both friends made their way out of the restaurant. Rainbow Dash thanked her friend with a hug before both went their separate ways. The prismatic Pegasus flew in the direction of her cloud home thankful that out of all the things she had lost over the years she still had most of her friends. She was glad that she'd taken AJ up on her offer believing that it was better than doing nothing in PonyVille.

Desperation and Heroics

Chapter 14: Desperation and Heroics

A swarm of changelings had fallen on the town and was proceeding to wreck havoc for all of its residents. The bugs were crashing through windows, breaking down doors, and smashing through the roofs of buildings. The towns ponies were each reacting to the crisis differently. Some chose to hide preferring to keep out of harms way as best they could. Others chose to form small bands of fighters to combat the hostiles in an attempt to protect their homes.

Two such ponies, a pegasus mare and an earth pony stallion, were on he streets fighting hoof and tooth against an increasing number of attackers. At the moment it was only a matter of time before they too would fall like the rest of the towns fighters. "Sheriff don't take this as me being scared but I think that we may be in trouble here." Rainbow Dash had long ceased performing wrestling moves on her opponents when she was no longer just facing one at a time. The increased fighting had resulted in her taking a good number of blows from her multiple attackers. He body was beginning to be covered in bruises but she still fought on with everything she had.

"You think I don't know that!? Looks like we got no choice but to fall back to the Sheriff's Station and try to come up with new plan of action because this one sure ain't doing us any favors." He tossed an attacker aside before taking a punch to his ribs. He spat out spittle but quickly recovered and returned the favor with his own punch to his attacker's jaw line. "If we're doing this bad I can't help but wonder how Top Notch is holding up back at the station. Boy wasn't exactly in the best fighting conditions."

Top Notch!

Rainbow Dash had completely forgotten that they had left the stallion on his own. Worry began to seep into her mind not from the changeling who's jaws were snapping dangerously close to her neck but for Top Notch. With new resolve she grabbed the bugs face with both her hooves and then administered a strong headbutt knocking out her opponent. She put a hoof to her head. "Ow...no one wins with a headbutt." She quickly opened he wings and flew towards Sheriff Silver Point. She delivered a flying kick to his attackers head making sure the Sheriff was free and then pulled him into an alley for cover. "Come on old man! We got to get back to Top Notch!"

"I thought you said you weren't his mare friend."

"You see that changeling that I just kicked?" She pointed to the bug with her hoof. It was splayed out on the ground in an unnatural position with drool coming out of its mouth. "That's going to be you in a second if you don't shut up and move! Understand?"

"Point taken."

"Good. Now it looks like we're going to have to hoof it to the station since all flying is going to do is get us tackled back towards the ground. How far to the Sheriff's Station?"

Sheriff Silver Point stuck his head out of the alley for a moment to get a quick look of their surroundings. "I'd say we're about two streets over from it. In fact I think we can take this alley to the next street."

"Well what are we waiting for then come on! Top Notch needs us!" Rainbow Dash broke out in full sprint down the alley way with the Sheriff close behind her.

Rainbow Dash and Sheriff Silver Point emerged from a different alley way across the street from Sheriff's Station. The old pegasus was secretly grateful that they hadn't fought anymore changelings when they had to cross the previous street. It had been years since he had been in a proper fight. What he did find curious though was that the changelings seemed to leave them well enough alone when they didn't get in their way. Almost as if the towns residents were not their priority.

The pegasus mare ran in through the stations front door and looked around. "Top Notch!? Top Notch were are you!?"

"Over here!" Rainbow Dash looked down and saw that he was wrestling on the floor with the changeling who had previous been incarcerated. "A little help would be appreciated!"

Without a moments hesitation Rainbow Dash rushed to Top Notch and threw his opponent off of him. She managed to land a few quick blows before the changeling had enough and flew out the window. With the immediate threat gone she made her way back over to To Notch and helped the stallion to his hooves. "I thought I told you to yell if you were being attacked. Are you alright?"

"If I can look past the fact that I was wrestling against that thing on the ground for the past ten minutes then yeah I guess you can say I'm fine...ow" He put a hoof to his injured side. "Wow that smarts."

Rainbow Dash gave him a look of concern. "We got to get you back to the doctor Top Notch. That bug might of fractured your ribs again."

"I wouldn't try it." Both Rainbow Dash and Top notch looked to the door and saw Sheriff Silver Point closing it and then proceed to lock it. "With all the bugs outside right now I doubt you two would make it a dozen feet in his condition."

Top Notch was helped into the Sheriff's chair by his pegasus companion. "Sheriff what are we going to do? At this rate the town will destroyed by these things in a day! We don't have enough ponies who can fight to hold off this attack."

When he finished making sure the door was secure the Sheriff made is way to the broken window and started pondering how to seal it off. "I don't know. The logical thing would be to get a hold of Mayor Bouvardia and have him send a distress letter to Canterlot. Only problem with that is it would take the Defense Force a day and an half to reach us. Even if they sent combat flyers those would still take around a day to get here."

"Well its better than nothing Sheriff Silver Point cause right now we are really out of options."

"Agreed. Now all we got to do is find the Mayor and...well will you look at that? Speak of him and he shall appear." The Sheriff looked down the street and saw three ponies running towards the station. Whisky, Clover Leaf, and Mayor Bouvardia were galloping at full speed towards what they believed was safety. Sheriff Silver Point stuck his hoof out the broken window and started waving to get their attention. "Hey! Hey Mayor Bouvardia!"

The three ponies in the street stopped in their tracks and turned to see a flailing foreleg coming out the station. "Don't just stand there you three! GET IN HERE!" The Sheriff yelled.

Not needing any further motivation the ponies in the street ran the rest of the way to the window where they were helped over by Sheriff Silver Point. Clover was the first over followed by her father and then Whisky. When all three were safely inside the station the group propped up the Sheriff's desk against the window.

"Clover Leaf? Mayor Bouvardia?" What were you two doing in the streets?" Top Notch asked. He glanced over and saw Whisky leaning against the upright desk. "Oh and I guess you too Whisky."

"Good to know you're doing alright Top Notch" Whisky rebutted.

"You combed your hair why?"

"Because shut up."

Both stallions locked stares with each other that was only broken up by the interference of the two mares. "Hey! This is no time to be fighting among our selves!" Clover protested. "Look Top's I know you and Whisky aren't exactly on friendly terms at the moment."

"Really? What tipped you off to that Clover?"

"Hey don't drag her into this!" Whisky responded harshly. "This whole thing is between you and me!"

"It stopped being between you and me after you got the whole town involved in your little gossip circle."

"Oh yeah? Well..."

"Both of you idiots shut up." Every pony in the room looked towards the Sheriff who had been listening to the whole thing. "I don't what you two are fighting about but in case you haven't noticed the town is being attacked by army of ugly bugs. Either kiss and make up or save your feud till after we've dealt with the changelings. Do I make myself clear?"

Both stallions muttered a response.

"Do.I.Make.Myself.Clear?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good to know. Now get back to the threat at our door step, literally." Sheriff Silver Point turned to face Mayor Bouvardia. "Mayor we need you to send a distress letter to Canterlot. I think I got some paper and quills with in that box over there. Pass it to me will ya?"

"Wait." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I still don't understand how you're going to get a letter to Canterlot. What's the Mayor going to do?"

Clover Leaf was the one to explain how the plan was going to work. "It's actually pretty simple honey. As you can see my old man is a unicorn just like me. All mayors that are unicorns are required to learn a transference spell that sends any scrolls, documents, whatever to Canterlot."

"Oh well that seems easy enough." Rainbow Dash looked towards Whisky who was standing in one corner of the room talking to the mayor. "Hey um Whisky?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you get that black eye? Did you guys get jumped by changelings on the way over here?"

"Oh that, well you see..."

"I gave it to him." Clover interrupted.

"Wait." Mayor Bouvardia started. "You told me he got it when he fell down some stairs." Both Clover and Whiksy blushed a little. Whisky did his best to cover up his eye.

"Clover why would you give Whisky a black eye?" Rainbow asked.

"I gave it to him after I found out that..."

"he was spreading rumors about me and Top Notch being together?"

"So you know about that." Clover responded.

"Top Notch actually told me about it earlier today before the changelings attacked." Clover Leaf looked over to Top Notch and he nodded in confirmation. Rainbow Dash made her way over to Whisky and looked him in the eye. "Look Whisky, when I first got here I thought you were a pretty cool dude. You gave us a free meal and made me feel like I could actually make friends here. You were a pretty fun guy to talk to despite the fact that you were a little perverted but you're a stallion so that's kinda a given already."

Whisky had a confused look in his eye. "Um I'm not really sure where you're going with this Rainbow Dash."

"I don't know why you started spreading those rumors about me and Top Notch but I just want to let you know something."

"That is?"

The whole world seemed to slow done and go quiet as Rainbow Dash uttered the next sentence. "I forgive you."

"WHAT!?" Top Notch and Whisky yelled in unison.

Before Rainbow Dash had a chance to explain herself Sheriff Silver Point interrupted. "If you ladies are done with your 'Feel Good Hour' maybe we can get snap back to the here and now?" He tossed a scroll over the mayor. "There's the distress letter Mayor Bouvardia, now send it!"

The Mayor quickly encased the scroll in his magics aura. His horn and the letter glowed brighter until the room was blinded by a white flash. To every pony in the rooms horror when the light receded the scroll was on the ground. "Daddy the scroll is still here! Didn't you send it?"

"I thought I did. Here let me try again." He lit up his horn and again the room was blinded by a white flash. Once again the scroll remained on the ground. "I d-don't know whats...whats wrong with me?"

Sheriff Silver Point looked glance at the Mayor and saw that his hooves were shaking violently. "Aw crap he's shaking like a wet dog on cold winter morning. He can't concentrate on the spell cause he's panicking."

"Daddy, daddy look at me!" Clover held her fathers face in her in hooves. "Everything is going to be fine. Just relax and concentrate on that spell okay?" Mayor Bouvardia quickly nodded before taking a deep breath to clear his mind. He lit his horn up again but his time there was no blinding flash of light, only a few sparks coming out of the tip of his horn.

He was breathing heavily and sweat was dripping down his face. "I'm not as young as I used to be. Those first two attempts really took it out of me. I'm afraid that i'm out of juice."

"What the hay is that supposed to mean!?" Rainbow Dash blurted out with a look of concern on her face. Suddenly loud pounding could be heard coming from the stations front door and roof. Violent cries and shrills were heard from the changelings who now converged on the Sheriff's Station.

Sheriff Silver Point turned to look at Rainbow Dash. "It means that we really are on our own."

"So what do we do now that we know that no help is coming our way?" Top Notch rushed over and put all his weight into holding the front door shut as Rainbow Dash and Whisky held the upright table to the window.

The Sheriff was left speechless for the first time in his career. He looked at each of the ponies in the room and saw desperation on their faces. Sheriff Silver Point didn't have to look in a mirror to see that her probably had the same look on his face as well. "I don't know Top Notch. I just don't know. The best we can do right is now is a final stand against the bugs but that's about it."

Something suddenly clicked in Rainbow Dash's mind. "Whisky, you guys said you weren't attacked on the way over here?" The stallion in question nodded his head. "Well don't you guys find it kinda of weird that these changelings seem to only be attacking ponies who are starting fights with them? They seem to be ignoring ponies who leave them alone."

"That can't be the case. We may not have been attacked on the way here but we were at my home. One of those things smashed through my window and assaulted Whisky. If it weren't for Whisky's quick response I may not be here right now." Mayor Bouvardia stated.

"Well actually daddy the changeling smashed through the window and slammed into Whisky. It didn't just out right attack him."

The Mayor put a foreleg around his daughter. "It makes no difference Clover. These monsters are still breaking into the homes and businesses of the town. They are definitely out to get us."

Now Top Notch joined in on the conversation. "Not entirely true Mayor. I mean from what I've heard it almost sounds like they're looking for something."

"Looking for what though?" Clover Leaf asked.

The answer seemingly smacked Whisky across the face. "I don't know what they're looking for but I bet I know who does. This all seems a bit too familiar don't you think?" Every pony in the room turned to look at Whisky. "Isn't it obvious? The town is put in immediate danger? Disaster strikes while Sheriff Silver Point is out patrolling?" Only the Sheriff began to see where Whisky was going with his train of thought. "It has to be Thatcher! He's got to be the one behind all of this."

Clover placed her coltfriend in a hug "Whisky darling, I don't really think that..."

"I agree with him." Sheriff Silver Point quickly stated. "We've got nothing else going for us right now so we might well roll with what we've got. I know where the little rats office is so finding him shouldn't be too much trouble, hopefully."

"Well Sheriff that's all well and good but still the fact stands that at the moment we're trapped in here by a hoard of changelings." The Mayor walked over to his daughter. "We should just stay here were its safe."

Now Sheriff Silver Point moved and put his face an inch away from the Mayor's. "I don't know about you Mayor Bouvardia but I'd rather not sit here and find out if wild changelings take prisoners." The Mayor glanced at his daughter before nodding his head in agreement. "Good, so now that we're all on the same page we better start coming up with ideas on how we're going to get out of this crazy situation exactly."

"Did you say crazy situation?" Rainbow Dash was holding the desk with all her strength now against the seemingly increasing number of changelings pounding against it. "Crazy situation. Crazy situation. I got it! What would a crazy pony like Pinkie Pie do in a situation like this? Come on think think think!" Rainbow Dash put all her thought into coming up with a plausible solution. "I GOT IT!" Rainbow Dash practically yelled causing everyone else in the room to jump. "Sheriff get over here and take my place holding the desk. Clover hand me that broom over there in the corner."

"Hold on second girl. Who died and left you in charge?"

"Look old man if you wan't to get out of here then you're going to have to trust me. Besides its a win-win situation for you in particular with this plan I got." The Sheriff didn't have anything else to say to that. "Alright everyone listen up cause here's what we're going to do."

"You all ready for this?" Rainbow looked around the room. Everyone nodded their head signaling that they understood what had to be done. "Alright remember that you're all only probably going to have a few seconds."

Rainbow Dash griped the broom in her hooves. "On the count of three Top Notch."

"One."

"Two."

"Three!" Top notch swung the door open and Rainbow Dash rushed outside.

She raised the broom high above her head.

"♪RULES OF NATURE!♪"

She brought her weapon down hard against the head of a changeling. She turned to face another one charging at her.

"♪AND THEY RUN WHEN THE SUN COMES UP♪"

Rainbow Dash delivered a quick strike to her attackers stomach before whacking it upside the head. A changeling was hovering above her preparing to pounce on her.

"♪WITH THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE! ALIIIIIVE!♪"

She smacked the bug out of the air like it was a pinata and then delivered a quick jab that knocked it out and broke her make shift weapon.

"♪FOR AWHILE...♪ Shoot how did the rest of that song go?"

Despite forgetting the rest of the lyrics to the song Rainbow Dash's plan had worked. She had distracted the bugs long enough for the rest of ponies in the station to make their escape and run down the street towards Thatcher's office. Rainbow pushed a changeling off of her and then flew at street level behind the rest pf the group. After a considerable amount of distance had been put between Rainbow Dash and her attackers they seemed to give up on chasing her.

At least that's what Rainbow thought. When flying past an alley way she was blinded sided by a changeling and wasslammed hard against a door on the other side of the street. "Rainbow Dash!?" Top Notch cried out.

She opened her eyes and looked down the road. Top Notch stood at the corner of the street looking as if he was about to rush back and help her. "Just go! Don't worry about me I'll catch back up!"

"But..."

"Damn it I said RUN! Don't just stand there looking like a fool!" Whisky appeared around the corner and started ushering Top Notch away from the scene. With the liability out of the way Rainbow Dash found that was once again able to focus on her attacker. "Alright you ugly piece bug crap, now its just you and me!" She kicked the changeling off of her and got back into her fighting stance. "Now that its one on one again you ain't got a..." A ceremonious punch to the jaw cut her off. The changeling came at her with fast jabs that she was only barely managing to block. Rainbow Dash was forced to cover her face from the onslaught of punches as she lost ground to the bug. She felt the glass of a window against her back. An idea suddenly came to her. She pushed the bug off of her for the first time got a good glimpse at her attacker. The bent wing identified it as the first changeling she and Top Notch encountered. Apparently changelings did feel emotion cause this one seemed to hold a grudge against Rainbow Dash.

"Bring it ugly!" She taunted. Without further motivation the changeling charged straight at it's pegasus opponent. Rainbow Dash stood her ground and didn't make an attempt to dodge. Instead she caught the bug in full force and wrapped her forelegs around it. "You wanna know what my favorite wrestling move is of all time?" She lifted the changeling of its back feet and threw it over her and into the window they were in front off. Her opponent smashed through the glass and landed on the other side. Rainbow Dash looked in and saw that the bug's limbs were twitching. She smiled at her own accomplishment. "The Belly to Belly Suplex. A classic if you ask me." She dusted herself and jumped into the air only to come crashing back down to the ground.

Upon further inspection she found that her right wing had been injured when she had been slammed against the door. She looked towards the building where her opponent lay defeated and sighed. "A wing for a wing I guess." She opened both wings more carefully and took off down the street at a much slower pace.

"We shouldn't of left her! It wasn't right! She could be hurt or worse!"

"Boy calm down! You heard the girl, she wanted to be left there! She knew there was no sense in risking two of the groups members for one. That girl has more sense than I gave her credit for." Top Notch, Sheriff Silver Point, and the rest of the group who had escaped from the station stood in front of Thatcher's building. Top Notch had insisted they wait a few minutes for Rainbow Dash to show up. He had been pacing back and forth in front of the buildings front door."

"Look boy..."

"My name is Top Notch and her name is Rainbow Dash! Don't just call us 'Boy' or 'Girl' like we're children."

"Look Top Notch, I've seen Rainbow Dash fight with my own eyes. She can handle single changeling no problem." A shadow fell over the group and they all looked up. "Case in point."

Rainbow Dash landed in front of the group. Before Top Notch could get a word out Clover Leaf moved and placed Rainbow Dash in a tight hug. "Thank goodness you're all right Rainbow! We were all worried about you!"

"Well I ain't going down that easily. So what's up, why are you guys waiting here?"

"Well we were waiting on you." Whisky started.

"But it seems that this Thatcher fellow has also locked the front door denying us entrance." Mayor Bouvardia finished.

Whisky walked back and forth in front of the building. "Look at that. His building doesn't even have any windows! If that doesn't scream suspicious then I don't know what does!"

"Quite frankly I think it's strange that there are no windows." The group turned their attention to Mayor Bouvardia who was standing in front of left corner of the building. "When this building was first built I remember it had a window right around here." He put his hoof to the wall to show the spot. To the group's surprise the wall shifted a little bit horizontally.

Sheriff Silver Star turned to the Mayor's daughter. "Clover can you wrap that section of the wall in your magic?" With a quick nod Clover Leaf complied. In the next instant her aura covered the targeted piece of wall and she stepped back in surprise.

"Sheriff it feels like there a two parts to this wall. A thick and thin portion with the latter being street side. In fact I think I can..." With a tug of her horn a thin section of the wall came off revealing a window behind it.

"Clover Leaf, honey, when did you get so adept at using magic? EverGlade never had a magic school."

Clover smiled at her father." Mom used to take me to magic classes whenever I went to visit her in Baltimare."

"Well Clover dear that's all well and good but a problem still remains. How are we going open the window from...what are you doing?" A rock suddenly smashed through the window sending glass everywhere.

Clover Leaf had wide grin on her face. "Problem solved daddy."

"Clover Leaf I'm pretty sure what you just did violates the law."

"I'll allow it." Sheriff Silver Point stated. "Now come on. Its time to catch us a rat."

The group slowly made their way in with Clover Leaf levitating each pony one by one up and over the window. "So where exactly is this Thatcher guy?" Rainbow Dash glanced around the room they were in. It looked like a small lobby of sorts.

Whisky moved up to the only door in the room. "Well how about we take a look behind door A?" The restaurant owner practically kicked the door open. "Alright Thatcher! We know that...what the!?" Whisky gazed into the room and saw that it was empty. "He ain't here!"

"What!" Sheriff Silver Point spat before barging into the room himself. He gazed around the room intently for any sign of the earth pony. "Well if he ain't here then where did the rat run off to?"

"If this Thatcher guy is as bad as you say he is then he's probably hiding out in a secrete room somewhere. Makes sense doesn't it?" Rainbow Dash moved around the empty office and saw nothing of particular interest. "Nothing here but this desk and mirror." Rainbow nudged the desk a little and when she saw that it moved she lost interest in it. "Well that secrete room isn't in here that's for sure."

The group looked as Rainbow Dash as if she was crazy. "What?" She asked.

"Girl..." The Sheriff noticed that Top Notch was giving him a nasty stare and he corrected himself. "Rainbow Dash, what exactly are you basing this off of?"

"The Daring Do Adventure Series. Bad guys in her books always have like secrete rooms and stuff." The group once again looked at Rainbow Dash like she was crazy.

Sheriff Silver Point face hoofed. "Any respect you gained from me over the course of this day was just lost. Girl this isn't one of your children's books with happy endings."

"Children's Books!?" Rainbow Dash flared her wings and walked out of the office into the lobby. She looked around and saw a lone book case around against the wall. "Clover Leaf could you move that book shelf?" Clover Leaf was about to question Rainbow's motives but she saw the stare that the pegasus was giving her. The unicorns magic encased the book shelf and she tugged her horn.

Clover was visibly struggling to move the shelf. "I can't move the darn thing. It's almost like its glued to the wall or something! If I apply any more force I might rip the wall down with it."

"Do it." Rainbow Dash responded. Clover applied more strength to her magic and she ripped the book shelf off the wall. Books flew towards the floor and lay scattered. Rainbow Dash had the biggest grin on her face. There was a flight of spiraling stairs behind the book shelf. "HA! I'll take that respect back if you don't mind Sheriff."

"Wow." Was all Clover and the rest of the group was able to say.

Whisky was the first to make his way down the stairs. "Well come on you guys! Time to get some answers from our friend down the rabbit hole."

A door was at the bottom of the stairs. Once again Whisky kicked the door open and smiled as he saw an earth pony sitting at a desk across the room.

"Oh hello. I wasn't really expecting company so please mind the house keeping. Care to join me for a game of solitaire?" Whisky casually walked up to Thatcher and placed his hoof on the earth ponies shoulders.

"Been waiting a long time to do this." Without any hesitation Whisky brought a hoof down hard against the side of Thatcher's head.

The earth pony fell to the floor and reeled back in pain. "That was a little rude don't you think?"

"SHUT IT! We know it's been you who's been causing all the disasters that the town has been experiencing. We also know its you who brought these changelings here."

"We?"

The rest of the group began to appear through the door and made their way to the two stallions. Sheriff Silver Point looked down at the earth pony. "You really did it this time boy."

"Did what exactly?"

Whisky kicked the stallion in the ribs causing him to wince in pain. "Quit acting so innocent. Tell us how to get rid of the changelings!"

"Changelings? There are changelings attacking the town? Well we better send a distress letter to..." Another kick to this ribs, this time from Clover Leaf, silenced the stallion. "Not very lady like Ms. Leaf."

Sheriff Silver Point bent down so that he could be at eye level with Thatcher. "Working with changelings is an act of treason against the Royal Throne. It is punishable by banishment or worse. Judging by the look on your face I'm guessing you didn't know that."

The Sheriff motioned for the group to step back as he picked Thatcher off the ground and placed him back in the chair. "Confess and tell us how to get rid of the changelings. If you do we might just go easy on you."

"Fine! Geez there's no reason to get the Princesses involved in this. We're all civilized ponies here right?" Thatcher looked across the group and only got blank stares in return. "The way I brought the changelings here is by a device that releases a pheromone that attracts them to the target and then enrages them as they get closer to the source. After they were finished messing up the town I was going to use another device which releases a high frequency sound that repels the bugs long enough for me to dispose of the pheromone source. The repellent device in the desks drawer and..."

"I got it!" Rainbow Dash flew over to the desk and pulled out the spherical device from the drawer. "So how do you use it?"

"Just throw it as hard as you can against any surface and it activates."

"Got it!" Rainbow Dash tossed the device with all her strength against the wall. The group watched with expectant eyes as the ball hit the surface and then burst into tiny pieces.

"Wow you really are stupid aren't you Rainbow Da..." Thatcher was knocked off the chair again by a blow to the head from Whisky.

"What did you do Thatcher?" The earth pony said through his teeth.

"It's not what I did its what she did. I didn't think she was stupid enough to actually throw it against the wall."

Rainbow Dash jumped over the desk and picked up Thatcher in her hooves. "Keep calling me stupid and see what happens!"

"Silly naive girl, what makes you think I'm frightened of any of you? All of you are nothing in comparison." Thatcher startled to chuckle which only infuriated Rainbow Dash more. She threw him hard against the table making him flip over the side land hard against the ground. "There is nothing any of you can do to stop the destruction of the town."

The anger in Rainbow Dash was practically boiling at this point. A solution came to her out of desperation. "Where is the other device? The one that's releasing the phony-whatever it is you called it!"

Thatcher simply grinned at her. "Why would I tell you that?"

"Cause if you don't I'll drop you from a thousand feet in the air and watch you go splat."

"Stupid girl! You wouldn't dare! In case you didn't notice you got a bad wing there." The group turned to gaze at Rainbow's wing. It was visibly injured and they began to wonder how they hadn't noticed it before. "We'll both plummet to our deaths if you try."

"Try me then ass hole." Rainbow Dash picked up Thatcher again and started dragging him back towards the door. She began moving him up the stairs.

"Okay! Okay! You've made you point that you got the balls to do it. Here I thought you were a mare this whole time." Rainbow Dash released her grip on him and let him tumble back down the stairs.

"Where is the device?"

"It's at the base of the water towers back left leg. It's in the shape of a cylinder so you can't miss it. Besides it won't matter if you find it anyway. Even if you dump the device somewhere in the scrub land the bugs will just make a hive around it which will eventually threaten the town."

"Thanks for you input but I'm going to need you to shut your mouth now and be a good little colt." Rainbow Dash dragged Thatcher back into the room and handed him to the Sheriff and Whisky. "I know where the device is. I'm going to go find it and get it away from the town." Without saying anything else Rainbow Dash rushed out of the underground room and made her way up the stairs. Top Notch was right behind her.

"Wait! Rainbow what are you going to do?" Top Notch called out to her as she stood at the window. "You heard what Thatcher said, dumping it in the scrub land won't make any difference! We need to wait and come up with a plan!"

Rainbow Dash turned around and smiled at him. "Oh I have a plan. After I get the device I'm going to go dump it in Horse Shoe Bend. The river should carry it off far away from EverGlade."

Top Notch couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You got a bad wing though! You won't be able to out run the changelings! What you're attempting to do is suicide. I'm sure there has to be another way."

"No. The Sheriff is the only other pegasus and he definitely ain't fast enough to out fly them. Besides you got nothing to worry about. I'm PonyVille's top athlete and the fastest flyer in Equestria. Just do me a favor and take care of yourself along with the others." Without saying a word more Rainbow Dash jumped out the window and into the sky above.

Her earth pony companion made his way to the window and looked up at the sky. "Please be careful Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash flew over to the water tower as fast as she could. She landed next to the correct leg and saw that Thatcher had been telling the truth. At the base of the leg was a cylinder that seemed to be hissing. "Awesome now I just got to get you out of here." She scooped up the container in her hooves and flew up towards the sky before changing direction and flew towards Horse Shoe Bend. Sure enough as soon as she began to fly over the town the changelings took to the sky after her.

Now over the scrub land Rainbow Dash turned her head and saw that the swarm of bugs was catching up to her. "Come on I just got to go a bit further." Her bad wing began to throb in immense pain as she pushed her self to go faster.

Suddenly one of her pursuers caught up and smashed into her body. She winced in pain but continued to fly towards her target. As she closed the gap between herself and the river she continued to get smashed by the bugs hounding her.

Finally she saw her objective in the distance and willed her body to fly just a bit more. Again she was hit by one of her attackers this time almost dropping the device which she cradled in her hooves.

When she saw that she was over the water she dove down in a steep nose dive At her current speed Rainbow Dash knew what would happen if she crashed against the water. She felt giddy for whatever reason and smiled as she fell towards the surface of the water. Tears began to stream down her face and she closed her eyes.

"They always said that a good death is its own reward." Memories of her life began to play inside her mind. Growing up in CloudsDale, being with her friends in PonyVille, and even the months she had spent in EverGlade. One old memory in particular made itself more prominent. Rainbow Dash hugged the device harder closer to her chest before she hit the water.

Everything went black.

Author's Note

1) For those wondering what song Rainbow Dash is singing when she burst through the door its called "Rules of Nature" from the Metal Gear Rising soundtrack.
2) I used to watch a lot of wrestling when I was younger.
3) Longest chapter I have ever written I think.